I've long been attracted to the fabric collections from Japanese manufacturer Kokka, and have learned not to wait when I see a Kokka print I love. Several times I've had my eye on something, come back the next day to buy, only to learn it had sold out while I was thinking about it.

The other day, while exploring Fabric.com for linen to whip up few holiday gifts, I came across some of the very prints I had missed out on from Kokka and knew I had to stash it. This fabric is what I'd describe as retro hip. With large prints and repeats, many of which are cotton-linen and cotton canvas, they are ideal for simple pillow covers, aprons, totes, bags and more. The prints themselves are so unique and eye-catching, they quickly become conversation starters. Take a look at some of the cool prints I found.

This terrific tool qualifies as the perfect stocking stuffer for the sewing enthusiast on your list: a seam ripper with a built-in magnifier and light. The Mighty Bright Lighted Seam Ripper comes from the same clever folks who bring us those cool little book lights and wallet magnifier lights. Even if you aren't yet in the, "where the heck are my reading glasses?!" category, ripping out tiny seams or tone-on-tone topstitching is a strain on anyone's eyes and patience. This cool tool is a lifesaver.

This holiday season we are concentrating on bringing you fast and easy gift ideas. You may have already noticed our green "Holiday Gift Idea" button on recent tutorials. In addition, we've found a number of inexpensive notions, which we think would be perfect for the sewing and crafting folks on your list. Today's example is this dandy fingertip rotary cutter from Fiskars®. If you can point, you can use this little devil.

By Annette Tatum for Free Spirit Fabrics, Boho is worldly and color-rich, adding a sophisticated bohemian flair to home décor. With twenty-eight prints in three colorways, the options for mixing in interesting ways are both great and wonderful. Designed with the flavor of the exotic and well-traveled, like a caravan of color, the blend of deep hues and richly layered patterns fills the Boho collection. A passport of possibilities abounds in spicy colors, sunny rich jewel tones and earthy hues. A sensory overload of inspiration from far away lands. Boho is brand new this month and just beginning to show up in fabric shops.

Happy Black Friday! Are you one of those intrepid souls who got up at 3:00 this morning to get a jump on your holiday shopping? If so, perhaps you are already back home, whipping up a few turkey sandwiches. Or, maybe you're still in your jammies, trying to convince yourself pumpkin pie for breakfast is not outside of your diet parameters. Either way – or for any situation in between – now is the time to take a few minutes to shop online with our great Sew4Home Shopping Directory retailers. They have joined together to offer S4H fans exclusive discounts starting today!

One of the more tedious sewing tasks is winding bobbins. I'll be the first to admit it is my least favorite part of preparing to start a new project. I think my dislike dates back to an old sewing machine that had the worst bobbin winder ever; four times out of five my bobbins looked like big globs of thread. Today, most sewing machines have great built-in bobbin winders. Some higher-end models even have separate bobbin winding motors, allowing you to wind a bobbin while sewing. And there are pre-wound bobbins you can buy, but usually only in black and white. As part of our Lush & Plush Series, Fabric.com asked us to test and write about the two bobbin winders they carry. Both are from Simplicity: the SideWinder Portable Bobbin Winder and the SideWinder Deluxe. I took them both for a spin and recorded my results.

Pillow inserts give your pillows their plump shape, and allow them to do their job: provide soft support or cushy comfort. A pillow insert, also known as a pillow form, is simply a plain-covered pillow designed to be used with a decorative outer pillow cover (those things we love to design here at S4H!). Put another way, covers are your pillow insert's wardrobe. For our Lush & Plush Series, Fabric.com provided us with samples to try of the two types of pillow inserts they stock: polyester and feather/down. Although tempted to shirk our duty and simply take a little nap on the pretty pillow inserts, we managed to stay awake long enough to write our review.

The new Spa Collection from Michael Miller Fabrics is so tranquil and soothing, it will take your stress away. Why is that? Blue, especially when infused with a little green to create water hues, is the most popular color in the world for both men and women. When toned down, as in this collection, to create a "softer" color, it becomes increasingly pleasing to the eye; complex, subtle yet sophisticated. Add cool, calming earth colors for the quintessential relaxation combo. Studies have shown that sleeping in a room in these colors can actually lower your blood pressure. Since nearly everyone reacts positively to these colors, they are ideal choices when sewing gifts. See our ideas for using the Spa Collection to make gifts anyone would love to receive.

Mystery solved. Was it Mrs. Peacock in the library with the candlestick? Nope! It was two very lucky Sew4Home Facebook and Mail List fans, one in Illinois and one in Florida. There was no weapon involved. Take a look at the treasures they won.

I've been wating to get my hands on Curio since I first saw a sneak peak. It's like opening an old trunk and finding the mother lode of amazing fabric. With thirty-six prints in four remarkably mixable colorways, Curio can go easily from fabric bolt to pretty pillows, dreamy quilts, boho bags, chic apparel and more with ideas to spare.

We use Janome machines exclusively here in the Sew4Home studios, and Janome America is one of our wonderful sponsors. As you may have seen and heard online, Janome just introduced a brand new, top-of-the-line sewing and embroidery machine. I was sworn to secrecy and have had to zip-my-lip for weeks, but now I can let loose with the news: I was one of the super-lucky people who got to try out this amazing new model before it even got into the hands of the dealers. (Yes, I feel very special and later you can ask for my autograph!!) I've put together a few of my initial reactions and have provided links to all the info online.

