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Start of by deciding where you would like to position the button.
Use a caulk pen to mark the position.

You will need to mark the beginning and length of the button.
Do a test run to check what position your sewing machine will start sewing.
This machine, Brother’s Quatrro, sewing starting at bottom left, going up, going right, moving down and finishing at left bottom position.

Extend the back (White plastic part) and insert button into button hole foot.
By doing so it “tells” the machine what size is your button.

In this case insert button facing down.
make sure the button holder plate is gripping the button tightly.

Attach the buttonhole foot.

Select which button hole is appropriate for the type of fabric you are using.

In some machine you will need to press on the foot peddle to make your machine start.

In some machine it’s a click of a button away.

Place your fabric under the button hole presser foot.
There are markings on the buttonhole presser foot, use them to position the fabric.
Notice the little “window” opening at the front, watch for your fabric markings through it.

Lower the buttonhole lever that is located to the left of the needle, until it’s behind the metal bracket on the buttonhole foot.
Bring your thread under the presser foot.

Hold the end of the upper thread.
Your sewing machine will do the rest.

Now that you have the perfect buttonhole, you will need to open it.

If you don’t have a buttonhole kit, use a seam ripper.

Start at one side push the seam ripper down and cut until you get to the half way point.

Repeat on other side until you meet the opening in the middle.
Be careful not to get into the stitches.

Depending on the type of button you use, you may be able to use your sewing machine to secure the button to your fabric.
In this case, hand stitch.

Enjoy!

Let’s create something!

Happy Thanksgivings everyone!
Brother started ‘Dream 1000 Project’ by requesting folks to make a bag to donate to the kids affected by the Tsunami and Earthquake in Japan.

 You can find: How To: Dream 1000 Project Bag – Part 1

To create the straps of bag, take one of the 5″ x 20″ strip pieces.
Fold it in half, right side of fabric facing out and iron.

Open fold.
Fold each side towards just created center fold.
Iron in place.

Take both sides and fold together.
Iron into place.
Repeat for other strip.
Top stitch on both sides of strips.

To attach strap to bag, measure 5″ from side of bag.

Attach to inside of bag, pin and stitch a square for added strength.
Make sure straps are aligned with each other and are not looped.
Cut a piece of paper the size of the square and use it as guide to have uniform square stitches.

To attach the button, find center position and mark 1/2″ from top of bag.

Clover caulk pens are easy to use for all your marking needs.

Center button on marked line and mark on both sides of button.

Use buttonhole foot, marked as A. Buttonhole # 9 was selected for this type of fabric.

Cut open your buttonhole and make sure button goes through.
Attach button on inside of bag.

Attach button on inside of bag.

Bag is now ready for your final touches of decoration should you chose to add some.

Start of by removing any remaining pieces of the water soluble topper .

Add a few Swarovski Crystals or Rhinestones hot fix to bag.

Final touches:
Cut off any loose thread
Remove caulk markings

Bag is now complete.

Be proud! you just made a kid in Japan very happy.
Don’t forget, deadline to ship bags: December 8, 2011

For more details about ‘Dream 1000 Project’: www.artsandcraftsplaza.com/?p=689

 You can find: How To: Dream 1000 Project Bag – Part 1

Let’s create something!

Thanksgivings is fast approaching and with that spreading some goodwill.
Brother started a ‘Dream 1000 Project’ by requesting folks to make a bag to donate to the kids affected by the Tsunami and Earthquake in Japan.
Deadline to ship bags: December 8, 2011
For more details about this project: Dream 1000 Project

Are you a beginner sewer? Just want to check out how the bag is constructed before taking it on?
Let’s get started!

Suggested fabric: Denim or Quilting fabrics.
Start of by cutting your fabric to:
One 40″ x 20″
Two 5″ x 20″
Optional pocket, one 6″x 6″

As these bags are not lined, it is important to serge or overcast all raw edges of fabric.
For those without a serger, use a G foot and choose one of the overcast stitches.

