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 Whether you thought about it before, are in the process of doing it now, or wrote it off as something only women and homemakers did because it is still considered taboo in most cultures, learning to sew for yourself has more benefits than just mending a hole or putting a button back on a shirt. With the American dollar loosing its value, our country still at war, and people from all walks of life feeling the effects of Mother Nature's attempts to survive global warming and mans made pollution, times are calling for us to be just a little more economically frugal, resourceful, ecofriendly and self sufficient. With this in mind, what better way to support all of the above by taking a class, or two, or three. The pros outweigh the cons, and in the end, you are adding yet another entry to your list of accomplishments. If you still feel uninspired, maybe the list below might encourage you to try something new. Top 10 Reasons for Learning How to Sew!1. It will make you more independent and self sufficient.Think about it. What better feeling than to be able to say that you can do it yourself!2. It will save you money. This really should be number one, but I am a big advocate for liberating folks, so second place
it is. Why pay more for clothing and home accent pieces than you have to. A pair of new
trousers at most retail stores will cost you an average of $25-75 bucks. A pair of your own
machine sewn trousers will cost you about $10-15. You do the math. 3. You will never meet your reflection on the street. This might be more of a concern for ladies then men, but most people cringe at the thought of
coming face to face with the same barbie pink dress on another passerbyer. Create the look
you want in the size you want, when you want it.4. It can bring out the creative God/Goddess in you.Whether you use a machine or hand stitch, there is something about crafting fabric into
something new that stirs your imaginative juices. Give it a try. 5. It will bring out the alpha male in you. You didnt think sewing was just for woman did you? The appeal of a man who can hem his
own pants then run out and save the world with his intellect and charm is just too delicious!6. It will always come in handy.
Whether you find yourself needing to replace a button, repair a rip or attend an affair, all you
need is a good pair of scissors, a strong spool of thread and a trusty machine to become your
own hero.
7. If you can sew, you can create great gifts for holidays, birthdays, any day!Unique one-of-a-kind gifts that might also be cost effective... way to go!
8. You dont have to be an expert in order to sew a straight line, you just have to be willing. Whether you are a novice or a seasoned seamstress, basic garment construction is much
simpler than it seems. Learn the basics and the rest will follow.
9. Learning a new skill is cool!
The brain is a muscle that excersize strengthens. Excersize your brain by learning something
new.10. You can become famous for your creations and for saving the planet at the same time!From Betsy Ross to Linda Loudermilk, the weaving of a needle and thread into fabric has not only created historical figures and top fashion designers, it has also combated the over indulgence of Mother Earths resources into recycleable goods, making the idea of learning to sew not only appealing but essential too. Sitting behind a machine and constructing usable items out of fabric may not be for everyone, but after reviewing the list above, maybe it might just be the newly aquired skill for you. It never hurts to try! Good Luck!
View our Dress Fabric View our Designer Fabric View our Novelty Fabric View our Drapery Fabric
Posts by J&O Fabrics Store Labels: conservative, eco-friendly, frugal, sewing, sewing-classes
 Anyone who has ever sewn or attempted to sew a garment, slip cover, or even remove a button knows the wonders of the infamous…. ‘seam ripper’. Small in stature, but powerful in its effect, the seam ripper has no moving parts, yet moves quickly and somewhat effortlessly through seams erroneously done in haste. Featuring a curved blade on one side and a small ball point edge on the opposite to help protect against fabric damage, seam rippers are the next best thing to the ‘undo’ icon on the computer. A tool of choice for a number of sewing tasks, this handy little tool is the perfect specialty notion for righting all our sewing wrongs. Stitched the arms of that custom ordered shirt together because the hopeless romantic in you got caught up in the ending scene between Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood in ‘The Bridges of Madison County ‘? Placed the button a little out of line with the button hole for the second time? Hemmed the pant leg of your husband’s best suit on the wrong side….again? Don’t worry, just whip out your pocketknife like seam ripper and rip away! These little tricks of the trade not only make great technical assistants, but they are fashionably stylish as well. Available in an array of colors, sizes and designs, purchasing the right one to coordinate with your sewing basket notion collection is a piece of cake. From wooden handles to pink sparkly ones, from 2 ¼” to 5” lengths, no hand is too big or too small to find its perfect match. Seamstresses are not the only ones who get to enjoy the luxury of the seam ripper either. Embroiderers can cut away excess fabric when doing cutwork embroidery with the seam ripper too. For such a little and inexpensive device, the purchase of a seam ripper can make the difference between a successfully completed project and one left undone. Just check your local craft store on online outlet for one. 
