Wardrobe Menders

With winter starting to take hold in Melbourne we've added a few new items to our wesite range to help you keep you winter wardrobe looking smart. Firstly we have added to our "Mending Patches" range. We have our very popular range of mending patches which are great for repairing tears in jeans, trousers and skirts. Click on this link to view the patches http://www.craftgate.com.au/products/Iron-On-Mending-Patches.html 

Also very popular are the time old Mending Plaits of Wool, avaliable in 5 colourways. And cards of Mending Wool/Nylon. These are great for repairs to your woollen jumpers,scarves and cardigans. Click on the following link to view these items. http://www.craftgate.com.au/products/Mending-Wool-Plaits-%3A.html  and  http://www.craftgate.com.au/products/Mending-Wool%7B47%7D-Nylon-.html

Just added to our mending range are a range of Pressure sensitive Nylon Patches. These patches which are sized 7.62cms x 17.78cm are paper backed. Thus to use one needs to cut the patch to size required peel off the paper backing and apply to area to be covered. These are idea for mending parkas, tents and bags. These patches are designed not to be ironed, washed only in cold water and allow to drip dry. They are avaliable in two different colour ways, the first being Sand/Kaki/Brown/Grey and the second White/Black/Red/Navy. At $2.50 per packet great to have on hand for those emergencies. Click on the following link to view this range of patches. http://www.craftgate.com.au/products/Pressure-Sensative-Nylon-Patches.html

Another new product just recently added to our mending range are Iron On Menders. These packets of patches come in groups of  4 patches in 4 colourways per packet. The patches are sized  5.08cms x 7.62cms and are applied by simply ironing in place. Click on the following link to view http://www.craftgate.com.au/products/Iron-On-Menders.html

Lastly we have in our range Protective Elbow Patches. These are designed to be sewn onto the the elbows of jackets and cardigans to protect and extend the life of the elbow areas of your garments. Click on the following link to view http://www.craftgate.com.au/products/Protective-Elbow-Patches-.html  Avaliable in 5 different colours of Navy, Fawn, Brown White and Black and priced at $9.10 per pair.

With these 5 different ways of maintaining your wardrobe you will certainly prolong the life of your garments and accessories, and save money.

Cheers

Suzanne

Block Of The Month

“Around The World”

This block is constructed of squares 2 1/4inches in size. It is the placement of the different rounds of colour that leads to the name “Around The World”

Step 1: Cut 4 strips, lengthwise across the fabric, 2 1/4inches wide. 4different colours are utilized for this block.

Step2: Cut each strip into 2 1/4inch squares.

Step 3: Lay down your centre block and 4 blocks around it, as per picture.

Step 4: Continue to lay squares of fabric around the middle square as per the following pictures.

Step5:

Step 6: After the 3^rd round the corners need to be filled in...as per the following pictures.

Step 7: Your block laid out will resemble to some degree the following picture.

Step 8: Each row will need to be sewn together, sew each block of the row together with a straight stitch and a 1/4inch seam

:Step 9: Once all blocks have been sewn into rows the rows need to be sewn together utilizing a 1/4inch seam.

Hint: When sewing the seams together always have the seams in the first row going 1 way as in the first photo the seams are going to the right. Then in the next row the seams are going in the opposite direction,to the left. This helps ensure the seams met neatly on the front of your quilt, as in photo 3. Also ensures there are no lumpy intersections on the front of your quilt which can distort the final quilting process and you will not have a flat laying quilt.

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May Newsletter
What a month April has been for Craft Gate. Jenny and l started the month with a stand at the Australian Quilt Convention, it was fantastic to met so many of our online customers and viewers of the TV show Suzan Is Craft. We ended the month with a stand at the Shepparton Show which certainly kept us busy meeting many new customers and sharing our quilting projects. May will see both Jenny and myself at the Sale Show which is being held over the weekend ot the 11th -13th May. There we will be launching a new addition to our business the inclusion of Sue Daley Designs. Sue Daleys Designs focus on the art of  ' English Paper Piecing' Patchwork and Needleturn Applique. Over the next few weeks we will be adding kits and equipment for such techniques to the website.

Sale Show

Catholic College Stadium

51-53 Desaily Street

Friday 11th May to Sunday 13th May

10.00am to 5.00pm

Another new product that we have added to our website that has everyone talking is Quilters Muslin. This range of Muslin is called 'Emma Louise'. It is made in Japan has a very high thread count, 100% cotton and comes in 32 colours. Measurment is 110cm wide by 15 metre lengths. Click on the following link to view the avaliable colour range http://www.craftgate.com.au/products/Quilters-Muslin-By-Emma-Louise..html

Suzan Is Craft is now being screened, on Channel 31, concurrently in 4 states thru out Australia, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane. Do refer to your TV guide for screening times.

To help bet the recent postage increases til the 9th May we have a 15% Off all items in our Knitting N Crochet category. A great opportunity to stock up on all your Knitting needs ready for the winter months.

