Sewing Machine Maintenance

Each time I walked past stalls selling oil for sewing machines, I questioned myself if I should oil my Brother Innov-is 900 too. The last thing I want to witness is the machine breaking down due to lack of maintenance. So I did a search and found the following from Brother's website.

There is no need to lubricate the machine because the machine has been oiled enough in advance.

Lubrication can cause trouble. 
Please do not put the oil in your machine.

For a maintenance check, please contact Authorized Dealer or Service Center.

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How nice! No oiling needed! All I need to do is remove the lints from bobbin area. :))

Where to get Fabrics in Singapore

Here are the list of shops I enjoy visiting! :))

Daiso
I tried my luck one fine day and found out that the store has a crafting section too! Fancy a $2 acryllic bag handles or cute fat quarters?

Spotlight @ Plaza Singapura Shopping Mall, Level 5
Singapore largest air-conditioned fabric shopping place. Need I say more about Spotlight? Keep a look out for sales!

Golden Dragon @ 101, People’s Park Centre, Upper Cross Street #02-51 S(058357)
This store is a crafting heaven! They sell everything you need for sewing, knitting, crocheting and crafting.

Chinatown People's Park Complex
You can find more variety of fabrics here at relatively lower cost. Many of which imported from China. There are a few shops selling Japanese imported fabrics from $12/m onwards. Try bargaining!

Shops along Arab Street
This is the place to go if you fancy beads, laces and printed fabrics. Some shops allow bargaining too!

Fabric.com
The shop I made my first online fabrics purchase. Costs similiar to Spotlight after shipping charges. Say yes to huge clearance sales!

Fabric TALES
Do you fancy Japanese cloth? I adore it! :) This is the english site of a Japanese online shop named Nunogatari. Fabrics are reasonably priced. 


Etsy
Love this place. Just do a 'Supplies' search and you'll find just what you need! :)

Forums
Sometimes home/overseas business owners organise fabric sprees in forums. The down side is that you will have to check spree listing often and the order, depending on when you ordered, usually takes 4-8weeks to arrive.

How to calculate the amount of material you need for curtains

Planning on making your own curtains?
I came across this link in Twitter! :)

No more headaches for my next set of curtains! Cheers.

Diaper Cake Tutorial

Cracking your head for baby gift ideas? Try making a diaper cake! It's pretty, practical and can double up as a great display for the party!

How to make a Diaper Cake
Things you need: Diapers (of course!), 8 to 12 inch cake base depending on your cake size, ribbons, scortch tape, scissors. If you're planning to do a 2 tier cake, you'll need something strong such as cardboard roll or milk bottle for support.

I used 40 sized M diapers for this project.

Stack the diapers together until it fits the cake base nicely. This step can be a little tricky cause the diapers keep slipping away. Get a helper to hold it for you, or try what I did - hug it with one arm, then use a ribbon to secure the diapers with the other. Spread the diapers evenly.

Tape the support to the cake base to prevent it from moving when you wrap the diapers around it. 

Place the diaper over the support. There! You're done with the lower tier. :)

Now, the second tier. Repeat the stacking diapers process.

Decorate it as you wish! I made 2 fabric ribbons and topped it up with a bow!  The diaper cake is good to go! :)

Wrapping is important for the temperamental weather in Singapore. I used pink polka dots disco paper.

Diaper cake beautified!

Enjoy your diaper cake!

Fabrics from Taiwan (Taipei)

I spent an afternoon at Taipei's Yongle Fabric Market (永樂市場) during a recent trip with hubby. To get there, take a train to Shuanglian station and walk towards  Dihua St (迪化街). Taipei's public transportation is really convenient. :)

Pity that I didn't carry my camera cause my hubby made a south bound day trip to Taichung while I was greeted with bolts and bolts of fabric! It was a bliss to walk the columns and rows over and over again until I was completely satisfied. There were a few shops selling Japanese imported fabrics, price ranges from NT$240 to NT$400 per yard. It isn't significantly cheaper than Japanese fabrics in Singapore, but definitely a wider selection.

Welcome to the family! 

Another picture with rolls of plastic coated fabric behind. :) Great for making water/stain resistant pouches and totes!

Summer Dress

Finally found time to take picture of the first dress I made - Summer Dress! Pattern from japanese book titled "Dress Style Book". The neckline is made higher than original. I've worn this dress out many times.. It's perfect for the most-of-the-time-sunny Singapore. :)

Look at those awful t-shirt sleeve tan lines on my arms! I should hide from the sun when I ride. 

Charlie Bag

I want to make that Charlie bag! :)