Sewing tip of the week: SEAM RIPPER…… GET ONE TODAY!
Check out our selection of fun trims here! Check out our selection of other sewing notions here! Check out our array of fabric here!
Posts by J&O Fabrics StoreLabels: crafts, frugile, seam ripper, seamstress, sewing, sewing tips
Last week, I had to sew a button back onto my husband's work shirt at the last minute. Once again, my little sewing kit saved the day. If you find yourself in a similar bind, this is what I suggest. Here are the steps: 1. First use a small needle and matching thread. 2. Start by threading your needle and knotting the thread at the end. 3. To make sure that the button is aligned and straight with the others, place the shirt flat and button it from top to bottom. 4. Place the button that needs to be sewn on next to the corresponding hole. Starting from the inside of the shirt, sew the button in a criss cross pattern - making sure not to miss a hole . 5. Repeat this pattern several times before looping the last stitch on the inside of the of the shirt to make sure that it is strong and won't fall off again. My husband went happily off to work and I put my sewing kit away until next time. With the above suggestions, I'm sure both you and those you sew for will be just as happy. Posts by J&O Fabrics StoreLabels: hand-sewing, helpful-sewing-tips, how-to, how-to-sew, sewing
I used to complain when my mother or grandmother tried to teach me things such as sewing by hand. I thought that I would never need to know that skill. But, since we did not have a sewing machine and there were 6 kids in the house, there were always a lot of rips and tears to fix.
I recently put my hand sewing skills to good use and I'm glad I paid attention. I had purchased a pair of gorgeous black dress pants on sale that I fell in love with. When I got home I quickly found out the pants were too long for me, but I loved the style so much that I wanted to keep them. So I pulled out the good old sewing kit that my mother gave to me, and that you should never be without. The sewing kit I use has all the basic tools that you need in such emergencies.
How did I fix the problem, and what can you do in such a case? This is what I recommend. First prepare the pants by folding the hem until both pant legs are even to the height you need. J & O Fabric store Fact: In order to insure that you make the right cut iron the hems so that you have a straight line . Cut two inches below the line that you made. Next step, grab a medium size needle with black thread from your kit.
First start by threading your needle and knotting your thread at one end. Now you are ready to start sewing. You should make your first stitch at the thickest part of the pant leg which is where the two ends meet. Proceed to sew the hem with an in and out motion, being careful that your stitches are all about one quarter inch apart and straight all around. Loop the last stitch to make sure that the hem does not fall out while you are walking. With gentle ironing you should be all set. Now let everyone see what you learned from mom and take your husband or wife out to dinner in your hand sewn pants.
Posts by J&O Fabrics Store Labels: hand-sewing, hem, hemming, sew, sewing, sewing-project
"sew many possibilities"For Fabric Lovers
Fabric. . . it's just delicious. It's soft, comfy and warm. It can be bright and pretty and draw you to touch it. Stretchy or stiff, snug and homely, here at J&O we just love fabric. At our store in New Jersey, it's literally all over the place. We have huge rolls of decoratives stacked on top of each other, a wall filled with tapestries of all kinds, and additional rolls on the floor display. Not to mention our aisles and aisles of novelty cottons from every manufacturer imaginable.
There's something about seeing rolls of beautiful fabric that signifies potential; a raw material with "sew" many possibilities. Could be a summer dress, a pair of slacks, a quilt, drapes, the possibilities go on and on. Meditating on all the possibilities could make a fabric lover go crazy.
