News
Holiday Specials!
It's the festive season and this month we're offering loads of amazing deals! Shop our Panels, Minky fabric, and most importantly, our Christmas items. Christmas Fabric and Christmas related Patterns will be 40% off until the end of December. Don't miss your chance, come in or order online to take advantage of our Holiday Sale!
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Baby Lock Tech: A Shop Owner's Perspective
We had an incredible time attending the Baby Lock Tech event in August. The event was a fantastic showcase of the latest innovations in sewing and embroidery technology, and we were thrilled to be able to participate. The energy at the event was truly electric. From the moment we stepped onto the show floor, we were surrounded by passionate sewing enthusiasts eager to explore the newest machines and accessories, just like us. One of the highlights of the event was the opportunity to connect with other sewing shop owners and industry professionals. We had the chance to share best practices, discuss market trends, and learn about new business strategies. It was a great way to network and build relationships within the sewing community. Of course, the main attraction of the event was the impressive Baby Lock machines on display. From the cutting-edge embroidery machines to the versatile sergers, there was truly something for everyone. We were particularly impressed by the new Applaud and its Creative Top Cover Stitch. It's a game-changer in crafting unique, custom stitches that will enhance any home decor project or garment you can imagine. Overall, the Baby Lock Tech event was a resounding success. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with our fellow retailers, test-run the newest machines, and stay up-to-date with the latest sewing trends. I'm already looking forward to next year's event!
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15 Years of Stitching Up Success: Seams Sew Easy Celebrates A Milestone
What a celebration! Can you guys believe it? Seams Sew Easy, your local sewing haven, turned 15 this year! For a decade and a half, this shop has been a retreat for sewing enthusiasts of all skill levels in Fairfield. From nervous beginners to seasoned seamstresses, Seams Sew Easy has fostered a community built on creativity, patience, and a whole lot of love for all things fabric! A Look Back: 15 Years of Unforgettable Threads It all started with a dream - a dream of creating a space where people could come together, share their passion for sewing, and find everything they needed to bring their textile treasures to life. Over the years, Seams Sew Easy has become sew much more than a shop. It's become a hub for learning, with demonstrations, workshops, and sewcial gatherings. We've witnessed countless transformations - from bolts of fabric to beautiful garments, from nervous first stitches to magnificent craftsmanship. Sew Much To Celebrate! To celebrate this historic occasion, Seams Sew Easy is hosting a challenge event called the Echo Bag challenge. For this special contest, we provided a free bag pattern for everyone who wanted to participate, and challenged people to make it their own unique bag. All submissions are due by May 1st, and will be displayed during our Stitcher's Showcase event. People who are still interested in trying their hand at this fun contest can ask for a copy of the free pattern and submission form. We're excited to see what you've got! A Stitch in Time Creates Lasting Memories Our team at Seams Sew Easy would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the amazing community that has supported us for the past 15 years. Your passion for sewing is what truly keeps the needles moving and the creativity flowing. Here's to many more years of creative expression and fostering a love for sewing! P.S. Share your favorite memories with us and tag it with #seams15 on our social media!
