In This Issue:

• Sewing from Marguerite - Working with Satin
• Fabric Quality
• Banner Dust Covers
• Featured Website
• Book Corner

Satin Tips From Marguerite

This sumptuous fabric can be a real pill. Pre-washing the satin in detergent used for babies clothes will get rid of the chemical finish that can cause skipped stitches. Be sure to line dry the satin. Check the care instructions on your Satin - some are dry clean only!

When you start cutting out the banners be sure to use a "Nap" layout. This is especially important when creating matching banners. Satin appears to be different colors from different directions.

Accurate stitching is important because satin is not very forgiving when it comes to ripping. Schmetz brand microtex needles will give a clean edge when doing applique on satin and easily penetrate all the layers of fusible interfacings and stabilizers. I like a size 10 and fine machine embroidery thread. You may need to change the needle frequently when stitching banners.

Eliminate puckered seams by using "taut" sewing. To do this, hold the fabric in front and behind the pressure foot tautly and let the feed dogs feed the fabric through the machine.

Finally, let's talk about pressing. Satin should be pressed with a very dry iron on a synthetic setting. I usually reserve an old iron for satin and taffeta that is completely dry and never used for steam. If the iron "spits" on the fabric it will leave a watermark.

Happy Stitching! You can find out more about Marguerite's sewing school at Sew Cool.

Fabric Quality versus Cost

While trying to be a wise steward of the Lord's money, it is very tempting to cut corners where we can. Sometimes this is not so "wise". Take for instance Satin, it comes in different weights and quality. Any store can take a cheap grade of satin and call it "Bridal Satin". There is no trademark or copyright on the names of fabric.

There are occasions that you would want to use a lower quality fabric. Personally, I want to be informed enough about the product to make that determination for myself (and not by someone trying to just sell me anything). We do offer several types of satin just for this reason.

We at PraiseBanners^® love fabric -- the touch and feel, the way it drapes and shimmers. We go to trade shows, speak to different manufacturers and pour over countless sample books to ensure that what we are stocking is the very best. Speaking as a seamstress myself, I have been to many stores and know firsthand that nothing compares to what we carry.

If you are thinking that all fabric is the same, think again. PraiseBanners^® sells all fabric in sample card form if you want to sample the color and quality.

Banner Dust Cover

So you have created (or purchased) a beautiful banner and the program was an overwhelming success! Well, it is not over yet. How are you going to store and protect that banner from moisture, dust and fading? Our suggestion is to always have the banners hanging and covered when not in use. We recommend that the cover be made of a "breathable" cotton/polyester fabric.

We sell banner dust covers and dust cover kits in our catalog. We realize that this might be beyond the budgets of many congregations. We understand and want to help with low-cost alternatives. A quick and easy way to make a dust cover would be to use two flat-full bed sheets. The scratchy-loud colored ones you got for a wedding present will be just perfect. Bed sheets are great because all of the seams are already finished.

Here are some brief instructions to help you along:

1. Wash the sheets first to remove any sizing, dyes or chemicals in the fabric.
2. Cut one a foot shorter than the other to allow for creation of a flap over the top. Finish the seam on the one that you have cut. Sew both sheets together (this will be just like a huge pillowcase with a flap on the end). Turn it right side out and then apply Velcro to the bottom of the top flap and the top of the front.

Once you have created your cover, have someone help you put it on your banner and flap it over the top. Remember to store the banners in a room that is not damp or too hot.

Christian Web Site

Church World Direct is a great site for Church Leaders. You can find many resources for your church there including: music, travel, home school and family. It would be an amazing experience to go to this site and just look around. Visit them at Church World Direct.

Book Corner

The Complete Book of Bible Lists

By H. L. Willmington

This is a unique collection of curious facts and unusual statistics from the Bible. This book will entertain, inform, challenge, stimulate and astonish you. You can easily find facts about such things as angels, animals, miracles, dreams and visions, and much more.