My, What Big Paws You Have!

This is the kind of bear paw you won’t mind seeing around the house, quilters. This month’s block has been around for a long time, and comes in many variations. The Bear’s Paw probably originated from saw-tooth borders used by quilters, who then used the same methods to create quilt blocks, and was in use…

Enlightened Embroidery: The Thread’s the Thing

We’ve covered some important embroidery topics, like choosing and saving designs, and stabilizers. But what about thread? Thread is the heart and soul of embroidery, the thing that makes it, well, embroidery. Today, we continue our machine embroidery series with info and advice from two of our embroidery gurus, Pam and Sharon, on the whys…

Quilting Fuel: It’s Roasting in Here

We’re still falling for fall here at Your Needle & Me. Blame it on the pumpkin spice, or Halloween, or the holidays which are coming faster and faster. (We saw Christmas displays going up in stores before the end of September!) Fall is harvest time, and the turning of the seasons, and falling leaves, and…

Garment Gurus: Simple Steps to Choosing a Garment Pattern

You really want to sew something for yourself, but what? If you take a class, it’s easy, because the teacher decides for you. When you’re ready to strike out on your own, all those books and racks and drawers filled with patterns can be intimidating and confusing. Maybe you don’t feel comfortable with your pattern-reading ability, or…