How Do I Home Sew Ribbing In My Neckline or Cuffs?

If you are new to the home sewing world, I recommend purchasing the tubular knit ribbings in the color of your choosing. Don't forget to consider the width of the ribs - is it compatible with the garment you are sewing? The width of the ribs or the spacing of the ribs is sometimes referred to as the weight (it seems ironic doesn't it - the human race aren't the only ones concerned with weight - even the garment industry is concerned about weight!).

Ribbings, which can (and in my opinion, should be) purchased by the inch, vary in stretching capabilities. Check on the back of your pattern to make sure that you purchase an adequate amount of ribbing for the purpose you need it. If you are doing repairs or replacing the ribbing in a garment, prefit the ribbing to the body area or measure it against the garment edge.

To attach the ribbing to your garment, always use a ballpoint needle which is specially designed for sewing knits. If you have the wrong size needle in your sewing machine, you will either have runs in your ribbing or the stitching will not hold the ribbing properly. The proper sized needle in your machine is the most important step in attaching ribbing to any garment!

How Do I Home Sew Ribbing In My Neckline or Cuffs?

If you have a serger and feel confident enough to use your serger sewing machine to sew in ribbing, make sure you have the proper sized needle. In that respect, ribbing can be very fussy!

I personally prefer the "in the round" technique where the ribbing and the garment seams are sewn separately and then attached to each other. I try to place the ribbing seam even with the garment seam if I can, but in a neckline, for example, such a thing is not feasible at all times. If I can on a neckline seam, I place the seam from the ribbing in the center back so it doesn't look out-of-place and cause irritation (some people are sensitive to this).

If you are more efficient than I am, you may prefer to attach the ribbing to the garment and then one continuous seam is sewn. However, if you choose this method, be sure to leave one seam open to allow for the attachment of the ribbing.

Make sure you use an overlock stitch on a serging machine to sew and finish the seam edges at the same time. But if you are using a regular sewing machine, select a narrow zigzag stitch to apply the ribbing and a wide zigzag stitch to finish the edges.

Keep in mind that today garments with rib-knit band necklines are popular casual wear. The rib-knit neckline can be shaped round with either a flat or a lapped front, or v-shaped with a lapped front. Your imagination is the only thing stopping your flow of creativity!

Keep these points in mind if you are replacing ribbing in a sleeve band (on a jacket or a lined sweater) as well. Keep in mind that someone had to apply that ribbing in the first place and with a little thought, you can duplicate what has been done!

How Do I Home Sew Ribbing In My Neckline or Cuffs?
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When you sign up for a membership or just for the blog posts, you receive a report on sewing machines. This is a great thing to have, both now and in the future.

When you get stuck or frustrated, leave a comment in the comment box, and it will be answered within 24 hours.

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Frette Linen - Feel Comfort and Style

Possibly it may be time to alter your bed linens. Frette, the legendary Italian luxury linen manufacturer well-known for its finest quality bed linens is the best option. What Frette does tremendously well is fabricate high-thread-count mass and butter-soft linens that construct confident you snooze or at least savor in entirety ecstasy. A tiny caveat though, it's tough to go back to typical sheets once you've forty winks on Frette bed linens.

Frette bed linens are amongst the major lavish linens you can uncover anyplace! This Italian corporation produces superior quality; soothe bedding at worth that anybody can pay for. Several 5 Star hotels lay in their billboard that they utilize Frette linens since it is the other name of "luxury" to everyone who knows fine linens.

Frette bed linen has fiber pattern in the weave creating a stunning tone on tone pattern. The bed linen takes an account of sheets, cushion cases and cushion shams, duvet cover along with light quilts. Frette linen is offered in shade variety of polish which is striking beige, aborigine from the coveted folks in a yawning bluish lavender shade, murky brunette, ivory, chestnut, lava which is a grey tone. Mingle your colors for a further dazzling emergence.

Frette Linen - Feel Comfort and Style

Frette's Taormina designs use quality to craft modishness along with soothes. The extravagance compilation from Frette is prepared of deerskin textured yarn for a squashy stroke of opulence. Whilst these linens are offered in russet they capsize to black and buzz "luxury" to everybody who observe or touches them. Cushion cases and charade in ivory, with deerskin strand puts in tones that are identical to bedding, drags the collection mutually. In addition, chuck cushion in deerskin cord in black and coffee complete the collection of Frette's soothing collection.

Frette also proffers a compilation entitled "Essentials" and the name in fact fits too. These bed linens of Frette are twofold stitched ensuring that they will remain for years. The compilation incorporates sheets, cushion cases, charade and duvet swathe. Whether you buy Frette linens for your own cot or as a souvenir, the excellence of these soothe products will really astound. This Italian company not only provides splendor, but all its products have premium quality and guarantee sturdiness.

Luxury hotels worldwide, luxury cruise liners, and supreme trains with their deluxe bedding are a bequest of this Italian company, Frette. They use French and Italian linens and Egyptian and Swiss fibers to style their first rate bed linens for populace who like to bliss themselves to the luxury available. Frette retail outlets are all around the globe which makes easy accessibility to the luxury linens.

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The Nigerian Movie Industry (Nollywood) - The Origin (History)

Here is an abridged version (yet richly enlightening) from one of the articles i wrote concerning this subject matter.

Film exhibition began to thrive during the Colonial era, with Glover Memorial Hall playing host to a range of memorable films viewed by "potential Nigerians", in August 1903. However, the non-availability of proper records reflecting the title of the debut film exhibited has created a lapse in the precedent stock. Notwithstanding the lacuna, the way had been paved for the exhibition of more foreign films at the Hall and other designated venues.

The emotionally traumatizing "Master - Servant" relationship, evident in the constant assaults, batteries, intimidation, segregation, victimization, carried out by the Colonial masters on the colonized, with darkened clouds of resentment, vengeance, thirst for freedom, giving way to splattering drops of such thoughts, instinctively projected through the colonized intermittent in-subordinate actions, began to spread amongst the blacks. The British knew they had to thread with caution if they still wanted to play "god" in their lives when films such as Tales of Manhattan, Trailer horn, Tarzan series began to stir up a revolution in the hearts of Blacks across the globe.

The Nigerian Movie Industry (Nollywood) - The Origin (History)

Aware of the lethal power of insurgency which could be unleashed through the Film medium, the British out of fear for their lives and possible loss of the Queen's sovereignty took the bull by the horn, and swiftly created a Colonial Film Censors Board (FCB) in 1933 to censor and classify films before they were released for visual consumption by the public. Following the establishment of the board, Films such as "The primitive, primitive man, Dixie, Buffalo Bill, The Keys of the Kingdom, Sleepy Town Girl were tagged 'suitable' to be watched, while Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Clive of India, The Isle of Forgotten Sins, House of Frankenstein were considered unsuitable for viewing.

The Censor's body underwent a transformation process into the Federal Board of Film Censors (FBFC) from the aforementioned, and the laws from which the transformed body derived its powers ranged from the 1948 Cinematograph Laws of Nigeria, the Cinematograph Laws of 1963, to the 1963/64 Cinematograph Law and Regulations. The present National Film and Video Censors Board came into existence by virtue of decree, now Act 85 of 1993. The advent of Nigeria's Independence (1960) and the Republican status (1963), heralded the dawn of a new era in all sectors.

