What's New at Autumn Threads?

Exciting new stock has arrived this week at Autumn Threads!

The first is a fun range of flannel fabric with gorgeous LDS prints such as 'I am a Child of God', 'Noah's Ark', 'Bible Stories' (featuring Jonah, Daniel in the Lion's den, David and Goliath, Joseph and Adam & Eve), 'I hope they call me on a mission' (in both flannel and cotton), 'Pirate Treasure' and 'Ballerinas'.

Perfect for making a cuddly patchwork blanket for someone special. We will also be adding a range of co-ordinating solid colours soon, so you will have everything you to need to get started!

We are also very excited to introduce our New Fitted Cloth Nappy Pattern!

Our family has been a cloth nappy family since our first was a bub and I've really enjoyed making unique and practical nappies for my girls over the years.

Being able to make your own fitted nappies not only saves money but is also gentle on our environment.

The pattern is a multi-sized one and is a great starting point. Once you've mastered the basics then you can get creative and add your own unique style with fun fabrics and embelishments.

Cloth nappies also make great gifts for friends and family!

Enjoy!

Pretty it up with lettuce edging

How cute does lettuce edging look on the hem or sleeve cuff of a little girls top! It's easy to do with your overlocker and a bit of woolly nylon. Every overlocker is different but these are the steps that I take with my Janome

Step 1. Remove left needle

Step 2. Disengage cutting knife and change setting to R for rolled hem.

Step 3. Make sure you have a woolly nylon thread in your upper looper and regular poly thread in the right needle and lower looper.

Step 4. Change your upper looper thread tension to it's loosest setting, mine is 0.

Step 5. Change your stitch width to R for rolled hem...sometimes I shift it to past the rolled hem to 1 if I want a really close stitched rolled hem, it will depend on your fabric. It's always a good idea to do a few samples and see how you like it before you do the final hem on your garment.

Step 6. Change your differential feed to the woven setting, mine is 0.7 to 1.5 and this will help stretch out the knitted fabric.

Step 7. Begin edging your hem remembering to stretch the fabric as you go. Double knit fabrics give the best rolled hem as it doesn't curl back up on itself like a single knit. I make sure I'm giving the thread enough fabric to roll over as well, a good couple of millimetres, this gives you a plumper rolled edge that sits better.

Step 8. If you are doing around the entire hem of a t-shirt for example, when you get close to where you started, stop and trim off the hanging thread from where you began and then run the rolled hem straight over the join to make sure it won't come undone.

Step 9. Trim your threads and finish it off......I always give it a generous tail and then very carefully with my handy dandy unpicker untangle the tail threads. You'll notice that the upper and lower looper threads will be longer that the needle threads. Gently pull these to tighten and then tie these two threads together in a double knot. Then thread them into a needle and sew them back through the hem.

All done!! A lovely neat rolled hem :-)