Hi Reader,

How do you feel about fabric scraps?

Are you looking for:

• cohesive and scrappy projects to repurpose scraps
• tips and techniques to organize and manage them
• ways to build confidence when mixing and combining colors

If your answer is "yes" to any (or all) of these, you'll be excited to hear I'm hosting another Conquer Your Fabric Scraps Summit!

Based on attendee feedback from last year's summit, I've made some exciting changes to this FREE online event that I'll be sharing in the next few weeks so keep an eye out for those emails.

In the meantime, if you want to be sure you get notified once registration opens, be sure to join the waitlist.

This event is going to be so much fun!

Know your machine

How well do you know your sewing machine?

No matter how long you've been sewing, when you get a new machine (whether it's out-of-the-box brand new or used), there is a learning curve to figuring out how it works.

Often, we tend to learn just enough about the machine to sew our next project, but that means there may be many features left untouched.

These unknowns could be untapped potential for creativity and efficiency right at your fingertips that you're just not aware of.

For years I've sewn on different mechanical machines using knobs, dials, and levers to make selections. These are my favorite.

A few years ago, I was gifted a very simple electronic machine. It has buttons and an LCD screen to tell the machine what to do. I love the automatic cutters on it but don't use this machine very often because I prefer the mechanical ones.

A couple of years ago, I needed a machine with a larger throat area than my regular machine to do some quilting, so I used my mother's Pfaff Performance 5.0. It's a computerized machine that has hundreds of stitches and an intimidating touch screen with multiple levels.

Overwhelmed with all the features, I learned just the basics to do the quilting.

Fast forward to the present time (when I'm now ready to learn what else this Performance 5 can do), a search on YouTube led me to the Heirloom Creations channel.

Here you'll find all kinds of playlists for Bernina, Husqvarna Viking, and Pfaff sewing machines, sergers, and embroidery machines.

I know there are many other models of machines out there but, if you have a Bernina, Husqvarna Viking, or Phaff machine you want to learn more about, definitely check out Heirloom Creations on YouTube.

The playlist for the brand/model I am using has 89 videos - most under 10 minutes and many less than 5. It's bite-size instruction that breaks down the features into manageable learning.

Are you brand new to sewing?

Here's a tip: Get comfortable using your sewing machine BEFORE jumping into the sewing genre(s) that interest you.

This is why... After you know how to use your machine, you can then focus on reading a pattern, cutting, and following construction directions without getting frustrated with learning all-the-things at once.

Basic sewing machine knowledge you should have is:

• How to wind a bobbin
• Thread the machine
• Reverse stitch
• Straight stitch
• Pivot corners

​Download the Starting to Sew Lesson Checklists to guide you through these processes as well as other beginner sewing knowledge and skills.

Zipper bag tips

My friend Sally had a rocking chair where she rocked her grandbabies. When the fabric on the front of the chair became worn and after the kids became too old to rock, she got rid of the chair but saved some of the fabric from the back that was still in good condition.

She loved the fabric and recently asked me to use the fabric remnants to make a back for a needlepoint flower she finished.

There were enough scraps left over after I made the pillow, to make the outside of this zipper bag.

Scraps for my stash were used to make the wristlet and the lining. She wasn't expecting the bag and was so surprised. She loved it!

The construction of this bag caused some problems I hadn't encountered before.

Do you see the arrows pointing at the corners at each end of the zipper?

I've made many lined zipper bags like this one and never had any issues with getting the top corners to pop out.

However, the chair scraps were a thick upholstery fabric and it created a lot of bulk in the seam even when I trimmed it down. This along with the zipper tape made it impossible for me to push out the corners.

When a project doesn't turn out the way I thought it would, I don't see it as a flaw or mistake that needs to be fixed.

Instead, I call it a design element and tuck the experience into the back of my mind as a learning opportunity for the future.

A few days ago, I came across some tips that may be a game-changer for me and all my future zip pouches.

​In this beginner-friendly tutorial, Charlotte Kan shares what she does to the zipper tape BEFORE she sews it to the fabric.

Charlotte's zipper is uncut. The zipper tape extends off both ends of the zipper.

I often cut zippers down to the size I need so the teeth go right to the end. In this beginner-friendly tutorial, Jan Howell shows how she prepares and cuts zippers to fit her bags.

Both of these videos provide information I'm going to add to my zipper knowledge. I can't wait to try out what I learned!

That's all for now. Until next time...

P.S. Are you new to the Snappy Scissors newsletter? You can check out past editions HERE.

P.P.S. Don't forget to sign up for the Conquer Your Fabric Scraps waitlist, so you get notified when registration opens.

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