Did you know that September is Sewing Month in the USA, a tradition started by Ronald Reagan in 1982? Thinking it was a shame in the UK there was nothing like this, I decided to create my own annual Sewing Machine Discovery Week which this year will from 21st-25th September. As a Janome girl myself, I love my machine, but whatever machine you have, Sewing Machine Discovery Week aims to get you and your machine better acquainted.

It’s so easy to buy a machine, at whatever level you are, and not properly get to know it’s potential. I am guilty of this, I know enough to get started and never seem to have the time to learn more than every project demands of me. Last month I treated myself to a new machine, a Janome 9400QCP, and I have thoroughly enjoyed putting this week together whilst learning about my new machine.

Soooo Tell Me More 👀

Monday 21st September – Get to Know Your Stitches – Learn to create stitches with differing appearances however many or few stitches your machine has. Using threads of different colours and variegated threads I will teach you how to create this woven sampler which I go on and make into a cushion cover. You will gain access to a free video tutorial and accompanying document.

Tuesday 22nd September – How to Create Bobbinwork – Using thicker threads which won’t go through the eye of the needle, we wind the thread around the bobbin and sew from the reverse of the piece. In this free video and downloadable information sheet, I show you how to set your machine up and select the right stitches to get you started. Then, after a bit of practice, we also go on to do some free motion bobbinwork sewing!

Wednesday 23rd September – DOUBLE DAY – How to Successfully Sew with Metallic and Holographic Threads AND How to Make a Sampler and Create a Gift Bag – On this day you will receive TWO free videos and TWO downloadable documents. The first covers a demonstration of my most successful set up for using metallic and holographic threads and the second is a tutorial for a project to make a gift bag from a sampler of bobbinwork and sparkly threadwork!

Thursday 24th September – GillyMac 5 Top Tips to Maintain Your Machine – We love our machines but don’t always give them the love they need, so today you will receive a document which covers the best tips I have been given about caring for my machines.

Friday 25th September – Give the Gift of Sewing– Do you know someone who has a machine, but it rarely comes out of the box, or maybe they are starting to think they may enjoy sewing. Then today you will be given the opportunity to gift them a FREE tutorial class.  Let me know their name and I will send you an email gift certificate to get them started.

Where Do I Sign Up?

You can sign up for Sewing Machine Discovery Week here and then download the requirements below, BUT REMEMBER 🤔these videos will be accessible to the end of 2020 so there is no rush to do it all in one week…. and don’t forget, it’s all free!