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Friday, January 30, 2009
Minky blanket tutorial.
Why is Minky so difficult to deal with? Well, it is slippery stuff. It stretches and slides and is basically a pain in the neck if you don't tell it who's boss! I had a few cursed attempts in which much swearing and ripping of stitches occurred. For the record, ripping out stitches in Minky is not fun.
Anyway, Google and the Etsy forums helped answer my questions (as in, how do I sew this stuff without throwing my machine out the window?). I did find a lot of info. Yet first and foremost, NO you do NOT need a walking foot! Many swear by them for Minky blankets, but I am here to tell you it is not necessary.
What is necessary, however, are pins. And lots of them.
Here are the basics...pretty straightforward but I figured I'd cover all of the steps for any newbies to sewing!
1. Cut your material. I like to cut my cotton (print) fabric about 1" beyond what I want my finished dimensions to be. I use a rotary cutter and mat so this is simple to do. I'm less exact when cutting my Minky, just make sure it is slightly bigger than your cotton print.
2. Lay the Minky down (I usually use the carpeted floor, it is less slippery than a table), right side up. 3. Place your cotton print so the right side is face down on top of the Minky. Line up your edges and make sure the pieces are similar in size. It is OK if the Minky is larger than the cotton print, because you will use the cotton as your sewing guide.
4. And now dear friends, let the pinning begin! I start on one side, first pinning each end and the middle. Then I place a pin in the middle of each section and I keep adding pins until they are 1 to 1.5" apart. Seriously, you need that many pins. Don't worry, it won't take as long as you think!
5. Once you finish that side, continue pinning the other three sides until the entire blanket is pinned, like so:
6. Time to start sewing. Because you have placed so many pins this will actually be pretty easy! Make sure to use a nice cotton or all-purpose thread, have your stitch length set to a medium length, and tension should also be at a medium level. Nothing fancy required. Just patience and a slow foot on the pedal. I like to start sewing between 1/2 and 2/3 of the way down on the first side - this will allow for an easy spot to leave open so the blanket can be turned inside out after it's sewn. I have tried to show in this next photo about where that would be:
7. As I said, GO SLOW. Having to stop to take out each pin will assist you in this! Try not to sew on top of your pins (easier said than done, I know) so your needle doesn't break. I like to do a 1/4" seam allowance, using the edge of my cotton print as my guide. Sew all the way around, stopping before you reach your beginning point - otherwise you won't be able to turn it! I leave about a 5" opening.8. Trim any edges of Minky to eliminate bulk from the finished blanket. I find it works well to pull it out of the way as I trim. Make sure your scissors are sharp!9. Now, turn the blanket right-side out. Here you can see the opening in the side.
10. Next, get your iron nice and hot. Fold in the edges of the opening and press in place. Then pin the opening shut so it doesn't slide! Continue pressing the entire blanket, making sure to give the edges a nice crease.
11. Finishing touches - you are almost there and the hard part is most definitely over! Topstitch around the entire perimeter of the blanket. I try to keep my seam allowance at 1/4", though often it is a little less when I am stitching the opening - I want to make sure I'm catching the folded-in edges of the cotton and the Minky. But it doesn't have to be totally perfect - what baby cares about his or her topstitching? Keeping it straight is most important here. Remember that you are stitching through pretty thick stuff, so a little (gentle!) pulling on the material as it goes under the presser foot may be in order. If you had a walking foot, you wouldn't need to do this.
12. Congrats, you're done! No swearing or throwing of the machine out the window was necessary. Mission accomplished! BTW, I would love it if you follow this tutorial...please let me know and send me a picture of your finished blanket!
Update 3.17.09 - Here is a shameless plug...I just opened a new fabric store on Etsy this week...so if you're in the market for some cool fabrics to try out, you can check me out at iCraft! (Including the orange dot print pictured above). Thanks, and enjoy!
159 comments:
- Robyn said...
Looks awesome...if only I could sew...or even better, if only I had a machine that wokred to try sewing on. LOL!
You do make it seem doable!
- February 1, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Thank you so much for providing this tutorial with excellent supporting photos. I am new to sewing but love crafts and am a quick learner. I can't wait to try this out! I'll come back and let you know if I came across any newbie problems. Thanks again!
- February 23, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Thanks for the excellent tutorial.
I am planning to sew a blanket with both the minky cloth. Do I have to pre-wash it??
Even if I use one side cotton, do I have to pre-wash both the cotton one the minky?? Please clarify.
thanks, sony
- February 26, 2009 at 1:13 PM
- Jenny said...
I would suggest pre-washing both the cotton and the minky. This will get rid of any fabric sizing used with either material, it will allow the cotton to shrink up a bit (a little shrinkage is normal for cottons; minky is unlikely to shrink). And, who knows how many hands have touched that bolt of minky as it sat waiting to be sold - so pre-washing will get rid of those germs too!
- February 26, 2009 at 2:32 PM
- Mee a Bee said...
Thanks so much for this simple tutorial. I bought the minky on Friday - my friend said I should overlock it before I washed it - I didn't so I hope my machine is not all clogged up with minky fur! I'll be giving this a go very soon! Thanks!
- March 14, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Hi, I was wondering how the blanket stays together. I know that sounds so ignorant. But I am thinking it out and since it is sewn like a pillow case with no stitching in the middle, what prevents the two fabrics from separating if pulled from one side. Do you understand what I mean by that? I talked to a worker at JoAnn's who suggested making stitches throughout to keep it together but that wouldn't look so great. Any ideas? Much appreciated tutorial though. I am making my sister in law a great modern looking baby blanket like this one.
- March 17, 2009 at 8:24 AM
- Jenny said...
Alison, I suppose other than the top-stitching around the perimeter, there is nothing to keep the 2 fabrics from "separating" if they were pulled in the middle. However I have never had a problem with that, and I think the cotton lays nicely against the slick side of the minky (on the inside of the blanket, so wrong sides together). You definitely could add extra lines of stitching/quilting, or even yarn ties if that's your thing. Good luck!
- March 17, 2009 at 8:48 AM
Thanks. I am going to see how it turns out (it's mostly decorative for the nursery anyway) and if I need to, I think I'll do some yarn or ribbon ties that accent my flannel cotton print. Thanks so much and I will send a pic when I finish!
- March 17, 2009 at 10:00 AM
- Perfectly Me said...
Love this tutorial! I will be making a lot of these blankets soon. I have a bun in the oven, but I don't know the gender, so I'll have to keep the fabrics neutral for now!
- March 17, 2009 at 2:22 PM
My blanket turned out soooo well! Thanks for the tutorial! The pinning took forever and was a bit frustrating with the migrating minky but it was a breeze to sew (even for me as a beginner). I didn't top stitch the edges because I was lazy and didn't have a walking foot. I tested it with a small pc. and my machine was having trouble with all the layers. It looks great without it though. Thanks so much....and I am sure my sister in law is going to be uber impressed with it!
- March 19, 2009 at 9:00 AM
- Mee a Bee said...
Mine turned out great too! thanks!
- April 4, 2009 at 11:53 PM
thank you for sharing your expertise. I was thinking about using a satin binding. Any opinion about that? Also, I ironed my seams and it flattened out the dots. Did I ruin it or will they pop back out?
- May 8, 2009 at 11:21 PM
- Jenny said...
Lorraine, I think the minky dots will be fine after they get washed again and "pop" back out. As for the satin binding, go for it! I would still use lots of pins because I imagine the satin would slip like crazy against the minky. Good luck!
- May 9, 2009 at 8:45 AM
- Jane Ellen said...
could you put some cotton batting in the middle to make it a little heavier?
- May 11, 2009 at 8:03 PM
Thank you, thank you, thank you! This was so helpful! Before I read your tutorial, I almost had a nervous breakdown trying to sew it together.
- May 31, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Thank You for this tutorial. I have some blankets to make and was stressing on just how to do them, batting or no batting, how is it held together, how do i add binding, all those questions were answered. Now i need to go buy pins. bitspeaces of etsy come check out my rag quilts.
- June 3, 2009 at 1:47 AM
Thank you! I found this immensely helpful and I LOVE how my minky blanket turned out.
- June 22, 2009 at 4:31 PM
- Mia said...
Have my hot pink Minky and some cute cupcake cotton..can't wait to get started! Thank you!
- July 9, 2009 at 9:58 PM
- CFMama said...
I am planning on using minky dots or swirl on one side and cotton satin on the other side. Any advise? I know slipping may be a problem.
- July 16, 2009 at 10:30 AM
- Jenny said...
Yes, slipping might be a problem, but I would think using LOTS of pins will help! Good luck!
- July 16, 2009 at 11:04 AM
- Erin said...
I have seen these blankets around and been dying to know how to make one. Thank you so much for taking the time to post this - now off to the fabric store I go.
- July 20, 2009 at 8:26 AM
I have a really dumb question. If I was to use double-sided minky to make a one-layer blanket, what is the best way to "finish" the edge?
- July 30, 2009 at 2:12 PM
- Jenny said...
I think a nice option would be to use satin binding, because hemming minky would be a nightmare! Plus the satin would give a smooth, simple finish that any baby would love...good luck!
- July 30, 2009 at 3:06 PM
- Angie said...
Oh I am so thankful for your tutorial! I have been attempting all day to sew minky to a cotton patchwork quilt with no luck. I will be picking out stitches all night, but it will be so worth it when I re-sew it using your tutorial!
- August 1, 2009 at 9:03 PM
- Thurston Fam said...
ohhhh wowza!! thank you thank you for the wonderful how to!! you saved me..making 2 blankets for my husband and baby boys birthday! i used cubs fleece on one side and red minkie on the other..it turned out great, and was my first sewing expirience! thanks again!
las vegas
- August 4, 2009 at 12:43 AM
Thanks! great tutorial. I'm going to start on it this afternoon.
- August 4, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Your tutorial is great thanks! I was wondering where you got the adorable tags on your blanket that say "Beacon Hill"? Thanks again!!
- August 7, 2009 at 9:30 PM
- Jenny said...
The tags are from mommiemadeit.etsy.com - great quality and value! I usually buy the uncut sheets of the double-fold tags.
- August 7, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Hi! I've been making these quite often, but often times when I topstitch over the opening I used to flip it right side out--I get a tiny crease? Any hints for getting this area to become undetectable and completely smooth?
- September 6, 2009 at 6:23 PM
- Jessima Timberlake said...
Hi there very good tutorial well done I used all the pins I own and it came out really well! Brava!
- September 23, 2009 at 3:10 PM
- Carrie Rheu said...
This is a fantastic tutorial...thank you...
Any suggestions for sewing with minky AND satin binding...always seems as though the top binding goes faster than the bottom binding...and I pin (ALOT)... thanks and have a great night, God bless! ~carrie rheu
- September 26, 2009 at 10:00 PM
Thanks for a very straightforward tutorial! I made rail fence yardage for my cotton side and I'm ready to go. I've never sewed with Minkee before, so I didn't even know to prewash. Glad I looked this up.
- October 10, 2009 at 3:43 PM
Thank you as I have been stuggling to cope with the minky. I am trying to use satin trim and have been really struggling. Someone said that tacking is better than pinning but after seeing this tutorial I will give pinning a go. When using satin trim how do you make sure you pick up both the top and underneath of the satin
- October 13, 2009 at 9:19 PM
- Jenny said...
Sorry I don't have experience with satin binding. I'm guessing that lots of pins would be a good starting point...are there other good tutorials out there for blankets with satin binding?
- October 13, 2009 at 9:25 PM
- anne said...
Thank you for sharing these tips! I usually skimp on pins, but I pinned like mad, and sewing the blanket was a breeze. Thanks! It's gonna be a great Christmas gift for my new nephew!
- November 30, 2009 at 7:34 PM
I have tried to make blankets before and the stitches came undone immediately. Following these instructions I finally made the baby blanket I wanted to for my daughter. I tried 9 months pregnant with no success and she is now 8 months old and has the warm minkie blanket for the winter. Thank you so much. I'm a newbie but I am addicted now! I even made my older daughter a minkie pillow case! :)
- December 8, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Thank you so much! My 2 year old is addicted to this minky /satin blanket that I 've used on her since she was a newborn and I was trying to recreate multiples of it because it's always dirty! I found the material but was nervous to start sewing until I read your tutorial. Thank you again!
- December 20, 2009 at 11:53 PM
- Rowanmayfairs said...
Yep Lots of pins, patience and be sure to leave a SIDE open..
I tried leaving a corner open and thats harder to finish up and make look nice.
Since I started leaving a side open, no issues !
- January 12, 2010 at 1:36 PM
- simplydesigning.blogspot.com said...
OOOOHHHH!!! this is SO cute!! and it does look easy! After I finish my baby blanket I have already boughten fabric for...which does involve minky btw so this was really helpful...I may have to try one of these! Thanks so much!
- February 6, 2010 at 11:26 PM
- SweetSamantha said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- February 8, 2010 at 9:26 PM
- SweetSamantha said...
Just finished my first blanket BEFORE looking up any tutorials....MISTAKE!! Now that I botched it up(not too bad....I mean it's still a blanket...just not give-away or selling material), I decided to look for help. Then I found this tutorial, and THANK YOU!! You answered my questions and made me begin to sing "Eye of the Tiger" as I prepare to jump back in and try sewing another one! With your help, I smell victory this time! Thanks again!!
**First post removed for numerous grammatical/spelling errors. One day I'll read over before I post....sigh....
- February 8, 2010 at 9:29 PM
- The Painting Mommy of 3 Wild Boys! said...
I love this blanket!!! You make it look so easy! I will be making two soon for friends of mine! Can't wait to try out your directions!!! Thanks again! Cheyenne Morris!
- February 16, 2010 at 5:14 PM
- Adriana said...
I love your tutorial. I sew baby quilts and have always made my backing larger and folded it over for my edging. So when I started making this type of blanket I never thought to change the way I do it. I have had people try to explain your way to be but with out pictures it never made sence. This has taken about 15 mins off my work time!
- February 26, 2010 at 8:15 AM
- Razzl Dazzl Boutique, Kaufman, Texas said...
I own a boutique and make minky blankets with minky on both sides and minky on one side and satin on the other. I use Heat and Bond sewable hem binding. You place it between the layers, heat and sew...simple and quick..no pins.
- March 5, 2010 at 4:28 PM
- Andrea said...
You just made my day! Finally a tutorial that I can do! You made this sound so easy too..I've been trying and trying to sew that stuff and was just about ready to throw my machine out the window. haha!
Thank you!!!
- March 20, 2010 at 11:53 PM
- The Ballards said...
Thanks for this tutorial! I found the perfect fabric online, but I'm not sure how much to buy. It's 44" wide. How many yards do you suggest?
- March 26, 2010 at 7:37 PM
I am just taking up sewing and found your tutorial easy to follow and my first minky blanket turned out very well. Thank you very much. Your directions and pictures were great. Hopefully my nephew who is due this summer will enjoy it. I have some leftover cotton so I think I'll make some matching burp cloths to give with it.
- March 26, 2010 at 10:45 PM
- Rebecca Grace said...
