The earliest use of buttons as fasteners may be lost to antiquity, however buttons made of various materials have been around to hold skins and fibers in place to keep coverings on our bodies secured since then. Buttons are best known as utility fasteners for clothing but can be beautiful as well.

Home sewing spaces are happy working spaces for sure yet are easily subject to untidiness. Thread spools, bobbins, pincushions, scissors, rotary cutters, fabric and their companion scraps, measuring tapes, tissue patterns, pins and needles oh my! The need to keep order is never ending.

Whether known as bunting, garland, pennant or banner, the breezy hanging sections of cloth on cord or rope convey a visual message. Just as ships use a series of flags to convey identification messages, one of accomplishment, seasons or celebrations can be sewn and strung as a visual announcement.

Despite our best efforts at coaxing our sewing machines to produce a secure, uniform interlocked stitch, frustrating difficulties are inevitable along the way. This highly functional multiple component machine must have everything working in synchronous harmony to produce thousands of even stitches.

Whether known as plushies, softies, or stuffies, stuffed children’s soft toys are a delight to sew using a few fabric scraps or knitted fabrics. Soft stuffed simple shapes and whimsical animals make for creative play especially when sewn using colorful and appealing print fabrics.

No serger to encase that pesky fraying fabric at the seam allowance edges? No worries! Although the home serger is bar none an exceptional sewing tool to apply a professional look to seams and fabric edges, and at an amazing speed, the trusty traditional sewing machine can mimic the process well.