"The Yoruba Travelling Theatre Group" of the 60's and 70's can be referred to as the "Fountain Head" of movie productions in Nigeria. The veterans with great Theatrical skills and great performances took their works beyond the stage, and dove into the sea of film productions using the Celluloid format. Notable film makers on the Roll call of Honour during the Celluloid boom era of the 70's include Ola Balogun, Eddie Ugbomah, late Herbert Ogunde, Adeyemi Afolayan a.k.a Ade Love (father of Kunle Afolayan of the Irapada fame), Ladi Ladebo, Moses Adejumo, Adebayo Salami and Afolabi Adesanya.

The list of documented films produced during the 70's era and transcending somewhat into the 80's is simply astonishing and goes to show that the Movie Industry has been around much longer, contrary to the '1992 belief syndrome' most have been injected with. Such works include Kongi Harvest (1971), Alpha (1972), Bull Frog in the Sun (1974), Amadi (1975), Ajani Ogun (1975), Muzik Man (1976), Bisi, Daughter of the River (1977), Ija Ominira (1978), Aiye (1979), Kadara (1980), Jaiyesimi (1980) Efunsetan Aniwura (1981), Cry Freedom (1981),Ija Orogun (1982) Owo L'Agba (1982)

The cost of producing films in that era was financially back breaking, with Nigerians further frustrating the efforts of the filmmakers by opting to watch films of occidental and oriental origin at the Cinemas and Exhibition centres, rather than the locally produced ones. The Cowboy films were exhilarating to watch while the Chinese films paraded amongst others, the Legendary "Bruce Lee" in (Lo Wei's, The Big Boss (1971), Fist of Fury (1972), Way of the Dragon (1972), Enter the Dragon (1973), The Game of Death released in 1978) who exhibited Martial Arts dexterity, obviously a fighting technique alien, yet fascinating to us at that time.

Indian films in the late 60's and well into the 70's paraded renowned names like Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra Singh Deol, Mumtaz, Amitabh Bachchan, Anil kapoor, Hema Malini, and produced hits such as "Bobby", "Sholay", "Kabhi Kabhi", "Dharamveer", "Amar Akbar Anthony". Their stars displayed great acting skills against the backdrop of love themes, and ear pleasing songs coupled with synchronized dance steps, produced with sound and special effects, though incomparable with what obtains today bought over the indigenes loyalty for their movies.

Thus, the Movie Founding Fathers began to face the challenges of recouping their investments, which gradually became virtually an impossible task, an anthem they constantly rendered much to the discomfort of potential financers. They counted their losses and licked their wounds sustained in the financial battle with every film they released. The deluge of VCRS in the 80's created a paradigm shift from the Cine to the VHS format, which made productions easier, faster and cheaper by a milestone in comparison to the former. Cinema houses and other Exhibition centres were finally shut down and the Baton of Cine film making slipped from the hands of the Founding founders as they attempted to hand over the movie baton to the next generation within the stipulated Baton Exchange Zone. The dream of becoming a re-nowned Movie Industry was shattered when the flow of the Film Relay cycle was broken.

Home Videos were produced which served as an alternative to the cinemas, and the name naturally stems from the fact that you could seat within the comfort of your home and watch the movies produced in the VHS format via your VCR. Film Makers capitalized on the gains of the Home Video concept offered, and began producing movies using the Yoruba language as the means of communication. However, the year "1992" has overtime been widely accepted as the triggering period of Home Video productions, with Ken Nnebue's "Living in Bondage" said to be the first movie made for commercial purposes using the Igbo/English language.

The movie no doubt struck the "Movie Well", which invoked a mass exodus of people from other spheres into the art of movie productions, having seen the opportunities that lay in the Gold mine region. Thus, did the Home Video Industry tagged "Nollywood" emerge.

The fact that "Living in Bondage" was ascribed with the honour of being the first movie made for commercial purposes and the one upon which the Home Video revolution was allegedly founded on, culminating into Nollywood, didn't go unchallenged. Late Alade Aromire before his death, ignited a controversial fire, insisting that his and not Ken's movie ought to have been conferred with such an honour. When confronted by a reporter on the issue he'd stated that Ken had produced over 40 Yoruba movies, and had started with "Aje N'yami".

There had been a flourishing movie industry before he came on board, so ken couldn't have started it.
The confusion stems from the Censors board of the day, whose hands were amputated by the Law it drew its powers from, (1963/64 Cinematograph Law and Regulations). The powers conferred on it to regulate the Industry did not extend to "Home Video". The present National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) did not exist till 1994. On this raging issue, Late Alade Armoire produced movies such as Ekun, Omije (pts 1-3), Obirin Asiko, Ayo ni o, Adun, Orire which were released to the public between 1985 and 1991.

Ken Nnebue still insists that his movie "Living in Bondage" was the first Home Video movie made for commercial purposes. His stand on the matter is rather shaky, having prior to the production of Living in Bondage sponsored commercial movies in Yoruba language such as Ina Ote, Aje N'iyami and others. Let's not forget the barrage of Yoruba TV dramas that were mass produced on VHS tapes and sold to the public before 1992. One can't fail to mention the legendary Eddie Ugbomah's movie "The Great Attempt" (1989), which would have made history as the 1st Nigerian cine movie in the video tape format to have been censored by the defunct Federal Board of Film Censors (FBFC) based on a "special concession" granted him officially by the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture at that time.

Unfortunately the strong contents projected in the movie were considered unsuitable for public viewing by the Board, hence the movie was never released. Tunde Alabi -Hundeyin's "Iyawo Alhaji" is officially on record as the first commercial (direct to exhibition hall) video film to be censored and classified by the NFVCB in 1994 at the National Theatre, (Cinema Hall) Iganmu. Despite the controversial fire raised, the global publicity given to "Living in Bondage" over the years invariably imputed the movie into our memory banks as the flag bearer of the Home Video revolution of all times. People, irrespective of Nationality, race, gender, and tribe are confronted with challenges on a daily basis. Some of these problems are of a global nature, while others are peculiar to various societies. Movies offer people the opportunity of telling their own stories, free from alien interference.

Nigerian movie producers leveraged on this and produced movies projecting our lifestyle, culture, local fashion, burning issues, problems plaguing our society, irrespective of the choking stench of tribalism perceived in all sectors. Movies were made for the viewing pleasure of Nigerians initially, (before the mass exportation craze), with messages to inspire, motivate, reprove, and correct anomalies especially in the Political, Social systems, to eschew violence and all forms of evil.

The tactical use of the English language as the communication tool, marketing strategies and execution through the use of trailers via T.V, Posters (now banned in Lagos State), recorded a boost in sales, and expanded the viewership base beyond the shores of our Nation to countries such as Ghana, Togo, South Africa, Kenya, U.S.A and even the U.K.. Unfortunately, the movies churned out at an alarming rate were technically deficient in key areas considered as germane in the production process.

The popular "shoe string budget" tag has become synonymous with the Industry's antecedent of making movies on extremely low budgets compared to other movie bodies in other countries, (- ,000 initially), but currently stretches to ,000, with a microscopic number of producers further stretching the seemingly financial limit to N 7,10,20 Million and more. The movies were and are still shot dominantly between 10-12 days, via Beta cam (now HDV cameras), were produced in the VHS format (now VCD & DVD), replicated in mass and sold by the Marketers who also doubled as Distributors.

