It’s another amazing week to create and sew together! This week, as we continue our Sketching Across America series, we are celebrating the great state of Ohio! Are you ready?!

The lovely Carnation is the state flower of Ohio, and it makes our 16th design in this series! This week, Shinae has create a great zipper bag project for you! See the fun facts below for the inspiration of this project!

Download your designs with the following link:

https://rnk-floriani.com/friday-designs/4-16-21-OH.zip

All past designs:

https://rnk-floriani.com/across-america.php

Now download your project instructions and color chart too:

Contact your dealer for information on a special thread set that matches our Sketching Across America designs!

Now it’s time for one of our favorite parts of Sketching Across America, FUN FACTS!

Fun Facts About Ohio:

1. The zipper was invented in Ohio (Shinae’s inspiration for this project!)

2. It is illegal to fish for whales on Sunday

3. Fifty percent of the United States population lives within a 500-mile radius of Columbus, Ohio

4. John Lambert of Ohio City made America’s first automobile in 1891.

5. The largest drum sticks in the world are in David Grohl Alley, each measuring 23 feet long and weighing a half-ton.

6. Life Savers candy was invented by Clarence Crane of Garrettsville, Ohio in 1912

7. By state law, no one may be arrested on a Sunday or on the Fourth of July

8. The first airplane was invented by Dayton natives the Wright Brothers.

9. In 1879, Cleveland became the first city to be lighted by electricity.

10. “Hang On Sloopy” is the official state rock song

We hope you love creating this Ohio inspired and designed project! Come back next Friday for our next release as we Sketch Across America! Happy Creating Everyone!

Happy Tuesday! We are {sew} excited to introduce a brand-new series where you can learn, sew, and grow with the famous Cookie Gaynor! Follow the blog below for a new project and information on how to to join her LIVE series!

Cookie is one of our Embellish Embroidery educators. She is so excited to start her new series, “Coffee with Cookie” this Wednesday at 4:30 PM EDT! For her first episode, located on the Embellish Embroidery Facebook Page, she will be teaching how to make a baby bib with the design of Daddy’s Little Princess, or Mommy’s Little Princess!

This project is perfect for the soon-to-be mothers, current moms, or just as a gift for someone with a younger child! Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and Cookie wanted you to have an amazing gift to give to new mother’s! Below, you will find the designs and project instructions to follow along during the Facebook Live tomorrow!

We can’t wait to see you on Cookie’s Facebook LIVE tomorrow at 4:30 PM EDT! Follow the link below to link our Embellish Embroidery Page, and be the first to be notified when she goes live!

https://www.facebook.com/RNKEmbellish

Grab your coffee, learn from Cookie, and have fun creating!

It’s #FabulousFlorianiFreebieFriday and we are {sew} excited to bring you another amazing Floriani State Flower by Sketching Across America!

This week, we are celebrating the great state of Georgia! This is now our 15th State Flower Design, and we hope that you have loved them as much as we have!

Grab your designs with the link below:

https://rnk-floriani.com/friday-designs/4-9-21-GA.zip

Grab all of our past designs with the link below:

https://rnk-floriani.com/across-america.php

Get your amazing project instructions by downloading the file below:

Now it’s time for one of our favorite parts of this segment – FUN FACTS!

Fun Facts About Georgia:

1. Georgia’s largest crop is pecans. It’s also a top producer of blueberries. But, it is known as the peach state.

2. There was a Gold Rush in Georgia that lasted from 1829- 1861. It produced more than 870,000 ounces of gold, which sadly came mostly from Cherokee land. The Cherokee were soon evicted and sent along the famous trail of tears.

3. Georgia has weird laws like, it is illegal to keep a donkey in a bathtub.

4. Georgia’s population sits at around 10 million people, and it is the 8th most populous state in the United States.

5. Georgia’s official state bird is the brown thrasher; the state flower is the Cherokee rose.

6. Coca-Cola was invented in GA in 1886.

7. The first ever steamship to cross the Atlantic, the City of Savanna, sailed from Georgia.

8. Thomasville is called the City of Roses.

9. Blackbeard Island was the home of the pirate Edward ‘Blackbeard’ Teach.

10. In 1776, the total population of Georgia was only about 40,000 people.

That’s all for this week! Don’t forget to check back next week for another release of a State Flower, and check with your local dealer for our current Sketching Across America Thread set so you can stitch along with us!

Today is Clarrisa’s Corner, and she is talking about Buttons and Buttonholes!

Good Button and Buttonhole Practices:

• Place buttons (that means to just find the placement) first and then buttonholes if you are setting your own placement.

• Always place buttons at areas of stress such as bust, waist, hips. -Once buttons are placed, determine the total number of buttons you want. Buttons are generally 2-3 ½” apart.

• To find the distance between buttons, measure the distance between the top and bottom button. Divide that by the button count minus 1. If your distance measures 18” and you want 6 buttons you will divide 18 by 5. That equals 3.6 which is 3 5/8”.

