Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday

The above quilt measures 30 inches by 30 inches.  All the baubles and packages are embellished with serger stitches and decorative threads.  The pink fabric bow has a rolled edge and wire, the beads on the orange gift are made on the serger and the silver spirals on the pink and purple gift are also serger made.  Each of the baubles has a different serger stitch or process.  What really makes it fun is the threads!!

Rather than add a binding I used Wave stitch to edge the quilt.

Chain stitch, flatlock, Rolled edge with wire, fabric beads, prairie points and wave stitch.

Chain stitch, top and bottom, serger crochet, wave stitch

Thread covered wire spirals, 3 thread decorative, flatlock weave.

 

 

 

Creative Tote bag on Serger

 

 

 

 

 

This is a new class I am offering.  The aim is to use all of the stitches that the serger can do using Decorative Threads and making sample panels which are all joined together to make this tote.  It also includes some techniques like putting in a zip with Decorative Flatlock and using the Elastic, ruffle and Cording feet.  It is a great class to learn to play with the machine.  The lovely fabric flowers are from Jennie Rayments book `Serging for Softies` and she kindly gave me permission to use them.  There are more pictures in my Gallery 2 on my website at www.debcanhamstudio.com  Threads are YLI Designer 7, Candlelight, Pearl Crown and Wonderfil Sizzle, Razzle and Dazzle.   All fabulous fun threads.



Making Necklaces on the Serger

 

 

`Fabric Frenzy`

 

This necklace is made from `Kaffe Fasset` fabric using 3 Thread rolled narrow hem and wire.  The threads are YLI Candlelight and Wonderfil Razzle.

 

 

 

 

`Spool Candy`

 

This necklace again uses 3 thread Narrow hem and wire.  The thread is YLI Quilt Highlights which is a Hand dyed Organic Cotton.  It is a braid rather than a `thread`. 

 

I thought the actual spools of thread were just so pretty that I decided to `miniaturize` them and make them into beads.  The spiral beads are made of wire and covered with the same thread.  Please note: this braid is about as thick as you want to go in the Upper Looper.  I used a thread carrier to thread it into the machine so as not to damage my machine.  There is a pattern available in my store.

Serger Sanity Part 3

 

This class is only suitable for the Babylock Ovation and Evolution

 

This is a One day class that I teach which includes `Cover Stitch and Chain` and the fun feet that work with them.  Hemmers, Double Fold Bias, Belt Loop Binder, Pin tuck Foot and Downturn Fellers.  We examine Cover Stitch and Chain and working with stretch.

 

There is a 29 page Downloadable workbook and 20 Videos.

 

 

Price $40 and available from the store at www.debcanhamstudio.com

 

 

Serger Sanity Part 1 & 2

 

I teach a 3 day Serger class which is aimed at owners of the following Babylock sergers.

Ovation, Evolution, Enlighten, Imagine and Eclipse.

 

However, I belong to a number of social networking groups which discuss the serger and understand that there are a number of people who have never been able to attend a class and struggle to use their machines. 

 

Therefore I have written a 71 page Workbook which covers Serger threading, stitch, use of many of the feet and serger techniques.  However, some of us find it much easier to actually `see` what it is we have to do.  I have included 37 Videos which give information on everything from identifying your machine, needles, how to thread all the stitches and  tricks and tips.  The videos are accessed through a link to Vimeo and can be watched as many times as you like via your computer.  The Workbook can be downloaded and printed.

 

Price $60 available from the store at www.debcanhamstudio.com

 

 

 

 



 

Bath Robe design made entirely on the serger

 

Every year the store where I teach regularly has a `Retreat`.  This year it is being held on the 10,11,12th November at Charlotte Harbor Event Center, Punta Gorda, FL 33950.  For more information check their website at:-

www.sewworthit.com

 

Last year I designed and taught a class to make the above bath robe.  Did I mention anywhere that I collect Kaffe Fassett fabric too!

 

It was only challenging because it had to be done in four hours (3.5 if you include breaks).  Something I have never quite come to terms with when teaching a class is people not finishing.  I feel I have failed them if we do not have a finished piece to take home.  However, I am thrilled to say that absolutely everyone got to the final Cover Stitch Hem.  A few preferred to take it home and use their sewing machine.

 

This pattern is available in the store at www.debcanhamstudio.com and includes instructions for working on any serger.

Serger Cover to fit the Babylock Evolution

 

A couple of years ago I was challenged by my local store owner Sue Greenberg of `Sew Worth It, Sarasota, FL` to design a class for the Evolution and Ovation Sergers.  The idea was to use teach owners how to get the most from their serger. 

 

 

On this panel we used the elastic foot to make a pocket , 3 thread Narrow Hem with wire on the flowers and bow.  We also made some fun little fabric beads.

 

On this section we used Flatlock stitch into which we weaved ribbon and then a flower braid.  Thee is a zipped pocket.  A puffing panel and imitation piping.  On the top we have a lettuce stitched stretch edge and lastly on the right we have a decorative chain stitch.

 

This section included an edged pocket, prairie points with decorative thread, a ruffle with wave stitch and narrow hem and lastly Decorative Pintucks.

The fourth side has some `not quite` log cabin using wave stitch and the top panel is all about heirloom lace techniques.

 The top section can be seen most clearly in the first picture but here it is not quite finished.  We used a rolled hem stitch to finish fabrics and then wove them into a panel.  We made rouleau for the buttons which we later attached and finally a decorative strap and bows.

This project is available in the store att www.debcanhamstudio.com  in 5 downloadable modules.  The size will only fit an Evolution and not an Ovation.

 

 



Who Am I?

 

I am the owner of a Pfaff Creative Sensation, a couple of Featherweights, a 301, a Bernina, and Elna and Simplicity Sergers and finally a Babylock Ovation Serger.  I have forever, loved to sew and I am not limited in what I like to do with it.   My greatest fear is that I will not get all my sewing projects done in this one lifetime and that I will not have owned all the threads, fabrics and machines I want either!!!  But, it is not from the lack of trying.

 

My mother was a tailor and I learned to sew at an early age, partly because my mother would always buy me a pattern and fabric and rarely a finished dress.   I have always been an avid garment maker but I like the challenge of making lots of different things.  I have always been a designer and my projects go in all sorts of different directions from toys, clothes, quilts to garments.

 

Inevitably, I ended up sewing for a living. In my early years when I lived in the UK my early work was featured by the Pfaff Sewing Machine Company and they supplied me with machines. 

 

For 20 years I organized and ran a factory in China and travelled out there 3-4 times a year to develop new product and advance training.  I also worked with garment factories out there where we improved systems to perfect the quality of sewn items.

 

I have been a Sewing Educator since the early 80`s and have taught classes in Germany, UK and USA.    I am also a trained `Palmer Pletsch Fit and Serger teacher.` 

 

While I enjoy all aspects of sewing I do have a fascination with the Serger.  They can do so much.  I have always used them to finish seams and work with knits but I love the fact that you can use thicker yarns and wire.  So not only do I have a large fabric stash, I have a large thread stash too.

 

I belong to social networking sites re the serger and am disappointed to read that so many people have sergers and never actually use them or if they do limit themselves to just finishing edges.  I understand there is a lot to learn given all the different threading set ups but it truly is worth taking time to conquer these machines.

 

Now I am semi retired from travelling to China I have my life exactly as I want it.  I can be found in my sewing room where I still work on miniature dragons, mice and bears but also other sewn projects.  Of late, I have concentrated on the serger in a desperate attempt to find ways to encourage people to learn and enjoy these awesome machines.