Poinsettias on the Table

This is just a fun Xmas version of my `Flowers on the Table` pattern.  I did take the snowman vignettes and center them in each of the blocks.  This added a variation to the pattern which I have now included.  If you already have the pattern please contact me and state where you got it and i will forward the additional instructions to you. The full pattern is available on my website store.

`Flowers on the Table`

This is a serger take on Cathedral Window Blocks.  It is quick and easy and there is not snipping and turning.  Block is complete as soon as it is sewn.  This pattern also includes working with wire on the fabric flowers.  This pattern  is an immediate download on my webstore.

Fish Placemat

This is a super fun Serger Project (although instructions include making it all on the sewing machine too).  Techniques include 3 thread wave with Decorative threads, Decorative edged Prairie points.  Quilting can be done with Chain stitch and Decorative thread or on your sewing machine.  Available on my website store as a download.

American Sewing Expo, Novi, Michigan

23rd - 25th September 2016

http://www.americansewingexpo.com

I am excited to be attending this event and teaching two classes and 3 Presentations.

Kaffe Fasset Robe

Friday 8.30am - 12.30pm

This robe is totally made on the Serger.  It is a fun easy project and great for beginners. Kit provided.

`Serger Leggings`

Sunday 8.30am - 10.30am

Super quick and super easy.  How to make leggings on the serger.

There are limited places available for these classes.  The sergers are kindly provided by Babylock.   Please go to www.americansewingexpo.com to book your place.

Creative Tote Bag on the Serger

This tote bag is really a sampler.  Each panel represents a different stitch or technique.  On the completion of all the panels it can be sewn together to form this decorative Tote Bag.

Techniques include putting in a zip with Decorative Flatlock stitch, using the Ruffler Foot, ALLthe serger stitches, weaving in flatlock, quilting with chain stitch, pintucks, imitation piping, piping, serger crochet and lots and lots of lovely 8 weight decorative thread.  Mainly  Sue Spargo Razzle and Dazzle and Wonderfil Sizzle, YLI Candlelight, Pearl Crown and Designer 7.  

Please note that the black and white flowers are designed by Jennie Rayment who kindly gave me permission to use them in my pattern.

There is a 50 page downloadable Tutorial for this bag available on my website store, `Creative Tote Bag`.  

I am excited to announce

 that I am now selling

 some of the heavier decorative thread

that I love to use on my serger!

Please Check out my website store

and read my article on the 

page

`Creative Threads`

How to get the Triple Cover Decorative stitch used in ready made exercise wear

 

 

I have added a video to my Tutorials page on how to serge Triple Cover Stitch on exercise wear as seen in ready made garments.

 

  The advantage of this seam is that the seam is flat and causes no chaffing.  It is also a quick and easy method and is economical on fabric. 

 

The Decorative under side of Cover Stitch can be seen on the right side of the garment and  the raw edge is enclosed under the stitching.

 

Simplicity 1332A.  I just do not do hemming on frills...I always use a decorative thread and a rolled hem. 

 

 In this case I used Wonderfil Eleganza from the Sue Spargo range which I sell in my website store.  I particularly like the Sue Spargo range because all the colors are chosen by an artist, Sue Spargo which I think makes this range so colorful and exciting.

 

  Eleganza is 100% cotton so ideal on clothing and the thickness is #8.  It sews perfectly if you use it in the Upper or Lower Loopers. 

 

 In this case I used it in the Upper Looper with a Rolled Edge stitch.  The variegated color mix is `Go-Getter`. 

 

 I cannot resist the variegated mixes.

 

 



 

 

 

 



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.