Thursday, August 12, 2010

Whimsy Week Day 4 - Mitered Spaghetti Leaves Tutorial (and a Giveaway!)

Welcome to Day 4 of Whimsy Week, where we are celebrating the release of designer Kari Mecca's newest book, More Sewing with Whimsy! Join us every day this week as we share behind-the-scenes videos, excerpts and previews of the book, a special interview with Kari, and best of all - GREAT giveaway opportunities every day! We will announce a selection of different special "Whimsy" prizes each day this week. Reply to the posts of the giveaway(s) you would like to win and we will announce the winners next Monday, August 16, 2010.

Today's giveaway is 2 copies of Kari Mecca's first DVD, Sewing with Whimsy! Head to the end of this post for more information and to enter. The Sewing with Whimsy DVD brings all the benefits of Kari’s sought-after teaching style to your sewing room. You’ll be able to watch and listen as Kari shows you how to duplicate the trims and fabric techniques that consistently put her garments on the cover of Sew Beautiful magazine and make her a popular teacher at the Martha Pullen School of Art Fashion. Step-by-step instructions come alive through Kari’s voice and hands as rickrack and ribbon flowers bud and blossom before your eyes. You’ll learn Kari’s secrets for contrasting hembands, mitered and layered trims, using your sewing machine’s ruffler foot for gathering and adding the sparkle of beads. Kari’s sewing artistry abounds from beginning to end, and her fanciful designs will leave you completely enchanted!

Be sure to check in with Kari on her blog this week as well, where she is celebrating Whimsy Week with even more sneak peaks and free downloads. Check out her Tips & Tricks and inspirational photo collection!
Today on Whimsy Week, we have a fun technique to share with you from More Sewing with Whimsy as featured on one of Kari's favorite new patterns, "Flirty Girl" (pictured above) – how to make little leaves with lace out by mitering spaghetti bias! You'll find this technique plus many more in the invaluable "Trims & Techniques" section of More Sewing with Whimsy.


Mitered Spaghetti Leaves
Made from bits of spaghetti bias and lace, these cute little openwork leaves add that special touch that says it's an original.


  1. Cut a piece of spaghetti three times longer than finished leaf size. With right sides together, fold spaghetti in half. Hand tack edges 1/8" from fold.
  2. Press open forming point. Overlapping ends, angle to make leaf curve up. Hand tack to hold.
  3. Place lace behind leaf and curve to fit. Hand sew in place and saturate entire leaf in fray stop glue. Once dry, trim lace slightly shorter than leaf edge.
  4. Hand sew in place as desired.

For more great embellishment ideas, check out Kari's new book, More Sewing with Whimsy!

Today's giveaway is 2 copies of Kari Mecca's first DVD, Sewing with Whimsy! To enter, reply below with your name and email address. We will announce the winner of this and the rest of our Whimsy Week giveaway prizes next Monday, August 16th. Entries will remain open until then!

Check back every day this week for more fun Whimsy Week posts and giveaways!

100 comments:

  1. Wonderful info. I'm so thrilled with all this sharing.

    Kandy

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  2. Nell Able able80224@yahoo.com


    Thanks!

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  3. Another great blog and a great giveaway!!
    Karen
    KJRum@aol.com

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  4. Another great tip!

    Linda

    lindastein7@yahoo.com

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  5. Loved the tutorial!
    Odette
    obragg@gmail.com

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  6. I love that little outfit shown above. I must have this book.

    Merry G.
    prissy_missy_50@sbcglobal.net

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  7. Such fresh ideas!
    Susan Wilkinson
    susanrw@wildblue.net

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  8. It's all sew creative!
    Linda
    huntoon4@myfairpoint.net

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  9. I love everything in Whimsey week!

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  10. sew cute!
    g*g
    hramsey000@centurytel.net

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  11. Love the designs!
    michelle

    michelle@campnc.com

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  12. I love this little outfit too! Thanks for the leaf tutorial!
    Shirley C.
    clarkclay@bellsouth.net

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  13. Kari is the most creative.. would love the DVD!!!