Over a thousand movies were being churned out yearly by producers and utterly amazed by the staggering statistical data of movie productions, the International movie spotlight was shone on the Multi Million naira Industry "Nollywood". The Industry's net worth as at 2008 stood between an estimated 0 and 0 Million dollars. It is worthy of note that a Global cinema survey, conducted in 2006 by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) and released sometime in May 2009, ranked Nollywood as the second largest producing movie body in the world behind Bollywood and ahead of Hollywood based on the numerical data of the movies produced.

The Nigerian Movie Industry (Nollywood) - The Origin (History)
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Surgery Recovery Gift Ideas - 5 Considerations

Watching someone you know and care about face the prospect of surgery is never fun. When someone we care about goes through surgery, the first concern we have is that they will make it through without complications. Put simply: want things to go well.

The second concern is usually in wanting to make sure that the recovery process is not too rough on them: we want them to recover quickly. And, this is where sometimes a nice gift comes in that expresses something of our caring and concern.

If you are looking for surgery recovery gift ideas, here are 5 considerations:

Surgery Recovery Gift Ideas - 5 Considerations

1. Talk to people they know about what they like:

Shopping for the right gift for anyone can be a challenge. It is hard to know what someone would really like, no matter how well we know them. One great way to find out more about this is to talk to their friends, family and associates and ask about what their interests and hobbies are like.

2. Take cues from their home or office:

Think back to the last time you were in their home or office. What types of photos, calendars, and computer screensavers were they using? What adorns their walls? Once you find a clue (like golf or music or cooking, etc.), browse some specialty magazines or websites on those topics to look for gift ideas.

3. Give them something they might not normally ask for:

Hey, this person is going through a (short-term) major change in lifestyle, so why not get them something they would normally never ask for? How about a trashy gossip magazine or fun bestselling novel? Get something they may like but not admit to. Why not? They're in recovery: have a bit of fun with your gift choice.

4. Choose a gift they can use right away:

Make sure that you give him or her a gift that they can put to immediate use. In other words, if the person has just come out of shoulder or hernia surgery, don't get them a new tennis racket or jogging shoes. And, avoid getting them anything that might take a while to assemble. Bottom line: keep it simple, and keep it relevant to their lifestyle as they recover.

5. Keep the cost in mind so you don't break your own bank:

Remember, you don't need to spend a fortune to impress them. It really is the thought that counts. To the extent that your gift is thoughtful and chosen with love, you don't need to spend a lot of money.

Have fun with your shopping experience. Remember, they will notice the love and attention that you put into it, not the price tag.

Surgery Recovery Gift Ideas - 5 Considerations
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What Are Some of the Ways to End a Story? Here Are Four Well-Established Techniques to Consider

A great deal is written about the importance of a strong opening for a novel, and especially if a fantastic hook can be created in the first paragraph or two. And much effort is devoted to the significance of a terrific title. But little time is spent discussing a brilliant ending. Yet doesn't a powerful finish to a story deserve equal shrift with the aforementioned heavyweights? There are several options and techniques that respected writers have utilized to leave the reader with a lasting impression of a work.

The Poignant Ending is Example Number One

Some years ago I was discussing powerful endings for novels with a long-time mentor and friend of mine, Noel King, who I'm sad to note has recently passed away. My erudite friend mentioned that he'd never found anything more dramatic than the ending of A FAREWELL TO ARMS, in which the lieutenant must leave his wife's body as it lay in a hospital bed after she hemorrhaged to death, also losing their unborn child in the process. Hemingway wrote: It was like saying good-by to a statue. I went out and left the hospital and walked back to the hotel in the rain.

What Are Some of the Ways to End a Story? Here Are Four Well-Established Techniques to Consider

I might also offer the ending in THE FIXER as an example of an incredibly powerful finish: Some, as the carriage clattered by and they glimpsed the fixer, were openly weeping, wringing their hands. One thinly bearded man clawed his face. One or two waved at Yakov. Some shouted his name. In THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, I have never forgotten Hugo's line describing Quasimodo's remains when they were touched: When an attempt was made to loosen him from the skeleton which he clasped, he crumbled into dust. And I still recall my grief at the ending of Kipling's THE LIGHT THAT FAILED: Torpenhow knelt under the lee of the camel, with Dick's body in his arms.

Love Conquering All Seems to be a Certain Path to Success

At the opposite extreme is the Shakespearean approach to his comedies, in which love conquering all is the overriding theme. A Romance writer almost always provides a satisfying ending when the heroine gets her man. Or on occasion vice versa. Along these same lines, a writer of commercial fiction can be relatively comfortable if he or she can craft a story that fulfills the reader's aspirations for the protagonist, regardless of the trials and tribulations along the way.

An Open Thread is Often a Great Mechanism to Close a Novel

If we think about some of our most widely read contemporary authors, the opportunity at the end of a story to provide the hint for a sequel is never overlooked. James Patterson does this as well as anyone, and a good reason why so many people come back for more of his material. (He has 31 #1 New York Times bestsellers as of this article, which is a record, and not bad for someone who many in the literati deem to be a poor writer.) Thomas Harris did a spectacular job with open threads in the Hannibal series, especially the ones that involved Lector always eluding the FBI at the end. Libraries are full of stories that begat stories, some of which were flagrantly presaged in the endings of their predecessors. Handled with care, this is a terrific way to close a novel, but it requires skill so the reader doesn't feel shortchanged.

Which Brings us to the Denouement

Here is arguably the most common but quite often most difficult type of ending for a lot of writers to pull off well. I often judge the skill of the writer, and hence the quality of the story, by how much the author has to explain at the end for the reader. In some cases, a detailed denouement is indeed necessary to provide the reader with a fuller understanding of some of the less significant but nonetheless still important plot elements. But if handled poorly, a lengthy, multi-leveled denouement can be a sign of either lazy writing--or a self-exposition of the limitations of the author.

Select a Closing that Will Make the Reader Remember Your Story

The ability to create a memorable closing brings me to GONE WITH THE WIND, and Scarlett saying: "... after all, tomorrow is another day." Here is a book of over 300,000 words that is filled with rich characters and grand characterizations, yet if I asked 100 people who read the book at any time in their respective lives to recite the last line, the majority would be able to do so, or at least come close.

Give the Same Effort to the Ending as to the Opening

The ability to hook the reader at the earliest possible stage of the narrative is an integral component of any novelist's thought process. Experienced writers are always considering ways to motivate people to read their next book. There is no better method than by providing a satisfying ending to their current work, regardless of the technique that is used. And I'm convinced that notable writers spend as much time on their endings as they do on their openings. It only makes sense.

What Are Some of the Ways to End a Story? Here Are Four Well-Established Techniques to Consider
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The Six Essential Leadership Attributes

Leadership is the foundation for all organizations, whether corporate, nonprofit or government. Leadership is a high calling and responsibility, upon which all else the organization is or does rests. Moreover, leadership is always top down, never bottom up.

Therefore, much has been written on the subject of leadership and many writers and speakers have tried to list those attributes they believe are essential for leaders. However, most often these attempts focus upon traits that make a leader personable, affable and popular. The following six attributes are results of character and personal integrity and as such are deeply seated within those who possess them. They must be developed through self-discipline, time and pressure; they are not inherited; and cannot not feigned, at least not for long. Such attributes are the result of instruction, commitment and a deep concern for what is right, as well as for the best interests of others. They are modeled on a daily basis. Tested and proven in times of trial and adversity. Moreover, they are as precious as gold and equally rare.

