Janome @ Sewing for Pleasure

As always, the Janome was buzzing with people looking for new sewing machines and checking out our ever changing samples for sewing inspiration.

The 6600p has been a popular machine since it's launch a few years ago, ideal for heavy weight sewing with it's strong motor and fast stitch speed, but wonderful for quilting with the extra big sewing space, and perfect for bridal and dressmaking alike.

Our FM725, commonly known as an embellishing machine, goes from strength to strength. This machine is all about surface decoration... and there are no rules! Ideal for using up old knitting yarns, scrap fabric, old jumpers and chiffon scarves.... and the range of wool and silk roving on the market is huge! Sandra Colleridge made the most of the samples on this display, and the bag on the bottom left is made by Sheila Smith, the well known author of Embellish, Stitch and Felt (where a couple of my embellisher makes are in there as well!)

Sue Munday is another Textile Artists who loves her Janome machines. This sample above was created using the MC11000SE, with designs she has created on our Digitizer MB software. Also mixing in free machine embroidery and a bit of embellishing... a real mixed piece.... I love it!

The Janome MB4, is a fully automatic four needle embroidery machine, ideal for those wanting to set up a small embroidery business from home. The range of hoops allows you to embroider little items easily, can you spot the little teddy t-shirt and beanie hat?

Our gorgeous Horizon has just celebrated it's one year birthday in the UK! It was first shown at Sewing for Pleasure in 2010. One of my personal favourites, this machine is wonderful for all types of sewing.... huge space for quilting, built in Acufeed (type of walking foot) for bulky fabrics, straight stitch needle plate converter for precision sewing, fantastic selection of contemporary decorative stitches for all your crafty projects! And a great looking machine as well!

Check out our website more information on Janome machines, and to see where we are exhibiting in your area... chick HERE.

Sewing for Pleasure - part 3

The English Couture Company is based in Syston in Leicestershire, where Michelle runs sewing courses on dress making, from beginners classes, to advanced Speed Tailoring, Bra Making and Couture Boned Bodice. Check out her website for full details. Michelle uses Janome 6600p, the perfect machine for professional dressmaking. The speed and strength of an industrial type machine, but the control and stitch range of a domestic.

The English Couture Company also sells a full range of dressmaking and tailoring interlinings and accessories, check out the website for useful tips and video.

Sewing for Pleasure - part 2

Sue Munday works with her Janome MC11000 to produce the most wonderful pieces of textile art. She mixes computerised embroidery with free machine embroidery and the embellishing machine. Sue runs workshops and offers talks to groups, please see her website for full details. http://www.suemunday.co.uk She also offers Distance Learning City and Guilds in Machine Embroidery, check out her website http://www.design2create.biz to find out more.

This piece of Sue's work was displayed on the Janome stand, and uses her own digitized designs, free machine embroidery and built in decorative stitches... all on the Janome MC11000.

Sewing for Pleasure - part 1

It is always lovely to walk around exhibitions and see what people are creating and making on Janome machines.... and at Sewing for Pleasure last weekend there was lots to see.....and so much to tell you.... I will split it up into separate posts! Alison Smith from School of Sewing and Fabulous Fabrics was using the Janome MC11000 to make a gorgeous bra and knicker set.... and just look at the matching corset! Throughout the show, Alison was running dressmakers workshops, giving you the chance to learn how to put in a concealed zip and fabulous fabric roses and much more... check out the list HERE.

Alison's fabric shop, Fabulous Fabrics in Ashby de la Zouch, is a heaven for dressmakers... well worth a visit next time you are in the area!

Alison made Janome a wonderful quilted corset, using the MC11000 Acufil Quilting Designs, which was on display on our Janome stand.... what a great unusual way of using quilting stitches!

For more information on the Janome MC11000 and it's Acufeed Quilting features click HERE.

Follow the link for more information on Fabulous Fabrics and School of Sewing, and you can find them on Facebook.

and if you would like to visit Sewing for Pleasure next year, have a look at ICHF website.

We are set up and ready..... Sewing for Pleasure opens tomorrow morning!

Have you got your ticket??

