Cutting Garden Quilts: Fabulous Fusible Flowers (That Patchwork Place) Review

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(More customer reviews)I notice that fusible web is being used more and more to make quilts. CUTTING GARDEN QUILTS is no exception. This book makes beautiful flower quilts using fusible web. They are extremely detailed and use thread painting to detail the flowers even further.
Melinda describes her working area and I can only wish I had something similar. A 6' x 4" cutting table is a dream of mine, right down to the 15 drawers to keep things organized and the ability to raise and lower the sewing tables. She also describes what tools/supplies you will need She is very detailed about how to get from a photograph to a quilt with the descriptions of making an outline drawing, enlarging it and choosing colors for the fabric. She includes information on painting with thread to make your quilts pop.
There are five quilts in the book, complete with the outline drawings ready for you to enlarge. Each project has a descriptive paragraph about the quilt subject. Then there is a materials list, assembling instructions, thread detail instructions and how to finish the quilt. A fabric key is also given which shows which color fabric and how much of that fabric is needed.
These are quilts that will take you more than a weekend to complete but will be a beautiful wall hanging when done.


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Use a simple paint-by-number process to create these gorgeous floral-appliqué quilts! A quick layer-and-fuse technique, along with step-by-step color placement tips, will have you quilting your own cutting garden in no time. *Five how-to patterns feature a rose, pansies, clematis, coneflowers, and apples; a photo gallery provides even more inspiration *Easy fusible designs feature numbered color charts--they'll help you choose the perfect hues *Learn how to use machine quilting to "paint" with thread, adding extra dimension and detail to each project

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Landscape Quilts Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been making landscape quilts for about a year and found this book inspirational in trying a new technique. Because it includes machine quilting, I was inspired to take a class. While I don't feel that I'll ever be the best machine quilter, I know enough to complete the quilting technique in this book. I am anxious to make my first quilt using this book. The idea is on paper and I am ready to implement it.
The pictures in this book are breathtaking and inspirational. Directions are easy to follow and include special "tip" squares on many of the pages. I highly recommend this book.

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Make gorgeous quilts without patterns or measurements. The projects include creating woodland scenes, creating water, sky, mountains and snow. - Getting started - Creating your own landscape quilt - Adding garden touches - - Cutting free-form shapes - Creating water, sky, mountains and snow - - Creating woodland scenes - Finishing touches - Exhibiting - Working spaces - * Quilting projects inspired by nature - flower gardens, the countryside, woodlands, lakes, mountains and sky. * In full colour: illustrated step-by-step with nearly 300 colour photographs, plus line drawings.

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Round Loom/ Hook Tool Review

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(More customer reviews)Welcome to the fabulous world of loom knitting (aka rake knitting, peg knitting, amish loom knitting or frame knitting)!
Pick up a skein of yarn, give yourself an hour or so to pick up this amazing (and easy) craft and off you go. You simply wrap the pegs according to the pattern, use the tool to bring one set of loops over or under another and you're knitting.
REALLY, that's just about all there is to it. It's fantastic.
Various companies make these (I have both these and the ones from In the Attic aka ITA). These are hard plastic, the ITA ones are a flexible molded rubber type of material, with some "give" to it as you work with them. I have not used the wooden ones, but hear they are beautiful and easy to work with.
Note this set of four looms comes with only one loom tool or pick, but I think the carry bag is nice.
Hats, scarves, booties, socks, mittens and sweaters, plus afghans and shawls--and the ever popular poncho--can all be done on these looms. You can do single or double knit, multiple color knitting, flat pieces or circular tubes--it's up to you.
Use furry yarn, sparkle yarns, worsted weight, baby weight etc---it all works with these looms! Most items require that you use two strands of yarn held together to make a tight enough knit stitch but the chunky yarns don't and since you use less of the chunky as a result it saves money.
There are lots of free patterns out there (try websites of loom makers such as Provo Craft, Decor Accents, Red Oak, In The Attic, etc, for starters). Some book titles for the loom are: Learn to Knit on Circle Looms, various pamphlets put out by Provo Craft, etc. Note that this set of four looms comes with only one basic hat pattern with one edging variation (you can make it in various sizes made on the different size looms) to get you started. You supply your own yarn.
There are frame, rake and knifty knitter loom knitting groups on yahoo and elsewhere where you will get invaluable help, see some member photos of completed projects and get free patterns.
Get an inexpensive machine knitting weight (or maybe use a metal fishing bob) and a plastic clothes pin, pin the clothespin to the non working yarn (the one that is usually called a tail, which is anchored to or tied to the knob on the side of the loom) and hang the weight from the hole in the center of the clothespin. Voila--less trouble with slipping yarn!
Note that the In The Attic looms have a push pin that you can either wind tightly around and push in on the side of their soft rubber looms, or on other brands of looms you can slip the yarn into a knob, or in a slit or notch on the side to hold it.
There is also a purple-colored, long, rake loom in the shape of a rectangle that Knifty Knitter makes, which is usually referred to as a rake or scarf board used for flat knitting that makes a double-thick reversible knitting fabric, if both rows of pegs are used, and a single thick fabric if one row of pegs (one side) is used. I have that, too!
Get them all!