Attribute #1 of Leaders - Set High Standards

The Six Essential Leadership Attributes

Leaders set high standards for themselves and those who follow. I am reminded of leaders like Booker T. Washington, who began with a vision, not of what was, but of what could and should be. Born a slave shortly before the outbreak of the civil war, he taught himself to read. As an adult, he saw the need to establish a college for ex-slaves, who were excluded from the existing higher education system. When he first arrived at Tuskegee, AL, where he had expected initial funding and a building suitable to his purpose in founding the Tuskegee Institute, he found only ruins. At this point, most of us would have given up or decided it was not the right place or time, retreating to wait for a better turn of circumstances. Instead Booker T. Washington began by teaching his students to garden, so that they might eat and sell the excess to raise the funds necessary to buy books. Then he taught them to make bricks from which to build the buildings and for sale to raise cash for the other materials needed. Booker T. Washington knew that nothing of true value resulted from any course of action other than by hard work. Indeed, this was his motto and a foundation upon which his students began their education. He set high standards for himself and his students and he expected results.

Attribute #2 of Leaders - Live Your Standards and Mentor Those Who Follow

Leaders live up to the standards they have set and mentor those who are attempting to follow them. Many leaders are consistent in demanding of themselves compliance with the standards that they espouse. Those who do not are only fooling themselves. Nothing disqualifies a would-be leader faster than a double standard, one for them and another for those under their authority. Anyone who thinks that they can maintain such a charade is sorely mistaken. Their subordinates will soon see through their duplicity and loyalty will rapidly be replaced by disgust and only grudging obedience and lip service.

Where most leaders fail however, is in mentoring those who follow. For some reason leaders expect that their followers will learn through osmosis, how to attain to the standards set by their leadership. Certainly, modeling by the leaders is a necessary component of the process, but much more is needed. You do not train a child from infancy on through adolescence by modeling proper behavior alone. It takes consistent, concerted effort verbally communicating not only what is expected, but how. Yet for some reason, most leaders think that merely establishing the standards is all that is necessary. Effective leaders invest themselves into their followers. The best example from all of history is Jesus. He spent three years teaching, mentoring, and living out his standards intimately before a dozen followers, who later set the Roman world on fire. In that short three year period, Jesus' disciples came to see, accept and claim His vision as their own and the remainder of their lives clearly reflected His profound impact upon them. He became to them the embodiment of the standards He espoused.

Attribute #3 of Leaders - Create and Share a Vision

Every successful leader must instill the vision of where the organization is going and what is necessary to attain that goal. Without a vision, there is no unity. I am constantly amazed at the number of organizations that continue year after year in a near total absence of vision and therefore unity. In the corporate world, research and development departments create products and services for which there is no market, manufacturing continues to produce items with which customers are dissatisfied, find difficult to assemble and use. Engineering creates designs that are costly and inefficient to manufacture and customer service forces customers to endure a labyrinth of voice mail selections and web site menus that frustrate and confuse customers seeking a "real" person with whom to speak.

Even in organizations that tout themselves as "visionary", all too often this vision extends to only some aspects and functions of the organization. Rarely does it permeate its essence and fully to its core. A splintered vision or one that is implemented in a fragmented manner will always result in competing interests and elements within the organization, vying for resources, each thinking their particular function and sphere of effort is most important. Winston Churchill had an enormous task in the war years following the demise of the Chamberlin government. How to unify and develop Britain's terrified populace and rapidly dwindling industrial base into a single cohesive force with the will to defeat Nazi Germany, despite the seemingly impossible odds and specter of impending invasion. What did Churchill say at such a critical hour in Britain's history? "I can offer you only blood, sweat, toil and tears", was his call to the nation. He certainly did not sugar coat his message. Britain responded with everything its people had, hanging on through seemingly ceaseless bombings, rocket attacks and finally the Battle of Britain. His words of encouragement, simply: "Never, never, never give up." He possessed a singular vision in those dark days of World War II, before the United States entered the war against Nazi Germany and he communicated it ceaselessly to a nation that hung on by a thread.

Effective leaders are driven by a singular vision, not of what is, but of what is to become and they make sure that everyone around them understands and buys into that vision.

Attribute #4 of Leaders - Make the Hard Choices When Necessary

Effective leaders are characterized by a willingness to make the hard decisions when necessary. Gene Krantz, the Apollo 13 Houston Flight Director provides an excellent example. Half way to the moon on a "routine" space mission, an on-board explosion rips the outer shell of the spacecraft, damaging critical life support and propulsion systems. The best solution is also the one that appears most impossible. Continue the mission to the moon and use its orbit as a slingshot to return the three astronauts to earth. The only problem is that they lack the necessary life support and power for a trip that long. Krantz's answer; declare first that no astronauts will be lost on his watch. "Failure is not an option", no matter how impossible the present dilemma appears. Then make the irreversible commitment to the best course of action. The explorer Cortez burned the boats, thus making retreat impossible. Yet it is human nature that at times of extreme crises, the majority wants to keep their options open. True leaders, however, recognize that for the organization to reach the desired goal there must be total concentration on the chosen solution and everyone must know that going back is not an option.

Attribute #5 of Leaders - Be Visible and Out Front

Leaders, to be respected, must be visible. That is visibly out front. The unseen leader is the leader not followed. Visibility is critical and fortunately in our age of global telecommunications, this is easily done. However, being visible and being "out front" are not necessarily one in the same. Marriott Hotels is interesting in their practice of very conspicuously placing a painting of the Marriott's, father and son, in the lobby of each hotel. Why did they do that? Vanity? No. Identity. To both their clientele and staff, this father and son team was present and leading the way, not just from their presence in their painting, although it was certainly a constant and graphic reminder that someone was actually at the helm. Everyone in the Marriott organizations knows someone is ultimately responsible and furthermore, they know who that someone is. Everyone knows where the buck stops, as Harry Truman would say. In today's far flung organizations spanning contents, in your organization, whatever its size, do people really know where the buck stops? Do they, customers and staff alike, have a clear and constant sense that someone, a real person, not voicemail, is really in charge? And more than in charge, do see you as their leadership, being out in front, or merely locked away in some ivory tower corporate office, out of sight and out of mind.

General George Patton is a classic example of out front leadership. Old blood and guts George. His men loved him and his men hated him, often at the same time. Patton had a reputation for incurring the heaviest casualties in the opening hours of every conflict in which he engaged, and his troops knew it. They also knew that he had the lowest casualty rates per engagement, because he was unafraid to commit his resources unsparingly and without regard to the lives that would be lost in so doing. He knew that to save the most men from death, he must be willing to endanger the most and yes, send some to their deaths, in some cases, many. His troops also knew one other thing about their leader. That when he sent them into combat, no matter how savage, he, General George Patton, would go with them. Leading from out-front. A habit for which, he was repeatedly subjected to criticism from his superiors. Contrast this with General William Westmoreland in Vietnam. Clearly there were many reasons for the morale problems suffered by U.S. troops during the Vietnam War and no one cause can be singled out as overriding, but the fact that as his infantrymen lay in the muddy rice patties, watching their buddies dying for a cause they did not understand, they also knew that their commanding general was dining daily in Saigon, on gourmet food served on fine china and linen table cloths, served by G.I. attendants wearing starched white waistcoats and white gloves. Patton's response to his superiors when criticized for his exploits at the frontlines of battle was characteristically that, "he knew no way to lead from behind".

