As seen in our latest column, I've compiled a quick list of 5 Ways You Should Be Looking After Your Machine.

I have been servicing and repairing sewing machines for many years now and have come across many different problems. Many of them could have been reduced or even avoided all together just by regularly doing the following 5 things...  

1. Avoid wrapping the power cable around the foot controller.

We have all done this at some point but it causes the cable to twist and eventually breaks down the insulation. You should form loops with the wire in your hand instead, just as it was when it was new. This will help prevent damage and help to ensure your cable lasts as long as possible.

2. Blowing air to remove fluff tends to send it further into the machine.

Use a brush to regularly clean areas instead. A buildup of lint affects the movement of thread as well as the bobbin position, resulting in tension issues and poor stitch formation. Regular cleaning of these areas is vital and using a brush will help to scoop the lint out rather than blow it deeper into hard to reach areas.   

3. Change the needle regularly.

Manufacturers recommend using a needle for 6 - 8 hours of actual sewing. A blunt needle makes for noisy sewing as the blunt tip punches it’s way through the fabric. A hooked tip (as illustrated above) can be hard to spot but it will tend to lift the fabric and get stuck as the fabric moves. This will deflect the needle and cause it to hit the needle plate or bobbin case and this type of damage can cause continuing problems, eventually requiring replacement parts. It is important to regularly check and change needles.

4. Turn the machine off when you’re not using it for long periods.

It is easy to forget to turn your machine off when you walk away from it to iron something to do some unpicking but it is important to try and switch it off. As well as continuing to use power when you leave it on, some electronic components within the machine may actually suffer temperature degradation. This is when parts overheat and it will reduce their life. They may then need replacing a lot sooner than you would have liked!  

5. Use a quality machine oil where and when recommended in the owner's handbook.

Don’t forget to use a quality machine oil where and when it is recommended. This will maintain the life of parts, reduce noise, maintain a consistent tension and ensure regular thread formation. If you aren't sure about using oil then the best place to look is in the machine's owner's handbook. If you have misplaced it then either find your machine on our website or find the manufacturers website.

Please like, share and comment if this has been useful!

- Steve

What is it?

This year Bernina have created an absolutely fantastic nationwide project. To mark Her Majesty the Queen’s 90^th birthday in 2016, Bernina are inviting keen patchwork and quilters alike to contribute their own square to a special “Quilt Fit For A Queen”! As Bernina dealers, we are fully behind them!

The proceeds of which will be donated to the Friends of the Elderly, one of the charities of which the Queen is patron. 

The project will create a unique and beautiful gift to mark this special occasion for Her Majesty.

Why Get Involved?

Your square will contribute to a virtual online quilt, visible online which you can proudly show off, it will even include your name! You will also be able to see the squares of everyone else who has taken part. In addition, 60 squares will be selected by an invited panel of judges, including world-renowned quilter Philippa Naylor, to create the quilt that will given to Her Majesty. Not only that but your donation will go to Friends of the Elderly.

Who Are The Charity Friends of the Elderly?

Friends of the Elderly are a charity whose mission is to support older people especially those in need due to physical or mental frailty, isolation or poverty. They provide caring services, personalised to the needs of the individual and integrated with local communities.

How Do You Get Involved?

For a charitable donation of £15 or above, Bernina will send you a fabric square (and a spare one to practise on) which you can sew, embroider or decorate with your own birthday design. Full terms and conditions can be found on the following link:

Simply Click Here for more information from Bernina

If you do decide to get involved, please do let us know!

observational stare that sends the bakers potty!

We, like many other quilters, seamstresses and crafters are ready to get creating! It's a great time to start baking yes, but what about donning your sewing apron and making something for the kitchen on your sewing machine? We have just the fabric collection.. 

Makower Retro Bake 1220/P Words
This pink and creamy fabric is great because you can cut the designs out and applique them onto your project, make labels, gift tags, doilies for home made jam, the possibilities are endless!

Makower Retro Bake 1215/1 Kitchen
Popular with making tea towels, oven gloves or teapot covers! How about an apron? It has some lovely kitchen themed illustrations making it a fantastic fabric for making a cover for a food mixer!

Makower Retro Bake 1214/B Spaced
If you don't want to go too girly then this fabric is an excellent choice with its light blue background. As with the fabric above this would make a fab mixer cover or pair of oven mitts! I'd personally like to see his and hers aprons!

Makower Retro Bake 1217/1 Stripe
Last but not least and saving the best until last, we have a fabric that is fantastic for cutting strips from. You can either applique them onto your project or make your own bias binding. How about using them to make the fastenings for your apron ;)

How much are they?

So lets get making some baking themed wears! Oh and don't forget to share your makes with us on Twitter our Facebook page. We love seeing everyone's creations.

Coffee, cork boards and Sylvanian Families.. Beth Studley talks to us about her inspirations

When did you first discover/ fall in love with sewing?

I can't quite remember, so I guess it was when I was quite young! I didn't have a machine until I was around 15, so before that I would just hand sew. I made dolls clothes and carpets for my Sylvanian families. I used to tie-dye fabric and make cushions and bags. I once made lots of beanbag clowns and friendship bands that I sold in school. Another thing I used to do a lot of was cross stitch, even designing my own. I started a south park one once, though I never finished it!  I had only made one hand sewn quilt before I properly discovered patchwork as a teenager and that’s when I started making quilts on my machine.

