Use Your Sewing Machine Decorative Stitches! Swatch and Stitch!

[@lorim2074]

Great idea and using a template to draw the stitch lines is perfect!

[@maureennevers9039]

I’ve done this for one of my machines - used stabilizer to make stiffer ‘pages’ and grommets for holes to put them 8:35 in a binder album. Love ❤️ referencing it - much more used than I even thought - but if I do it again I’ll do it your way - more portable and less labor intensive. Thanks for this fun video!

[@benubhalla9550]

thanks you for sharing this great idea !

[@stephiepeterson]

This is a great idea!

[@gretroman8235]

I like the idea of marking not only the stitch number on each but also the length and width information. And the range of stitches like page numbers on the top right. Small sames of 5 or 6 inches is the perfect size.

[@LeahDay]

I agree, and possibly a * or symbol when the settings listed are the standard or automatic settings set by the sewing machine. I found with my older machines I could manipulate the stitches endlessly, but with newer machines they limit the length and width to not allow the stitch to become so distorted. Lots of fun to play and see what you get!

[@paulabecker7483]

I just received all the templates I ordered from you, including this one. I started doing this on my own, but this is an awesome way to do them all alike.

[@LeahDay]

Awesome Paula! I'm so glad you're enjoying your templates!

[@enochisaac8816]

Beautiful sewing❤❤❤❤❤

[@dread30329]

My template just arrived today. I made two samples. I have mechanical machines so my numbers look a little different. I like it.

[@GrrannyH1]

Thank you!!! This is a wonderful, easy project that will keep me more organized! I have 2 machines, so for cotton swatches or those with interfacing on the back, I am going to write the name of the machine on the back of the swatch with regular ink or graphite pencil. I guess I could also make all the buttonholes 1 color for 1 machine and a different color for the other machine.

[@vickirobles3406]

Gosh, Leah, once again it has been ages since I have left you a note or even watched you. Was sick for 2-1/2 years and then didn't watch too many of my favorite lives. I want to do that again and loved this video and want to order this. Let me know, please what days and times you go live!! Peace, love and many blessings to you and your family!!! Vicki Robles

[@LeahDay]

Hi Vicki - I don't do lives, but post as regularly as I can. Right now I'm sharing new videos on Tuesday, with additional videos on Thursday and Sunday if I can fit them in. I'm so glad you're feeling better and getting back to quilting!

[@cheriberi934]

Just ordered the template. What stabilizer and thread (top and bottom) do you recommend for decorative stitching on garments?

[@LeahDay]

This is something to play with and I recommend checking to find the stabilizers you can locate in your local area. I used French Fuse because it's what I have on hand, but it's not a common stabilizer and is sometimes hard to find. As for thread, this is also something to play with. I use Aurifil 50 weight Mako cotton for piecing and it looks beautiful when stitched in decorative stitches. For quilting and embroidery, I use Isacord 40 weight polyester thread and it's also a great choice. You can find the threads I mentioned here: leahday.com/collections/quilting-tools

[@stephm281]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@izziey17]

I really like this idea. May I ask why you didn't wash the swatches? It seems like that would be important if you plan to wash the finished product.

[@LeahDay]

You're welcome to add that to your testing process as well!

[@Fattiapples]

I’m going to purchase my first sewing machine and didn’t realize the size of decorative stitches. If a sewing machine is max 7mm and 5mm does that mean the largest a decorative stitch will be is 7mm high? Is that where a 9mm machine comes into play to do larger decorative stitches for quilts and designs ?

[@LeahDay]

Yes, you have your understanding correct. 5 mm wide feed dogs limits your decorative stitch WIDTH to 5 mm. If you get a machine with 9 mm wide feed dogs, you will get much more complex, wider designs. The downside with wider feed dogs is they don't always compensate for the wider spacing. I have sometimes struggled to piece with machines with wider feed dogs if the patchwork foot isn't off set to push the fabric further to the right and onto the feeding mechanism.

[@Fattiapples]

@@LeahDay got it thanks! 🙏

[@ladyd54]

Leah try using a chalk pencil for your markings.

[@LeahDay]

That's a great suggestion. I'm just not a fan of the dust residue of chalk. The heat-erase pen worked well for this project, but as I mentioned in the video - ONLY this project. I wouldn't use it any other time.

[@maryzcorner]

I went to check out your site but b/c I am in Canada it wouldn't let me see your product. I understand that you don't ship outside of the USA but a lot of us Canadian's order things just on the otherside of the US and we go across the border to pick them up. I have family there and send things to my moms and get them when I visit. I suggest to change your website to let us see what you are selling and just warn us that you don't ship outside of the US. I hope this helps and encourages you.

[@LeahDay]

Hi Mary - if you’d like to see our products, simply change the currency in the upper right corner to USD. While I wish we could serve everyone, it’s just not possible anymore we have had to change our site and block foreign orders. Thank you for your understanding.