Attribute #6 of Leaders - Instill Hope in Those Who Follow

The final attribute of successful leaders is their ability to instill hope. None of us can continue to grow, develop and perform at our highest potential without hope. Hope for success, hope for recognition and reward and most importantly, hope that indeed we can make a difference in the long-term outcome. Hope supplies the essential fuel that enables the human spirit to continue moving forward, especially in the face of severe adversity. This was the context in which President Lincoln spurred the North forward in light of the Union's defeat after defeat in the bloody carnage of the Civil War. A hope that at the end of the long and terrible night, we would emerge once again as one nation and that this time, all men would be able to enjoy the privilege of being free.

Conclusion

We live in a time when cynicism and doubt, especially in regard to leaders and their motives are rampant in every area of our culture, including not only corporate, but also government and nonprofit organizations. Would be leaders, to be effective and ultimately successful, must demonstrate to those they expect to lead, the personal integrity required to develop within themselves these six attributes. To live out these attributes, not perfectly, but humanly, including failing, admitting failure and learning from it. Thereby, leaders can instill within their followers the loyalty and commitment necessary for them to accept the high standards the leader sets, models and mentors; adopt the leader's vision as their own and accept the inevitable hard decisions; for their leaders are out front, visible; providing hope for the future.

Copyright 2005 by John Di Frances

The Six Essential Leadership Attributes
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Cosmetic Surgery Tummy Tuck - Free and Low Cost Alternatives For a Flatter Stomach Fast!

If you are considering cosmetic surgery (tummy tuck), then you may want to read this article for some free and low cost alternatives that will give you a flatter stomach fast. Not only is what I'm about to share with you safer, but it'll save you thousands of dollars also.

Cosmetic surgery - tummy tuck alternatives

1. To reduce stomach fat, you need a cardio exercise

Cosmetic Surgery Tummy Tuck - Free and Low Cost Alternatives For a Flatter Stomach Fast!

For that, I highly recommend that you do mini-trampoline jumping. First, the cost for a mini-trampoline is cheap... about . Compared to the price of a monthly gym membership, it's a great investment.

Jumping on a mini-trampoline is a great total body exercise. If you want to burn off fat, be sure to spend most of your time doing full body exercises. Another thing that makes the mini-trampoline ideal for getting rid of your belly fat, it's convenient. You can put it in your living room and every time you walk by it you're reminded to jump on it.

Now, I left something out.

The best way to make this work for you, especially if you're really busy, is to jump on it 1-2 minutes at a time... multiple times each day. Do that enough so that you get in A MINIMUM of 20 minutes a day. My secret tip for doing this... jumping on the trampoline during TV commercials.

2. Spin like a child for hormone-related weight loss

Your hormones are most likely messed up and this is causing you to have a hard time losing weight. To balance your hormones, spinning has been proven effective. Yes, it's strange. But... it works.

So what I want you to do is spin around multiple times each day to help harmonize and balance your hormones. This is something you need to do everyday. Forget cosmetic surgery tummy tuck stuff and instead go the natural route by following the 2 above tips that will flatten your belly faster than you thought possible.

Cosmetic Surgery Tummy Tuck - Free and Low Cost Alternatives For a Flatter Stomach Fast!
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12 Types of Carpet

The carpet market is a huge market, with lots of types to select from. Here are 12 different types of carpet and what they will offer you and your home.

Woven

Lay-In Thread

Woven carpet is produced on a loom that is very similar to woven cloth, being cut pile. There are numerous different colored yarns being used and the whole process is capable of producing very intricate patterns from designs that are pre-determined. Generally, woven is the highest quality of carpet available.

12 Types of Carpet

Tufted

This type of carpet is produced on a tufting machine by using either a single colored or sometimes a non colored yarn. If non colored is being used, then the carpet will be dyed or printed with a design as a separate process. Carpets that are tufted can either be cut pile, loop pile, or a combination of both. Machines can produce a lot more meters of carpet than weaving, and they are usually at the lower end of the market.

Needlefelt

The needlefelt type of carpet is a bit more technologically advanced. They are produced by electrostatic attraction of individual fibers that form a unique carpet with extremely high durability. You can normally find needlefelt carpet in the contract market such as in hotels or other places where there is always going to be a lot of traffic.

Flatweave

The flatweave carpet is created by interlocking warp and weft threads. The types of oriental flatwoven carpet include soumak, plain weave, and tapestry weave. This type is not well known in the North American region, although it is very popular in the orient and Japan.

Hooked rug

This is a simple construction of rug that is handmade by pulling strips of cloth such as wool or cotton through the meshes of a very sturdy fabric. Now, this type of rug is generally known as a handicraft.

Knotted pile

With knotted pile carpets, the structural weft threads will alternate with a supplementary weft that will rise from the surface of the weave at a perpendicular angle.

Cut and loop piles

The cut and loop pile combines both looped and cut fibers. They provide a variety of surface textures for medium durability. Cut and loop carpets are available in either solid or different colors. The several different layers in this carpet can hide dirt and footprints in formal and informal areas.

Saxony

Saxony consists of tightly twisted cut piles that are heat set straight. They consist of two or more fibers that have been twisted together in a yarn, and they provide a very soft texture for informal as well as formal areas. They will show each and every footprint and even marks from vacuum cleaners.

Textured saxony

Textured carpet is the best selling and it works well in informal areas due to the very soft feel. They are tightly twisted and texture headset for medium durability. They also offer a multi colored look that will hide tracks and footprints.

Plush/velvet

Both plush and velvet are lightly twisted and offer a uniform color. They are very soft and offer more level than textures. This type of carpet is ideal for formal areas due to it's luxurious appearance.

Frieze

Frieze is a highly twisted cut pile type of carpet that is suited for high traffic areas. It has short fibers that will tend to curl in different directions at the surface to hide footprints and vacuum marks.

Level loop pile

The level loop pile is constructed by weaving even loops of yarn into carpet backing at both ends. This type of carpet is durable as well as track resistant, due to the strong loops. Higher loops in the carpet will create a more luxurious look. They are also great because they will prevent dirt from filtering on into the carpet.

12 Types of Carpet

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Plastic Surgery

When it comes to the advantages and disadvantages of plastic surgery, you really have to look in more depth on the specific procedure you plan on having done. Although each possible procedure has its own list of pros and cons associated with it, they can all be generalized for simplicity. The biggest disadvantages associated with plastic surgery are the risks as well as the price tag, however when compared to the benefits, these will usually outweigh the disadvantages of plastic surgery. For starters, whether you are having a reconstructive procedure or a cosmetic procedure, the goal is to make yourself look better.

While some people who decide to undergo the knife may already look great, there are many others who have been teased and taunted their entire life about their features. Not only do years of teasing and taunting take their toll on a person's emotional well being, but a person who does not like something about themselves will also cause an emotional scar. Since who we are has a lot to do with our emotions, then it is safe to say that even the smallest procedure that effects our self esteem in a positive manor can outwardly make you seen as a whole new person. Isn't it what it is all about, changing ourselves so not only we look better, but feel better as well?

