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Somebody took pages from a vintage children's book, turned them into fabric, and made a project out of it. And I'll be honest, that is exactly the kind of sewing chaos I support. Welcome everyone to sew in the know. He's got some news for you. And now here's Mike. Let's go. Hey everyone, I'm Mike, and welcome back to Sewin'the Know, where we talk about what's happening in sewing, quilting, embroidery, and the products, tools, and weird little ideas that make this world a lot of fun, and occasionally a little dangerous to your wallet. Alright, quick shameless promotion. Sewin'the Know is brought to you by Sewfor Less.com, a family owned sewing and embroidery supply shop that's been helping makers since 1981. How do I know they're good people? Because I work there, and I have decided that my judgment is outstanding. So there you go, reliable source. But before we get into today's main topic, let's take a quick spin around the sewing world. As you know, we recently were invited to Bernina University and spent several days in New Orleans. We were there representing one of our sister companies, Goat Notions, and honestly, one of the best parts of a show like that is the people you end up next to. Because yes, there are machines, there are products, there are classes, there are displays, there is a lot going on. But sometimes what makes the show memorable is who you're surrounded by while you're there. And we had some pretty great neighbors, so I want to give a quick shout out to Stacy from So Steady, Ronda with an H representing Schmetz Needles, Ralph and Frank with the Golden Rule Pattern system, and Kim and Barbie from Kimberbell Designs. Uh seriously, shout out to all of you. Thanks for making the show so enjoyable. It is always nice to have good neighbors at a show, especially when everyone is working long days, answering questions, moving product, talking to people, trying to remember where they put their coffee and still somehow managing to be friendly. And speaking of coffee, Paul, you are an absolute coffee angel. When we run into you again, we got the next round. More actually, because you just kept showing up with it. You're a gem, and if you are listening and you are interested in any of those folks, I definitely recommend checking them out. So Steady, Schmetz Needles, the Golden Rule Pattern System, and Kimberbell Designs are all doing their own thing in the sewing world, and each of them brings something useful, interesting, or just plain fun to the table. And that is kind of the whole point of this show. Not just what is new, not just what is shiny, but what is actually useful, what is interesting, and what makes you stop and say, Okay, yeah, I want to know more about that. And before we move on, I do want to take a second to mention someone very special from Bernina, Jeannie. Jeannie was instrumental in helping organize Bernina University, and honestly, she is one of the best humans we have come across in this industry. That is not me being dramatic. Well, maybe a little, but it is true. She has been so helpful to us over the last couple of years, and she has made these events feel not just professional, but genuinely enjoyable. And now that she has announced her retirement, I just want to say this publicly. I am sure Candy will do a fine job, but there is only one Jeannie. So thank you. Truly. Thank you for everything you have done for us, for the dealers, for the people behind the scenes, and for making all of this feel a little easier, a little warmer, and a lot more human. You have made a real difference, and we appreciate you. Before we get into today's main topic, let's take a quick spin around the sewing world, because there is an event coming up that is apparently so popular it is already completely full and sitting on a waiting list, so you know, nothing like talking about an event you may not be able to get into. Very helpful. But honestly, that kind of tells you everything you need to know. The sewing studio summer showcase is happening in Hudson, Illinois, july sixteenth through the eighteenth, and I'll actually be there on the eighteenth. If you are there and you see me walking around like I know where I'm going, please do not be fooled. That is probably just confidence wearing comfortable shoes. The sewing studio itself is kind of a big deal. They are a top ten Bernina dealer in the nation, two years running. They have three Bernina certified technicians in-house. And the place is huge. Something like twenty thousand square feet with classrooms. They bought a former Amish furniture store, which is honestly one of the most sewing industry sentences I have ever said. And now it is this massive sewing destination with classes, service, machines, products, education, and people who actually seem to care whether customers know what they are doing after they leave the building. Shocking concept, we love to see it. They are also the third largest dealer for Oklahoma embroidery, which matters because embroidery people know OESD is not exactly a small corner of the world. So when a shop is strong with Bernina, strong with Oklahoma embroidery, has techs in-house, has classrooms, runs a ton of classes, and is family and veteran owned on top of that, you start to understand why an event like this fills up. It is not just because people want to shop, although let's be honest, people absolutely want to shop. It is because places like this become a hub. People go there to learn, ask questions, see