This tutorial is fabulous!! I need to make a quick but special baby gift for a favorite teacher who is about to go out on maternity leave, and I'm guilty of dreaming up projects that are so complicated and difficult that I can never get them done... So I was excited to see what an adorable blanket you were able to make using just two layers of fabric and no batting. I'm off to the fabric store to get me some Hungry Caterpillar cotton fabric and some Minky for the backing!
But first, I have some suggestions for some of the other commenters:
If you want to secure the two fabrics better throughout the body of the quilt, you could tie it with yarn, but it will be harder to get the big hand needle with yarn through the quilt because of the Minky (been there, done that, yelled a lot of bad words and stabbed myself many times before I was finished). I think a better option for your sanity would be to machine-tack together every 4-6" or so. If your machine has any decorative stitches, they would look really cute for tacking the layers together, especially if you used a pretty embroidery thread on top and a bobbin thread to match the Minky backing color. I'm thinking of a small satin stitched polka dot or triangle, or maybe a little heart, or whatever your machine has built in.
Then, for the person who asked about sewing on satin binding:
I would say you are asking for trouble if you try to sew the binding to the top and back of the quilt in one pass because of the shifty squirrelly nature of the Minky. If it was me (and keep in mind, I usually do things the hard way!) I would cut my binding 4x the desired finished width PLUS about extra to allow for the thickness of the quilt and to make the binding just slightly wider on the back side of the quilt. I lay the binding right sides together in a single layer with the raw edges even with the raw edges of the top of the quilt and machine stitch from the edge the same distance as the desired finished width. Then I wrap the binding around to the back, so the first stitches are hidden, and fold the other raw edge in on the back side of the quilt and pin everything like crazy. If you have cut your strips the right width, your binding should be about 1/16th to 1/8" wider on the back of the quilt than it is on the front. So next, you stitch in the ditch at the edge of the binding on the top of the quilt, your stitches are invisible on the top of the quilt, and they should secure the binding on the back of the quilt at the same time.
If this sounds like way too much trouble (and it probably is!) and you would rather use the packaged satin blanket bindings and sew it on in one pass, then I suggest you pin it on very carefully, using more pins than you think you need and making sure the top and bottom layers of the binding are even. Then sew the binding on in one pass using a zigzag stitch instead of a straight stitch -- that should give you a little bit of breathing room in case you get a wee bit of slippage.
My new motto: SIMPLIFY & GET IT DONE!!
Thanks again for posting this terrific project and bringing me back to my senses...
- April 23, 2010 at 9:21 AM
the minky doesn't melt under the iron? i just bought 2+ yards yesterday for the first time, and plan on using every scrap of it up for baby gifts. i was just concerned about melting the fuzzy fabric with my iron. i've had trouble with glittery fabrics in the past, and just wanted to double check before i ruin my $13/yard fabric! thanks!
- April 26, 2010 at 10:34 AM
- Jenny said...
Ironing the minky should be fine...I just do it for a quick press only! I've never had issues with it melting!
- April 26, 2010 at 4:01 PM
so i tried out a scrap of the minky under the iron, and it pressed the dots flat! you can still see a hint of circles on the fabric, but no more bumps! i actually kind of like it that way for a bib or something like that that doesn't need a lot of volume. what i thought was a big mistake turned out kinda cute!
- April 28, 2010 at 12:35 PM
I was just wondering if someone could tell me how to pre-wash the Minky? Cold water? Warm water? drying setting etc. Thanks
- May 25, 2010 at 6:01 PM
- Jenny said...
Cold water should be fine! And you can dry it on a regular heat setting. Some folks say the raised dots tend to flatten out in the dryer, but mine have never had a problem. The only time I had an issue was washing a type of minky that had a "furry" texture in a rosebud/swirl pattern...after the dryer the swirls were gone!
- May 25, 2010 at 8:16 PM
Just made this Minky and it turned out AWESOME!! And it is really big! Almost 1 1/2 yards. My 3 year old has not put it down! She wrapped herself up and said "Rock me Mommy"! Haha! She hasn't done that....EVER! I'm making one for my 20 month old next! THANK YOU!!
- August 2, 2010 at 1:52 PM
- sleepybearcottage said...
thanks so much for this tutorial! I just finished my first minky blanket, and didn't have any issues, it turned out fabulous!
- August 5, 2010 at 6:57 PM
- Marianne said...
I just finished two of these for friends, and plan to make another (for the little girl we're adopting)! Thank you so much for the tutorial!! They are super cute. When I post pics on my blog I'll be sure to link to your blog.
- August 12, 2010 at 10:12 AM
This is just what I was looking for. I'm a novice sewer, but I know my way around a sewing machine. I want to attempt some bedding for my daughters "big girl" room, so I think this will be a great starting point. Thank you! I will come back with the results :)
- August 20, 2010 at 8:20 PM
- Kristen said...
Just a quick question...do you need to pre-wash your cotton and minky material to prevent shrinking? If so, do you need to do a quick hem before? Thanks!! Kristen
- August 20, 2010 at 11:26 PM
Thank you for this wonderful explanation! I have books on "how to" do these and they were so confusing! I just googled it and found you...so very thankful!!
This may be a silly question but the opening that you have where you turn the blanket inside out - do you press that and leave it open and then just sew around the entire edge or do you do something to sew that are closed first? Thanks!
- August 23, 2010 at 3:18 PM
Thanks so much for your tutorial, i made my first one last night and it turned out great for my first attempt and am so excited to start my next one. Thanks for taking the time to post this tutorial. I however did use a walking foot (my first time) and it was a dream.
- August 25, 2010 at 1:59 PM
- Shannon @ Posh Pieces said...
Great tutorial. I have three yards of minky fabric ready for the trash because I have had so much difficulty working with it. I thought it was just me. I will try again now. :-) I
- September 13, 2010 at 8:52 PM
- The Dowd Family said...
Thank you so much for sharing. I have worked with minky twice so far and each time I was ready to toss out my sewing machine! I'll give it one more try, with your help, of course!! Thank you again! You are a life (and a sewing machine) saver!
- September 17, 2010 at 2:29 PM
I DID IT!!!! :D Your tutorial was exploding with perfect help on working with minky. THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME using it and my final project came out beautifully, because I followed your advice. I can't thank you enough!!!!
p.s. I have only been sewing for a couple of years and I mainly make baby blankets so if I can do it anyone can!
- September 27, 2010 at 1:33 AM
Brilliant Tutorial. I have never sewn Minky fabric before and after reading this I didn't have one single problem I did it on the first try and my blanket looks fantastic! Thankyou!
- October 5, 2010 at 9:02 PM
I wish I'd seen this tutorial BEFORE I made my first minky blanket! LOL! I backed it with satin! BIG mistake! I edged it with satin ruffles, second mistake. I nearly threw the whole thing out the window.
It did turn out well, but it was a lot of work. Never again. Next time I'll back it with flannelette! Thanks for the tutorial, I'll follow it next time, LOL!
- October 8, 2010 at 12:39 AM
- Olivia said...
Thank you. I just sewed my daughter a blanket for the first time. It's not bad but I want something better. Now I can't wait to run to the store and get more stuff to make it this way. It's simple and really easy to fallow. Thank you for taking the time and posting.
- October 8, 2010 at 8:39 AM
Thank you for the great tutorial! I am making these for Christmas gifts and just completed my first one tonight. It only took an hour in total to make a small baby blanket (30" x 40"). Just a note, if you use swirl minky fabric instead of minky dot fabric, make sure not to let the iron touch the minky part when ironing the edge! It will melt the minky swirl!
- October 28, 2010 at 12:45 AM
- SarahJarnagin said...
Thank you for sharing this great tutorial! I bought supplies to sew one for my daughter and thought I'd better read a tutorial first. So glad I found yours!
- October 29, 2010 at 10:56 AM
Thank you So much for your tutorial! I was ready to quit sewing and throw my machine away. That Minky fabric is tricky. I just made a beautiful blanket for my baby boy due next month! Esther
- November 7, 2010 at 12:44 AM
Thank you for the awesome tutorial. I am just about to embark on this project!
Would like to ask if a stretch needle is needed to sew minky fabric, and also what size needle should I use?
Thanks so much!
- November 11, 2010 at 5:04 AM
I sewed my first blanket in two days. I LOVE it! I cut squares out of different minky patterns (Christmas patterns) and sewed them together to make a quilted look on top. The back is going to be a solid minky fabric but I am qoing to add batting and quilt it together and bind the edges. I learned very quick that pins were needed and I pined A LOT!
- November 13, 2010 at 12:10 AM
- Jenny said...
No specific needle required...I typically use one labeled for "all purpose" use.
- November 14, 2010 at 6:19 PM
I made a doll minky blanket Jenny!! Used a size 11 golden needle, but I suppose a general all purpose needle would do the job much like you say :)
Your tutorial is awesome, it was a breeze making the blankie following your detailed step by step instructions!
Thanks so much!!!
- November 14, 2010 at 10:07 PM
I cannot sew, to save my life. Just this evening, my son lost his carters minky / satin blanket with the bear on it and the word "baby" on it. Nate is 2. he KNOWS his blanket....
I am desperate.... do you kow anyone who CAN make me a new blanket in that super lightweight fashion with the satin on one side and that minky fabric on the other?
I am dreading tomorrow, and feel like a horrible horrible mom....
my email is jenn @ gavoli dot com if anyone could email me, that would be fabulous!
- December 19, 2010 at 5:01 AM
- Kim said...
where do you get your labels from?
- December 21, 2010 at 10:05 PM
- Grammy said...
Thanks so much for the tutorial!! I was beginning to think the minky was going to win this battle! Will try the great hints--thanks again!!
- January 3, 2011 at 8:37 PM
- love vacation said...
thank you for a great tutorial. Any tips when using minky rose and minky dimple together? Would a serger help?
- January 5, 2011 at 10:00 PM
- Marcy Hood said...
Thanks for the guide. I am going to try mine tomorrow! I am going 2 minky fabrics together.. and then doing the edges with a handy manny ribbon for my son. I'll let you know how it turns out!
- January 8, 2011 at 10:17 PM
THANK YOU SO MUCH! this seems like such a simple idea ..but i would have never thought of it!
i'm making a baby blanket for my new nephew and i don't want the edges to look ratty, which they were (stinking minky!) and then i found this. it took me like 30 mins to do the whole thing this way.
so THAANNKK YOUUUU!!
- January 13, 2011 at 1:41 PM
- katie said...
I just started sewing & know very little about it, but I was able to make my first minky blanket, thanks to you! this tutorial was so great - thanks SO much for posting! could not have done it without you!
here's my baby blanket:
- January 23, 2011 at 7:58 PM
- Tammy @ she wears flowers said...
I learned this same thing the hard way, too!! Your tutorial is excellent--I hopped over from Hawthorne Threads to see what you had to say about sewing with Minky. Thanks for sharing!!
- January 30, 2011 at 11:12 PM
- Pam Hunter said...
Wow! Thank you so much for going through the effort to provide this tutorial. Very kind and much appreciated!
Pam Hunter
- January 31, 2011 at 5:57 AM
- Haylee said...
Totally making this. Thank you so much for making the tutorial!
- February 17, 2011 at 10:02 PM
- maxtruax said...
WHEN I TRIED A PRACTICE PIECE I WAS SURE SHE BETTER GET REAL FUR!!! i TRIED SEVERAL THINGS, ONE OF WHICH WAS LOTS OF PINS. THEN I TRIED STAY STITCHING AROUND THE MINKEE AND VOILA!! IT WORKED. I HAD NO STRETCHING OR SEWING PROBLEMS. I USED A LONG STITCH, MAYBE A BASTING STITCH, I DON'T REMEMBER. NOW I SEW MINKY WITH NO FEAR!!! MTinMN
- February 18, 2011 at 2:40 PM
Thank you for the instructions. I LOVE Minkee and it seems my office associates just can't stop making babies. I have had a lot of comments about my minkee blankets from parents. One little girl still drags hers around after 4 years! I have struggled in the past with it I just did not use enough pins. Thanks again!
- February 20, 2011 at 9:10 AM
this is exactly what I needed, thanks and let's do it!!! I'm ready to get started now!
- February 23, 2011 at 12:04 AM
- Ashley White Design said...
I'm so excited to make this blanket! Our friends will be having a new baby soon, and I just learned how to sew... so this will be my new project. I will definitely post about it on my blog!
- March 10, 2011 at 10:15 PM
- Aaron said...
I did this tutorial with success! Now going back and doing it again I notice When I am putting in the pins my fabrics go all over the place and I have to undo then redo, then undo, then redo...any advice on how to get the fabrics perfect??
- April 4, 2011 at 7:32 PM
- Jennifer said...
That last comment was from me but under my husbands email (Aaron) Sorry...Reply here please!
- April 4, 2011 at 7:34 PM
Thank you for the tutorial. I plan on sewing the minky to another piece of minky to make a blanket. Do you think it will be ok not to put any extra stitches in the quilt to hold it in its place?
- April 7, 2011 at 10:04 PM
- alicia said...
Thanks for the tutorial, attempting a minky for a baby shower coming up. I'm horrible with pinning so I guess I'll have to fight my urge to just skip it. :)
- May 10, 2011 at 7:45 AM
- Kelly said...
Great tutorial. Thanks for sharing.
- May 11, 2011 at 1:42 PM
- Hillary said...
Great tutorial! I just made the first of two "travel" blankets for my daughters for our trip to Spain in a couple weeks. I am still just getting my feet wet in the realm of sewing. This tutorial made making a soft cuddly blanket into a relatively painless process. Thanks!
- May 23, 2011 at 11:03 PM
- couponfreak said...
Thank you so much for the tutorial. Looks Awesome. I just entered in to the world of arts and crafts (Sewing).
I am going to try this over the weekend. My DD is going to be 1 soon.
Can you suggest me how many yards of fabric, Minky would be needed to do a nice sized blanket for her?
Thank you
- June 7, 2011 at 2:37 PM
I came across this tutorial by chance while googling 'how to sew minky fabric'. I'm starting up a little home business making baby blankets and hand painted nursery decor. I started making hand-tied fleece blankets, but the selection in fleece prints can be limited so I was yearning for more variety. I haven't sewn on a machine since 8th grade home ec. class (I'm almost 39!), so I don't know what gave me the confidence to try sewing blankets... I just can't stay away from all of the gorgeous fabric. Being in a fabric store for me is like my 5yr old being in a toy store!
I prewashed both fabrics and I ironed the cotton fabric prior to pinning (just because) and was surprised at how much it *expanded*. So now I don't have the nice border of minky showing before I start sewing. I think I'll do a 1/2 inch edge to compensate. I'm using a swirly minky (also called rose or curly minky) and I've decided, as beautiful and lush as it looks - I HATE it! For working with, I mean. Thank you for all of your wonderful tips because I might be giving up otherwise.
I've also discovered, as a novice sewer, that I am not at all good at sewing on fabric labels (with my company name). Prior to my 10 or so attempts (adjusting my zigzag stitch, speed, width, label still looking crooked despite much pinning), I noticed you use a tag sewn into your edge for your company label. I wondered why at the time, thinking that some mommy might just cut it off and then there goes my advertising and bragging rights. Well, now I understand!!! My next order will be for the half fold tags that I can sew into the edge!!
Thanks again for a great tutorial. Your pics are great!
- June 16, 2011 at 6:44 AM
- Terri said...
Thank your for this tutorial! I have a small craft business designing & sewing baby quilts. A client of mine REALLY wanted minky but I was scared to death of using the stuff. Your advice proved true-- the more I pinned the easier the sewing was. Thanks again! :)
- June 24, 2011 at 11:40 AM
- Aleisha said...
Thank you so much for this tutorial! It stopped me being lazy and kept me going to finish off my blanket with the proper stitching for a more professional look.