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Simplify and Streamline Your Sewing
Have you ever stared at a pattern and felt lost? Or maybe your seams just never seem to lie quite flat? We've all been there! And we've all developed our own list of tips, tricks, and secrets that we swear by. Despite this, there's always new tips and techniques to learn, and with 20+ years of experience under her belt, Stephanie has a wealth of sewing secrets she's dying to share. So grab your fabric, fire up your machine, and get ready to sew like a pro! 1. Bye-Bye, Bobbin Winding! Is there anything more annoying than having to stop in the middle of a project, unthread your needle, and wind a new bobbin? Well, I can probably think of a few things, but we'll get to those later. Enter: pre-wounds! You can get bobbins that are pre-wound with 60-wt bobbin thread, and when one runs out, you just pop another one in and keep sewing, with no interruption to your stitching. You're probably used to a 40 or 50-weight thread in your bobbin, since that's what most threads are, but 60-weight offers the advantage of getting more thread on each bobbin, with only a small adjustment to tension. If your machine has automatic tensions, you won't even notice a difference! If you have manual tensions, you'll only need a slight tension adjustment, if anything at all. If you're willing to pay a little extra for convenience, I highly recommend pre-wound bobbins. 2. A New Kind of Seam Ripper As much as we hate to admit it sometimes, we all have to rip out seams from our projects. Everyone does it a little differently, but I think we can all agree it takes way too long. But recently, we learned that you can use an unlikely tool as a quick and effective seam ripper.... a dog trimmer! Ok, it sounds a little strange, but other people have caught on to it too; there's even a few notions companies starting to manufacture them. Sadly, they haven't come to our distributors yet, but we're crossing our fingers we can get our hands on some soon! If you're curious, we have one in the store you can try out- it's seriously magical. 3. No-Hassle Zippers I think we can all agree that putting zippers in any project is kind of the worst. Depending on which brand of sewing machine you have, zipper feet can range from 'pretty okay' to 'more difficult than the regular presser foot'. If yours is towards the latter end of the spectrum, pick up a piping foot next time you're at your local dealer. Most of the time, the channel in the piping foot fits over the zipper perfectly, and you can get your needle right up next to those teeth without having to fight with it. 4. Sometimes Less Is Better Raise your hand if you've ever shelled out for those really fancy gadgets? Yeah, me too. I think the biggest culprit is probably those $300 irons- you know the ones. They're so pretty and professional looking, but six months later you're at your wits end because it just doesn't get hot enough, or it's leaking water, or any of those other things we thought the fancy irons would fix. Next time, get your iron at your local Meijer or Walmart; they'll perform just as well for a fraction of the price. Personally, I've been using a $20 iron from Meijer for about 10 years and never had an issue. Most of the time I'm too lazy to even put water in it, but I still get crisp seams every time. Just another reminder that brand names aren't really any different than generics. 5. On the Subject of Irons While we're at it, let's talk about our seams. For a long time I was lazy about it and would do seams in batches- for example, putting a whole row of blocks together and then pressing them as a row. But over time, as I've gone on to more complicated patterns and started paying more attention to my points, it became increasingly apparent that I was cheating myself by doing it this way. I would end up with wonky rows, blocks not lining up, etc. So I started a particularly intricate block-of-the-month pattern, and I was so excited I really wanted it to come out perfect. So I pressed every single seam. Not open, mind you, I don't have that much patience, but every seam was pressed before the next one was sewn. And you know what? It really made a difference. Now, I still get lazy with some projects and go back to my old pressing system, but on the projects I really care about, I have an ironing board butted up against my sewing table (which happens to be the exact same height, which is really nice) so all I have to do after I sew a seam is swivel and press, then swivel back and continue. The little bit of extra time it takes is completely worth it, in my opinion. Do you have any tips or tricks you'd like to share? Put them in the comments and we might feature them in a future blog!
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Very Special Gift Ideas For Your Valentine!
The day of love is approaching, and with it can bring pressure to gift your loved ones with thoughtful presents. Well, worry no longer! Below is a carefully curated array of beautiful handmade gifts for your unique Valentine. Quilted Valentine's Day Table Mat It's always nice to have holiday-related décor, and this Quilted Table Mat is a perfect addition to any Valentine's Day collection! Bunny Treat Bags Want to be ready for Easter Sunday? Try out these adorable Bunny Treat Bags, which are so cute, they're sure to steal some hearts! Washable Coloring Book The perfect gift for any future artist, this Washable Coloring Book will allow kids the fun of expressing their creativity without ever having to buy new coloring sheets! Hello Heart Fabric Sachets For those of us who want a no-sew project to work on! These adorable Fabric Sachets smell just as sweet as they look. When it comes to memorable keepsakes for the holidays, these are some your loved ones are sure to remember! Easy Valentine's Day Garland Need a simple last-minute Valentine's Day project? Tackle your stash of scraps with these cute and easy reversable Hearts Garland! Stitch-And-Flip Heart Pillow If you'd prefer a physical pattern to follow along with, then you should try out this beautiful Valentine's pillowcase pattern, created by our wonderful sewing enthusiasts here at Seams Sew Easy! We have these lovely patterns available for sale here in-store. We hope you'll consider sending pictures of your finished products to our socials! Anyone who wants their finished projects displayed should consider signing up for our upcoming March Stitcher's Showcase, where we'll be taking submissions from anyone and everyone who wants to show their stuff! Sign Up Here!