Serger

The obvious risks associated with plastic surgery are the possibilities of not only having a complication, but also receiving bad work. No wants to pay a substantial amount of money to end up looking worse than before they went in for the procedure. On top of this, there is also no one who wants to pay to have a procedure dine just so they can have nerves damaged.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Plastic Surgery

In order to better understand the advantages and disadvantages of plastic surgery, you really have to talk with the surgeon who will be in charge of your procedure so that he or she can better explain the risks. It is also important that you are as well informed as you can be in case you have to make a decision as it is better to make an informed decision rather than a guess.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Plastic Surgery

Dr. Jim Greene would like to provide you more in depth information that will help you make a sound decision regarding:

Plastic surgery

Reconstructive surgery

Surgery

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The Top 10 Tiling Mistakes or How To Lay Tile Properly

Tiling is one of the popular home improvement do-it-yourself tasks, and many homeowners assume they can do it without much preparation. However, if you want a quality result right away, it is essential to pay attention to a number of important issues. Nothing says "do-it-yourselfer" louder than a make-do solution when tiling.

Here are 10 of the most common mistakes made during tile installation:

Lay-In Thread

10) Not preparing the surfaces well enough

The Top 10 Tiling Mistakes or How To Lay Tile Properly

It is important to clean and smooth the surface which you will be laying tile on thoroughly. Trying to save time on this step can lead to an uneven and instable tiling. Any wallpaper or other foreign coatings should be removed prior to tiling.

9) Grouting unevenly or too quickly

Ideally you should spread the grout evenly and slowly, using a support tool like a squeegee. If you try to be too fast and grout a large area before laying tile, the grout on far-off spots may dry out before you actually get to tile. Distributing grout too hastily also is likely to lead to an uneven tiling result. Also, it is important to remove any excess grout immediately after laying tile, because it will be much harder to do once it has dried up.

8) Dotting corners

Some people believe that by adding dots of adhesive to the corners of tiles they achieve a stronger bond. However, by doing so you actually increases the chance of cracking because the adhesive shrinks as it dries. With the adhesive being thicker in some areas (for instance in the corners), the shrinking will add pressure on the tile.

7) Choosing the wrong adhesive

This is particularly important for laying tile in humid rooms like bathrooms and swimming pools. In such cases waterproof adhesive is a must. Even well-fitted tiles can let some water through to the adhesive, which eventually calles crumbling and breaking with non-waterproof adhesives.

6) Not using battens

Optimally you should use battens (thin rods of wood, alternatively any other long straight object) both in horizontal and vertical directions to lay tiles in possibly straight lines. Trying to lay tile without such a helper tool will often result in positioning mistakes and a generally bad look of the tiled surface.

5) Not discovering and fixing mistakes quickly enough

A rare first-time tiling job gets done flawlessly right away. Most likely, you will have a few awkward spots here and there. It is important to have a fresh eye look over your tiling result shortly after you are done, ideally within the first 6-12 hours. The faster you spot problems, the easier it is to fix them. A misplaced tile 24+ hours after you're done can be quite difficult to fix since the grout will already have hardened.

4) Not removing excess grout accurately

One of the most common signs of an amateur tiling, protruding grout is something that is easy to fix.

3) Miscalculations with the number of tiles needed

Some first-time tilers will just buy exactly the number of tiles to cover the area they want to tile. However, in practice, you should get 5%-10% more tiles than the minimum to insure yourself against breakages, miscalculations and difficulties cutting to size. This also gives you some spare tiles to replace cracked ones in future.

2) Failing to seal bath tops properly

If the gap between the bottom row of tiles and the bath top is not sealed properly, water may leak into it as it runs down the tiles. Usually it is recommended to fill the bath before using the sealant, since baths can move significantly when filled with water, which can strain and crack sealant if it is not anticipated.

1) Insufficient or erroneous planning

This is probably the most important mistake, and also the one which is easiest to avoid. Instead of going for a make-do solution, always be sure to measure out the surface you need to tile carefully. Be aware that installing curved tile is significantly more difficult than tiling a flat wall. Plan for at least 10-15% waste and spare tiles for future replacements. Try to keep it simple. Cutting tile can be frustrating and expensive, so the fewer cuts you make, the less expensive your project is.

Don't hesitate to read up materials purchase some of the inexpensive video lessons (for instance the ones available at http://www.tilehowto.com). For a larger project, perhaps even arrange a brief designer consultation - an experienced eye can often discern problems that might cost you hundreds to fix afterwards.

The Top 10 Tiling Mistakes or How To Lay Tile Properly

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Gravel Driveways Are a Great Alternative to Concrete Or Asphalt

Gravel driveways have a kind of elegance about them that concrete or asphalt fails to show. Unlike gravel, which is much more flexible in that respect, these materials are difficult to correct if they were not laid properly to begin with.

How many stately homes have you seen in movies where a limousine drives up the sweeping driveway made of concrete or even asphalt? It's the characteristic crunch or gravel under car tyres that typify those movie scenes. Perhaps that's why we associate gravel driveways with class and style.

Lay-In Thread

A gravel driveway isn't difficult to prepare and fill. In many ways it's less difficult than concrete, which is messy and difficult to achieve a great looking surface with. Asphalt is easier to lay, and easier to have looking good, but it's costly and it can be a bit messy too. Concrete and asphalt are not particularly easy to maintain either.

Gravel Driveways Are a Great Alternative to Concrete Or Asphalt

Concrete and asphalt do score well when it comes to cracking as a result of extreme frost and cold, but gravel scores even better. Heavy rains just drain away with a gravel driveway while concrete and asphalt need drainage considerations built in from the start.

Gravel driveways don't have to be boring. They can be made from a variety of different coloured stone of reds, blues and greys. You can even use different coloured stone to form patterns on large areas to provide a bit of contrast.

It's important that you prepare properly for any gravel driveways you plan to create. As with other surface materials, a rule of thumb guide is the more heavy use your driveway is likely to get, the deeper and more robust the driveway should be.

In other words, if your gravel driveways will only have people walking on them, then you can get away with a relatively shallow depth. If a car will travel on it, then it needs to be deep enough to cope with the additional wear and tear.

Gravel driveways should be prepared by having the drive marked out and dug down to a depth of about 150 millimetres, or six inches. At that point, drive a wooden peg into the dug out ground. If it is difficult to drive down further, then the base is solid and firm. If not, you may have to dig deeper. If you encounter any soft spots they may also need digging out.

You should lay a base before laying the gravel. Scalping stone is leftover quarry material and makes an excellent inexpensive base. Order it during dry weather as rain will add considerably to the weight, which is what you will charged on. The scalping stone should be compacted by being vibrated in to a depth of at least 75 millimetres.

Your driveway is now ready to accept the gravel. There are various sizes of gravel stone you can use. A size of 10 millimetres is probably too small as the stones will become wedged into most car threads. Stone of 40 millimetres size is generally too large, so the best all round size to use is gravel of 20 millimetres. Gravel driveways are a joy to have, easy to maintain and will look great for a long time to come.

Gravel Driveways Are a Great Alternative to Concrete Or Asphalt

David A Robinson
Help and information about using gravel for driveways and gardens.

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Homemade Baby Slings - How to Make Your Own Baby Sling!

As many hip parents know, baby slings have become an increasingly popular mode of transporting your infant or toddler around - from A-list celebrities spotted wearing a designer Baby Bjorn with baby in tow, to everyday moms and dads on the go who choose to use a variety of baby slings and carriers, the baby carrier is the way to carry your little one in style!

Saving Green...

Serger

With today's ever-tightening economy, some parents are choosing to get crafty - and get sewing! While there are many gifted homemakers who enjoy making their own baby clothes, others are merely looking to save a penny or two and design their own easy-to-sew or no-sew baby wrap.

Homemade Baby Slings - How to Make Your Own Baby Sling!

Going Green...