- July 9, 2011 at 4:01 AM
thank you so much! i'm 15 and just finished sewing this blanket for my sister, who is 9 months pregnant with a baby girl!! it turned out AWESOME and so, so cute :)
- July 30, 2011 at 11:30 PM
- Lavenderfeather said...
THANK YOU. thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou........
I realize this post is 2 1/2 years old, and you may not get this comment, but thank you anyway. There was a cloud of obscenities coming from my room as I was trying to deal with this stuff!!
Your tutorial helped immensely, and of course I had a 'duh' moment, and smacked myself on the forehead. "Of course that's how you do it!!
I will shout it from the rooftops, and let the whole world know, (all 3 of my followers, anyway) about this.
And thank you.
- August 5, 2011 at 10:16 PM
thanks u should make this an video and put this on youtube! you would get alot of veiws
- August 13, 2011 at 4:49 PM
- ~Amy said...
Perfect! This is very helpful! Will definitely link you up when I get baby #3's quilt done. I want to back it with minky and was wondering how on earth to do it. Thanks!
- August 14, 2011 at 6:00 PM
I found your tutorial through Pinterest and it was SO HELPFUL! Basic and very well explained. Thank you so much - my blanket turned out great!
- August 31, 2011 at 9:52 PM
- ~Amy said...
Thanks! Finished my quilt top this way tonight :)
- September 4, 2011 at 9:27 PM
- Mer said...
thanks so much for writing this tutorial 2.5 years ago!!! i just used your tips to sew a minky/cotton bumper for my son's nursery and it really wasn't that bad because i pinned the heck out of it! It looks totally adorable and i looove the soft minky. thank you again, I really appreciate it!
- September 8, 2011 at 2:25 PM
Hello, Im new to this new to sewing never done it a day in my life!... i came across this and it answered a lot of questions and did't use a bunch of words i have no clue about, since im new like others had. The photos were great and went right along with everything. I do though have some wuestions and wondered if you could email me firstname.lastname@example.com Thanks!
- September 23, 2011 at 11:41 PM
- Reelstampfreek said...
God bless you, Alison. I am new to sewing but am absolutely LOVING it. I have found that as in my life in general, I have champagne taste on a beer budget when it comes to fabrics. So I have learned to become patient and save and wait for great sales, and now that I have some spendier fabrics, I want to make sure to care for them as best as I can as to give a gift that will be treasured and hopefully kept and handed down to siblings or even generations. So, all that to say, that this wonderful tutorial with such great detail will help in my endeavors. I will take pix of my finished project and come back and post the results. Many thanks, again, for taking the time and effort to post this ever so valuable tutorial.
- October 10, 2011 at 5:23 AM
I went to iCraft at Etsy to see your fabrics but didn't see any. Was I looking at the wrong store? Your 2009 link didn't work so I searched for iCraft. There were no fabrics in the store.
- November 11, 2011 at 8:38 AM
- KK said...
Your brilliant! Found your tutorial after unpicking 2 sides of my minky blanket, who would have though a million pins would make it so easy!
- November 23, 2011 at 3:22 AM
- A. Wright said...
Thank you so much for this. I made a blanket today based on your instruction and it turned out great. I'm pretty proud of myself, but I wouldn't have survived the minky without you!
- December 19, 2011 at 2:08 PM
- Patricia said...
This is so helpful, can't wait to try it. Will be making blankets for my Granddaughter, she is 6 months pregnant. Hope this great tutorial will allow me to make a professional looking blanket, I need all the help I can find!
Thanks so much for all the thoughtful work you have put into this.
Patti M
- January 7, 2012 at 7:48 PM
Best tutorial I found on how to sew a baby blanket. I sewed my first Minky blanket this evening and I think it turned out great. My only complaint, not really a complaint. The blanket to me feels to thin for my liking. I think tomorrow I will buy some batting or maybe double my cotton fabring on one side to bulk it up a bit so it feels more like a blanket. Either way, this was great and very easy to understand!
- January 14, 2012 at 10:25 PM
Hi, I had both my knees replaced a couple of years ago, so putting it down on the carpet is out for me. I have had luck using freezer paper on other projects, but I have never used Minky before. Do you think ironing freezer paper on the slick side would hold it together enough for me to sandwich and pin it on my dining room table? I have a new grandtr. coming in May. Thanks.
- January 20, 2012 at 6:44 PM
I have a softball coach who is going to give birth to a baby boy around May/June. I loved this blanket idea and so I chose to make her a baby blanket from this guide. Thank you for this neat idea.
- February 4, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Minky is great, but it can fuzz a bunch when you cut it. Recently I pulled out the vacuum right after cutting it & ran it down the cut edges for a quick clean-up. Avoided my normal BIG mess from the fuzz that goes everywhere!
Luv your spotted Cotton with the bumpy minky!
- February 7, 2012 at 11:23 PM
*Meanwhile, 3 years later...*
Here I am, brand new to sewing, having just acquired a sewing machine last week, and I have just successfully completed my very first project ever!
Thank you, Jenny, for generously sharing your "Minky Blanket Tutorial". My soon-to-be born grandson (late April) will be snug as a bug in a cloudy soft blanket crafted by his ever loving grandmom. You led me through step by step, lending the confidence and ease that I had previously lacked. Thank you!
- February 8, 2012 at 11:35 AM
- Jenn A. said...
Thank you so much for sharing this. My daughter has a minky blanket she loves and I want to make one for my best friends new baby. BUT I was scared off because of minky horror stories.
Now, I'm off to find a million straight pins and get started!
- February 12, 2012 at 2:22 PM
- raggedy amy's said...
Hi - Love the Tutorial. I, like a few others have difficulty in making a nice smooth top stitch. any suggetions???
Regarding the satin binding? I use a basting stitch to one layer and then pin both layers together. Sewing the binding stitch close to the raw edge is easy and you never see it after you turn the blanket inside out. Sew the satin to the right side of one of your two layers.
raggedy amy's
- February 22, 2012 at 7:15 AM
The directions were wonderful! I may consider a .5 inch seam allowance next time as I had to pull the closure out once. Otherwise, I love it!
- April 10, 2012 at 11:06 PM
Thanks so much for the tutorial! My husband bought me a sewing machine and it's been 10 years since I have sewn. The directions were great and easy to follow! Though my blanket isn't perfect I LOVE it :o) Thank you!
- April 12, 2012 at 4:17 PM
- addypotter said...
Great tutorial! Love your blog! I caught the crafting bug this week and have been making a ton of these adorable towel bibs! Next I will have try making these cute baby minky blankets. Thanks for the inspiration.
- May 15, 2012 at 2:55 PM
- Hana said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- May 25, 2012 at 1:03 PM
Looks professional. Good Job!
Question, how do you make the brand tag? you print it yourself? and on what type of fabric?
- May 25, 2012 at 1:05 PM
- Jenny said...
I occasionally get asked "where did you get your tags?" - no, I did not make them myself (I have tried and failed too many times!). I purchased mine on Etsy. I honestly don't remember which shop, though I assume there are still shops out there that will make custom tags. I just sent them a jpg of my logo and they were able to do the rest!
- May 26, 2012 at 12:47 PM
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- June 10, 2012 at 9:36 PM
- nennajt said...
i have never used this fabric and i was wondering could i use it to make a no sew tie blanket?
- June 14, 2012 at 3:17 PM
- Jenny said...
I don't see why you couldn't use it as a tie blanket...just remember that minky would work best as a tie blanket if both sides are minky. If one side is cotton it will not have as much stretch as the minky side.
- June 17, 2012 at 6:04 PM
- Stacie4945 said...
Thanks for post! I just finished making a blanket for my babies bedding. Your instructions were wonderful and made it super easy!
- June 19, 2012 at 7:40 PM
- Jenn said...
Thank you for this tutorial. Your instructions helped me complete a fun project for my son. I've posted pictures and linked to your tutorial on my blog as well.
Thanks again.
- July 10, 2012 at 9:00 PM
- Kate Rapacz said...
Your directions were so handy! I just started sewing and so im not very good yet but it was so easy and simple following your direction and my blanket turned out great!
- August 15, 2012 at 4:01 PM
- miniren said...
Hi, I have never made a blanket with minky before, I usually use Chenille, with my chenille blankets I hand sew he opening shut so that you can't see any of my stitching. Do you know if that is something I could do with the minky or is the top stitching a pretty important step? Thank you so much for the great tutorial!!
- September 1, 2012 at 12:30 PM
- Jenny said...
I like the top-stitching, if only to prevent the edge from rolling. But, you could certainly hand-stitch it shut and skip the top-stitch if you liked the look!
- September 22, 2012 at 5:25 PM
Your tutorial is fantastic- especially for a beginner like me. My blanket would of been a disaster without it! Thank you so much for taking the time to explain each step and support with detailed photos.
- October 17, 2012 at 12:43 AM
- I'm Leah said...
This was an excellent tutorial. I did it today and it worked perfectly. Thank you!
- October 17, 2012 at 6:26 PM
- Ruthie said...
Just want to say thank you! I made two blankets today following this tutorial - it was very easy. I made a small stroller/bassinet sized blanket and a much larger one for the cot when my son will be bigger.
Doesn't seem like there will be any issues with the larger one as far as material coming apart.
Lots of pins is definitely the key to working with minky!
- November 6, 2012 at 3:09 AM
- Amstaff Mom said...
I've made a couple of minky blankets in the past, but I like your method better! Thanks for the tutorial!
- November 27, 2012 at 2:59 PM
Thank you! I'm new to sewing and love the minky like fabrics. I messed my first one up terribly, but with your photos and tips I'm confident my second time around will be a success. Thank you again! Very Helpful!
- December 19, 2012 at 6:53 AM
What needle did you use?
- January 18, 2013 at 12:21 AM
- Emily Chilton said...
What size did you cut your squares? Also would love a tutorial on how to do your corners? If you have a walking foot would you recommend using it? I've tried three projects now using minky fabric and each time I swear it is the last one!!
- January 29, 2013 at 8:38 PM
Thanks so much for this post! Yesterday I tried to make a minky blanket for the first time and ended up crying (such a girl thing to cry over a blanket). I ripped all the seams and tried again, cried again:/ So...I am so glad I am not the only one who found this difficult and am so thankful for this tutorial...I can see what I did wrong! Thanks, hopefully no more tears!:)
- March 2, 2013 at 10:51 AM
- nekoangel2 said...
I have to thank you SO much for posting this! It's crazy you posted this in 2009 and it's so popular now!
I'm not very good with my tutorial but I usually feature a blogger that I get information from when I do my own tutorials. So that way they can get a better picture with a way I can't explain.
This is what mine turned out to look like.
Thank you so much!!!
- March 4, 2013 at 4:25 PM
I have made tons of no sew minky blankets. I just made a red and white one. I washed it and the red faded onto the white. This has NEVER happened before. Any suggestions on how to fix it???
- May 14, 2013 at 8:38 PM
yes pin, thanks have made 2 after a failed attempt
- June 9, 2013 at 7:28 PM
- Elena said...
Great tutorial!! I've been making these blankets for ages and have always struggled with the minky slipping around...I never thought to just cut it a little bigger than the cotton! Major lightbulb moment! Thanks!
- August 4, 2013 at 6:49 PM
- Veronica Selz said...
Awesome blanket thanks for makingit look simpler than I scared myself into thinking it was :)
- September 9, 2013 at 2:09 PM
Am using a pink minky on a nap mat I am making for my grandbaby for day care. for the blanket portion do I need to line the minky or would it be ok to just have the one layer for the blanket attached to the nap mat? Thanks for the tutorial since I have never used Minky before.
- September 9, 2013 at 2:24 PM
My daughter-in-law asked me to help her make a minky blankie for her newest nephew (my first grandchild)! She brought me an adorable animal-themed fleece and a coordinating dimple minky fabric... She had also purchased satin blanket trim! She obviously thinks I am a more accomplished sewer than I do!
I put back sides together and found that I had to keep trimming off more minky, since it is more stretchy than plain fleece... I pinned them together, then removed the pins as I placed the satin binding over the edges. Since the binding is cut a little off-center, I had to be sure the edges were even on both sides, so I stuck a straight pin in from front to back to be sure they lined up evenly. I mitered the corners and made a folded-over edge where the satin came together. The blanket was about 30"X45". It was adorable and it is my grandson's favorite tag-along blankie... He loves rubbing the satin on his cheek!
This was such a hit that all my children, their spouses and my hubby have wanted an adult-sized one... Satin and all! I have used lots of fun fleece designs (especially NFL and sports-related themes) and making them extra big for cuddling up for a nap without feet hanging out... They are 60"X90"! Everybody loves theirs... Especially the satin edging!
These are a lot of work, but worth the effort! And... Oh, "sew" worth the love wrapped up in them!
- October 18, 2013 at 12:07 PM
Thanks for posting this. I now have the confidence to make a baby blanket. Erin
- October 28, 2013 at 11:00 AM
Thanks for the tute! My 8 year old granddaughter asked for a blanket with bumps and when questioned said she wanted to snuggle with it not use it as a blanket. I was sure she was talking about a baby blanket and remembered they were all the rage in the stores a few years ago. I can not find any this year and was wondering how to grant this request and a search online guided me to this site. Will purchase the fabric and make the blanket (larger than purchased since I think the fabric is 60 inches) and have a happy girl on Christmas morning!
- November 23, 2013 at 9:12 PM
- Kerry Anne Simmons Smith said...
I am having a problem with gathering when I go to close my seam (after I turn it out). Any help to fix the bunching without taking the whole project apart would be appreciated.
- December 28, 2013 at 9:43 PM
Many thanks for this tutorial! I made several blankets already and everyone loves them!
- January 11, 2014 at 11:20 AM
- Fiona said...
awesome tutorial and just finished my first blanket! Using fleece instead of minky.
The area where I turned the blanket is a bit flappy, obviously the 1/4 in. wasn't enough and I forgot to go a bit closer!
Any ideas how to fix this? I'm new to sewing and will search for answers but wondered if you might have an idea?
thanks so much
- June 9, 2014 at 9:55 AM
When sewing Minky fabric and cotton fabric together does it make a difference when sewing which fabric is on top???
- June 14, 2014 at 2:06 PM
- Ang Eckenrod said...
So I made this for my daughters teacher. It took forever to pin, but was totally worth it. Last time I tried to see with minky it had to basically stop and give up bc it was so messed up. Thanks!
- June 24, 2014 at 11:47 PM
i like to sew, i hate to pin, this results in not sewing. but i made this blanket, made sure to pin and pin some more and the blanket turned out super cute. can't wait to give it to my friend at her shower this weekend!
- September 24, 2014 at 10:15 PM
- Chantale Chevalier said...
Hey, I have 60'' wide Fabric, but I want to make a queen size Minky Blanket. I have enough yardage, just they're not wide. Anyone have any ideas on how to make a queen size??
- October 20, 2014 at 7:51 PM
How do you finish the open seam? Do you just topstich it? How do you hide it so it doesn't show so obvious
- November 11, 2014 at 11:27 AM
- Tara Rooney-bell said...
Great Tutorial.. my question is how hard would this be to do without a machine??
- March 23, 2015 at 6:11 AM
- haberdashery shops said...
Hi, thank you for sharing. Such a great tutorial!
- September 6, 2015 at 10:57 PM
- shantinathsales said...
this blog is magically created to entrance customer ,Great work guys I must say that you have a excellent communication skill to elaborate content quality to customer,I had never seen any blogger like you did,
Throw Blankets | Electric Blanket | Drum Heaters | Mirror Defogger
- September 1, 2016 at 7:51 AM