• Buttons should be placed on the left side for females and right side for males.

• Buttons are always stitched on the center front line.

Buttonholes:

• Buttonholes are stitched vertically if you have a placket and horizontally otherwise.

• Buttonholes are stitched (if horizontal) 1/8” inside the center front line. -Buttonholes are stitched 1/8” longer than your button if you have a flat button. For thicker buttons you will need a longer buttonhole. About a ¼” longer.

• Test. Use the same fabric, layers and interfacing that you will be stitching the buttonholes on and do a test buttonhole to make sure it fits your buttonhole.

• Always place a small piece of tearaway under your buttonhole while stitching. -Mark the beginning, center and end of your buttonhole.

Join Clarrisa today at 4:30 PM EDT on our Floriani Embroidery Page! You can also view all past episodes of Clarrisa’s Corner with the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/FlorianiEmbroidery/videos/?ref=page_internal

It’s another Fabulous Floriani Freebie Friday! We are excited to give you a new opportunity to get your free downloadable designs and project!

This week we are sending you to one of our amazing sites, the Progressive Classroom by Kathi Quinn to receive your designs and project information! This link includes video tutorials, downloadable instructions, and even a product list!

Kathi Quinn and Shinae, our Floriani Embroidery Educators, collaborated to create a great option for you to learn how to create these projects in your FTCU software to the best of your abilities!

Progressive Classroom is normally a paid subscription, with a large archive of educational videos and tutorials, plus monthly new releases! However since we are celebrating the Texas State Flower, for the whole month of April, Kathi Quinn’s tutorials for this project are free!

Follow the link below to see Kathi Quinn’s personal tutorial’s through the Progressive Classroom, and click the banner that has the picture below:

https://pclassroom.blog/

Get all of our Sketching Across America State Flower Designs with the link below:

https://rnk-floriani.com/across-america.php

Join our Facebook Group community as we create projects together:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/florianiembroidery/

Now, let’s continue an amazing tradition of Sketching Across America, fun facts! Since this week is a little different, we still want you to have fun and learn new things on this journey with us! We are celebrating the great state of Texas, and their State Flower, the Bluebonnet!

10 Fun Facts About Texas:

1. Dr. Pepper was invented in Waco, TX in 1885.

2. Bug’s Bunny’s saying, “What’s Up, Doc?” originated in Dallas, TX.

3. Texas uses a separate power grid from the rest of the US.

4. The fastest road is located in Austin, TX, where the speed limit is 85 mph.

5. Texas is larger than any country in Europe.

6. Everyone in the town of Dish, TX was given TV’s and DVR’s in exchange for DISH Network being allowed to change the town name to Dish from Clark.

7. There is a Texas ranch larger than the state Rhode Island.

8. It’s illegal to milk someone else’s cow in Texas.

9. There is a dialect of German that is only spoken in Texas.

10. The phrase “Don’t Mess With Texas”, came from an anti-littering campaign.

We hope you enjoy your free video tutorials, state flower designs, and project instructions! Come back next week for a brand-new design! We can’t wait to create with you!

It’s Easter Weekend, and since we do not have Clarrisa’s Corner this week, Clarrisa wanted to share a different way to use her Wreath Pick Project!

Our previous wreath projects included St. Patrick’s Day, and Valentines Day Wreath Picks! Download your printable instructions from Clarrisa below on how to make your Easter Wreath Picks!

Now, download your Easter designs in the file below!

Join us next Thursday, April 8th, at 4:30 PM EDT for our next episode of Clarrisa’s Corner on our Floriani Facebook Page! Happy Easter Everyone!

It’s almost Easter! That means we need a craft that can be utilized as a home item, gift, or even just décor! Shinae, a Floriani Educator, has made an amazing project for us below!

Easter is one of America’s biggest “gathering” holidays, where you know there will be great home-made food! Though this Easter may be different with smaller gatherings, or maybe you’re staying at home, we still want you to cook in style!

Use these Egg Oven Grabbers to pull your dishes out of the oven, grab a mug of warm tea our of the microwave, hold your air-fryer basket as you prepare a meal, or place a few beside each other to be used as a hot plate for warm dishes on the table!

Download your free designs and project instructions below:

We hope you have a fantastic Easter Celebration, and as always, happy crafting!

It’s a great day to create! How about we add to your amazing collection of Floriani State Flowers! Follow the blog below to get a free design, project, and to join in on all the fun!

Today’s amazing state is Nebraska! The state flower of Nebraska is the Solidago! A beautiful golden bloom that seems almost too perfect for Spring! Grab your designs with the link below:

https://rnk-floriani.com/friday-designs/3-26-21-NE.zip

Get the past designs with the link below:

https://rnk-floriani.com/across-america.php

Get your project instructions for making a door hanger below:

If you are creating these fun state flowers with us, please share your projects in our Facebook Group! We would love to follow your journey and encourage you to keep creating!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/florianiembroidery/

Now, one of your favorite parts of #FabulousFlorianiFreebieFriday… FUN FACTS!

