Proper care and use of your iron when sewing

Sewing Tip for the week: Proper care and use of your iron when sewing

If you sew, you likely know that without a nice iron, your items won't have that professional look. Sewing and ironing go hand in hand, as pressing your item while sewing is essential at almost every step along the way. A steam press is a wonderful item and I love using one, but let us not forget the vital importance of a hand iron. Most people who have been sewing for very long have learned tips along the way for choosing the best iron and about caring for an iron so as to keep it running smoothly. It is also important to keep your iron clean, otherwise, your iron is likely to leave that tell tale sign of sediment left on your fabric. I am going to discuss a few of these things here today so that those of you who sew might learn something about iron care, if you don't already know about it. 


*I suggest you purchase the nicest iron you can afford.

To save yourself the trouble of routine maintenance, invest in a self-cleaning iron.

*Use distilled water in your iron especially if your local tap water is heavy with minerals and other impurities which can clog the ducts.

Now, lets say you have an iron and you need to know how to clean it.

Well, first things first...for those of you who don't already know it, (though I believe most people know this one) NEVER SUBMERGE YOUR IRON IN WATER. If you submerge the iron when it is not plugged in, it will still most certainly render your iron unusable. If the iron is plugged in to an electrical source and you submerge the iron, it will likely render you unusable. Either option comes to no good end.

Your iron needs to be kept clean in order to keep it safe and running well. The faceplate and ducts need frequent care in order for buildup not to occur. I am going to give you some of my tried and true tips for care here.

*If you want to properly clean your iron, make sure your iron is UNPLUGGED.

*If your iron is warm, allow it to cool completely before you attempt to clean either the faceplate or reservoir.

*Make sure to thoroughly empty any water that might be inside the iron.

*To clean the face plate of your iron, make a paste with 2 tablespoons baking soda and water. (Several companies make commercial cleaning solutions with which to clean your iron. If you choose to use one of these instead, you need to follow manufacturers directions.) Apply the paste to the faceplate of the iron and rub with a clean cloth. When this is done, wipe the area clean with a clean damp cloth.

*Steam ducts on an iron sometimes get clogged and need to be cleaned regularly so as not to leave any residue on clothing. I have found that you can best clean them with a pipe cleaner inserted into each hole and twisting back and forth.

   ~When this is done, fill the reservoir at least half way with water.

    ~Fill the reservoir the rest of the way full with white vinegar.

    ~Plug the iron in, turn it to high setting and leave it on for 15 minutes. Some irons have a high steam setting. If yours does, you can set your iron to this setting for the 15 minutes.

    ~When this is done, unplug the iron and let it cool completely.

    ~Dump out the remaining water.

    ~Now refill the reservoir again with water and white vinegar just as you did and repeat the 15 minute steam period.

    ~When this is done, unplug the iron and let it cool completely.

    ~Dump out the remaining water.

    ~At this point, I usually wipe the face plate off with a clean, damp cloth just to make certain there is no residue left on the bottom of the iron.

**This next step is optional. I find it works quite well so I thought I would share it here with you.

After you clean the bottom, or sole, of the iron, keep it from dragging on clothes or fabric by first ironing a few pieces of wax paper.

**Here is another tip for you:

I suggest using spray sizing on your items whenever possible. It doesn't build up on the faceplate of your iron or cause flaking the way heavy starch does.

*I suggest becoming familiar with your iron and the settings it has. Pressing cloths often come in handy. I suggest paying close attention to care recommendations for garments or fabrics when ironing so as not to damage either your item or melting something on your iron.

 

Happy Ironing,

Connie

Coming Soon! A new style bag will be added to my collection.

So many of you have told me how much you love the "Oh Wow!" bag and have asked when I will be expanding my line of bags. I have many "ideas" in the works and am proud to announce that very soon, I will be adding my second bag to the Cranberry Ridge line. I won't give the surprise away yet but I think you, my friends and customers, are really going to love it. Cranberry Ridge Design bags have been so overwhelmingly popular that I have been selling them as quickly as I can make them. Custom orders for the "Oh Wow!" bag have really kept me busy. It is because of this that I have been this long in adding to my line. (Remember, there is only one of me and I go above and beyond to make sure each customer is happy and that I have made for them the most amazing handmade, one of a kind, top quality bag possible!)
So, be on the lookout for my newest bag, to be announced soon.

For anyone who would like to order an "Oh Wow!" bag, you can email me directly here or you can go directly to my Etsy shop (see link in the column on the right) to see a custom order sale there. Just purchase, check out and let me know what color family fabric you would like your bag to be. Remember, I use ONLY top quality, 100% cotton fabrics for my purses.
Thanks for stopping by today,
Connie

Do your fabrics ever "bleed"? Do you know how to "test" fabric for bleeding?

