from the editor

I was supply shopping at a major craft store several weeks ago when I noticed an aisle of Christmas decorations. While some people might sigh and shake their heads at the sight of holiday items in June, I’m elated! For me, there’s an up side to “retail creep”: By mid-August, I’ll have a full selection of decorations, blanks and kits in time for my early bird embroidery planning. I always manage to squeeze in a few last-minute items, but I like to have the majority of my projects finished by fall. So getting an early start is a must!

In addition to dreaming up embroidered gifts for my own family and friends, I’ve been planning our Holiday Embroidery 2007 issue. This issue is packed with decorating ideas, fun fashions and great gift ideas that your family and friends are sure to love.

Begin with a celebration of the season in a dining room decked out in finery (see “Festive Dining”). After making the gorgeous pieced runner, placemats and napkins, link to our special “Only Online” bonus with instructions for making the beautiful chair back covers and ornament wraps pictured in the issue. Then stitch a card holder with our original appliqué letter download (see “Pockets Full Of J-O-Y”).

Celebrating Hanukkah? Our pretty needle felted bowl (see “Bowl of Cheer”) and mini quilted wall hanging (see “Quilted Hanukkah”) will add to your festivities. If you’re in a fastionista frame of mind, you’ll love our sheer sequined jacket (see “Sequined Splendor”) and luxurious velvet coat and hat (see “Winter Sophisticate”).

And, as always, we have beautiful gift ideas like soft ornaments made from plaid fabrics (see “Ornaments With Style”), a decadent beaded scarf made from chiffon (see “Gift Of Elegance”), a child’s twin set with appliqués (see “Sweet Set”) and much more.

The list goes on! For a full table of contents, a sample article and ordering information for our special Holiday Embroidery 2007 issue, available beginning Aug. 28, click here.

Wishing you holiday creativity all year long,
Annette Gentry Bailey
Creative Machine Embroidery Editor

better embroidery:
embroidery scissors

Use double-curved embroidery scissors—so named because both their handles and cutting blades are curved—for all embroidery finishing work. The curved blades facilitate easy, close trimming of appliqués and jump stitches. Note: Double-curved embroidery snips also are ideal for snipping jump threads, but aren’t meant for cutting fabric.

To use double-curved embroidery scissors for trimming appliqué fabric:

• Lift up on the appliqué fabric and use the scissors to trim close to the outline. To ensure a close fabric trim, be sure one of the two blades is against the appliqué outline stitching.
• Before beginning an appliqué project, be sure to test-stitch to determine how close the fabric must be cut to the appliqué outline. Fabric poking through the edge finishing stitches indicates the appliqué fabric could have been trimmed closer.

reader gallery

What have you been embroidering? Send a .jpg image and a brief description of your latest creative endeavors to info@cmemag.com and you could be featured in our e-Update Reader Gallery. We look forward to hearing from you!

share your influence

Help shape future CME issues by participating in our latest online survey about your experience with hoops. Are you limited by one size? Or do you own several? Please take a few minutes to share your input.

more holiday fun!

If you missed any of our previous holiday issues or downloadable embroidery designs, don’t lose that holiday cheer. They're still available at our easy-to-use, secure shopping site, www.SewnShop.com. In fact, you’ll find a wide array of issues and designs to answer every embroidery need all year long. To order print products by phone, call (800) 590-3465; outside the United States, call (303) 215-5657.

you can win!

Thank you for being a subscriber to our CME e-Update. To show our appreciation, each month we randomly select from among our subscribers a winner of a special embroidery-related prize. This month it’s a Verilux Portable light—perfect for those times when you need extra natural light for any task.

If you’re already a subscriber, you’ll automatically be entered in the drawing. Congratulations to Nancy S. of Houston, the winner of our June prize: the new book “Print Your Own Fabric” from authors Linda Turner Griepentrog and Missy Shepler.

Share the fun! Be sure to tell your embroidery-loving friends to subscribe to our e-Update newsletter so they’ll have a chance to win each month, too.

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