Most people would consider quilting/sewing a hobby, but you have turned it into a business. What was the motivation behind turning your passion for fabric design and sewing into a business?

Two things really. A desire to spend my time doing what I love. ( I have had a lot of jobs I have hated with rubbish hours and no real enjoyment! ) and also realising I was quite good at doing what I love! It was when I had my first child that I started trying to earn money from sewing and did this by selling patterns to magazines. I had made so many things over the years that were my own ideas, so I started writing instructions for them. After selling a couple I began to approach new projects with the view 'will other people want or be able to make this?'

How did you come to design for Makower?

It was kind of 'right place, right time' really. They were looking for new fabric designers who were also quilters. I was a quilter who also knew a bit about fabric design. We had a mutual friend who introduced us through the London Modern Quilt Guild and it worked out well!

Can you tell us a little about your inspiration for each of your fabric ranges you have produced through Makower?

Well.. Henna came mainly from a lot of sketches I already had that I didn't know would one day end up on fabric! I always loved henna/mehndi style designs and have a tattoo in that style to prove it. They were originally black and white sketches when I first showed them to Makower, I then added colour and built aspects for the main design into accompanying prints. Meadow, my second collection, was spring, a complete change from Henna. Walkabout, similarly to Henna was just a love of aboriginal style of art that I wanted to put down on to fabric.

 I get inspiration simply from things I like! I often see a ceramic, a bunch of flowers or colour palette that I think would be great built into a print or collection. Most importantly though, I very much design as a sewer. If I look back over my past collections and the collection I am in the process of designing now, this is very much the driver in what I decide will work. I do it with a knowledge of what I want from a fabric. A design can look beautiful but it needs to work on fabric.

How do you go about creating a new range from start to finish?

I build a main print that incorporates the idea or inspiration I have and then work from there. I work by looking at what prints I need to create to go with the main design. I do always have in mind, 'this one will work well as a binding', 'this one as a backing', 'this one will be the one I make a bag with' or 'these 3 together will make a simple quilt' and that’s the fun in it for me!

Is there a designer or artist that inspires you?

There isn't really anyone in particular. I could name lots of designers I can think of that do work that is right up my street, but I guess the inspiration comes from wanting to do that yourself. I only have to spend 5 minutes on pinterest or browsing hawthorne threads and see all the pretty things out there to want to start creating stuff! Which is handy seeing as 5 minutes is generally all I have, as my main job will of course always be being a mum!

You have produced a number of sewing patterns that are available to buy on your website, do you have a favourite?

The project baskets have always been a favourite and the most popular. However, I have made so many now that I would have to say my favourite is the Hexa-scrappy quilt. It is fun to make as it's one of those 'decide as you go' projects, as well as a genuinely satisfying scrap reducer!

Are they easy to make, aimed at beginners?

They range from beginner to advanced. I have to be completely honest and say that they are not all beginner projects, simply because I have been sewing for so long it's hard for me to design very simple projects. Having said that I am working on some children's projects at the moment that are very much beginner projects, using hand sewing and felt, which is like going back in time for me!

You have stopped selling patterns for your Hive quilt as you sold the copyright for it to Dorling Kindersley, to be featured in 'The Quilting Book'… do you have any aspirations to have your own book published? Or do you think you will continue to sell patterns individually?

Not yet. I would like to eventually but I will carry on with the fabric and individual patterns for now.

What are your top three must haves that you couldn't live without in your creative itinerary?

In terms of designing patterns, brown parcel paper, I use it to make my initial patterns and templates. I waste loads of it experimenting with shapes and folds until I get what I envisage! In terms of fabric design work, then it would be cork boards for pondering design inspiration and seeing a collection building. I use lots of small portable ones so I can move them around the house and ponder when I pass them! And coffee, a simple must!

You attended evening sewing classes with your mum when you were younger, do you think you will eventually share your passion with your own children?

Definitely. My son is six now and is interested in general creating. He mainly likes cutting paper and shapes, so that’s what I let him do. My daughter it still at the trashing my workroom stage but does enjoy buttons, zips and my scraps bin.

Have either of them shown any interest in sewing?

My son watches me sew a lot and presses the cut button when I finish and passes me the next block when I am sewing a quilt. He still wants to help me at this stage but I hope that will lead to asking me to help him with his creations at some stage.

What's next for Beth Studley? Are there any new ranges in the pipeline? Patterns?

Kids patterns and kits. Another fabric collection very soon and I need to finish and write up the patterns to quilt and another fabric basket idea when I have the time! Its all coming!

A big thank you to Beth for answering all of our questions!
We hoped you enjoyed finding out more about Beth as much as we did.

For more information on Beth please visit her lovely website: www.lovefrombeth.com

Joy has finally completed her Sudoku Sampler quilt that was featured in
Patchwork & Quilting magazine, designed by Sadie Yeomans and Sara Jaskiewicz.

The project started in March '14 and featured a variety of techniques, made using the quilt as you go method. Each block represented a different number, just like in an actual Sudoku puzzle. Every month a new block was unveiled with instructions and you would make nine of that design. By December, participants were able to compile the whole quilt (providing they could work out the puzzle!) and create a finished double sized quilt, 60" square Sudoku!

It turns out lots of students had bought the magazines too and after seeing Joy's completed blanket, wanted to make their own! Joy is now running a series of sessions for those who have their own copies of Patchwork & Quilting and want to start working on their own Sudoku blankets. Here are a couple of pictures from the first session... I wonder which fabrics they will choose!