Martha's Heirlooms
306
West Main St.
Mason, OH 45040
Hours:
Tuesday thru Thursday 10 - 4
Saturday 10 -3
1-888-277-6432
513-229-7340
heirlooms@fuse.net
Scan to bottom of page for article on Smocking with Corduroy
New Location:
306 West Main St.
Mason, Ohio 45040
3 Blocks West of my old location on Main St. Located on
the Plaza in Old Mason.
Parking in rear of building off of North West St. or across from the Plaza. A
fabulous
shop!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Check out the close-out page of the web. Stop in the shop for
additional
sale items.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cross Stitch Merchant Mall!!!
Now you can shop online using the Hoffman Distributing
website.
Click onto the link below.
You can order any items from the
Hoffman Site and they will be sent to you
through me or you can pick them up at
the shop.
Enjoy browsing
ENTER
MERCHANT MALL
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
**Now Available**
Kits for dresses. Includes all fabric, trims, buttons, smocking
design and pattern.
To see dresses available go to Kits
Page
We do custom pre constructed garments
that are ready to smock.
Choose your fabric,
smocking design pattern
__________________________________
Classes:
Basic Smocking: Learn a combination of basic stitches in this beginner class
while smocking on a pleated inset. Learn cables, trellis, flowerettes, lazy
daisy
French knots, outline and stem stitch. 9/7 11-2
$20.00
Pleater Basics: Learn to pleat insets, yoke dresses, bishop
necklines, curves along
pleater care and tips to get the best success in pleating. 9/7 6-9pm $22.00
Appliqué Jumper: Using Featherwale corduroy fabric and Ellen
McCarn's Appliqué
you will learn basic appliqué techniques while making a button on the
shoulder
Jumper for back to school, holidays, or just for everyday. Class
Fee: $25.00. Kit fee
$45.00 (includes appliqué of your choice, Featherwale cord, lining fabric, buttons,
pattern,
stabilizer and Sulky threads for appliqué.) 2 weeks. 9/29 and 10/6 6-9pm.
Silk Ribbon Embroidered Sewing Hussif: This will be an
ongoing class for the
next few months. Using the book Silk Sewing Hussif from Beverly Sheldrick.
You will learn silk ribbon embroidery stitches while making a silk dupioni
sewing
hussif (case) that has zippered pockets, scissor holder, needle book,
pincushion,
tape measure case, and more. A fun and beautifully detailed
project. Kit $85.00.
(includes book, silk ribbon, silk dupioni color of your choice, floss, floche,
zippers,
buttons, and all other supplies used to make the hussif.)
Class Fee: $15.00 per
session. Tuesday 9/14 6-9pm or 11-2.
Heirloom Sewing Basics: In this note book class you will learn
the basics of Heirloom
Sewing including French seams, joining laces, entredeux, puffing, twin
needle pintucks,
and tips on laces, fabrics and more. Machine required. 9/15
6-9 or 11-2. 23.00
Quilt Catch Up: Have you missed a class or need help
finishing your quilt squares?
This class will help you to get caught up and finish up embroidery and
more. 9/18 11-2 or
Saturday . $20 for missed class and kit.
No charge for finishing up squares.
Paper Doll Quilt: This ongoing class will have you
making one
square per month of a different dress embellished with smocking or
embroidery. This is a fun project that can be put into a child's quilt
or
wall hanging. 9/28 11-2 or 6-9pm $20.00. 10/2
11-2 (Saturday)
This is a sample of
a paper doll
quilt that was made by the Queen City Chapter of SAGA
==============================================================================================
Interested in swatches: Let me know by e-mail
what fabrics you would like to see and the
swatches will be sent.
Be sure to
include your mailing address.
There are so many that I am unable to scan due to
the pale color.
=======================================================================
New Fabrics:
New Books, Patterns, and Merchandise:
Mother of Pearl Thread Keeps, Thread Rings, Rulers and
Needle Minders
See our notions page for other mop items and needle
minders
Fish Thread Winders. 3 per pack $8.50
Crown Needle minder $9.50
Hummingbird Needle minder $9.50
Hearts a Fire Needle minder $9.50
Daisy Thread rings $8.00
Strawberry Thread Keep $9.00
Needle Box Kits: A best Seller for gifts or for yourself.
From Charted Imagery. These are too
cool. These are fabric covered boxes that house your
needles,
scissors, thimble or whatever.
When the lid is lifted they open out
flat. Easy to follow instructions. Pre cut mat board ready
to cover
with your fabric.
Treasure Box.
$6.50
See our Needle Box Page for
more kits
New Smocking Designs:
Cross Eyed Cricket: $4.50 ea.
