It's almost 2008 - what sewing projects do you have planned for the new year? My resolution is to organize my sewing space(s). I moved almost four months ago, and still have boxes stacked in my sewing room - boxes of thread, bins of fabric, bags of trim & lace, containers of sewing tools and presser feet - there's a lot of stuff. Erika redid her sewing room about a month ago and it looks great! She's my inspiration, but I think her space might be bigger than mine; maybe it just looks larger because she has it so organized! I have two tiny (8' x 9') bedrooms for my office and sewing room, plus space in the garage for sewing machine boxes, and under the kitchen counter for fabric (I needed something to fill in the space where the dishwasher used to be). Hmmm... I think I'm going to have to take over some of the guest room, too. I've found a plan that might work for me: The Domestic Diva started a Sewing Room Organization Challenge about 6 months ago, and her plan of action and storage suggestions seem like they'd help corral and keep my - ahem - extensive collections in order. Today she posted another in the series, this one on organizing notions - with dozens of ideas for those of us who are organizationally challenged. More on my 2008 sewing resolutions later. What are your sewing resolutions for 2008?

One of the questions I'm frequently asked is how to create hemstitching and other fancywork stitching. It's much easier than most folks think - all you need is a Wing needle and a machine with at least a zigzag stitch. A Wing needle has metal flanges - "wings" - extending to the right and left of the needle. When the needle goes through the fabric, the wings push the yarns of the fabric to the sides, creating holes. The more often the needle goes through the same hole, the more pronounced the opening is. Most machines have decorative stitches that can be used to create even more intricate decorative effects - blanket stitch, honeycomb, stars - even stitches designed to produce the look of purchased entredeux. The sample below is part of a Fancywork Handkerchief by Louise Baird.

Wing needles can be used with embroidery, too. The stitching shown here forms the background for a monogram in Nina McVeigh's Monogrammed Dresser Scarf. This project also has great instructions for stitching a mitered drawn threadwork hem.

Wing needle stitching is a quick and easy embellishment for purchased items - linen and/or cotton shirts, tablecloths & napkins - anywhere you want a subtle decorative touch. For additional tips on hemstitching, see the article I wrote for the Basic Training section of www.berninausa.com.

I am having lots of fun playing with the Mirror-Merge Horizontal & Vertical tool in the Bernina Embroidery Software Version 5 (available in Designer Plus and Editor Plus).  I used Mirror-Merge to put together the embroidery designs in my first quilt.  This cool tool automatically duplicates a design, and mirror-images horizontal and vertical at the same time.  The tool also lets you play with the positioning of the duplicated design, which means the possibilities are endless!  Here is how it works - I have one design open in the software, and it is selected:

Next I select the Mirror-Merge Horizontal & Vertical Tool from the menu located at the bottom left of the screen, and three other outlines of the design appear on the screen.  As I move the cursor around, it changes the position of the three other outllines. 

When I have the outlines positioned EXACTLY where I want them, I can right click the mouse button or hit the enter key, and the designs will appear in place.  Now I have a completely new design! 

Now here's the really cool part; you have the option of creating a little embroidery collage using the Insert Design function before using the Mirror-Merge tool!  I started with several of the Creative Genes designs, then used Mirror-Merge to create this final large design.  I used the Happy machine to stitch it out in the 12" x 12" hoop, and turned the final product into a tote bag.

Keep your eyes out for the next issue of Through The Needle magazine for more information on this project!