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  14. So very cute! Thanks for the giveaway.
    Rebecca
    rwr128@aol.com

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  15. How cute is that? I love it!

    susan_hancock@lycos.com

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  16. Whimsey Week is truly Christmas in August! THANK YOU!
    Ammie Cain
    ammie.girl@gmail.com

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  17. I would love this book. mapakettlenh@msn.com

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  18. love it!
    Kathy Leming
    kleming@verizon.net

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  19. So cute!! Melody
    mshacku@aol.com

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  20. loving this stuff!

    Kim Martin
    cazzincali@aol.com

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  21. Hi Kari...me again! I have a number of your books, but not your DVD's and I don't have your new one...yet. Thanks for all of the give a ways!!

    Debi
    dkerbes@comcast.net

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  22. Wow! Thanks for sharing!!!
    Kelly
    midnightsewin@yahoo.com

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  23. This is awesome!
    Sharie Bergquist
    bergquist5@gmail.com

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  24. Sharon Edwards
    theedwards6@gmail.com

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  25. How does she think of all these things?

    Donna

    3dears at gmail dot com

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  26. Beverly Graham
    bgraham063@yahoo.com
    I love this. Kari you do the most amazing things. Your creativity is so imaginative.

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  27. Rosanna, So creative!! rlcurrie@comcast.net

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  28. Kathryn
    kcashner@hotmail.com

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  29. This series keeps getting more exciting!
    Cassie
    rcedson@twinmounds.com

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  30. Kari, I have loved reading and studying your first book. Thank you for such informative tutorials and such adorable embellishment ideas.

    niener987@comcast.net

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  31. My daughter would do backflips to have this dress!
    Annie
    acr1978@hotmail.com

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  32. I love this technique!

    sewvogue@gmail.com

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  33. thanks for the info. Love the leaves!!

    nikki@houstonaamco.com

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  34. Kari....love all the embellishments! Our Emma loves them too.

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  35. I love all of Kari's things!

    ajtormo@alum.mit.edu

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  36. Thanks for all the demos and videos this week. I am really enjoying them.
    Martha
    pastryhaus@numail.org

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  37. This has been a great week. I hope you do this again! I would love to win this video.

    cindy_sews@yahoo.com

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  38. Spaghetti bias and pasta. . . gotta be two of my faves!! Ciao from NonnaLinda!!!

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  39. I've got just the granddaughter for these cute clothes!

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  40. Thanks for the giveaways, Sew Beautiful! Teri... terigram@hotmail.com

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  41. Thanks for sharing.

    Lisa
    lcarrero@msn.com

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  42. How slick is that!
    carol@pclnet.net

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  43. pammarshall@bellsouth.net

    thecabbageleaf@yahoo.com

    Love it.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Britni Tucker
    BritniLTucker@yahoo.com

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  45. Yippee another giveaway!
    Fiona Woolmer
    leopardgirl@bigpond.com

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  46. I bought some spagetti bias from marthapullen.com and will try this leaf for a shirt I am working on for my dgd, can't wait!!

    ljg923@msn.com
    Laurie Guidry

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  47. Kim Corliss
    corliss4@swbell.net

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  48. Thanks for another opportunity to win!

    dparker1000@comcast.net

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  49. I'm a kid at heart-- I just love whimsical fabrics and cute ideas to incorporate into sewing items for children. Those things remind me of what happy is! So, I guess I'm a kid at heart and since I haven't decided what to be when I grow up, I'm not growing up! It's wonderful having another sewing blog to learn more techniques. Thank you! afecskovics@yahoo.com

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  50. Oh hese are just so cute! Love the creative and fun embellishments. Please enter me in the drawing myra_pasol@yahoo.com

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  51. What a super giveaway! Crossing my fingers...

    Alison

    arcopes (at) cox (dot) net

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  52. Wow the DVD would be a great addition to my collections

    nanabonniet@comcast.net

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  53. I really need the DVD, please.
    p_hodnett@yahoo.com

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  54. Kari really does a great job of showing us that something sew incredibly cute can be made so easily!!! Thanks so much!
    Susan Wilson
    grannysuesue@yahoo.com

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  55. Thanks for the opportunity to win such a great DVD.