There are also environmentally-conscious parents who would prefer to start their child's life on a green note - and organic baby slings are easily made, using natural fibers and textiles (such as hemp and unbleached cotton) as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic materials used in traditional baby carriers.

Making a Scene!

Still others choose to express their creative side - crocheting, knitting and hand-stitching hip baby slings to suit their own personal style, crafty folks everywhere can consult a multitude of craft magazines and websites for how-to's and blogs when creating their own original baby sling designs.

Ready, Set...Sew!

So, whether you're on a budget, looking to express your artistic or creative side, or simply trying to live a greener lifestyle, it's easy to make your own cheap baby slings - below, DIY instructions to sew your own baby wrap!

HOW TO MAKE BABY SLINGS:

For anyone who has basic sewing skills, this is a fairly simple project:

1. First, choose your fabric at a local fabric store - since you will be sewing (or serging) the edges, you may choose woven cloth that is unfinished, as well as fleeces and cotton knits, as long as they don't curl up when cut.

2. Next, cut your cloth to the proper dimension - if you're purchasing your fabric in person, the salesperson can cut the cloth to your specifications; we recommend 20 to 35" wide and at least 5 yards (15 feet) long.

3. Finally, you will finish the edges by serging all four sides of the material.

If you do not have your own serger, we recommend hemming all the way around the four sides of the baby wrap. You may also choose to visit your local sewing machine store, which might let you borrow their serger for free or for a small fee; visiting a tailor or dry cleaners is another affordable option for finishing your baby wrap.

IMPORTANT TIP: DO NOT buy 2.5 yards of 2 different materials & sew them together to create 5 yards - this will result in a WEIGHT-BEARING seam, weakening your baby wrap & making it less safe!

Although this is a moderately easy sling project for some, sewing isn't quite an option for everyone, especially when you consider what you're transporting! For the rest of us less-than-crafty folks who want to carry their precious cargo stylishly (and safely!), it's not difficult to find inexpensive and cheap baby slings. There are many online sources, including Babysling.com, where you can find a great assortment of affordable baby slings & infant slings, including the ERGO baby carrier, Hotslings brand, Moby Wrap, Maya, Ellaroo, Baby K'Tan baby carrier and more! Whether you're looking for a baby backpack, a linen baby sling, a Velcro sling, organic slings or any other type of kid sling, you're sure to find a wonderful selection of moderately-priced, eco-friendly and stylish options at Babysling.com!

Homemade Baby Slings - How to Make Your Own Baby Sling!

Philip Morrison is an advocate of baby wearing, having experienced the benefits for him and his two children after wearing them during their early years. At Babysling.com, find all kind of baby slings and carriers from Hotsling, Maya Wrap and more directly from the online store.

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2 Sewing Techniques On How To Sew A Reversible Vest

Here are two sewing techniques plus some good sewing tips on how to sew a reversible vest or a lined vest. One is stitched and turned; the other is stitched and bound.

Try both to help you determine your favorite sewing technique.

Lay-In Thread

For both methods, follow these cutting and sewing instructions:

2 Sewing Techniques On How To Sew A Reversible Vest

Choose similar weight fabrics for a reversible vest.

Preshrink all fabrics and interfacing.

Interface the vest with a fusible knit interfacing.

Test the interfacing on a scrap of fabric first to make sure it will be OK.

Depending on the fabric, you may choose to interface both of the fronts and back of the vest.

Note: You may want to interface the fabric and then cut the vest pieces out of the interfaced fabric.

Carefully cut two fronts and one back from each fabric.

Make sure the front and back vest pieces are the same size in both fabrics after you cut them out. Lay one over the other to check it.

Apply any pockets or designs to each front and back layer.

For each layer:

Place right sides of the fabric together and stitch the front and back shoulder seams together. Do NOT backstitch.

Instead begin and end each seam with short stitches (18-20 per inch) for about 1 to 1-1/2 inches.

Sandwich press the seams.

Press the seams open.

At the neck and shoulder point of the shoulder seam, trim the shoulder seam allowance back at an angle for about 1-1/2 inch to eliminate bulk when the neck and armhole seams are made.

Also trim the shoulder seams of one of the layers to be just slightly less than the other layer to stagger or grade the seams when they lay on top of each other.

Continue with either Method I or Method II to finish the vest.

Method I - How To Sew To Complete A Stitched And Turned Reversible Vest

Place the two vests right sides together.

Note: Generally, when sewing a lined vest, it is a good idea to trim off about 1/8 inch from the lining before attaching it to the outer layer. This keeps the lining from showing on the outside when the vest is worn.

For a reversible vest, you may or may not want to do this.

If a bit of one of the layers shows on one of the sides, it may look like narrow piping. You are the designer. Create the look you want.

Stitch the vests armhole edges together using short stitches (18-20 stitches per inch) all the way.

Sandwich press these seams.

Press the seams open.

Trim the armhole seams to 1/8 inch seam allowance. The short stitches will hold this seam.

If this is a lined vest, understitch the armhole seams and all of the other seams as well. If it is reversible, you may not want the understitching to show on the edge.

Sewing Tip: Always use short stitches and trim to 1/8 inch seam allowance to stitch a curve. Then understitch if possible. It produces a much cleaner, sharper curve instead of trimming to 1/4 inch and clipping. Try it!

After the armholes are finished, place the two right sides of the vest back together again lining up all the edges. Pin to hold the layers.

Stitch the front and neckline together.

Begin stitching about 2 inches from the side seam on the bottom of the front and stitch across the bottom of the front, up the center front and around the neck and down on the other side of the front stopping about 2 inches from the other side seam.

Use a regular stitch length to stitch across the bottom of the front and up the front. Change to a short stitch length to stitch the curve around the neck.

Sandwich press the seam.

Press the seam open.

Trim the curved area around the neck to 1/8 inch.

Trim the rest of the seam to 1/4 inch.

Hold the scissors at an angle when you trim to help layer or grade the seam allowances or use "duckbill" scissors to help do this.

Sewing Tip: Always stagger the edges of seam allowances when they end up laying on top of each other in a finished garment.

Turn the vest right side out by pulling the fronts through the shoulders one side at a time.

Press well setting the seam lines exactly on the edge.

With right sides together, match the armhole seams and pin exactly through the stitching line to hold one on top of the other.

Stitch the side seams of both layers in one continuous step carefully walking the needle over the underarm pin.

Sandwich press the seam.

Press the seam open.

You may want to leave the full seam allowance here in case you have to let the vest out sometime.

Now, you have the bottom of the back open and about 2 inches on either side of the side seam toward the front.

Turn right sides together matching up the side seams. Put a pin exactly in the line of stitching in the side seams to hold one on top of the other.

Starting at one front side where you stopped stitching previously, stitch across the bottom until you come to about 2 inches from the next side seam pin and stop leaving about a 4 inch opening on that side.

Sandwich press the seam.

Press the seam open.

Press under the unstitched seam allowances as though they were stitched.

Trim and grade the seam allowances to about 1/4 inch.

Turn the vest right side out through the 4 inch opening at the side lower edge. This opening is better than having the opening in the middle of the center back. It isn't as noticeable.

Press well again.

At the opening, turn in and line up the edges.

To finish this opening, slip stitch it closed by hand or place a narrow strip of fusible web and fuse it closed.

If desired, topstitch the vest 1/4 inch from the edges.

Make buttonholes on both sides of the vest.

