I just discovered my new favorite toy! The AccuQuilt GO! Fabric Cutter. I've been hearing about it for quite some time and even saw a demo at Quilt Market last Fall but I just finally got around to trying it for myself. It is so much fun - and easy! One thing I love about it is that it is low-tech - no new software to learn, no uploading, downloading, or programming required! It works every time to give me clean, consistent cuts. I'm loving it for handling scraps and small pieces of fabric. I just cut my leftovers into squares, strips, and triangles, then store them for future sewing - ready to go. I can start sewing when I feel like it with all of the cutting behind me.

I tried one of the new dies - Alpha Baby - and created a sweet scrapbook page for a friend of mine. If you want to try it for yourself, download the instructions by clicking HERE. I can see how the GO! Fabric Cutter is going to save me time in cutting fabric shapes, money because I waste less fabric, and frustration because my pieces are consistent so my seams match and my points are sharp! What more could a stitcher want?!

Open Art Canvas, select Basic Vector Shapes, and draw a "long" heart shape. Change the Fill Color to green and the Outline to "none."

Copy the heart and Paste to create a second heart shape. Change the angle to 90 degrees. Move this heart into place beneath and to the left of the first heart.

Copy and Paste another heart shape and change the angle to 270 degrees. Move this herat into place beneath and to the right of the first heart.

Select Basic Vector Shapes and add a trapezoid shape for the shamrock stem.

Select Arrange > Shaping, and the "weld" option. Select Convert to Embroidery.

Change fills and outline stitches to create your own unique shamrocks!

I made these quick and easy cushions Saturday for classes at work. I used five different 1/4 yard pieces of fabric to cut two 1 1/2" strips, two 2 1/2" strips, two 3" strips, and one 7" strip for each cushion (each strip is 22" long). I also bought a 22" piece of solid green home dec fabric for the back of the cushions and cut it into 22" squares.

I auditioned the fabrics, laying them out in different ways until I liked the order. Then I pinned them and stitched them together on my 830, which is marvelous and easy to use. I used Patchwork Foot with Guide #57D with the integrated dual feed feature - which is awesome to work with! I let my 830 know which foot I was using and used the straight stitch plate as well - it won't let me use anything but a straight stitch in center position when it knows I'm using a straight stitch foot - no broken needles! My 830 knows so much and the accessories make it a whole lot easier to use.

Then I took off the straight stitch plate and changed to Zipper Foot #4D - once again, I let my very smart machine know which foot I was using. I moved the needle position, lined up my zipper, and stitched it to the top of the patchwork front and home dec fabric back.

All that was left then was to stitch the sides and across the bottom. You could easily sew this on a serger if you wanted to.

I bought 18" square flat cushions that were 2" deep, wrapped them in batting, and slid them into the zippered casing seat covers.

I think I accomplished this project - two cushions - in under two hours. I was looking for something quick and easy, as I wanted to make several so my sewing ladies could be comfortable while taking classes. They're very comfortable and they look great!

First - Cut bias strips (about 1 1/2" for the narrow cord I used here), then wrap one end around the filler cord. Place under the presser foot so that the cord is under the "tunnel" part of the foot. Move the needle all the way to the right, and set the stitch length at 3 to 4mm. Stitch.

Second - Attach covered cord to the front of the pillow with the needle in the far right position, clipping the seam allowances at the corners. I don't pin it in place, just place it as I sew along the sides. Just before I get to a corner I stop and clip the seam allowances a few times to help the cord around the sharp curve. On these pillows I didn't do anything fancy where the ends met; just cross them over each other and stitched through them. With larger cord I'd unwrap and clip the filler cord to keep the join from being too bulky.

Third - Place the front to the back, right sides together, with the front on top. You'll be able to see the stitching lines from step 2. Move the needle all the way to the right, then back one step to the left; this will place your stitching just barely inside the previous seam, hiding those stitches. Stitch around the sides, leaving an opening in the middle of one side for inserting the pillow form. I always stitch at least an inch or two from the corners toward the opening; otherwise it's hard to get the corners to turn properly later.

Fourth - Turn the pillow cover right side out. Because you've inserted piping into the edges the corners "pop" right side out - no fiddling with point turners to get the corner turned right side out. Insert the pillow form, then stitch the opening closed. I do this by hand, as it's hard to stitch next to the bulky pillow. But, if you're careful, it's possible to use Zipper Foot #4 or Leather Roller Foot #55 to stitch the layers of fabric together just below the piping.

