TANYA OWENS DESIGNS

Welcome back to Technique Tuesday! This week, we're exploring the fascinating world of machine needle felting. This technique has become a staple in my own fabric art creations, and I'm excited to share some curated knowledge with you. Machine needle felting allows you to create textured surfaces, blend colors, and even sculpt three-dimensional forms using specialized needles and a machine. It's a fantastic way to add depth and dimension to your textile projects. Why Machine Needle Felting? Machine needle felting offers several advantages over traditional hand needle felting. It's generally faster, especially for larger projects, and allows for more intricate detail and precision. It's also a great option for those who may find hand felting physically challenging. Tutorial Video This first video in a two-part series provides a great introduction to machine needle felting. It covers the basics of what needle felting is, the tools and materials you'll need, and...

Welcome back to another Technique Tuesday! This week, we're diving into the world of weaving with a charming project: a woven lattice twill bookmark. It's a fantastic way to use up scrap yarn, learn a new skill, and create a beautiful and functional piece you can cherish in your favorite books. Tutorial Video In this tutorial, you'll be guided step-by-step through the process of creating this lovely bookmark. It covers the materials you'll need, the basic weaving techniques involved, and how to create the distinctive lattice twill pattern. Don't worry if you're a beginner – this project is perfect for those new to weaving! Why a Woven Bookmark? Bookmarks are more than just page holders; they're small treasures that accompany us on our literary journeys. A handmade bookmark adds a personal touch to your reading experience. Plus, this woven lattice twill design is not only beautiful but also surprisingly durable. What You'll Learn: Basic weaving techni...

Ever needed to quickly grab a screenshot of something on your screen? Whether it's for sharing a funny meme, demonstrating a software feature, or preserving a webpage before it changes, screen captures are incredibly useful. And thankfully, Windows has a built-in tool that makes the process a breeze: Snip & Sketch! Video Tutorial If you're unsure how to use this handy utility, don't worry! I've created a short and sweet YouTube tutorial titled: How to Make a Screen Capture using Snip and Sketch  to walk you through the process step-by-step. Watch the tutorial below:  Benefits of Using Snip & Sketch But why should you use Snip & Sketch in the first place? Let's explore some of its key benefits: Ease of Use:  Snip & Sketch is incredibly intuitive. It's integrated directly into Windows, so there's no need to download or install any additional software. The interface is clean and straightforward, making it easy for anyone to pick up and use...

This summer I watched quite a few crafting videos online and wondered if I should incorporate my own spun fabric into my sewing & fabric art mix. Before I dropped hundreds of dollars on a large weaving loom I decided that I should try something a wee bit smaller to get my feet wet and see if it was something I really wanted to do or a whim. So, I purchased the Bracelet Loom by Leisure Art . Now it doesn't have all of the fancy moving parts that a Rigid Heddle Loom has, but the basic concepts are there and it gives me the opportunity to flex or scratch that itch. My $8.99 + tax investment in the loom along with a purchase of embroidery floss and what I thought was embroidery floss, but turned out to be craft thread, all from Hobby Lobby got me started. I later shopped online shopping for clasps to finish the bracelet. I opted for brushed brass.  I was all set to start my venture in weaving. That is until I read the instructions and started scratching my head and weeping. I neede...

The one thing single needle embroidery machines do not have is a thread stand, with needles threaded for color changes. But that doesn't mean we home sewists, hobbyists, designers, thread artists are limited. There are tools on the market to ease the burden of changing colors when machine embordering our designs. I personally own this 10 spool thread stand and it is wonderful. I don't just use it when I embroider, I also use it for large thread spools that don't fit neatly on my sewing machine and when I plan to stitch in different thread colors. I purchased the ten thread spool, thread stand. There is a 20 version on the market, but I thought that was too many for me. There are also 1, and 2 thread stands too. Video Ready to start sewing your project? Please leave your comments below on what you plan on making .  This blog isn't sponsored If you enjoy reading my blog posts please consider supporting my creative endeavors by donating via  PayPal Me  or  Buying Me a C...

Whether you use the roll hem foot or manually fold those hems, it's always good to have another technique in your sewing toolbox. This Technique Tuesday, Downtown Tailoring will demonstrate the Ban-Roll technique to sew narrow hems. I haven't tried it yet as I don't have a project that requires narrow hems at the moment, but if you give it a try, let me know in the comments below. Video This technique is from Downtown Tailoring located in Ottawa, Ontario Canada. Ready to start sewing your project? Please leave your comments below on what you plan on making .  This blog isn't sponsored If you enjoy reading my blog posts please consider supporting my creative endeavors by donating via  PayPal Me  or  Buying Me a Cup of Tea/Coffee .  

Hi Everybody, recently I learned that you can do yarn couching using the Rolled Hem foot. So, no need to purchase a Couching foot. It also means that the Rolled Hem foot has multiple uses, which is great. When couching yarn you can use thread the color of the yarn so that the yarn stands out or choose to use a contrasting color on the yarn so the stitches stand out too. And lastly you can use nylon microfilament thread so that the stitches disappear and the yarn seems to float on the garment.  I did a test sew using my old standard, an old bedsheet. In the image above I used  medium weight size 4 worsted acrylic yarn, a wide ribbon, and sari yarn that I purchased to felt with. The three white cords are craft yarn that I corded, something I will discuss in a future blog.  I purchased monofilament thread  Sew-ology1001 Transparent Nylon Thread from Hobby Lobby on sale for .99.  I also purchased a larger set of 6 additional Rolled Hem feet to create hems in the fo...