Fun Facts About Nebraska:

1. Kool-Aid was invented by Edward Perkins in Hastings, Nebraska.

2. Spam, the food, is produced in Freemont, Nebraska.

3. The name Nebraska comes from an American Indian name meaning ‘flat water’

4. The Lied Jungle located in Omaha is the world’s largest indoor rain forest.

5. The 911 system of emergency communications, now used nationwide, was developed and first used in Lincoln, Nebraska.

That’s all for now! Check back next Friday for a new release and state flower! Happy Sewing!

Casey Renee Cosplay
Cozy

Cottage Core Apron

Hello friends, Spring is right around the corner and it’s time to make our way outside and onto some grand adventures. What better way to work out in the garden or take a stroll in a field of flowers than donning a cute spring inspired apron. This apron features embroidery and detail stitches that compliment the eyelet fabric. Neither detail is necessary but I will include the steps for those that would like to do the same.

Time 4-6 Hours

Level Beginner

Materials

• 11/4 yd cotton eyelet fabric

• 1 yd cotton

• Floriani Heat N Stay

• Floriani Embroidery Thread

• ¼” Stitch Perfection Tape

• Powerboost Lining

Download your printable instructions below:

Construction

Just to start out I have created a FREE printable template for this Apron based on my size so adjustments might need to be made mostly for height, ties and bodice coverage.

1. Pockets

I chose to embroidery my Pockets, I just found a pretty flower design that was already loaded on my machine. Since my eyelet fabric had white thread on the white cotton lawn I chose a white thread for my embroidery.

Using my cotton fabric (not eyelet fabric) I applied a layer of Heat N Stay on the back of cotton, my design is not dense at all but if your design is dense try adding Floriani Water Soluble or Heat N Gone Topping.

Since the pattern piece is about 8” by 8” it’s best if the embroidery is smaller than that. Once your embroidery is done, it’s time to mark and cut the pattern piece.

Apply Power Boost lining to the back of the pocket. For embroidery this will help the back from feeling scratchy or catching on items in the pocket. For a pocket without embroidery this will just add a bit of strength and body to the pocket so that it works better to hold goodies in your pocket.

To clean the edge of the fabric and overlock stitch or zig zag stitch can be used. Finally, it’s time to fold and sew the top down 1” and then fold and press the other 3 sides ½”.

1. Apron Skirt and Waist

I cut my skirt piece on the salvage of the fabric so I did not need to do anything to the sides of it. I did roll the bottom hem just two ½” segments rolled up and this can be done to the side pieces if needed. Sew down the pocket pieces as marked on the pattern or adjust them to your own desire.

Gather the top of the apron down by sewing a long stitch length without a backstitch, I gathered mine to 20” and secure stitch the gathers.

If needed, cut the waistband in multiple pieces of fabric and then sew them to make two long strips at 60” each. With the right sides of the waistband facing the apron skirt, I stitched the bottom stitching of the waistband sandwiching the apron on the bottom edge as well as the side edges of the waistband. I used the center points of both the waistband and the apron skirt to line the pieces up. Once stitched I flipped the waistband up and pressed it, then pressed the top edge of the waistband in ½” and placed a pin in the center front to return to once it’s time to add the bodice.

1. Bodice

Roll the top edge of the bodice like you did with the bottom edge of the apron skirt.

Like with the waistband, sew the strips of the straps together if needed to make 4 separate strips about 18” long. Then sew the right sides of the strips onto the bodice front sandwiching the bodice.

Fold the edges of the straps away from the bodice and fold the edges ½” in to prepare for the ruffles.

1. Ruffles

Sew the ruffle strips together to create the two ruffles. Pick one side of the ruffle Fold ½” in and press, fold another ½” in and press. If you are not adding a detail stitch you can just stitch this down and move on to adding the ruffle. If you are adding a detail stitch grab some stitch perfection tape at ¼” width and place it about an ⅛” away from the 2nd fold on the wide part of the ruffle.

Take off the backing of the tape and fold over the pressed fabric and press that down. Now you are ready to detail stitch your ruffle without adding a stitch line or dealing with pins.

Fold each short edge of the straps then gather down the long raw edge.

1. Attach the Ruffles to the straps

Sew a ruffle onto the strap by placing the ruffle into the folded strap, pin it in place and top stitch it down.

1. Attach Bodice to Skirt

Sew the bodice to the skirt in the exact manner the ruffles were stitched into the straps, place the bodice center front into the waistband center front. Pin both sides of the waistband in a sandwich manner around the bottom of the bodice.

1. Buttons

Try the apron on to find the best placement for buttons and buttonholes. I placed my buttonholes on my waistband and my buttons on my straps.

Tips

Don’t forget sewing is fun and there is no right or wrong way to sew just do what works best for you and if you sew over your pins don’t share it on the internet.