text:
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2002-10-11 18:00 UTC The ARISS (a joint effort of AMSAT, the ARRL, NASA, the ARISS international partners including Canada, Russia, the European Partners, and Japan) operations team wishes to announce the following very tentative schedule for ARISS school contacts. This schedule is very fluid and may change at the last minute. Remember that amateur radio use on the ISS is considered secondary. Please check the various AMSAT and ARISS webpages for the latest announcements. Changes from the last announcement are noted with (***). Also, please check MSNBC.com for possible live retransmissions (http://www.msnbc.com/m/lv/default.asp). Listen for the ISS on the downlink of 145.80 MHz. For information about educational materials available from ISS partner space Agencies, please refer to links on the ARISS Frequently Asked Questions page. If you are interested in supporting an ARISS contact, then you must fill in an application. The ARISS operations mentor team will not accept a direct request to support an ARISS contact. You should also note that many schools think that they can request a specific date and time. It does not work that way. Once an application has been accepted, the ARISS mentors will work with the school to determine a mutually agreeable date. Websites that may be of interest include: http://www.arrl.org/sarex http://www.arrl.org/ariss http://www.amsat.org http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov http://spacelink.nasa.gov/index.html http://ehb2.gsfc.nasa.gov/edcats/educator_guide/ Your completely filled out application should be returned to the nearest coordinating ARISS region if your specific region is not listed. E-mail is the preferred method of submitting an application. Here are the email addresses: ARISS-Canada and all other countries not covered: email@example.com (Daniel Lamoureux VE2KA) ARISS-Europe: firstname.lastname@example.com (J. Hahn, DL3LUM / PA1MUC) ARISS-Japan and all Region 3 countries: firstname.lastname@example.com (Keigo Komuro JA1KAB) ARISS-Russia: firstname.lastname@example.com (Valerie Agabekov N2WW/UA6HZ) ARISS-USA: firstname.lastname@example.com (The American Radio Relay League) ISS Expedition 5 crew: Peggy Whitson KC5ZTD Sergei Treschev RZ3FU Valeri Korzun RZ3FK There are no scheduled ARISS school contacts while STS-112 is docked. (***) There are a number of reboosts also scheduled, so please keep your (***) orbital data up to date. (***) The Joamie Ilniarvik, Iqualuit, Nunavut, Canada school still requests that anyone who may have recorded or has a transcript of the downlink from Peggy for the Iqualuit contact to contact them. Please contact the ARISS mentor Steve VE3TBD at firstname.lastname@example.com if you can help. Lamar Elementary (was Travis), Greenville, Texas, direct via KC5GQP Option #1 Thursday 2002-10-17 16:38 UTC (***) Whitson Crew Pick, Spruce Hill Christian School (K-8), Philadelphia, PA Option #1 Thursday 2002-10-24 17:24 UTC via ZS6BTD (***) Option #2 Thursday 2002-10-24 13:37 UTC via NN1SS (***) Option #3 Tuesday 2002-10-22 18:22 UTC via WH6PN (***) Whitson Crew Pick, Silverheels Middle School, Fairplay, CO Option 1: 2002-10-29 16:30 UTC via VK5ZAI (***) Option 2: 2002-10-30 15:11 UTC via ZS6BTD (***) Option 3: 2002-10-28 16:10 UTC via WH6PN (***) Option 4: 2002-10-30 17:53 UTC via NN1SS (***) Jamboree Station, The Netherlands, PI4RIS or PA3HGQ/J Option #1: Sunday 2002-10-20 12:39 UTC (***) Option #2: Sunday 2002-10-20 14:16 UTC (***) Frank De Winne Crew Pick, Royal Technical School Belgian Air Force, Sint Truiden, Belgium Direct via ON4BAF 2002-11-02 08:47 UTC Frank De Winne Crew Pick, Euro Space Center, Transinne, Belgium, direct via ON4ESC or Telebridge 2002-11-01 09:43 UTC Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum, Chicago, Illinois direct via AJ9N TBD Look for possible live streaming video, the website is http://www.adlerplanetarium.org St. Ursula's College, Toowoomba, Australia TBD The latest ARISS announcement and successful school list in now available on the ARISS web site. Several ways to get there. http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov click on English (sorry I don't know French) you are now at http://www.rac.ca/ariss.htm click on News Currently the ARISS operations team has a list of over 60 schools that we hope will be able to have a contact during 2002-2003. As the schedule becomes more solidified, we will be letting everyone know. Current plans call for an average of one scheduled school contact per week. 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors ---- Via the sarex mailing list at AMSAT.ORG courtesy of AMSAT-NA. To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe sarex" to email@example.com
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Bulldogs Tied For First Place With Harvard With Two Games To Play
Related Links
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NEW HAVEN, Conn. - When the 2009 Yale women's soccer schedule was released in July, there was one thing that stood out. Only two of Yale's 10 non-conference games would be played away from Reese Stadium. That meant that the Bulldogs' three Ivy League road games would be somewhat unfamiliar experiences. Apparently it hasn't been a problem. Yale won at both Princeton and Penn and will look to complete a perfect Ivy road season when it plays at Columbia on Friday. Kickoff at Columbia Soccer Stadium is slated for 7 p.m.
The Bulldogs (9-5, 4-1 Ivy) moved back into a first-place tie with last week's 2-1 victory over Penn coupled with Harvard's loss to Princeton. The Crimson host Dartmouth on Saturday.
The Bulldogs remain second in the Ieague in goals allowed (15) and goals against average (1.05). Offensively, Becky Brown is ninth in the nation in points per game (2.0) and 11th in goals per game (0.857). Yale also has received a boost from freshman Kristen Forster, who has at least one point in four of the last five games. She leads the team with eight assists, which is one shy of the school freshman record set by Crysti Howser in 2005.
A victory on Friday would give Yale at least 10 wins in a season for the fifth time this decade.
Columbia (6-6-3, 2-2-1 Ivy) is led by Sophie Reiser, last year's Ivy League Player of the Year, who has six goals and four assists on the season. The Lions, though, have been shutout in their last two games, a scoreless tie with Princeton on Oct. 17 and a 2-0 loss at Dartmouth last Sunday.
Columbia beat the Bulldogs 2-1 last year in New Haven. Chrissy Butler's goal at 62:37 snapped a 1-1 tie and goalkeeper Rebecca Taylor made some terrific saves in the final minutes to preserve the victory. Yale leads the all-time series 18-4-2.
Report filed by Tim Bennett, Yale Sports Publicity