Bunny Bishop Bunny Buggies
Eggceptional Elephant Wash
ABC's for me Work Zone
Let them Roll Sweet Treats Santa Deer
New Books and Magazines
Kari
Mecca: More Sewing with Whimsey. $29.95. More
of Kari's fabulous
techniques of embellishment.
A - Z of Heirloom Sewing: $34.50. Finally the book we've been
waiting for. Loaded with photographs of heirloom sewing
techniques and tips for the
heirloom sewer. A must for your A-Z library.
Sew Cute Couture: Gail Doan: $22.99 Gail Doan who
is regularly featured in AS&E has published this book with darling embellished
jackets
and dresses. Patterns, detailed embroidery instructions, and smocking designs
included.
Little Blessings: Beverly Sheldrick, $24.95. This book
is loaded
with silk ribbon embellished dresses, bonnets and booties. Patterns range
from preemie
to 24 months. Beautiful colored pictures with detailed instructions.
144 pages.
Australian Smocking and Embroidery
#91. $17.00.
Inspirations
#67: $17.00.
Creating Heirlooms for Babies; $25.00 now reprinted.
New Patterns
Creations
By Michie: Sundress $12.00
Smocked or gathered skirt, button on the shoulder.
Bonnie
Blue: Elly's Skirt $12.00
Bonnie
Blue: Bridget: $12.00
Frannie
by Lyn Weeks now Reprinted: $12.00. Size 6mo - 4. Larger
size Frannie 5-8
in stock also.
Aimee:
Bonnie Blue: Size 3 - 10. $12.00. Shorts, top or halter or
sundress. Variations
of neckline.
Savannah:
Pinafore and Sun Top: Karen Faylor: Sizes 1-6, $15.00. This
darling pattern has bloomers or shorts.
two buttons in back with a ruffled hemline, Two lengths.
Love
and Stitches: c1940 French Finery: Size 1-3. $15.00. This
pattern has a raglan
sleeve coat, with scalloped collar, bonnet and child's size purse.
Jacqueline:
Children's Corner Size 2-6 or 7-12. $12.00. This stylish
frock buttons down the
back has a piped round yoke and a-line skirt. Surely a hit with your hard
to sew for girls.
Kamryn: Desert Designs. $12.50: Size Infant Sm. -
Lg. This is a short
Matinee jacket and bonnet that has touch of smocking on the bodice and sleeves.
Classic
Couture: Evening Elegance, Misses and Women's sizes. $12.00.
A
classy jacket with just a touch of smocking below the waist line.
Classic
Couture: Summer Fun: Size 1-6. $12.00. A sweet
little sundress
that features a smocked inset and angel sleeves.
Maja's Heirlooms: Silas: Size 1-10, $10.00.
Maja's Heirlooms: Felix, Size 6 mo - 4 or 5-10
$10.00 Boys button up
shirt and pants.
Creations
By Michie: Smocked Bishop #135, Size Newborn - 5 $12.00. This
bishop dress
has short or long sleeves with variations of finishing. Front or back
opening. Smocking
design included.
Madison: Size 12mo - 4yr or 5-8, $12.00 This Jumper/dress is
fully lined
with buttoned back. Dress can be shortened for a top with knee
length pants and
ruffle.
Ashley: Size 2 - 10yr. $12.00. This Jumper/dress has
low elastic back with an
easy fit. The swing style skirt is fitted without
gathers for a smooth look. Shoulder
has ribbon ties, or center back
straps. Too cute for a layered look.
Jacob's Button on Play Suit. Size 12mo - 5yr. $12.00. This is
a fully lined shoulder button
play suit in two lengths. Two piece front
includes waist band and optional pockets.
Great for machine embroidery.
Jordan's Jumper and Dress: Size 12 mo - 6yr. $12.00. This
jumper or summer dress
has front and back yokes and unlined skirts. There
are variations on pockets and shoulder ruffles.
********************************************************************
Now Available: Bonnet Kits: $12.00
each:
Smocked Bonnet Kit: Includes instructions, fabric,
pleating, ribbon floss, laces. Your choice
of floss colors .
Fabric
and lace are white. All construction has been done.
Just Smock, Add ties
and wrap. A great take along project.
Heirloom Hankie Bonnet. Colors Yellow, white, blue, pink. Includes
linen,
entredeux, lace or tatting, ribbon,
instructions, and poem for hankie
bonnet gift.
Beginners Smocked Ornament Kit
Kit includes pleated fabric, floss, beads, needles, ribbon,
ball for 1 ornament and instructions for 3 different
ornament designs for you to choose from.