Sewing for Pleasure and Fashion and Embroidery runs from 24th - 27th March at the NEC. Two halls full of crafting goodies... and of course all our Janome machine, accessories and lots of samples to inspire you to keep sewing!

For more information, check out http://www.ichf.co.uk/sewingforpleasure/ and what the little video clip (and see if you can spot me )!!

Beautiful Baby Quilt by Jean Jones

Last week I visited The Singer Sewing Centre in Whitley Bay, and had a wonderful surprise! Ann Wheeler, their Patchwork and Quilting teacher was running a workshop upstairs and Jean Jones was there as well. Why is this interesting I hear you ask? Well, they both bought a Janome Horizon at the Test Drive event I ran at the Centre last year! So I popped up stairs to say hello.

Jean had with her, the first quilt she had made on her new Horizon, so I thought I'd share it with you. Her first Granddaughter is due soon, Elouise on 7th April, and Jean has made her this wonderful quilt she will keep forever.
Lots of use of the Horizons quilting stitches....

and a lovely mix of hand embroidery... and the grass and flowers along the bottom are stitched using the Horizon... and so are the random hearts and flowers dotted around as well.

And finally finished off with a hand embroidered quilt label, that is embellished with more Horizon quilt stitches! Well done Jean... it's fabulous!!

For more information on the Singer Centre in Whitley Bay and their Patchwork and Quilting workshops, check out their website HERE.

The Sewing Box, Morpeth

An Aladdin's cave for sewers and crafters!

The Sewing Box in Morpeth, may look small from the outside, but has loads to offer on the inside! Spread over three floors, they have dress, bridal and evening wear fabrics, patchwork and quilting, and every type of haberdashery you would ever need!

Of course, they stock Janome machines and overlockers, and on my visit this time, we looked at overlockers, which are perfect for many of the stretchy jersey and evening fabrics they sell.

Bespoke designer buttons, which I haven't seen anywhere else in the country! Gorgeous for a special outfit, or just to use for decoration!
Fabulous range of unusual trimmings....

New Spring printed lawn...

Tattered and Torn accessories and trimmings...

and bespoke bunting....

and a lovely range of patchwork and quilting materials.

For more information on The Sewing Box, check out their website. If you don't get chance to visit the shop, check out their online store HERE

Patchwork and Quilting Day at Samuel Taylor at Embsay Mill!

This week I spent a wonderful day with a group of patchwork and quilting ladies (some advanced and some beginners) at Samuel Taylor's in Embsay near Skipton.

Samuel Taylors @ Embsay Mills is a fabulous place for crafters of all types of hobbies, of course, patchwork and quilting department (with the most wonderful fabrics!), Janome Sewing Machines, cross stitch and hand embroidery, knitting yarns and Oliver Twist decorative yarns and fibres, plus a huge department of card and scrapbooking paper crafts... and a class room which hosts regular workshops in many of the above! and when you've finished shopping... a coffee shop to enjoy a drink and homemade cakes... can life get any better??During our Patchwork and Quilting Accessory day, we looked at some of Janome Sewing Machines and discussed different P and Q features, such as the hand look quilt stitch (always a crowd pleaser!), straight stitch needle plates, crazy patchwork decorative stitches, and of course, all the accessories to help create a perfect quilt.

We started with the 1/4" Foot, as any patchworker knows, a 1/4" seam is so important, so this easy to fit foot as a guide down the side to "but" the edge of your seam to, and when using centre straight stitch, gives you a perfect 1/4" seam allowance.

And then onto the Ditch Foot, the guide of the foot sits in your "ditch" and helps keep your stitching in the ditch!
The Clear View Quilting Foot and Guide Set combines both the 1/4" foot and Ditch Foot in one... and it also has 1/8" and 1/4" red marking to help your piecing, and you can move your needle position within this foot to let you have a scant 1/4" seam.

We looked at the Acufeed system on the Janome Horizon machine, which is a built in even feed / walking foot / dual feed, and allows you to use a 1/4" Seam Foot, Ditch Foot or Open Toe Foot at the same time as having the Acufeed engaged, this is invaluable for patchwork and quilters. The Acufeed Feet will only fit the Horizon (7700QCP) and the 6600p.