Sew 2 buttons together making a thread shank in between them. Use these double buttons through both buttonholes like cuff links. You can even use 2 different buttons as
long as they are the same size to fit through the holes.

Method II

Another method to finish your reversible vest is to sew each vest with shoulder seams and side seams.

Place the vests with wrong sides together.

Stitch 3/4 inch all around the armholes and the outer edges of the vest holding the 2 layers together.

Trim off 5/8 inch all around.

Bind all the outside edges either with self fabric, contrasting fabric, or a fold over trim or braid to finish.You can even use a decorative serged edge to finish the vest.

This is fast and easy!

It's your choice. You are the designer!

Enjoy your vest!

It just makes sense!

2 Sewing Techniques On How To Sew A Reversible Vest

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

©2006 Marian Lewis - All Rights Reserved

1st Step To Sewing Success

Marian Lewis is a sewing instructor and the creator of an amazing new fitting method for hard-to-fit sewing folks. In her ebook, "Common Sense Fitting Method For Hard-To-Fit Sewing Folks Who Want Great Fitting Skirts And Pants", find out step-by-step WHAT you really need, WHERE you really need it and HOW to apply that to a commercial sewing pattern.

For more information, go to http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com/fitting.html

Marian is also the author of other eBooks related to sewing including, "Sew A Tee Pee And Accessories For Your Tribe Of Kids" and "Classy Designer Straight Skirt" where she teaches basic and advanced sewing techniques.

To learn more, go to http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com/sewing.html

To discover sewing and fitting secrets to achieve sewing success, follow the link http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com

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Make Christmas Tree Napkins, Name Tags, And Ornaments Whether You Sew Or Not!

They Are Quick, Easy And Fun Gifts For Young And Old To Make For Family And Friends.

The trick is in the folding to make the napkin look like a Christmas Tree.

Serger

Let the kids cut some out of paper and decorate their own.

Make Christmas Tree Napkins, Name Tags, And Ornaments Whether You Sew Or Not!

Use them as name tags, decorations, Christmas Tree ornaments and napkins, of course.

Napkins can be either single or double layer of fabric. They can be any size you want them to be. The example I am using here is a 14-1/2"

Use some pretty Christmas prints or some unusual decorative fabrics.

One year, I used a lacey fabric and rolled the edges with a gold metallic thread. Then, I hung them on my tree. It really looked pretty.

You really don't have to sew these napkins if you don't want to. You can use decorative edge craft scissors to cut the fabric and not finish it with sewing at all.

You can even use paper napkins if you like. Have fun with this idea.

Less than a yard of 45" wide fabric makes 6 napkins single layer or 3 double layer.
1-5/8 yards makes a dozen single layer napkins.

Preshrink all fabrics.

I also like to spray starch my fabric before I cut and serge or satin stitch the edges of my napkins.

Cut Napkins into 14-1/2" circles.

To make a paper pattern, draw a circle 14-1/2" in diameter.

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Here is how to make a compass to draw your pattern.

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Tie a string or ribbon to a pencil.

Measure the string back from the pencil 7-1/4".

Put a pin in the string/ribbon at that point.
(7-1/4" is the radius or 1/2 of the diameter of the 14-1/2" circle.)

This is your compass to help you draw your circle.

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Here is how to draw your pattern.

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Place some tracing paper down and put the pin in the center.

Now, extending the string, and using the pencil, draw a circle out all around the pin 7-/4"away.
This creates a 14-1/2" circle for your napkin pattern.

Label it and keep it for future napkins.

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Single Layer Napkins

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Serge finish with the right side up on your serger.

I like to use the rolled edge finish on most of my napkins. It depends on the fabric.

Feed the circle of fabric to the knife slowly letting the knife shave off a little of the fabric.

Slightly overlap the beginning stitches about 2 inches.

Seal the end with "Fray Check". Let dry. Trim off the thread tails.

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Double Layer Napkins

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Place 2 circles wrong sides together.

Make sure one circle's straight grain matches the other circle's bias grain.

This will minimize flared edges.

You can also apply slight differential feed to eliminate flared edges.

Or you might want to baste the two layers together to help hold them while you finish the edges.
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Serge Finish Edges With A Serger

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A rolled edge works well on light to medium weight single layer napkins.

A rolled edge may not work on the double layer fabrics or heavier fabrics. Test it first.

Try using a narrow satin balanced stitch instead.

Note: If you get the "Pokies", try wrapping the napkin bias edges in Solvy (a water soluble stabilizer) and then serge. Wash the Solvy away when finished.

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Conventional Machine Satin Stitch Finish

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If you don't have a serger, you can use your conventional sewing machine.

Finish the edges with a satin stitch sewing in from the edge using a stabilizer such as water soluble Solvy.

You may want to spray starch the napkins again before stitching. It might help.

You can apply "Fray Check" to the outside of the stitching when you are finished to seal the edges.

Let it dry and then trim off any excess fabric.

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Fold and press the napkin into a Christmas Tree Shape.

Here are the folding instructions.

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1. Fold the napkin in half and press well. We will call this fold the center fold.

2. Fold again into quarters and press lightly. This is a temporary crease that we will use as a guide to establish the fold we actually want.

3. Open back up to the 1/2 fold again and measure 1-1/4" above the temporary quarter foldline.

4. Fold the napkin "back" along the 1-1/4" new line (the one above the quarter fold) and press well. We will call this fold, Fold A.

5. Now you have a fold at the top, (Fold A) and the lower part of the center fold to your right.

6. The upper part of the center fold that you just turned down, we will call Fold B.

7. Take the top Fold A and bring it over to meet the center fold edge to your right and press in place.

8. Now bring the upper portion of the original center fold (Fold B) over on top of Fold A and to the lower portion of the center fold edge and press again.

Voila! There you have a Christmas Tree.

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Decorate your trees

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Add a bow, jingle bell, decorative Christmas button or whatever at the top of the tree if desired.

Embroider each family member's name on his/her napkin.

Use decorative stitches, paint or decorate your tree napkins any way you like.

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More Ideas For Smaller Trees

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Consider making smaller circles into trees, add a ribbon loop at the top and use them to decorate packages or to hang on your Christmas Tree as ornaments.

Use up lots of that stash! It is easy!

Or, how about letting the kids cut some circles from paper napkins and have them decorate their trees with crayons, stickers like stars, glitter glue, etc.

They could give them to family members, classmates, teachers, etc., use them on packages, hang them on the big tree, or use them as place cards at the dining table.

Be creative. You are the designer. Have fun making your Christmas Tree napkins!

It just makes sense!

Happy Holidays!

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© 2005 Marian Lewis - All Rights Reserved

1st Step To Sewing Success

Make Christmas Tree Napkins, Name Tags, And Ornaments Whether You Sew Or Not!

Marian Lewis is a sewing instructor and the creator of an amazing new fitting method for hard-to-fit sewing folks.

In her ebook, "Common Sense Fitting Method For Hard-To-Fit Sewing Folks Who Want Great Fitting Skirts And Pants", find out step-by-step WHAT you really need, WHERE you really need it and HOW to apply that to a commercial sewing pattern.

For more information, go to: => http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com/fitting.html

Marian is also the author of other eBooks related to sewing including, "Sew A Tee Pee And Accessories For Your Tribe Of Kids" where she teaches basic sewing techniques while you have fun doing it!

To learn more, go to: => http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com/sewing.html

To discover sewing and fitting secrets to achieve sewing success, follow the link: => http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com

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