Just think, we spend our whole lives wrapped in some kind of cloth. From the moment we arrive in this world to when our fragile shells deteriorate and become apart of the Earth, fabric is apart of our lives. Cotton, linen, cashmere, wool, silk and including polyester and rayon, fabric can be used for everything from apparel, to sails on a sailboat, to becoming a base for a lamp. Every group of people on this planet use fabric, so it can almost be put on the same level as food and shelter (or maybe not, lol).
From another perspective, if you sew, you're appreciation for fabrics may be on a more conscious level than everyone else. Someone who sews is constantly working, touching, manipulating and shaping fabric. So it's normal for a sewer to absolutely LOVE fabrics. Some sewers walk into our store in New Jersey and become overwhelmed at the amount of fabric we have. Who doesn't adore gorgeous fabric, that not only has an awesome surface but is pleasant to the touch? It's perfectly all right to buy fabric just because you think its gorgeous, without any immediate use in mind.
If you're an avid sewer, building up your very own "fabric stash." is an excellent way to stimulate your creativity. There's just something about looking at neatly folded stacks of beautiful fabric that will provoke a sense of calm and serenity. On a side note, we'll let you in on a little secret. . . the fabric industry is in many ways like the ever-changing fashion industry; styles come and go, prints come and go; items go in and out of style. So, if there's a print you just absolutely love, get it before it's gone and discontinued. Even the most popular prints have a cut off point.
J&O Fabrics is dedicated to doing all we can to keep your sewing possibilities fresh. If you LOVE fabric, celebrate it! Teach someone how to sew, make someone a quilt, or sew your own drapes. Allow yourself to reconnect with something that's very closely woven into our lives.
J&O Fabrics. . . sew many possibilities
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If you're in the area, visit our store in Pennsauken, New Jersey, right outside of Philadelphia. The size of a supermarket, we have the largest selection of fabrics in New Jersey! Everything we carry is not on our website, so if you're in the area, check us out and browse our fabric aisles.
J&O Fabric Center
9401 Route 130 South
Where Rt.73 and 130 meet
Pennsauken, New Jersey 08110
info@jandofabrics.com
Posts by J&O Fabrics StoreLabels: cotton, discount-fabric, Fabric, fabric-industry, fabric-store, fabric-stores, fabrics, Linen, quilt fabric, retail, sewing, textile-industry
No Sew Sewing
What to do with fabric if you DON'T sew.
Is there even such a thing as no sew sewing???? Did you know that if you don't know how to sew, or don't have the patience to get out the old sewing machine, there are actually ways to attach fabric to another fabric without threading a needle? If you've only seen the thin strips of Stitch Witchery at your local drugstore, thats only the beginning.
There are all kinds of no sew products out on the market now. There are items such as fusible webbing, spray adhesive and fabric glue. For example our Heat N' Bond Iron-On Adhesive will give instant results without a lot of fuss.
Typically if you're making a garment, there's no easy way to get around sewing. For example, you probably will have a hard time making a prom dress without sewing, but if you're just making simple curtains etc., there are sewing alternatives.
Here are a few ideas for the budding craftmasters!
- Hem pants without a visible stitch
- Make quick repairs
- Decorate Hat Boxes/ Shoe Boxes
- Make homemade greeting cards
- Create and Attach Appliques
- Fuse Trims to Fabrics
The possibilities for no sew sewing can be as limitless as your imagination and creativity. Log on to our upcoming Notions and Sewing Accessories Section and explore all of our "no sew" possibilities.
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If you're in the area, visit our store in Pennsauken, New Jersey, right outside of Philadelphia. The size of a supermarket, we have the largest selection of fabrics in New Jersey! Everything we carry is not on our website, so if you're in the area, check us out and browse our fabric aisles.
J&O Fabric Center
9401 Route 130 South
Where Rt. 73 and 130 Meet
Pennsauken, New Jersey 08110
info@jandofabrics.com
Posts by J&O Fabrics StoreLabels: craft-ideas, Designer fabric, discount-fabric, Fabric Blog, no sew sewing, sewing, stitch witchery
 ________________________________________________Scrap Fabric
What do you do with all those fabric scraps mounting up??????