Our other machines have the Janome Even feed Foot available, which helps to feed quilting layers of fabric through the machine and not pucker or slip. There is a standard foot Even Feed, and Open Toe Even Feed and a Convertible Even Feed which has both Standard and Open Toe options.
We also looked at the Darning Foot for free machine quilting and embroidery and the Convertible Free Motion Foot Set (which can be seen above), this has three feet options, a small circle, a horse shoe shape or the clear round plastic with 1/8" markings to help when stippling your quilt.

For more information on Samuel Taylor and workshops they run at Embsay Mills, check out their website. Click on Crafts.

To see if we are running a Janome event in your area, keep checking our Events page on the Janome.co.uk website.

Fancy trying Millinery??

There is a growing trend for wearing gorgeous hats and fascinators, just look at Kate Middleton last week in St. Andrews!
How about turning your hand to millinery and making your own headwear?Hats on Heads in Lincoln, design and make bespoke millinery for weddings, Ascot and special occasions. They also run IN2Fashion courses and workshops at their Lincoln Studio, of course with Janome Sewing Machines (courtesy of Couling Sewing Machines in Lincoln). Just look at their beautiful workroom! They run a range of IN2Fashion Sewing Courses for adults and children including Beginners Dressmaking, Dressmaking, Pattern Cutting, Corsetry, Fabric Jewellery, Textiles,Millinery and Hat making Hen Days. Classes for IN2Dressmaking for Teens have made fun and fashionable skirts, and also simple wrap skirts with 8 to 11 year olds. For more information on their bespoke millinery service and their workshops, check out their website Hats on Heads.

The Textile Workshop in Sherwood, Nottingham, runs various craft related courses, from one day special workshop on feltmaking and embellishing, to courses running courses over several weeks on millinery, dressmaking, silversmithing and much much more! And.... I've got the hat making bug myself and recently signed up for their weekly millinery class!

Why not follow The Textile Workshop on Facebook?

I visit the Kingcombe Embroidery Group in Dorset...

Last weekend I was invited to visit the Kingcombe Embroidery Group in Dorset. The group has been meeting for about ten years and is ran by Sandra Coleridge. Sandra has worked with Janome for many years, and often demonstrates with us at the larger exhibitions in the UK. The group has around 12 members which specialise in a range of embroidery techniques, from Jane Lemon, Ecclesiastical Textile Designer, to Ruby Lever, Viv White and Lynn Horniblow.

Sandra is known for her love of texture and embroidery, and creates the most wonderful landscape textile art using her Janome embellisher (FM725) and Janome Horizon for her free machine embroidery. She also combines embroidery from her Janome MC11000 and Digitzer to create different effects.

Here we can see Sandra working on a landscape piece for the groups next exhibition.

The view from the cottage where they meet twice a year is simply beautiful!

This week, after the Group has gone home, Sandra is teaching a three day residential course using the embellisher and free machine embroidery. Bev, from Knitting4Fun, has also joined her to supply wool for the workshop.

The Kingcombe Group will be hosting their next exhibition, For the Love of Stitch, at Killerton House from 2nd April till 1st May.
Killerton House, Broadclyst, Exeter, EX5 3LEFor
Daily 11.00 - 4.30.
01392 881345

Creative Stitches Exhibition visit's Glasgow!

This week ICHF are visiting the SECC Glasgow with the Creative Stitches and Hobbycraft Exhibition.
It's open for four days, Thursday 3rd - Sunday 6th March and will have lots to do and see for all things creative. From dressmaking, patchwork, paper crafts, beading and jewelry making.

Alison Smith, from School of Sewing and Fabulous Fabrics (who also sells Janome machines) in Ashby-de-la-Zouch will be running workshops to add special finishing touches to your garments, including gathering, fabric flowers and binding... and also a fun workshop to make this fabric bowl to store your sewing threads. Workshops are run on first come first served basis, so make sure you get there early! For more information check out ICHF website.

Dionne Swift, is running ‘Devoré Dabbling’ workshops, and will have some of her textile art on display. Dionne runs regular embellisher and felting workshops from her studio in Huddersfield, check out her website for full information.

For more information on ICHF events around the UK, please check out their website.