text:
September 04. 2013 1:46PM
Hudson woman who reported abandoned dog admits it was her own
By APRIL GUILMET
Union Leader Correspondent
Hudson woman charged with animal cruelty in case of abandoned Great Dane
Great Dane in need of medical care abandoned in Hudson
— A Hudson woman who reported finding an abandoned and ailing Great Dane-mix tied outside her Lowell Road grooming parlor last week has since admitted the dog was her own, police said Wednesday.
Michelle Hogan, 44, who owns Dunk'N Dogs at 225 Lowell Road, was arrested earlier this week after turning herself in to the Hudson Police Department.
She now faces charges of animal cruelty as well as failure to license or vaccinate her pet. Hogan was released on $2,000 personal recognizance bail and is scheduled to appear in 9th Circuit Court, Nashua District Division, on Sept. 19.
Hudson Animal Control Officer Jana McMillan said Hogan called police Aug. 27 and reported the two-year old pooch, Sammie, had been left tied to the front door at Dunk'N Dogs earlier that morning.
McMillan said the case remains under active investigation, but police have since determined that Hogan is, in fact, Sammie's original owner after reaching out to local residents and business owners in the area.
"Something seemed suspicious from the get-go," McMillan said. "We immediately suspected something was strange about this whole case."
No one answered the phone at Dunk'N Dogs Wednesday afternoon, and calls made to Hogan seeking comment weren't immediately returned.
The dog, described as sweet and loving, suffers from a variety of medical issues, some quite serious, McMillan said, though she's responded well to treatment so far.
Sammie has been placed in a loving home but has an injured and infected tail and will need multiple surgeries, including an eventual surgery to remove a large growth on her abdomen, according to McMillan.
"She's doing fantastic considering all she's been through," McMillan said.
Fundraising to assist with Sammie's veterinary bills has been ongoing at America's Pets pet supply store in Hudson.
As of Wednesday afternoon, customers have donated well over $2,000 for Sammie's care, according to Kristi Griego, one of the store's owners.
"The response to all of this has been overwhelming. People are just so upset about this and they want to help however they can," said Griego, who added that many of her customers have stopped by the store shocked and saddened to learn the latest development in the canine's story. Others, having heard about the story via the Internet, have called from out of state offering to donate.
Griego said Sammie is expected to undergo surgery on her tail later this week, and it's still unknown at this time if her tumors are cancerous.
Updates on Sammie's progress will continue to be posted on America's Pets' Facebook page.
Those wishing to assist Sammie may stop by America's Pets, located at 142 Lowell Road, or call 881-9247.


