It's Feature You Friday - check out this talent!

Good morning StitchStealers!

Today is our very first Feature You Friday!  We've got a great dress, made for a sweet girl, by StitchStealer Linda.

She used the Riley Blake My Mind's Eye Summer Song fabric to make this dress for her granddaughter (who just had a birthday yesterday!):

Here is a little bit of what Linda had to say about herself:

"I'm Linda -  the Mimi behind Custom Designs by Mimi - a company my daughter and I started 6 years ago. We have mostly made baby items, burp cloths, blankets, etc. until recently, when we started branching out to make clothes for my grandaughter. 

 Our FB page, Custom Designs by Mimi, is a peek into the boutique baby items we offer :) We have burp cloths, blankets, lovies, tutus, skirts and dresses  and toddler pillowcases"

Be sure to check out Linda's Facebook page at Custom Designs by Mimi  or her etsy shop at Custom Designs by Mimi Etsy Shop. 

And don't forget to send in those sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting and other fabric crafts, to blog@stitchsteals.com for consideration for future Feature You Fridays.  You don't have to be a blogger or business owner to participate, just a lover of StitchSteals and creator of fabulous things!  (And if you happen to be a cross-over customer of CraftySteals, send in those paper projects to blog@craftysteals.com.)

All of these adorable little girl things are inspiring me to pull my sewing machine out from the back of the closet...or maybe just do a little shopping with "Mimi." :)

Have a wonderful Friday and a great weekend!

Introducing Feature YOU Fridays - a day for YOU to showcase your talents!

Good morning StitchStealers!

Today we’re introducing a new weekly feature at the StitchSteals blog, called Feature You Fridays.

We want to be able to see your StitchSteals in action, and we want to be able to make the StitchSteals blog a place to share our talents with, and learn from, each other.   We would also LOVE to help you promote your business, website, blog or fabulous cause if you have one. So we’ve decided to have a day dedicated to you, our awesome StitchSteals customers and friends. 

Here’s how it is going to work:

1.  You choose a project (knitting, quilt, clothing, home decor, embroidery, etc.) that you want to show off – and have created using at least one StitchSteal.

2.  Email us a digital picture of your project to blog@stitchsteals.com, along with your name, email address, and the name of the StitchSteal(s) you used in your project.

3.  If we choose your project, we’ll contact you and get more information (maybe a short bio and any blog or website info if you have one). Then we will let you know when to look for your creation on our blog.

This will be an ongoing feature, not a one time contest. So when you create something you are proud of, tried a new technique that you want to share, decide to start that etsy shop, or want more blog readers, send a picture in! If you don’t hear from us that first week, don’t fret! We’ll be choosing our featured project each week from our entire pool of submissions (not just the ones received that week).

And if you are multi-talented, and like to play with paper, stickers, ink, beads, or stamps (which I suspect is true for MANY of you!), we will be having "Feature You Friday" on the blog for our sister site, CraftySteals.   If you have a project that you have made using a CraftySteal, we'd love to see your stuff over there too! To submit to CraftySteals' Feature You Fridays, please email your photos to blog@craftysteals.com

We are so excited to be able to learn from you and see all of wonderful things you are creating with your StitchSteals! 

How to make your own Recycled T shirt

Hi StitchStealers!

If you follow me on CraftySteals.com at all you know that I have a little bit of an obsession with t-shirts...I love to make them, wear them and dress my family in them! So I screenprint and use heat transfer vinyl but special for you guys I decided to sew one!

Now I am by no means a seamstress, in fact making this shirt was probably the first time my trusty machine has been used in at least 6 years (I know because my oldest son is almost 6 and I definitely have not used it since he has been born).

So my lesson for today is making a Valentine's Recycled T-shirt. So I took a new "distressed" shirt that I found online and a too small kid's shirt that was in my "to donate" bin and made a cute, inexpensive & earth friendly shirt for me to wear to all my Valentine's parties (i.e. a 4 year old & a kindergarten class party).

Step 1: Cut your shape out of the "recycled" t-shirt. I made a pattern but it could be freehanded.

Step 2: Cut the same shape only about 1/4 smaller on some iron on stabilizer. Then iron on the stabilizer to your shape. This just help keep the fabric from stretching and sagging whenever I sewed it on. I used this but I am sure there are many different varieties that would work.

Step 3: Sew the shape on with contrasting thread, I used white. I placed mine on the back of the shirt but anything goes.

Step 4: You are done! I did decide to add some strips to the sleeves just to add a little bit more color. I just cut some fabric and sewed it on, no need for stabilizer.

I have plans to make a few more shirts...so I will post them as I create them if you all are interested in seeing more.

Enjoy!