Put your fabric against the metal part in the middle of your foot.
Use same color thread as your bobbin.
Suggested thread: Polyester Mettler.

How your raw edges of fabric should look like.

To create the pocket, we start by Embroidering it first.
Hoop a tear away stabilizer, use Spry adhesive to attach your 6″x 6″ piece of fabric.
On top of that put your water soluble topper with spry adhesive.

Embroider something you think the kid that will get this bag will appreciate.
Think about color combination and overall look of the bag.

Change the foot of your machine and select a straight stitch.
This straight stitch uses a J foot.
Experiment with a scrap of fabric first and then adjust width and length of the stitch.

Measure 1/2 an inch from top of pocket.

Fold to the back of pocket.
Iron in place for ease and better result.

Top stitch top of pocket.

Folder back other 3 sides of pocket 1/2″ and iron.
Find center position on front of bag and pin.

Stitch both sides and bottom of pocket to bag.

Should you have any marking on fabric like this fold on fabric on back side of the bag, it’s a chance to decorate.

Make a straight line mark with caulk on unwanted fold line.

Add a ribbon in matching or contrasting color.
You may want to add another piece of fabric instead of ribbon.
Top stitch ribbon on both sides to secure to fabric.

With right sides of fabric facing together, Stitch both sides of bag with 5/8″ seam allowance from edge of fabric.

Trim and access ribbon or any loose thread.

Iron open the side seams.

From top of bag fold towards the inside of bag 1 1/4″ and iron or pin.

Use straight or decorative stitch 1 1/4″ from top of bag.
This picture shows straight stitch.

To create depth to the bag, add a gusset.
At bottom side of bag, measure 1 1/2″ from corner and mark.
Mark other bottom side as well.

Stitch over line on both sides.

Turn bag right side out.
View of how gusset changed appearance of bag.

 You can find: How To: Dream 1000 Project Bag – Part 2

Let’s create something!

To embroider Mickey Mouse on a towel we will use a stabilizer and a topper to sandwich the towel.

We will start by hooping Wet N Gone, a water soluble stabilizer.

We will then use a spray adhesive to attach the towel to the stabilizer.

It is possible to hoop a towel if it is not too thick, however, we find that using the adhesive works best as you can better position the towel.
We don’t recommend using sticky paper stabilizer as it will pull on the towel.

When positioning the towel, make sure you find the center point of the towel and align it with the center points on the hoop.

This is probably one of the most important step, be sure to take your time and get it right.

We will use the spray adhesive again this time on the towel.

We will put the water soluble topper on top of the towel, which will keep the stitches from sinking into the towel.

Now we are ready to put the hoop into the embroidery machine.

Select your design. We chose Mickey Mouse that is built in the Brother machine. We are using Brother’s Quattro Innovis 6000D (D is for Disney).

We then select a heart border and make sure none of the stitches overlap.

You want to make sure Mickey’s ears are not clipped by the border. Use the size button to achieve the appropriate size.

Mickey and boarder are ready to be embroidered.

We suggest keeping a bottle for used needles, best practice to always have a place for them.
Be sure to change your needle every 8 hours.
As well as, keeping a plastic container on hand which we use to store the small pieces of thread.
Once you have enough you will be able to use that for another project.
Keep an eye out for this project.

We can now start embroidering Mickey
Make sure you have enough clearance for your machine to move the hoop freely.

At first it doesn’t look like it’s going to come together.

As you embroider more colors it all comes together.

Choose the color you want for your border, we used Red. Default is Black.

Remove hoop from your embroidery machine and cut any jump stitches that may be there.

You can now remove the water soluble topper. You can usually gently pull on it and it will come off.
Spray the design with water and use another piece of water soluble to get it all off by dabbing it.
It especially helps when it’s a gift to someone and you don’t want to explain that it will dissolve once they wash it.

Now it’s time to tackle the back side of our embroidery.

Cut the water soluble as close to the stitched as you can.
Be sure not to cut into the stitches or the towel.

The rest will dissolve once the towel has been washed.

Your project is now complete! enjoy.