products in person, get help, and be around other people who understand why a new foot or stabilizer sample can derail an entire afternoon. And that is really what keeps standing out to me in the sewing industry right now. The stores and events that seem to be thriving are not just selling boxes, they are teaching. They are supporting, they are helping people connect the dots. Because most makers do not just want more stuff. They want to know what the stuff does, when to use it, and whether it is going to solve an actual problem or just move into the drawer and start judging them with the rest of the supplies. So, yes, I am looking forward to being at the Sewing Studio Summer Showcase. I'm looking forward to seeing what people are excited about, what questions they are asking, what classes are getting attention, and what products keep coming up. And if nothing else, I will be there on the 18th. Probably overcaffeinated, slightly underorganized, and pretending I did not just buy something I said I was only going to look at. And one more thing I should probably mention, I'm going to be in some pretty amazing company while I'm there. Amanda Murphy will be teaching free motion quilting and ruler work, which means straight line templates, circle templates, precision quilting, and the kind of ruler work that makes you realize your hands may have been freelancing more than you thought. Pam Mashee will be teaching simply surging, with decorative threads, color, texture, and all the fun serger stuff that makes people either fall in love with their serger or finally stop being afraid of it. Kathy Schalda is doing a fabulous foot extravaganza, which is exactly the kind of class title that sounds fun because you remember how many presser feet are sitting in drawers across America with absolutely no idea what their life purpose is. Don't worry, guys, your time is coming. Megan Fries will be teaching on the Bernina B990, which is Bernina's top of the line sewing and embroidery machine, so I'm sure that will be calm and restrained and no one will want one afterward. Kidding. But seriously, we hope you drove your truck or moving van. These things are huge. Emily Dunlap will be talking Lorestar and showing how better ironing and pressing can help with quilting, embroidery, and crafting. Which matters because pressing is one of those things people want to pretend is optional until the project starts telling the truth. Rhonda Pierce will be there with Needle Know How for Schmetz. And yes, that's the same Ronda with an H from earlier. See you soon, neighbor. She'll be breaking down needle basics, answering questions, and helping people make better needle choices, which is good because a shocking number of sewing problems start with the wrong needle and end with someone blaming the machine. And Lori McCrosky will be covering OESD, which is a whole world of embroidery designs, stabilizers, techniques, and possibilities on its own. So yes, it is a stack lineup. If you are into anything vaguely sewing related or just like being around people who understand why all of this matters, this is one of those events that makes sense. We like to call this your safe judgment-free space. Seriously. So that brings us to today's very cool, very specialized product, and honestly, this one is a perfect example of what I keep talking about on this show. A product is just a product until somebody clever gets a hold of it and does something that makes the rest of us stop scrolling and go, wait, can you actually do that? Most of you who know me know I am not a huge social media person. I respect it, I understand the power of it. I know it can move products, build brands, start trends, and apparently make hundreds of jars of jill coding disappear over a weekend. But I am not usually the guy dancing in front of the algorithm asking it to bless me. That being said, every once in a while, social media does exactly what it is supposed to do. It shows you something creative, practical, a little weird, and immediately useful. Over the weekend, we sold through hundreds of this item. Don't worry, we have more on the way. And from what we can tell, a big part of that came from a video by Maddie over at Badass Quilter Society. We will put the link in the show notes because credit where credit is due. Maddie took pages from a vintage children's book, mounted them to muslin, coated them with Odie Coat, and turned them into a flexible, sewable material that she used in a project. Now let's talk about the product itself. Odicote is made by Odif, and if that name sounds familiar, it is probably because Odif also makes 505 temporary spray adhesive, which a lot of people use for quilt basting, embroidery, and all kinds of other sewing room situations where you need things to stay put but do not want to make a lifelong commitment. Odicoat is different. It is a gel coating that can turn regular fabric into something more like oil cloth. Depending on how many coats you apply, you can get anything from water repellent protection to a more coated, waterproof, wipe clean finish. And that is where this gets interesting because this is not just glue. It can act like an adhesive, yes, but the bigger idea is that it changes the surface of the material. Once it cures, the treated fabric is still flexible, still cuttable, still sewable, and it can be machine washed at a low temperature. So you are not just slapping something shiny on top and hoping for the best. You are creating a coated surface that can actually be used in a sewing