A fabulous tip to share:

I know many of you sew or craft. I love to quilt. It is a passion on mine. A quilt is an item to be treasured. Because it is an item of value, using top quality fabric in your quilt is imperative. Nothing is worse or more heart breaking than getting a fabric that bleeds. I know you quilters and seamstresses know what I am talking about. With that in mind, I decided it would be nice to pass along a tip every now and then to inspire others to keep the sewing and quilting craft alive. I have learned much from others during the sewing years of my life. Now, I want to periodically offer an occasional tip so as to help others who either currently sew, or inspire to.

How many of you have purchased fabric only to have it bleed? It can ruin an otherwise beautiful, handcrafted item before you ever get it done. Here is a helpful tip I came across.
I am sharing it with you here today.

*Some quilting cottons bleed--lose their dyes when washed--especially fabrics with vivid colors like red and purple. The dyes can stain other fabrics in your wash load or patches in a finished quilt. Perform this easy bleed test on any cotton fabrics you suspect might bleed.

Perform the Bleed Test

1. Submerge a small piece of a fabric in soapy water--a 2-inch square is fine. Use the same soap and water temperature you normally use to wash fabrics and quilts.
2. Let the fabric sit in the soapy solution for about 30 minutes, then check to see if the water is discolored. If it is, the fabric bleeds and the dyes could potentially damage other fabrics.
3. If the water is clear, try one more thing to make sure the dyes won't transfer onto adjacent fabrics when wet. Remove the patch and, without rinsing, place it on a white paper towel. Wait a bit and check to see if dye has transferred onto the toweling. If it did, chances are good that it will transfer dye onto adjacent patches when your quilt is washed.
4. Rinse out the soap and dry your test patch, then perform the bleed test again. If bleeding continues, do not use the fabric in your quilts.

If you can't bear not to use a fabric that bleeds or transfers, purchase a commercial dye fixative, such as Retayne, to help make the dyes more permanent. Treat a snip of fabric, following the instructions carefully, then try the bleed test again.
Most fabrics produced by companies that cater to quilters do not bleed, but it's a good idea to do a bleed test on all vivid fabrics until you have a good understanding of which fabrics you can trust.

I hope this tip helps you today with your quilting and sewing endeavors.
Connie

Article source: From About.com
http://quilting.about.com/od/fabricembellishment/qt/bleed_test.htm

Clapping my hands with delight...

I am clapping my hands with delight. I have finished another "Oh Wow!" bag. It is such a good feeling when I get one completed. The colors in this one turned out really pretty and I love the way the bag turned out. As usual, it is a one of a kind bag. I have only taken one picture of it so far, but I wanted to share it here for you to see first. I will share more pictures when I get them.

Want to order an "Oh Wow!" bag of your own? You can contact me via email or you can go to my Etsy shop. I have one custom bag for sale there. You help me design it!!

I am certain you will be pleased with your custom bag. My bags are made with HIGH quality items and constructed with the utmost precision and care. I do my best to please you, my customer, in every way possible. Order you bag today. You can click HERE to go directly to my Etsy purse sale page.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Connie

Quilts, quilts, quilts!!

When growing up, my four siblings and I were always surrounded by my Grandma and my Mom making quilts. Their quilting was all done by handwork or pieced on machine and then quilted by hand. I remember helping my Mom cut out double wedding ring quilts using templates (made out of newspapers) and scissors and then her sewing these pieces together by hand. After piecing them, she would set up the quilting frame my Dad had made and place the quilt in the frame to begin hand-quilting. I believe all five of us children received a double wedding ring quilt made by our Mom when we married. (Sorry, if some of my siblings did not receive one, but that is how I remember it happening...lol. And you know the baby is always right.)  :)

Quilting seems to have always been an important part of my life and I wanted to start the same tradition with the six children my husband and I share. Our daughter, Elizabeth, was the first of our children to marry. She wed Axel.  They became the first married couple to receive the very first wedding ring quilt I have completed. It is pictured below. Yes, it was all done on machine. I have someone else do the long arm machine quilting. I hope one day to be lucky enough to have a long arm of my own!!

Our daughter, Jennifer, has the quilt pictured below in her possession. She went with me to my favorite quilt shop, "The Quilt Shop" in Summersville, WV and helped pick out fabric and a pattern. She enjoys curling up under it on the couch to watch a favorite show or movie.



The next quilt was made for Michelle, a dear friend I met in San Francisco, CA when I did a travel assignment. Michelle and I became friends while working on the Adult Bone Marrow Transplant unit. Besides being a great friend, she was also "my taxi" while I was there and a dear, sweet soul. Her friendship meant so much to me and I felt I had to give her something special to show what she meant to me. She wanted a quilt she could cuddle under whenever there were cool nights in San Fran.



These are just 3 of the many quilts I have made and shared with family and friends. I always like to think the warmth of the quilts I made surround them in the love I felt while piecing them for the
special people I know and love.

And yes, I feel I am very blessed to have people like this in my life!
Connie

Give credit where credit is due!!

Good morning,

I want to tell everyone about Kassie who is the graphic design artist for Pixie Paint Studio!! I am so lucky to have found her! She does an amazing job with design. Kassie (Pixie Paint Studio) deserves all the credit for the beginning and upkeep on my blog, website, Etsy store and Ebay listings!!

