I ordered the 2011 archive as soon as it was advertised. I have the original 1985-2010 digital archive. I even bought a lap top computer so I can puruse the magazine anywhere I care to take the computer, even to bed with me. I taught myself to sew when I was a young bride 59 years ago and needed maternity clothes and we were living on a Staff Sergeant's monthly allotment. Santa brought me a Pfaff 130 for Christmas. We made monthly payments of $12.00. All my three children's clothes were made on that machine and I mean ALL! I though I was proficiente at sewing, but I have learned so much more from my Threads collection than I ever thought possible. The DVD collection must go to someone who doesen't already own one. That Pfaff machine went all over the world with me and I will not part with it. However, I at the age of 80, am pursuing a new sewing learning curve because Santa left a Bernina 830 under the tree--this time with NO monthly payments.

Wonderfulk pattern for the mature woman (which I am) with easy sewing techniques. Must have it!

Strictly homemade witch. Black cape from beautiful ruana purchasd in Columbia. Long black skirt, red and shite striped stockings. Purple hat made from lined tafeta. Broom made from branches of pruned appled tree branches. Felt purse in the shape of a cat with huge yellow eyes. Finishing touch--green eye shadow applied all over face, neck and hands. Won first prize at Halloween event.

The stencils interested me the most. I am adept at cutting stencils, but had not thought of doing large ones. These stencil would make a definite eye catching design element.

I am flabergasted that anyone had trouble understanding how to do this--it is a technique that has been around forever. Forever since little boys pants have to have hems let down because they GROW! I am 79 years old. Back in highschool, in 1948, dress hems suddenly changed from knee length to mid-calf. We ALL learned how to face hems. We used a similar fabric to the skirt if possible. Other wise a contrasting fabric was used as in the illustration above. Also, we put strips of insertions into skirts to lengthen them. That striped fabric used for a facing above would look great as an insertion just above the original hem. Then one could trim a jacket with the stripe, and on, and on. There is truly nothing new under the sun when it comes to sewing.

I love to wear ethnic garments. I have collected fabric from Japan, Panama, and Africa. (So much fabric--so little time!) It is enjoyable to receive the compliments from others when wearing these distinctive garments.

Fabric Storage: I purchased cardboard fold-out storage bins, 15"x12"x8". As each piece of fabric is placed in a box, a swatch is pasted to a small card with the length, width anad box number notated on the card. The card is placed on an adhesive photo page according to color, and the pages placed in a loose-leaf binder. The boxes are stored in three metal shelf racks against a wall in a basemeant bedroom. The racks are covered by curtains whose rods are mounted to the racks. I am able to peruse the fabric swatch catalog to search for the desired fabric, go directly to its box and extract it. At present there are 48 boxes in this system, all full. Back to the drawing board to devise more storage, as I suffer from a serious ailment known as "Fabricholic". I am no longer allowed in a fabric store unless I am on a leash.

This made me dig out my woven vest fronts that never got put together. They are just as pleasing as when I first wove them--10 years ago. Will finish the vest and do some more weaving using strange and exotic findings!

Absolutely enchanting! Hated to see the spiral tapaering to and ending--there are many years left--should have left it openended!