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Knifty Knitter is a fun-filled, knitting program for the beginner, to expert knitter. The Knifty Knitter looms are lightweight, yet durable, and come in many sizes and shapes to provide hours of entertainment crafting your favorite knitted projects.

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Freestyle Machine Embroidery: Techniques and Inspiration for Fiber Art Review

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(More customer reviews)Carol Shinn is a master at freestyle machine embroidery and shares her techniques and methods for creating beautiful works of art with thread. Beginning with an overview to help the reader understand the process she moves into color mixing and how layering threads and understanding gradation can add depth, interest and complexity to your finished pieces. Then she takes you step by step through her process for creating a piece starting with choosing a subject right through to presenting and framing the finished piece. Clear close up photos of the steps make it easy to understand and follow the written directions and makes this book an invaluable resource for anyone wanting to explore or expand their knowledge of the techniques in this book. You'll find it hard not to be inspired by the wonderful clear color photos of Carol's work that appear throughout the book. This book is an outstanding guide to the art of freestyle machine embroidery. Highly recommended.

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Explore the possibilities of freestyle machine embroidery and its applications for quilting and fiber art with this inspirational guidebook for all skill levels. This overview of all the basic methods and stitches for each technique includes step-by-step photographs and illustrations, diagrams, close-ups of sample swatches, troubleshooting tips, and design guidance, altogether elevating crafters’ skills to an artistic level. Beginning with an introduction that includes a list of necessary supplies, chapters cover adjustingthread tension, understanding fabric distortion as it relates to stitching direction, and caring for a sewing machine. This comprehensive guide is sure to move crafters beyond the basics of the stitching process to using color and texture creatively in unique designs and professional-grade finishes.

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Janome FM-725 Needle Felting Machine By The Each Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a crafting tool, not a sewing machine, but if you like to needle felt, rug hook, crochet, etc. or other things that give you a lot of "fiber" materials in your crafting closet, this thing is marvy! You can take a piece of felt, burlap, muslin, and make tapestries and wall hangings with yarn, roving, bits and pieces of ribbon, etc. in half the time it would take to do it by hand. Although it will "join" materials together, it is not like an applique process where the pieces could potentillialy withstand a machine washing, so for garments you will probably need additional hand-sewing on elaborate creations. But -- it's fun and has "no rules" for use.

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The?FM-725 is a needle felting machine - it does not sew but uses barbed needles to mesh fabrics together. The fibers mingle to create new color and texture combinations that simply cannot be achieved with embroidery applique or any other kind of needlework. It doesn't require thread a bobbin or any previous sewing experience.FEATURES: Five-hole needle plate with five needle unit Single-hole needle plate Single needle unit Free arm capability Easy clean lint box See-through adjustable presser foot See-through finger guard Standard foot control Bright working light Durable construction Instructional DVD 110 volts This machine does not conform to International electronic codes. Warranty is voided outside the US.

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