text:
Get feedback on your new remixes, mashups, and blends from fellow DJs, Producers, Artists, & other music fans, listen to and download.
Request a remix of your new favorite song, or an old classic that you'd like to hear a new version of. You MUST include the acapella or instrumental!


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The Cowboy Up Saloon opened up to much aplomb last Saturday night, when it drew more than 600 people for the grand opening. The saloon that brought country music dancing back to greater Dover also gained more than 2,100 likes on Facebook in just four weeks time. It has been impressive.
The Cowboy Up Saloon arguably became the hottest place to be during a night out in Dover last weekend when the grand opening drew 674 people for food, drinks and free country music dance lessons last Saturday night.
That was the exit count for the establishment that has a capacity of 415, with the ebb and flow of the crowd, owners said.
In addition, Cowboy Up Saloon's Facebook "likes" had climbed above 2,100 in a matter of four weeks, co-owner Jimmy Baker said. It was 1,886 when they first unlocked the door on Sept. 22.
And most of the comments on their Facebook page were from people thanking the Bakers for opening up Cowboy Up Saloon.
In a word, it was heartwarming, co-owner Felicia Baker said.
Felicia and Jimmy Baker opened up the long anticipated Cowboy Up Saloon to share their love for dance in the same location they met 18 years ago when it was a country bar called Arizona's. It was a fitting return for the place where Jimmy literally swept Felicia off her feet.
Jimmy, now a reservist at Dover Air Force Base, learned to dance at a military night club on the U.S. Naval base he was stationed at in 1989.
Country music has exploded beyond its niche base and more people have yearned to learn how to dance formally given the "Dancing with the Stars' phenomenon, Felicia Baker said. That gave her and Jimmy the idea to not just have country music and good food but free dance lessons nightly as well.
They signed their lease in June after six weeks of negotiations and spent the summer on renovations that included construction of the dance floor and stage.
"It just felt right," Felicia Baker said. "He used to two-step me around the dance floor when I was pregnant with our youngest [daughter Jordan]."
Barbara Parsons and Barbara Chaffinch are the country line dance instructors, and Chris Tyre is the house deejay, Felicia Baker said. And Cowboy Up Saloon does not just play country music. The deejay also plays rock, pop, hip-hop and even a little bit of disco just to mix things up.
Lori Sharp, of Camden, was among those who attended on opening night.
"It's awesome," Sharp said Wednesday night. "It's exactly what Dover needed. And they had an excellent band [Hung Jury] last weekend. They're coming back this weekend."
The crowd at Cowboy Up Saloon has drawn people from throughout Kent and Sussex counties, including Erin Stolarz, of Seaford, and Brandy Jester, of Georgetown.
Jester said Saturday night was wild.
"There were people from one wall to another," she said. "The band was amazing. They did the line dancing, the casual dancing. It was a good time."
"There's nothing like this around and it's just great to come to a place like this where all ages fit in," Stolarz said. "You get free lessons and just have fun."
Jester and Stolarz took a couple of dance lessons with Parsons Wednesday night.
All in all, everyone has been so friendly, Jimmy Baker said.
"If they know [how to dance], they're willing to teach," he said. "If they don't know, they are extremely motivated to learn. That's what we're all about. We're just here to have a good time."


