FREE ALPHABET LETTER

• The Chainstitch Script Alphabet in lower case continues this week with the letter m, available free in 4" size til 25 July 2019. Note that the lower case letters in 4" size aren't actually 4" tall; instead, they are sized to coordinate with the upper case letters so that the two can be stitched together to make words and phrases. Most average around 2", though the ones with tails (b, f, j, p, z, etc) will be somewhat longer).
  

As you know, this lovely chain stitch script was inspired by the hand-embroidered lettering my Mom used to sew names on our Christmas stockings so many years ago. For best results, you might want to stitch this font with a slightly heavier sewing thread (30 wt). The font is free in 4" size, including both upper case and lower case letters, but you can purchase it in smaller sizes if you wish.  

LATEST FREE DESIGN

• This applique Lion Face is  this week's 4" freebie.

 NEW DESIGNS

• My friend Mike is an electrician, so I know he'll appreciate this one. Find it in the Guy-Friendly catalog.

• A reader asked about a design that just reads "Featherweight".  Find four versions on the Featherweight page.

• And just in case it's the Rocketeer that gets your pulse racing, I added four of those as well. Find them in the Vintage Sewing catalog.

• Flags are always fun. Here's the Japanese flag, in two versions.

• It's hard to resist Foghorn Leghorn and his crazy sayings. Find two of them in the Wit and Wisdom collection.

JEN'S PROJECTS

NEWS & DOINGS

•  If you're confused about the ordering process and would like more information, there are instructions here; if you're curious about why it's set up the way it is, you can read a bit of the history at length here.
• When sending me your list of designs, please be sure to state the name of the design you want exactly as it appears on the site, in order to avoid confusion when I'm filling your order. Because these are electronic products, I won't be able to replace a design if I send the wrong one because the name was incorrectly stated!
• Very rarely, Paypal fails to send me confirmation of an order, and if that happens I may not realize that something is amiss. If you place an order and don't hear anything from me within a few hours, please do let me know and I'll make it right.
• I have updated the instructions for turning just about any embroidery design into an ornament, either felt-backed or embroidered on both sides. Find these new instructions here.
• I was able to acquire a donor machine to provide a motor for my Singer 403, so it's up and  running again along with the rest of my slants -- 301, 401, 411G, 414, 500, 503, 600e, 611G, and 631G. I'm looking to add a 404 to the list-- they're the most robust of the slants, the last of the great mechanicals that were "over-engineered" for household use. If you're interested, here's a really good video (not mine) that details how they were built and how they compare to the 301.
• I'm thrilled to have recently acquired a Singer 206 -- the very first swing needle (zigzag) machine the company ever made -- to  add to my 306 and 319. I love these machines for their quirky, gadgety look, their ruggedness, and the beautiful quality of their stitching.  If you have one, you'll know there's some controversy over whether they can use a regular class 15 domestic needle or must be supplied with the scarce and expensive 206 needle, which has a slightly shorter tip than the 15. 

There's a lot of misinformation out there, but actually these machines *can* use a regular 15 needle as long as you install the appropriate bobbin case. I've had the 319 for six years and the 306 for three; I use them regularly, always with the 15 needle, and have never had a problem. If you own, or aspire to own, a machine from this series, you may want to read Andrew Caddle's essay on the subject.

• If you happen to notice any missing images as a result of my recent tinkering with the site, I'd love to hear about them. Just let me know which pages seem to be missing images and I'll make the repairs.
• There's been a recent increase in e-mail glitches, meaning that attachments are being blocked -- I suppose as a result of tightening security measures. For this reason I have been sending more designs via Hightail, so if you have ordered from me you may receive my e-mail message via them, including a download link. If you receive my message via Hightail, just scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the orange button that says "View All Files". you'll be taken to a page that displays my message on the left and another orange "Download" button on the upper right.
• And always, if you have ordered some designs and have not had a response me within 24 hours, it means there's a glitch somewhere, so please please LET ME KNOW!  If I don't hear from you I won't know that my message didn't make it through, so please just send a quick e-mail to say you didn't get the designs, and I will make it right or issue a refund.
• If you've ever had an issue with "birds' nesting" at the beginning of a line of stitching, try the simple tip shown in this video from Hoop Sisters. If you have a multi-needle machine, you can still use this idea, as Melissa from Little Bee Designs demonstrates.
• If you have a JPG or PNG image that you need to convert to SVG for some of the electronic cutting machines, you could try a free online file converter such as this one.  I haven't used it myself yet so can't vouch for the quality but it's worth a try. There are others as well -- just search "free online SVG converter" and you'll find a host of them to choose from.
• If you haven't had a look at this video from Steve Carmichael about DIY one-color screen printing for T-shirts and bags, you might want to give it a view.  It's a fun project idea and very clearly presented.
  
• If  you've been wanting to try your hand at printing on fabric with your laser printer, here's an intriguing video from Lisa Capen that you might enjoy. I'm hoping to try this one myself soon and will let you know how it works out.
  
• It's always Christmas crafting time around my place, and speaking of Christmas, here's a link you might want to check out if you enjoy crafting hand-made ornaments as much as I do. It's got lots of DIY ornament ideas that can be personalized to your interests and needs.
• Check out the FAQ page for a short piece on using plastic as stabilizer for small embroidery projects. Find it partway down from the top of the page.
  
• Did you know? This site contains no advertising and has no affiliations with any other site. I do not track visitors and I do not share personal information from correspondents. The only revenue I receive is from small purchases or from occasional donations -- which by the way are always very gratefully received.

FEATHERWEIGHT TOTES & COVERS

• Check the bottom of each site page to find additional freebies, or click here to find some Potter-related free designs!