Stephanie

So what is Needle Felting?

Needle felting is a quick and easy way to add embellishment to plain felted knitting. What needle felting does is fuse another layer of fiber (be it wool roving, wool yarn, or another piece of felt) onto the base fiber or felted fabric. The same technique can be used to make felted shapes, but for our purposes as knitters working the fiber into a base fabric is the most common use.

To begin needle felting you'll need to gather a few supplies, which are available today on www.StitchSteals.com!

• a needle felting mat which allows the needles to go through the fiber and beyond without damaging the needles or the surface below
• a needle felting tool, either a single needle or a tool which has four needles inside a plastic sleeve
• wool roving in various colors, or wool yarn or cut out pieces of felt
• a felted swatch to practice on or your piece of felted knitting

(from about.com, by Sarah E. White)

Here are some videos from Clover on using today's Needle Felting tools & molds:

Have a fantastic day!

Stephanie

So if you are considering purchasing the FabriCalc, here are a few videos showing how it works and all the fantastic functions that are available at your fingertips...literally ;)

Happy Black Friday!

Stephanie

We have Holiday Yarn!

We are pleased to announce the arrival of Lion Brand Holiday Homespun Yarn....look for it tomorrow!

Also, Lion Brand has hundreds of free patterns online (including those pictured below), check them out at: http://www.lionbrand.com/

We would love to see what you create, please share your photos with us!

Have a great holiday week!

Stephanie

Here is some information on Tuesday's Steal....Vinyl Wall Art by EAD designs.

Applying/Removing

Application Instructions

1. Surface Preparation

Use a tape measure or ruler to determine the exact area where the quote/graphic will be placed. It is a good idea to draw a horizontal line, or use masking tape or painters tape for a guide. Make sure your surface is clean and smooth. The vinyl can be installed just about anywhere you want to put them. Painted walls (light and medium texture work fine, including knock down and orange peel) ,wood, furniture, ceramic tile, metal, glass, porcelain, painted brick, wallpaper, bathroom sinks, showers, doors, hardy plank, mail boxes, and much more.

2. Prepare Quote

Some quotes/graphics will come rolled up because of the length. Unroll and let it sit flat until it stops trying to roll itself up again. The vinyl is sandwiched between transfer tape and backing. You want the vinyl to stick to the transfer tape. Before peeling the back paper off, burnish (rub) the surface of the transfer tape to ensure the vinyl is adhered solidly to the transfer tape. (letters may pull away from the transfer tape during shipping)

3. Application

Flip the quote/graphic over a carefully peel the backing away from the quote on an angle, which should remain on the transfer tape. If some of the vinyl sticks to the backing, replace the backing and the vinyl to the tape and rub it again so it sticks to the transfer tape instead. Place the taped vinyl on the prepared surface using your guide or tape to position your vinyl correctly. *The quote cannot be repositioned once it is on your surface, so be careful to line it up where you want it.

4. Burnishing

Using the application stick or credit card carefully and press any air bubbles out from underneath the words. Burnish again and apply more pressure over the entire area.

5. Transfer Tape Removal

CAREFULLY peel back the transfer tape on an angle leaving the vinyl on your surface, If the vinyl tried to come up with the transfer tape, place the tape back on the surface and burnish that area again until the vinyl sticks to your surface.

6. Enjoy your vinyl design creation!

Removal

Removal of your Quotes/Graphics is easy: use a blow dryer over the vinyl and peel them off the surface.

*E.A.D DESIGNS can not be held responsible for damage to paint or any surface. We speak from our experience, and cannot insure that all experiences will be the same.

Q. What exactly is vinyl lettering?
A. Vinyl lettering is a pre-pasted, pre-spaced, individually cut letter /saying that gives the look of hand painted stenciling but without the hassle and time. It is very easy to apply and take off and is a beautiful way to decorate any room in your home or office. Our Lettering and Graphics are made only from High Quality Vinyl

Q. Will lettering stick to any surface?
A. Lettering works great on painted walls, glass, mirrors, metal, tile, paper, wood, most wallpaper, etc. The “orange peel” walls work fine if they are not too lumpy.

Q.Can I re-use my saying?
A. Once you have removed your lettering it cannot be re-used.

Q. How do I clean around my saying?
A. Carefully wipe with a clean cloth as you would for painted stenciling.

Q. Can Vinyl letters be used outside?

A. Our vinyl can be used outdoors. Some examples of outdoor use include car windows or car doors, outdoor equipment, mailboxes, store windows and banners. Our vinyl has a five-six year outdoor life.

If applying vinyl to an outdoor surface, be sure that the temperature is at least 50 degrees. If the application surface is too cold, the vinyl will not adhere properly and will peel off.