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You should see the buckets of remnants we develop here at J&O cutting orders all day. For people who make things with fabric it may seem especially hard to throw away the substantial size scraps. One of the most traditional uses for fabric scraps is none other than patchwork quiltmaking. Even though quilting seems to be the end all for what to do with fabric scraps, not everyone is into quilting. J&O has included a list of ideas to lessen that ever growing pile of fabric scraps.Here's four things to do with all those beautiful and useful fabric scraps.
________________________________________________Wrapping Presents
For most of our holidays in American culture there seems to be a requirement to buy someone a present. Whether it's Mother's Day, Christmas or someone's birthday, on some level there's pressure to go out and spend money. At times, buying wrapping paper or purchasing a pretty gift bag on top of your gift expenses can be pretty annoying. One simple and "green" way to rid yourself of this annoyance is to wrap presents with your fabric scraps.
   
Depending on the size of the present and how creative you want to be, just cut your fabric into a square or rectangle and simply gather to the top and tie. If you have time to make it extra special, sew a custom-made fabric bag. Overall, the fabric scrap is out of your hair and passed on to someone else to reuse and do with it whatever they please.________________________________________________Ribbons
To go along with wrapping presents with fabric, you can also use fabric scraps to make ribbon. Be creative and play around with contrasting patterns and colors as you would constructing a quilt.
________________________________________________Fabric Envelopes and Cards
This particular use may be a little more "craftier" then making ribbons and wrapping presents, however if you really get into it you can end up making some really incredible cards.
To make fabric envelopes and cards, most likely you'll need a stiffener.
If you're interested, check out these few links that give pretty good instructions.
Making Fabric Cards
How to Make Fabric Postcards
Fabric Postcard Lesson
Another idea, if you have a collection of novelty print scraps, cut out a repeat or just one item in the design and attach with glue to plain cards or envelopes.
________________________________________________Donate!!At the end of it all, if you still have a ton of fabric scraps; too much to even save for other crafts, DONATE IT :). There are a number of non-profit organizations that accept fabric scraps. Some organizations have a size requirement and may only accept fabric that is a of a particular material. Check out these links for more detailed information.
Project Linus, a volunteer, non-profit organization with a mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer "blanketeers."AIDS Baby Quilts, a international voluntary network program to make and provide baby quilts
to infants with HIV/AIDSArt Therapy Connection, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving children who are at risk of failure in their school setting. Participating children visit therapists during their regular school day. By making art, they develop a language of expression.
Many local Day-Care Centers accept fabric scrap donations , to use during arts and crafts projects.
Overall, making good use of your fabric scraps can prove to be very rewarding. It will push your creativity and foster the idea that everything can have a use.
________________________________________________If you're in the area, visit our store in Pennsauken, New Jersey, right outside of Philadelphia. The size of a supermarket, we have the largest selection of fabrics in New Jersey! Everything we carry is not on our website, so if you're in the area, check us out and browse our fabric aisles.
J&O Fabric Center
9401 Route 130 South
Where Rt.73 and 130 meet
Pennsauken, New Jersey 08110
info@jandofabrics.comPosts by J&O Fabrics StoreLabels: craft-ideas, discount fabric, fabric-stores, quilting-fabric, scrap fabric, sewing
