Level: All

Looking for a great gift for the sewist on your list? Give her a personalized sewing basket filled with fun-to-use Janome accessories and topped with a beautiful fabric bow. The wired-ribbon bow is a fast and easy project for your MyLock serger.

Our basket includes: Janome Embroidery Hoops #2 and #3, Janome thread assortment box #2 and several loose spools of Janome thread for added color, Janome Clothsetter 2, Miraclestitcher, Memory Craft 9000 Instructional Video, Memory Craft 9000 Automatic Patchwork Quilting video, Memory Cards: #118 (Border Designs), #114 (Angel Designs), #109 (Christmas Designs I), #110 (Christmas Designs II), #28 (Jewelry), #5 (Holiday Series), ScanSoftPC (which of course goes with the new Scan 'n Sew PC that would come with the gift basket), and several packages of stabilizers.

Materials:

• 1/4 yard 45" wide patterned fabric ~ cut into 2 1/2" wide strips across the width of the fabric
• 1/4 yard 45" wide coordinating solid colored fabric ~ cut into 2 1/2" wide strips across the width of the fabric
• 2 spools wooly nylon serger thread to coordinate with fabrics
• 1 spool regular Janome overlock thread
• 26 gauge wire
• Cording foot (type A)
• Fresh serger needles

Instructions:

1. Cut a total of six, 2 1/2" wide strips across the width of the fabric: 3 print, 3 solid.
2. Serge each set of strips together across the 2 1/2" ends creating two long strips (1 solid, 1 print).
3. Press seams to one side.
4. Insert wire through the cord guide of the cording foot and snap foot onto serger.
5. Place the two sets of fabric strips wrong sides together, and slowly serge a few stitches over the wire. Continue feeding the wire through the cording foot guide gently pulling it from the spool or spindle. Serge along both long edges.
6. Leave long serger tails on both ends of the strips to smooth out the strip when finished.
7. Serge across ends.
8. Secure ends by knotting thread chains close to seam. Dab the knot with seam sealant, let dry, then clip the threads.
9. Form into your favorite bow and shape. Our sample shows a simple looped bow. To achieve this effect, start approximately 9" from one end and form large loops back and forth, leaving another 9" free on the other end. We were able to make 5 layers of loops. Grasp the loops in the middle and tightly wrap with a thin wire. Tuck the ends of the wire under to secure. Mold and position the loops to creative the full round appearance and cover the wired middle. Secure to the basket's handle with another small piece of wire or regular giftwrapping ribbon.