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Looking Back: 2023 In A Nutshell
Season's greetings from your friends at Seams Sew Easy! These past twelve months have been quite busy, but having so many of you keep coming back means the world to us here. We wouldn't be here without our sewing, quilting, and embroidering family. Because of your support, we were able to do so many more fun events for you all this year. Now, for the nostalgia you were waiting for: Our Most Memorable Events of 2023! March Showers Bring July Flowers For those who didn't hear about the temporary closure back in March; we experienced a pretty major flood throughout the entirety of the event center, forcing us to cancel and reschedule many of our springtime events. Despite this, we got to celebrate our Events Center reopening better than ever before! The reopening in July turned out wonderfully due to the building being so freshly renovated. So even though we missed out on the April Garden Party and the Choose Joy event, we still had a party to remember! After Flooding After Reopening Baby Lock Tech Trip Back in August, Stephanie visited the annual Baby Lock Tech trade show, to learn more about the latest innovations in their machine designs, available patterns, newest programs, and more! She was so impressed that she ended up chronicling the trip with dozens of pictures. "Baby Lock goes all out to show their appreciation for their dealers from the warm and friendly educators to the unique parties they throw. But the best part about the tech is meeting other businesses and making new friends across the country." ~ Stephanie Cole With A Cheri On Top I'm sure many of you know Cheri, she was a well-loved member of our team. What you may not have realized is that she ran another quilting shop called Stitches for about 30 years, until her sister decided to sell it to the current owner. She was our resident expert in freemotion quilting, and although she never won any official awards for her skills, she easily won a place in many people's hearts as a dedicated and competent quilter. We are sad to say that Cheri no longer works with us. We'll always remember and appreciate the positivity she brought to our business. And although she will no longer be around, we hope to learn from her expertise and continue on as strong as ever. We'll miss you, Cheri! Arrow (Cabinets) For those in need of truly innovative sewing furniture, from ergonomic chairs to small cutting tables to massive desks that do it all, this brand lands a bullseye every time! We started carrying Arrow Sewing Furniture for sale back in March, for any and all your sewing furniture needs. Richard Tharp Quilts Thank you to all our friends who joined us in October when we hosted award-winning quilt designer and textile artist Richard Tharp. Known by Richard Tharp Quilts on YouTube, or on his website FiberFaire Studios, Richard visited to teach a class on the embroidery software built in to the high-end Baby Lock machines called IQ Designer. If you enjoyed learning from a specialist like we did, let us know! The more support we get for events, the more events we can host! Potluck & Pals- Sit & Sew Fridays
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New Years Resolutions? Start The Year Off Strong!
Wanting to learn a new skill this year? Start your new years' resolutions off strong by signing up for classes with us! Although our website is still down, you can call us at (513) 860-1373 to reserve your seat in any of our upcoming classes! Are you a true beginner to the craft? No worries! Try our Beginning Machine Quilting for a multi-session course, where you'll learn that quilting isn't as intimidating as it looks. Wanting to expand your repertoire? How about our Serger Bootcamp class, where Betty will teach you all the ins-and-outs of your serger in a way that will stick with you. Just looking for something fun to fill an afternoon? Choose from a long list of courses this month, ranging from simple projects to complex challenges: In need of a versatile storage solution? These Stand and Store baskets come in four different sizes, making them perfect for your next project! With a foldable drawstring top and mesh internal pockets, this is great for storing sewing notions, travel gear, makeup, electronics, and so much more! Adapt-a-tee Techniques is a class for jazzing up those pesky old tee-shirts that don't fit anymore. New necklines, adding or removing cuffs, changing the length or shape, become your own tailor today! Have you ever wanted to use your sewing skills to raise and empower women? Make a Sew Powerful Purse is a wonderful chance for you to do just that! The Sew Powerful charity gives purses full of reusable menstrual supplies to impoverished girls in Zambia, enabling them to stay in school all month and complete their education. Make a difference and sign up today. Quilting on the Fly is another class dedicated to learning more about your serger. Did you know that sergers can bind and quilt? If you were hoping to get a new tote for Christmas, but were sadly disappointed, Betty's Rugged Tote class is the perfect late Christmas gift for yourself! Whether you want a purse or a new laptop tote, you'll learn how to make it your own. Leggings to Live In is for people looking for velvety soft leggings that you just can't take off! Custom made to fit just right, these comfortable leggings are a must-have for anyone and everyone.