$12.00 each includes shipping.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Now Available at Martha's:
Stamped embroidery pillow
cases, dresser scarves and towels
Kits for smocked or appliquéd outfits
or Ready to Smock Bishops
=====================================================================================================
Queen City Chapter of SAGA
The Queen City Chapter of SAGA would like you to be our
guest:
We have an active Smocking Guild that meets
monthly and offers educational programs as well as the
friendship of those who
share the same sewing and needlework interest.
We have exciting things
planned for the next year and would love to include new members in our guild.
We meet at 7:30 pm on the 2nd Thursday of the month at Martha's Heirlooms,
306 W. Main St. Mason, Ohio For more information on SAGA, log
onto SAGA's website www.smocking.org
For more information on our local guild in Cincinnati, which has a lot to
offer its members e-mail me at heirlooms@fuse.net
===============================================================================
Smocking with Corduroy
by
Martha J. Bailey
Corduroy has been a long time favorite for children's clothing. It is
durable, warm, soft and can make a
special play or dressy garment. The colors available are beautiful and the
featherwale (21 wale per inch)
gives the appearance of a velveteen. Featherwale corduroy is easy to pleat,
smock, and care for. In
working with corduroy for several years in sewing children’s smocked clothing
I have learned a lot, mostly
from trial and error. These are a few tips of mine to help give you the best
results.
Cutting out:
Nap up or down: What ever way you cut your fabric make sure all
pieces have the nap of the corduroy facing
the same direction. Some people prefer to cut with the nap going up (smooth side
of nap) and some prefer
it going down. I have found the the color of the corduroy will be richer with
the wale going up and you won’t
have shiny areas after many wears at knees, backs of skirts and places that the
nap would have more pressure
with wear. Most people love the feel of the nap going down so what ever you
prefer is correct.
Pleating:
Wale side up: When pleating corduroy pleat with the wale side facing
up as you feed the fabric through the pleater.
When the needles go through the fabric they will pierce the fabric and not the
nap of the wale. If you pleat with
the wale down you will have the increased chance of having skipped pleats.
Pleating wale side up will solve this
problem.
Moiré effect: When corduroy is pleated you will get a moiré effect.
Once the corduroy is smocked and blocked the
moiré effect is not as apparent. If you do not want this effect I
usually suggest that an inset is used of the corduroy.
Especially if doing a yoke dress or a jumper. Pleat an inset of the corduroy and
smock on the wrong (un-wale side)
of the fabric inset. You will still get the matching color but not the moiré.
Picture smocking: When picture smocking on corduroy is desired, pleat
an inset of the corduroy and smock on the
wrong side of the corduroy. You will not have the moiré effect and the coverage
should be sufficient with four
strands of floss. It is difficult to get neat picture smocked figures when
working with a wale fabric. Note that the
pleats are fatter than if using a broadcloth so figures will be larger. You will
also have less pleats to work with
due to the thickness of the fabric so adjustments may have to be made to your
design.
Geometric Smocking: I will usually use four strands of floss to allow
for coverage over the wale of the fabric and
thickness of the pleats. You may get better coverage if you use Floche.
Construction: Featherwale corduroy is fine enough to make
mini-piping for contrast. Corduroy will flake off so
seams should be finished with a zig-zagged or French seam. I usually will do
French seams on my corduroy
garments easily without too much bulk.
Pressing: When pressing corduroy press with the wrong side up so that
the iron does not flatten the wale of
the fabric. A pressing cloth may also be used for pressing.
Bishops with Corduroy: Bishops are easily made with corduroy. When I
cut out a bishop from corduroy I will
take 2" out of the center front, center back and center of sleeves. (Ellen
McCarn Ultimate Bishop) The corduroy
pleats are fatter than with lighter weight fabrics and less fabric is needed at
the neckline. (If you have too much
heavy fabric at the bishop neckline it may be difficult to pull pleats up tight
enough to get the neck band on.
(You may need to eliminate less fabric if other bishop patterns are used. The
Ultimate Bishop is a very full bishop.)
To construct my bishop neckline before pleating I will usually sew sleeve
seams right sides together, trim to 1/8"
and overcast with a small zig-zag. This will allow the seams to pass easily
through the pleater, (Note: I have found
that serged seams and French seams with corduroy are too heavy and large to go
through the pleater.
Hopefully these tips will help you with your construction and smocking of
corduroy garments. The fabric is wonderful
to work with and your little ones will love wearing it. If you have any
questions or need a source for corduroy you may
contact me at Martha’s Heirlooms, 306 West Main St. Mason, Ohio 45040
513-229-7340 or 1-888-277-6432 or by email at
heirlooms@fuse.net www.marthasheirlooms.com