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- A photo of Vince McMahon is featured in the new issue of Game Informer. Vince is shown with one of the writers and is labeled as a "wrestling star."
- Tickets for WWE's RAW tour of Brazil are still available. Tickets for the May 20th Over the Limit pay-per-view in Raleigh, North Carolina are also now on sale.
- Brock Lesnar has been added to the RAW Supershow opening video, as seen last night.
- Mary sent word that the bar CM Punk walked into on RAW from London was The Pilot Inn in Greenwich, about a 10 minute walk from the O2 Arena. Mary, who was in the pub when Punk and the WWE crew arrived, says Punk did not have any fish & chips like he said because the bar wasn't serving food at that time.
WWE's website is playing the angle up and wondering if Punk really went in the bar to drink. They are promising answers on next week's three-hour RAW Supershow.
Got a news tip or correction? Send it to us by clicking here.


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WVHFG is dedicated to the promotion of Amateur Radio (and specifically in our case, operation above 30MHz) in both the Wellington Region and in New Zealand as a whole. We welcome you to our online home. Please browse the links to the left, and keep checking back... this site will be regularly updated with news and current events about the branch, and Amateur Radio at large. Enjoy!
|Upcoming and Recent Meeting Details
|Meetings Schedule and Locations
|Call Sign Services & How to become a Radio Amateur
|National System Status Info


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For our returning and transfer students we offer the opportunity to live in our apartment style residence halls, the East and West Apartments. East and West apartments are co-ed by apartment. We offer both 2 bedroom and 4 bedroom units. All apartments are fully furnished and come equipped with a common area and full kitchen. The apartments are only available for upperclassmen students that have a GPA of 2.75 or higher.
All apartments have a full kitchen which includes a refrigerator, stove/oven, microwave, and sink.
Living rooms are furnished with a couch, chair, entertainment center, coffee table and end table.
Each bedroom will have a full-size bed, nightstand, desk with chair, and a dresser.
Click to enlarge


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John Sickels, author of the 2010 Baseball Prospect Book, is high on Fernando Martinez and Jenrry Mejia, but lukewarm with John Niese.
Most scouts believe Mejia has the stuff to be a starter, but needs time in the minor leagues – maybe two more years – to refine his secondary pitches. The worst thing the Mets could do is to push the envelope with him, but that's the fear, that they will rush him as they did Mike Pelfrey.
Sickels also believes Martinez is being regarded too harshly considering his age, but is concerned about his durability. The acquisition of Jason Bay makes it clear the Mets don't believe Martinez is ready this year. Perhaps by the end of the year he may have put himself in position to help.
As far as Niese goes, if his hamstring is sound he could help the Mets this season, but Sickels doesn't see much of a ceiling for him, calling him a "classic number three guy.''
If you're highest minor league level pitching prospect is a No. 3, that's not encouraging.