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Last Month Today, August!
This last August was a hot one! Here's a recap of the last month for everyone to catch up on. OESD Event Poll Firstly, we decided to reschedule our Choose Joy by Oklahoma Embroidery & Sewing Designs event from September 8th & 9th to November 10th & 11th. We want to host the best event we can for everyone, so we're conducting a poll on Facebook to see which of the four options are preferred. Click here to participate! We'll be providing plenty of food at this event - Nancy always tells me to emphasize there will be lots of chocolate as well. We've recently been hosting a few potlucks which has been fun. If you're coming to one of our events, come hungry! These are your options for the next OESD class in November! 1. Stitching in the Kitchen Originally we were going to host this event back in March of 2023 before we had flooding issues. . 2. Sew Happy . 3. Say Cheese (1 Day Event) . 4. Choose Joy Heirloom Quilt & Stocking Class We finalized the dates for our newest class that Cheri is teaching! We got the idea for it when Peggy German came by with a beautiful quilt and pair of stockings. She fittingly dubbed it an Heirloom Quilt and Heirloom Stockings. We posted it on Facebook, and you all loved it! We'll be scheduling those Heirloom stocking classes closer to the holiday season. Right now the plan is to have two sessions, a Tuesday and a Saturday class for the Heirloom Quilts. There are four classes scheduled for each, and Cheri will work with everyone to find a good time for a final class to finish the quilts. The current dates: Tue. Sept. 5th, 12th, 19th & Oct. 3rd Sat. Sept. 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th The price: Class: $280 Kit: $80 9 prepped blocks, lace & ribbon Sign up here! Baby Lock Tech Stephanie recently went to Baby Lock Tech which is an annual trade show hosted by Baby Lock where they show off a bunch of new developments in their machines, patterns, and many other things. If a picture is worth 1000 words then she took enough for a novel - these are some of the highlights! It was a great time - everyone at the convention was incredibly kind and helpful. Baby Lock tries to be careful with spreading around the retailers, so the space felt far more collaborative than competitive which we're extremely grateful for. Our shared love of sewing should be something we can build community around after all! Altair 2 & Meridian 2 Bundles Released! At Baby Lock Tech, Stephanie was able to find plenty of examples of the new machine embroidered crochet and couching techniques that are newly available to the Altair & Meridian after they receive the upgrade bundle. Previously only the Solaris had access to couching, but with a new couching foot the Altair & Meridian can also sew with yarn now (pictured above!). A unique feature to the Altair & Meridian is the ability to create machine embroidered crochet. Honestly the only appreciable distinction I've noticed between it and regular crocheting is that machine embroidered crochet looks far more precise than when done by hand. Maybe you have a better eye than I do; the picture to the right has both hand crochet and machine embroidered crochet! Can you spot the difference? The upgrades are bundles, and they come with the Welcome Home collection of patterns for you to test drive your new features with. It's a vast collection of embroidery designs that can make your house a home!
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Choose Joy this September!
Calling all embroidery enthusiasts, the excitement is brewing! We're thrilled to announce the return of our Oklahoma Embroidery, Supply, and Design (OESD) events! Our event center, now refurbished, is better equipped than ever for events like this!
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