A pillow cover is just two squares of fabric, right? Well, not quite. Have you ever noticed how pointy the corners of some pillows are? That's because there's extra fabric at the corners that forms a "dog ear." To see why, measure a pillow from corner to corner. Then measure from side to side, over the center of the pillow. My little pillow measures 10" from corner to corner, but 11" from side to side. To counteract this, I cut a bit off each corner as shown in the illustration. The amount depends on the size and fullness of the pillow, but I usually start with 1/2" at the corner, tapering to nothing about 3" toward the center. You can see in the photos that my corners are pretty close to square rather than pointy.

Next time: Piped edges!

Looking for a cute, quick baby shower or birthday gift? Designed by Belinda Gibson, these sweet little bibs are simple to make using Binder Attachment #84 with Foot #94. For instructions, click HERE. The bibs are shown here in fabrics from the Baby Geniuses and Love Is collections by Benartex.

"I was thinking about my first project and how far I've come with my sewing. I was 19 years old when I took my first sewing class at Jacksonville State University. Sewing was not remotely related to my major, but I had an internal desire to create and signed up for a basic clothing construction class. I had wanted to sew since I was a little girl and was elated at the prospect of unleashing my creativity.

"Many of us call college the "lean" years. I seldom had extra money for a potato, much less fabric. I remember getting just enough fabric for the project and praying it wouldn't go over budget. The project was a classic button down shirt, topstitched with precision on a Bernina 830 (a machine in the school's sewing lab). Every seam was carefully constructed and finished with an overlock stitch on the serger. An edgestitch foot was used to topstitch around the edges. Wearing the shirt was a huge highlight, especially when someone found out that I made it (what a self-esteem booster!). I keep the shirt in my closet and occasionally slip it on to remember the excitement of my first class and what I learned from a basic shirt. I'm so thankful that my school had Bernina machines because I know the superior machine contributed to my success and promoted my love of sewing."

I was around 11 years old, still in 4-H, and still remember going fabric shopping for "kettle cloth." I'm still not sure where "kettle" comes from, but it's a woven cotton fabric that's easy to work with and presses well. I made this on the sewing my parents bought in 1965 - a Riccar that came free with the purchase of a $79 sewing cabinet. It went forward and backward - straight stitch only - no zigzag - and it's what I sewed on until I was 12 or 13. All of my seam allowances are straight stitched 1/4" from the raw edge, then hand-overcast - miles and miles of hand-sewing, that took forever! Now I zip right along on my BERNINA and Overlock Foot #2, or - better yet - use my serger to trim and overcast at the same time. But I did a good job, even with so much hand-sewing, and won a purple ribbon at the county fair :)

What was your first project? I've been asking some of my friends, and will be posting some of their stories over the next few weeks.

Here's a simple but sophisticated-looking rice therapy bag from the Sew, Mama, Sew! Blog, which includes a great photo tutorial. This is a great project for a beginner - if you can sew a reasonably straight line you can make this. TIP: Use Edgestitch Foot #10 or Piping Foot #38 for stitching the edges of the hook-and-loop tape; they're both easy to guide right along the edge of the tape for a neat finish. Also a nice gift for teachers, coaches, sitters, etc. There's even a gift/instruction tag PDF to download.

The smart, well-prepared folks have already done their gift shopping, and are smugly putting labels on their already wrapped and beribboned gifts. (And, of course, they dropped off stacks of cards at the Post Office right after Halloween.) The rest of us are frantically writing our lists, trying to remember what we gave the twins last year, wondering if we can regift those watermelon scented candles, and wishing the days were 36 hours long for the next four weeks!

While you're out shopping this weekend, braving the crowds at the mall, pick up a little something extra to drop off at your local BERNINA store for Toys for Tots. (Click here for a list of participating stores.) BERNINA of America, Inc. is an official sponsor this year. For those of us who do our shopping online (my office is so much less crowded than the mall!), donations can be made online.

I won't be joining you at the malls, but you might see me at my local thrift stores. While I haven't taken the Homemade Pledge, nearly all of my gifts will be things I've made or bought from local or online artists and crafters, or items I've recycled/repurposed. Over the next few weeks I'll be posting and linking to some simple, quick-to-sew projects, like the card at right. Just trace two circles, cut them out, place cheery fabric on the wrong side and stitch it in place. Then use crayons and markers to draw a branch and ornament hooks; better yet, glue snippets from your shrubs in place and use real hooks.