If you think Jacquard, Soutache and Gimp sound like the crew of a pirate ship, you're not alone. Just about everybody who's new to home décor finds the names of sewing trims a little odd at first. But once you become familiar with them you'll want to use them to make your finished projects look terrific.

A fresh needle makes a a big difference in your sewing experience, but using the right size and type of needle is equally important. Choosing the correct needle is not quite as difficult as searching through the proverbial haystack, but it can be a little overwhelming. They all look pretty much the same unless you pull out the magnifying glass. But, different needles DO have different tips, eyes, shanks, groves and shafts; and what you select can make a big difference in how well your machine sews through your fabric.

Two new collections with colors as uplifting as an August morning: Children at Play by Sara Jane for Michael Miller Fabrics, and Taza by Dena Designs for Free Spirit. In addition to charming feature prints, both collections include several basic prints: polka dots, shirting stripes and gingham in Children at Play; simple stripes in Taza. It's easy to bypass basic prints in favor of feature prints, but the basics are what help set off the feature prints and add a savvy elegance to your creations.

You've all heard the famous advice: "Measure twice, Cut once!" I think it should be expanded to: "Measure twice, Cut once... but only with a really good pair of scissors or rotary cutter!" The most expensive ingredient in most home décor projects is your fabric, and you'll end up wasting it if you don't have good quality cutting tools. Don't skimp on these important members of your sewing basket. It really is worth it to buy the very best you can afford. Here are the Five Essential Cutting Tools that will help you get the best results.

If you're a regular Sew4Home reader, you know we often talk about how important it is to surround yourself with the best fabric, tools and machines you can afford. It's not because we think you need to spend a mint in order to enjoy sewing, but because we want you to have the best experience possible, especially if you're just getting started. Since your sewing machine is what takes you from pieces of cloth to a finished project, its quality directly impacts not only the end result, but how easy it was to get there, and how much you want to do it all again. As one of our earliest and most supportive sponsors, we are extremely lucky to be able to have a full sewing studio of Janome machines. Every summer, Janome sponsors a Christmas in July Sale; it's a great opportunity to 'test stitch' new models, consider a upgrade or add an accessory to your toolbox.

Four light, bright, happy collections perfect for warm weather décor and fashion. Take a look at our July picks for some irresistible stash-worthy prints.

THIS CONTEST ENDED 7/15/11. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED.

Have you browsed through the S4H Shopping Directory? It's there to help you find the things we love to use from vendors we recommend. These are products we've used, businesses and people we know with customer service and inventory we've found to be of the very highest quality. Today, find out even more about six great fabric resources, take advantage of their exclusive Sew4Home discount offers, and enter to win our Shopping Directory Prize Package full of fabric, gift certificates, books and more.

Christmas seems to come earlier to stores every year – the latest version of twinkle lights replacing Halloween candy on the shelves bright 'n' early on November One. Well, wake up Rudolph, because in the world of fabric it's Christmas in July!

At Sew4Home, our first Christmas tutorial photo session took place on a 105º July day. We know first-hand how difficult it is to find a sweaty drop of holiday spirit right now. So, we asked our lovely friend, Kimberly Jolly, founder of Fat Quarter Shop: Why so early?! She says, "So people have time to make shop samples as well as piece and quilt holiday quilts in time for Christmas." And she gave us little helpful advice about getting what you like: "BUY IT NOW! We start selling out in September!"

Spring Quilt Market wrapped up a couple weeks ago and now a deluge of beautiful fabric collections, having made their debut at Market, begin showing up in stores like a fresh crop of peaches – lush, beautiful and snapped up quickly by the appreciative. This is the perfect time to shop for your next project and add too-pretty-to-pass-up prints to your stash.

Pinks and gray, or pink and chocolate compliment each other in a soft, gentle way that looks both luxe and sophisticated. Rather than reviewing full collections this month, we chose to focus on random prints within our color theme. Pick one and make a pretty pillow, or pick a bunch and make an eclectic patchwork quilt. So many creative options!

It's the number one comment and question we hear every day at Sew4Home: "I LOVE the fabric you use (or the notion or thread or tool); where can I get it?!" We now have the answer, as we are thrilled to announce our brand new Shopping Directory: a resource to help you find all the things we love to use from vendors we recommend. That's the key. This new section will be more than just a listing; these are products we've used, businesses and people we know with customer service and inventory we've found to be of the very highest quality.

As weather warms, vintage and retro fabrics are at their most appealing. This month we feature two collections with very different styles, yet both with a nostalgic feel. Cherry Fizz is a charming 50's soda shop collection, while Flower Market is collection of sun-drenched watercolor roses, peonies and fresh cut daisies, market ready and oh-so irresistible.

Here is your word for the day: plethora. As in, "a whole bunch." As in, "With such a plethora of ribbon options on the market today, why would I want even more?" Because you can. The Janome Ribbon Sewing Guide allows you to stitch directly on ribbon up to 1" wide, so you can personalize the color and design of your ribbon accents and create exactly the look you need.

Beads have always been a favorite embellishment of mine. I think it's because they can add dimension and texture and color in one fell swoop. But my-oh-my, putting them on is a struggle and a half. Hand sewing in an option, if you have a few spare days. And machine sewing can be like trying to ride your bike over a field of BBs (no... I haven't actually done that, but I know it would be tricky and very slippery). Luckily for me (and my bicycle), our friends at Janome have a cool set of presser feet made exactly for what I want to do: quickly attach strands of beads of various widths. Can a glittering gown for next year's Oscars be far behind?!