project. In Maddie's example, she used vintage book pages and muslin. The muslin gives the paper strength and structure because paper by itself is still paper, and paper has a long history of being dramatic when asked to act like fabric. She adhered the pages to the muslin, coated the surface, let it dry, added more layers, coated the back, and ended up with something flexible enough to sew. She mentioned using a Teflon foot, and that makes sense. You could also use a roller foot or the same kinds of tricks you might use for vinyl, leather, laminated cotton, or anything else that has a surface your regular presser foot might decide to fight with. So when would you actually use Oda coat? Bag making is probably the obvious one. Cosmetic bags, toiletry bags, pie bags, snack bags, project pouches, anything where you want the inside or outside to be a little more protected, a little easier to wipe clean, or a little more structured. If you have ever made a pouch and thought this fabric is cute, but it is absolutely not ready for lotion, makeup, crumbs, or whatever mysterious thing lives at the bottom of a purse, Odiecoat starts making sense. It also works for home decor. Placemats, aprons, table runners, tablecloths, craft mats, things that need to survive spills, fingerprints, snack attacks, or people who say they are being careful while holding barbecue sauce. You can also use it in craft projects because it can bond fabric to things like cardboard, metal, glass, ceramic, or wood. So it sits in that interesting little space between sewing product, craft adhesive, and surface treatment. Now, a couple of practical notes. Thin coats are your friend. Do not try to glob this stuff on like you are frosting a cake, and then act surprised when it takes forever to dry. Apply a thin layer, let it dry to the touch, then add another layer in a different direction, left to right, up and down, diagonal. You are trying to build coverage, not bury the fabric alive. After the final coat, let it cure fully. And if you want the finish to be more durable and more water resistant, you can heat, set it with parchment paper, or a Teflon pressing sheet and a medium iron with no steam. And yes, test first. I know. Very boring, very responsible, very adult. But test first anyway, especially if the fabric matters, or the project is going to be a gift and not just something you are experimenting with at midnight because you saw a video and suddenly lost all sense of proportion. One more thing I want to say about the vintage book page idea. It is brilliant. It is creative. It opens up a ton of possibilities. But if you're going to sell finished items made with book pages, artwork, characters, illustrations, or anything like that, please use some common sense about copyright and permissions. I am not your copyright attorney. I am barely qualified to find my coffee some mornings. But old does not always mean public domain, and cute does not always mean free to use commercially. For personal projects, play, have fun with it. For selling, do your homework. So what is my take? I like this product, I really do. Not because everyone needs it, and not because I think every piece of fabric in your house needs to be coated. Please do not Odecoat your entire sewing room. But for the right projects, this is exactly the kind of product that earns its spot. It solves real problems. It gives fabric more protection, it makes things wipe clean, it lets you experiment with surfaces that would normally be hard to sew, and as Maddie showed, it can take something unexpected, like vintage book pages, and turn it into a material you can actually use. That is the kind of product I love talking about. Not because it is shiny, not because it is new, but because it makes you think differently. It takes the question from what is this thing on the shelf to what could I make with this? And that is where sewing gets fun. Alright, that does it for this episode of Sew in the Note. We talked a little industry news, gave a few well-deserved shout-outs, wandered through the sewing world a bit, and looked at a product that can apparently help turn vintage book pages into something you can actually sew. Which, honestly, still sounds a little illegal. Creatively illegal. In future episodes, we'll keep digging into stabilizers, needles, thread, hooping, fabric, machine embroidery problems, weird products, useful tools, and all the little things that make projects either behave beautifully or act like they were raised in a barn. If you have questions, comments, ideas for future episodes, or a product you want me to talk about, leave it in the comments. And one thing I want to mention, because we are still pretty new to all of this, is that apparently you can leave us fan mail. Who knew? If you click the link in the show notes or go to sewinthennow.com, you can leave us an honest to goodness voicemail. And get this, if you visit from your phone, you can actually send the show a text message. Isn't technology amazing and utterly terrifying? Yes. The answer is yes, but seriously, sound off below. I'll be reading through your comments, messages, voicemails, and texts, and I'll try to address some of them in a future episode. And guess what? As it turns out, we might even feature your comments or voicemails on the show. So if you send something in, just know there is a chance it may end up in a future episode. You have been warned, lovingly, mostly. Thanks for listening. Thanks for sewing along, and I'll see you next time on Sew in the Know.