    Laurie
    l@jandle.com

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  56. I'd love to win this great giveaway. Kari is so talented!!!
    karen@abcstitches.com

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  57. What a neat little technique! I'd so love to win this book!
    mary_romance@cox.net

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  58. So would I. I have never seen so many cute things for children.
    patsyseale@hotmail.com

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  59. How sweet!!! I wish I had a little girl to sew for.

    Brenda Adams
    bcadams49@yahoo.com

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  60. Oh my goodness, these are just too cute, and look like they are soooo easy to make, love your designs.

    Lena Hodges

    lenamarie005@yahoo.com

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  61. Another wonderful give away.
    Carol
    cshortteach@yahoo.com

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  62. Thanks for the tutorial. What a super give away!

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  63. Love all the pretties! I definitely need the help. Thanks!

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  64. Would love this CD - I already love the book!

    firstpeter1v3@hotmail.com

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  65. I buying the book!

    bthomas676@aol.com

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  66. I too would love a copy of the DVD... love both of her books!

    MegRoss at aol dot com

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  67. I am making this dress for my daughter's birthday party. Can't wait to get it done!!

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  68. Have the books--would love the video!
    Rebecca
    rrm45@tx.rr.com

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  69. Love the book!
    halfshell1954@aol.com

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  70. Would love to have a copy of this book. Thanks for the instructions.
    Blessedbystitches@bellsouth.net

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  71. Your things make me smile. This has been a VERY exciting week. Fingers crossed - I would be happy to win any of the give aways!
    ilvtoys@aol.com

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  72. What a fun technique!
    bdbnchm@hotmail.com

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  73. Wonderful. Nothing like watching the expert.Would love this dvd to go along with the book I already have. Such fun sewing for my girls and little neices. Thanks for all the inspiration.xx
    Robyn Jordan jorhome@gmail.com

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  74. Kari you are inspiring. Love to be able to watch you in action. Just posted a comment but put incorrect email so keep up the good work.
    Robyn Jordan jordhome@gmail.com

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  75. That leaf is too cute! Sign me up for the give-a-way. Angela apmaddux@yahoo.com

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  76. Thank you for the wonderful week and inspiration.
    Colleen Leonard
    jleona@frontiernet.net

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  77. Kristen -kris10benjamin@yahoo.com

    The prizes continue to be great!

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  78. More great ideas!
    juditupp@yahoo.com
    Judith

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  79. Thank you so much for the mitered spaghetti leaves tutorial - it is such a fun and unique idea - I can definitely see using it in future projects! Wonderful tips this week!!!

    Belinda Karls-Nace
    designer@blueribbondesigns.com

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  80. Those leaves are just the cutest ... what a wonderful technique!! I surely hope that Kari is planning to produce a DVD to accompany the second book!!!

    Cyrena Downing
    gdowneng@bellsouth.net

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  81. Thanks!

    Teri Lee Sheneman
    sewvogue@gmail.com

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  82. Elise Woolstenhulme
    the.sweet.eats@gmail.com

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  83. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  84. I would love to win this.
    Chris
    Sewkrazy1@msn.com

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  85. What can I say all her stuff is beautiful and she is sooooooooooooo creative! Kathy Scruggs kewscruggs@yahoo.com

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  86. the ruffled top is totally gorgeous!!

    carrie

    inthehammockblog at gmail dot com

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  87. Susan Spiers spierssusan52@gmail.com

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  88. What another fantastic way, to expand our sewing horizons! Thank you for making the DVD, and for the chance to win.

    lklonaris@att.net

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  89. Thanks for the chance to win the DVD.

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  90. Oh DVD of Kari's techniques would be fabulous!
    Thank you for the chance.
    Sivje Parish
    sivjegoose@sbcglobal.net

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  91. Oh I love Kari and all her whimsical clothes she creates. Don't know how she does it, but glad she does!

    Hugs,
    Gina

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  92. Oops! Forgot to leave my email for the comment above!

    Gina
    gina@fabricsilove.com

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  93. Loved the tutorial! Thanks (email is linked to my name)

    ReplyDelete
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