Kindest Regards
Suzanne

Knitting N Crochet Sale

15% Off All Knitting and Crocheting Supplies

Till 9th May

Fill In Coupon Code Box At Point Of Ordering To Receive Discount.

Coupon Code: VNCGJ1N89BF

Click On The Following Link To View  http://www.craftgate.com.au/categories/Knitting-Needles-N-Crochet-Hooks./

Block Of The Month; Railway Fence; 6inch block

I have had a enquiry from a fellow patchworker who wishes to make smaller blocks for block of the month the fabric cuts for a 6 1/2inch block that will be 6inches when sewn into the sampler are as follows. Cut the 3 strips of fabric required 1 1/2 inches wide and sew together as per instructions. Then cut this new strip into 3 1/2 inch blocks. Sew these blocks together as per instructions
Do let me know how it goes, l shall endevour to work the other blocks as 12 inch blocks and 6 inch blocks.....now you have really set me a challenge.
To view the full instructions for block of the month for the month of February click on the following link
http://suzaniscraft.wordpress.com/category/block-of-the-month-for-2012/
or
http://www.craftgate.com.au/pages/Block-Of-The-Month%3B-Railway-Fence.html
Cheers
Suzanne
www.craftgate.com.au
http://suzaniscraft.wordpress.com/
http://craftingblogger.blogspot.com.au/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/craftgate/?yguid=466142850

Product Information: Sewing Machine Needles

Craft Gate
Product Information

Machine Sewing Needles.

It is important to choose the correct sized needle for the fabrics you are sewing. Generally speaking the finer the fabric being sewn the finer the needle size required.

Thus if you were sewing a fine chiffon your needle size would be 60/9. There are two systems of needle size in use, the 60 is a metric measurement and the 9 the 15 x 1 system.

The needle size is often quoted using both sizes. If you were sewing a coarse fabric your needle size would be in the vacinity of 90/14 or even 100/16

Nowdays there are specific machine needles for specific fabrics. For your woven fabrics you would use a sharp pointed needle, stretch and knit fabrics a ballpoint needle is used, for leather and vinyl a wedge point needle is used and for denim a specific Jeans needle is used.

It is important not to use a sharp needle when sewing stretch fabric as a sharpe needle will pierce the fabric and leave noticable holes whilst a ballpoint needle pushes the fibres aside as the machine stitches are formed thus no holes are created. These holes can in turn run and thus spoil a garment.

Twin and triple needles are mainly used for decorative stitch work.

If a machine needle has been inserted incorrectly it will affect the stitch formation thus if you have issues with your machine stitch check that the needle has been inserted correctly, check with your instruction book regarding this. Generally speaking the flat side of the shank of the needle faces the back of the machine. Also if using the wrong type of needle for a particular project i.e. a denim needle for sewing a fine fabric your stitches will not form correctly.

Another important point is to always ensure your needle is changed regularly, the rule of thumb here is after every 8 hours of sewing or at the begining of each new project, whichever comes first. This prevents the needle becoming blunt or developing burrs at the tip. A damaged needle will when sewing pull the threads of the fabric and produce uneven stitches thus in some cases damaging permantly your fabric and project.

Click on the following links to view Assorted Universal Machine and Assorted Ball Point Needles

http://www.craftgate.com.au/products/Packet-of-Assorted-Ball-Point-Machine-Needles.html

http://www.craftgate.com.au/products/Packet-of-Assorted-Universal-Machine-Needles.html

New Products At Craft Gate

Rotating Cutting Boards: 30cm x 30cm & 45cm x 45cm

Special Features Of The Rotating Cutting Board.1/ The main feature of the rotating cutting board is that when the center piece is placed right-side up, the mat can rotate 360 degrees.

2/It can be used for quilting, cutting paper, fabrics or for pottery and painting.

3/The base mat is designed to prevent slipping and will not rotate with the craft mat.

4/The cutting mat has angular and graphic lines to ensure when cutting fabrics or paper accurate results are obtained


Click on the following links to view both sizes of the cutting boards.
http://www.craftgate.com.au/products/Rotating-Cutting-Mat%3A-30-x-30cm.html
http://www.craftgate.com.au/products/Rotating-Cutting-Mat%3A-45-x-45cm.html

Cheers
Suzanne
www.craftgate.com.au
http://suzaniscraft.wordpress.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/craftgate/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Craft-Gate/136482523059296 
http://craftingblogger.blogspot.com.au/

Railway Fence Variations

These three quilts show how you can sew 3 strips of fabric together, cut into 6 1/2 inch blocks and create a variety of different patchwork designs. The 2 peach coloured quilts were made from furnishing fabrics bought at a garage sale and the pink quilt the fabric is a polyester fabric.


Cheers

Suzanne

www.craftgate.com.au

http://suzaniscraft.wordpress.com/

http://craftingblogger.blogspot.com.au/



http://groups.yahoo.com/group/craftgate/