Please consider contacting her for all your graphic art needs!!

Have a great day!
Connie

Just listed a custom "Oh Wow!" bag? Could it be yours?

Hello everyone, I have been busy making bags as fast as I can turn them out. Each bag is carefully constructed, so making them takes a bit of time, and I am only one gal who loves to sew. I have gotten so many orders that it has surely kept me busy getting the bags made fast enough. I have just listed a custom bag listing in my Etsy shop for  one bag that you, the potential customer, will help me to design. You can either choose a color and I will choose top quality, coordinating fabrics for you or I can show you some available fabrics from which you can choose to have me make your custom bag. Each "Oh Wow!" bag is truly a one of a kind bag. You can go straight to my purse listing by clicking HERE!

Thanks for visiting today,
Connie

"Oh Wow"..Pretty In Pink!

My sewing machine has been working again,....needle flying in a frenzy to make another darling "Oh Wow" bag. My machine is much more updated than the one shown here but I am inspired by sewing in general. I remember the days of the pedal machine and can't imagine how excited our ancestors would be if they could but see what amazing things the machines of today can do. I am inspired by PINK!

Oh yes, girly-girl pink. What gal doesn't love it? Women have had a love affair with pink for centuries. We simply can't seem to help ourselves. If it is pink, it speaks to our inner "girl" somehow.

Pink is what inspired me to make this bag. Goodness, I have to say I love how it turned out!  Check out how roomy this sweet bag is....with all the compartments.

I wanted to share a picture of it here with you.

I hope it speaks to the girly-girl in you too! So Pretty In Pink!
Thanks for stopping by,
Connie

Priceless...what more can I say!

I found myself this evening with no hubby, thanks to Tony for taking him camping. So,  5 little Yorkies and I sit here enjoying Chinese takeout and a Lifetime movie! Grandbabies, Shealeigh and Rylee will be here soon!!! So, this is what I call...priceless!!

Now, for those of you who are interested, I will share a little about me and my family. Between my husband and I we have 6 children ranging from 22-27 years old; 2 sons and 4 daughters: 1 boy and 1 girl being my biological children and 1 boy and 3 girls being his.

We have 3 grandbabies-Shealeigh-19 months, Blake-4 months old and Rylee-2 months old. They are very special to us.

I am an RN by trade with work experience in a variety of areas. The area most special to me is oncology nursing.

Well, it is now time to go to the sewing room and create! I hear my sewing machine calling my name.
Thanks for visiting today,
Connie

Check out my purses! Come see my "Oh Wow!" Bags

I have been sewing all my life, but only recently started a blog. The sewing machine is quite familiar to me, while computer code doesn't come so easily. I will admit, I have been dragging my feet when it comes to getting my web site and blog going. The truth is, that kind of thing is very time consuming and I would rather be spending my free time with my favorite hobby.....SEWING of course! There is something about sewing and creating with fabric and a sewing machine that really gets my creative juices flowing.  My purses / bags have been selling as fast as I can get them made and I am having a ball making them. While the bags in the pictures aren't for sale (because they are all already sold) I thought I would share these pictures anyway. The name of this purse is the "Oh Wow!" bag....so named because everyone who sees it or has purchased it says..."Oh Wow!" because they love it so much. I have to admit, I love it too and am just as wowed as my customers have been.

If you are interested in a bag, please contact me. (You will find my contact email on the right hand column of this blog page.) I have many fabric choices from which to choose and would be happy to create a one of a kind bag for you as well.
Thanks for visiting my blog today.
Connie

Welcome to the Cranberry Ridge Design Blog

I would like to take this opportunity to say hello and to welcome you to Cranberry Ridge Design. CRD is a home based business located in wild, wonderful West Virginia
where all my items are carefully and uniquely created. I make a variety of items and offer many custom design opportunities for my customers to help me make choices in actual item creation.  The end result is a wonderful, one of a kind item that you will be proud to own. I take pride in my work and strive for 100% customer satisfaction.  It is my desire to offer you an item that you will cherish and to keep you coming back for more fabulously designed items for many years to come.

My items are sold on my web site and on Etsy and Ebay. In addition, I often sell within my community and at festivals and craft sales in West Virginia and surrounding states.  I have also shipped my handmade items across the country.

My blog is a place that you can come to see a variety of photos of my hand crafted items and to learn a bit about me, my family, customers and business. It will feature things that I feel you might find fun and interesting. The blog will also be a place where you can get to know more about the products that I offer for sale.

If you have purchased one of my handmade items, please feel free to send me a photo of you with the item so I can feature it here. I welcome your comments and questions and encourage you to email me if you want to discuss an order made especially for you.
I hope you will visit me here often and would be honored if you would sign up to be a follower of my blog. Come back often and get to know me and become familiar with my products.

Cranberry Ridge Design is a place where customers are considered family. Stop by the blog often to see what is new or coming soon. Also, watch for contests, giveaways, discount codes and sales.
Thanks for visiting the Cranberry Ridge Design blog.
Hurry back now...
Connie

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