For generations of fabric shoppers in the Delaware Valley and Tri-State areas, the only place to go for fabric was the famous "Fabric Row" located on South Philly's 4th Street. At the time, those shops must have seemed like the only game in town when it came to fabrics. Fabric Row isn't quite what it used to be and it might take hours of searching through small fabric shops to find what you are looking for. Where can you go for a family business environment that is at the same time convient? With J&O Fabrics you get an ideal combination of family business values and modern ideas. One of the ways this can be seen is at our online fabric store: www.jandofabrics.com. Behind all of the technology that goes into running the web site, however, is a staff with many years of experience that is capable of helping you with virtually any fabric project you have in mind. The convenience of our web site can't be beat, but if you prefer to see the fabrics in person feel free to pop into our store in South Jersey. We are minutes from the major bridges such as the Ben Franklin, Walt Whitman, Betsy Ross and Tacony-Palmyra. We are also only about 45 minutes from the Commodore Barry Bridge. Once you find your way here you will find a larger selection of fabrics than we have even on our web site.  African Tribe: Red
 Counterpoint Bark Cloth: Maize
 Brady Denim
 Butterfly Collection Decorative
 Beach Comber Decorative
 Abstraction Decorative
 Bosporus Toile: Red Dress
 Cher Tropical Decorative Fabric: White
 Lilac Microplush Dots
 Cardinal Red Bengaline Moiré
 Periwinkle Tulle, 108" Wide
 Antique Gold Felt
 Grand Prix Racers Flannel
 Chicago White Sox Fleece
 Verner Panton Geometri Fabric Lilac/Blue
 Angel Betty Boop
 Hieroglyphics Designs
 Horse Country
 Beach Day
 Deco Dots Outdoor Fabric
 Antique Sports Tapestry
 Cadmus Circles Upholstery
 Sonora Desert Upholstery
 Bonneville Scroll Upholstery
 Patent Leather Vinyl: Red
 Black Watch Wool Blend Plaid
 French Gimp 1 1/4" 2935
 Red Curve Quilted Fabric
Posts by J&O Fabrics StoreLabels: discount-fabric, fabric-store, fabric-stores, Flannel Fabric, philadelphia, quilting, sewing
The tip of an iceberg might only represent one ninth of its total mass, the rest being submerged. With J&O Fabrics, our fabulous online fabric store is similarly just the tip of the iceberg. Our store in Pennsauken, New Jersey has an even more extensive amount of fabrics than that which we carry online. For a store that exclusively sells online it is easy to loose focus on the customer. However, at J&O Fabrics the customer is our primary concern. In fact, a considerable portion of our customers are simply walk-ins who want to browse and feel the fabrics for themselves. Our longtime customers know - and our new customers soon find out - the benefits of being tended to in person by a friendly and knowledgeable staff. If you need help figuring out the yardage for drapes, valances, seat cushions or any other item, you can find a helping hand in our store. We are conveniently located off less than 5 miles of off such major thoroughfares as the New Jersey Turnpike and I-295. Off of the N.J. Turnpike take Exit 4 towards onto Route 73 West towards Philadelphia. From I-295 North take Exit 36-A onto Route 73 West. In about 30 minutes time or less (depending on traffic) we can be reached from Cherry Hill, Moorestown, Mt. Laurel, Berlin, Gloucester Township, Delran, Deptford, Voorhees, Camden, Burlington, Philadelphia (Philly) etc. In only about 45 minutes or less, you can also reach us from Hammonton, Ewing, Mount Holly, Trenton, Pitman and other points in Burlington, Camden, Cumberland and Pitman counties. In about an hour and fifteen minutes customers from Princeton, Atlantic City, New Brunswick, Lakewood, Toms River, etc. Once you get here you will find an incredible range of fabrics of every type. We carry drapery, dress, upholstery, quilting, craft and novelty fabrics. Our huge stock includes some of the most prominent names in the fabric industry as we carry the wares of such companies as Michael Miller, Timeless Treasures, Alexander Henry, Peachtree, Covington, Waverly, P. Kaufmann, Robert Allen and Maharam. Here is a selection:  Palm Tree Bark Cloth: Black
 Horizontal Stripe Indigo Denim
 Clifton Knolls Paisley
 Ayre Decorative Plaid
 Creme Linen
 Gold Sparkle Organza
 Daphne Rose L'Amour Satin
 Baby Blue Felt
 Baby Chicks Flannel
 Clemson Tigers Fleece
 Yacht Club Stripe Outdoor Fabric
 Anime Girls
 Jolly Roger Skulls
 Tropical Drinks
 Couperin Floral Tapestry
 Ambient Chenille Fabric
 Early Autumn Upholstery
 Retro Blue Marine Grade Vinyl
 Jungle Cat Cut Fur
 Bambi and Thumper Quilted Panel
 Bullion Fringe 6 Inch: Champagne
 Berry Cashmere/Wool Coating
Posts by J&O Fabrics StoreLabels: discount fabric, fabric-store, quilting, sewing, upholstery
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