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Overview: Tools and Materials
Changing your oil regularly is the single best thing you can do to prolong the life of your car's engine. And if you do this simple 20-minute job yourself, you can save money and know that it was done right.
However, it's not a task for everybody. Most of the job is easy, but you'll probably have to raise your car to get at the drain plug. You'll need a sturdy set of ramps for your car or a floor jack and safety stands designed for your car's weight. Some people have a phobia about getting under their car. If you're one of them, stop here and make an appointment at a lube shop.
Also, before you start, look under the car and make sure you'll be able to get at the filter to remove it. Some makes of cars have awkward setups that make it nearly impossible to get at and remove the filter with ordinary tools. If that's the case, call for an appointment and pay the $30 fee. Check your owner's manual for the vehicle's oil capacity and drain plug location. For most jobs, you'll need 4 or 5 qts. of oil, an oil filter wrench, a box-end wrench the size of your filler plug, a funnel, rags and, of course, a new oil filter appropriate for your car or truck.
Tip: If your car's engine is cold, let the engine run for a few minutes to warm up the oil. This helps loosen the contaminants in the oil so they'll flow out into the drain pan. However, don't try to drain the oil if the engine is hot. Let it cool to avoid burning your hand.
Step 1: Drive onto ramps
Drive onto ramps
Use ramps or safety stands to hold your car up.
Drive your car onto your ramps, or use an inexpensive floor jack along with a set of jack (safety) stands (not shown). Be sure to set your parking brake. Check the directions that come with the drive-on ramps or jack stands for details, then give the car a good shake from side to side to make sure it's solidly supported. If you use ramps, be sure they won't slide as you drive onto them. We used a rubber mat under the front of the stand and a 2×12 plank to keep the ramps from sliding forward. Have a helper guide you so you don't drive off the ramp.
Never work under any car using the factory-supplied jack—it's only for changing a flat tire!
Step 2: Drain the old oil
Photo 1: Remove the drain plug
A box end wrench is the best tool for the drain plug.
Photo 2: Let the oil drain
Pull the plug quickly so the oil doesn't drench your hand. Be sure to reinstall it after draining the oil!
Using a box-end wrench, loosen the drain plug about a half turn. Avoid using an adjustable wrench because it's more likely to slip and eventually ruin the plug head. And remember this memory aid—lefty loosy, righty tighty. Slide the drain pan under the drain plug. Unscrew the plug. When the plug is ready to come out, quickly pull it out of the way. Hold on to the plug so it doesn't drop into the drain pan. Let the oil drain for at least five minutes, then reinstall the plug.
The oil may be hot! Let a hot engine cool before draining the oil.
Step 3: Unscrew the Oil Filter
Unscrew the oil filter
Oil filters are sometimes hard to reach. Buy a filter wrench that fits the tight space.
Unscrew the oil filter, using an inexpensive oil filter wrench. If you use the type pictured, make sure it's the right size and configuration. Some wrenches cinch around the filter and turn from the side. Others, like the one shown, fit the bottom of the filter and accept a 3/8-in. drive socket or a wrench. Room to move the tool is the key. Loosen the oil filter by turning counterclockwise. When the filter is loose, use a rag to unscrew it by hand. Be careful! The filter may be full of oil, so place the drain pan under it. Remove the filter and pour any oil into the drain pan. Wipe any old oil or dirt from the filter-mounting surface so the new filter will seal properly, and make sure the old oil filter ring gasket hasn't stuck to the engine.
Step 4: Install the new filter
Lube the gasket
A little oil on the gasket helps the new filter seal properly.
Smear a few drops of clean oil on the new filter's ring gasket. Carefully spin the new filter on by hand. Be sure you don't pick up any dirt from the frame or other parts on the ring gasket as you position the new filter. Spin the filter on clockwise until the gasket seats against the engine. Then turn the filter—by hand—approximately a half turn to fully seat the ring gasket. If you can't get your hand around it firmly because space is tight, use your wrench. Don't overtighten the filter—you may tear the gasket.
An Oil Filter that Goes the Distance
Many carmakers recommend 10,000 miles between oil changes. Genuine factory oil filters last that long, but most filters at the auto parts store last only 3,000 miles. Now you've got an affordable option. Purolator just introduced its Synthetic oil filter rated for 10,000 miles. The filter's built with 100 percent fully synthetic filter media (no paper), quality metal end caps, and a silicone anti-drainback valve. And, it has a rough-textured finish so you can tighten it with your greasy hands. Look for it on store shelves in the coming months. Retail price is $10.
Step 5: Add the new oil
Photo 1: Add the new oil
Add the oil amount specified in the owner's manual.
Photo 2: Check the oil level
Be sure to pull the dipstick and check the oil level when finished.
Locate the engine oil fill hole and clean the area around the fill cap. Using a clean, dry funnel, add the new oil. Don't spill any on the engine. If you do, wipe it up immediately. Note: Refer to your owner's manual for the correct weight, API rating and amount of oil you'll need to add. Replace the oil fill cap, check the oil level on the dipstick (it may be slightly over the mark until you run the engine) and start the engine. Be sure the garage door is open so exhaust fumes can escape. Check the oil pressure gauge for the proper pressure reading or be certain the oil light on the instrument cluster is off. Look under the car for leaks. Lower the car and recheck the dipstick level to make sure the oil is up to the full mark.
Proper Oil Disposal
Pour the used oil back into oil bottles (a rather messy job) or into an old container. Don't put the container out with the regular trash. Used motor oil is hazardous waste and must be disposed of properly. In many states, retail outlets that sell motor oil must accept used oil for recycling. If your store doesn't take back used oil, check with a repair shop, because many shops will dispose of used oil. Otherwise, contact your local waste removal company for instructions. Drain all the oil from your old filter and dispose of the filter in the trash.
Required Tools for this Project
Ramps, Box-end wrench, Oil filter wrench, Funnel, Drain pan
Required Materials for this Project
Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here's a list.
- New filter
- New motor oil
- Rags


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Renewable Energy: Mayor Announces Full Funding for GoSolarSF
Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced that the City's successful solar initiative, GoSolarSF, will be fully funded at $10 million over the next two fiscal years. Mayor Lee made the announcement at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)'s celebration of the newly installed 558-panel, 182 kW solar system on the roof of the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, which brings the City's total municipal solar generating capacity to more than 7.6 megawatts. Combined with the 8.1 megawatts supported by GoSolarSF, San Francisco's 15.7 megawatts of solar renewable energy has prevented 7.7 million pounds of CO2 emissions which is equivalent to over 8,000 barrels of oil each year. Read more.


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Sometimes we reach that time in the year when students begin to reminisce about those comforting meals that come from home. Our wide variety of well-balanced choices including nutritious entrees, fresh fruit and salad bar, steamed vegetables, hearty soups, delicious deli meats and cheeses, etc. is simply is not good enough at times! Students crave that special something from home.
That's why we offer our innovative "Favorites From Home" program. Bring your home cooking to our campus! We think that the parents and grandparents are the best resources available to make our local menu "more like home." By sharing the recipe that your family has grown to love, you'll assist us in providing a wider and more popular selection of menu items. Let's feature your family's favorite dish this week!
Note: Please check the box below to enable form submission. If this step is skipped, the form will reset and your information will not be submitted.


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In this special day, NewHouseOfArt present the cool fairy tale contemporary cottage house decorating themes with minimalist style pictures gallery for your inspiration. This charming rustic cottage home idea looks like on fairy tale storybooks. Cottage house design is done with an instinctive eye-catching, the bare essentials, and a cozy living room decor inviting charm that captures the spirit of creating a dream house a home living.
Traditional cottage houses remain faithful to the abundance of wood floor plans to the walls and ceilings. And sometimes, the wood is painted white color schemes to a brighter perspective interior design. Most contemporary cottage houses use within and outside to offer a stronger and more temperate foundation. And home furniture is almost always old and unfinished, also of wood or wicker. I recognize is once you lay your eyes on these rooms, you might want to start looking in Grandma's attic for sweet finds that will right away furnish your house some character!


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I have upgraded my smartphone from windows mobile 6.1 to windows phone 6.5.5
All my apps still work fine except ScummVM. I have deleted te .ini file, ut it still doesn´t load.
Any ideas?
Might be missing some dep. libs in the new firmware perhaps?
It works flawlessly in my HD whith 6.5.5 (23569)


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Fetlock arthrodesis boost survival rates
There are many traumatic and degenerative versions of fetlock damage, and Chelokee, a 4-year-old colt, suffered one of them during the Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 2.
He was taken to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, where Larry Bramlage, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, performed a fetlock arthrodesis to save him.Chelokee's version of the injury involved destruction of all the supporting ligaments to the back of the fetlock and pastern joint.
Teuflesburg, a 2007 Kentucky Derby starter, suffered another version last October — comminuted fractures of both sesamoid bones behind the fetlock joint, destroying his ability to stand on the limb. Bramlage performed successful fetlock arthodesis on that horse as well.
Background of procedure
After studying the mechanics of the fetlock joint and working with surgical approaches that would allow stabilization without added morbidity, in 1978 he handled the first clinical case, a mare that had ruptured the suspensory apparatus by pulling both sesamoids off the long pastern bone.
The procedure itself worked, but wasn't early enough to save the other foot and the mare was lost to laminitis. Fetlock arthrodesis had shown promise earlier, when the team tried it on cadavers and research horses. They had performed it about 10 times, when Bramlage and Dr. Bill Reed were called upon to perform it on Noble Dancer after his injury at Belmont Park. The famous runner went on to a stallion career of 20-plus years before dying of infirmities at 25 or 26.
Expanded uses


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All-in-one Computers
The All-in-One Computer is a version of the desktop computer that has a twist.
The conventional notion of a desktop sees a computer tower housing the internal components like the hard drive storage, chipsets, and the processor, with the peripherals like a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers connected to it.
In contrast, an all-in-one computer houses every component, save for the keyboard and the mouse, within a casing that also contains the monitor. Compared to the conventional desktop, it makes for a smaller overall profile, which opens up space for other use. Some of these can even be mounted, which frees up additional space.
One advantage that exists in having an All-In-One is its ease of use. Normally, a desktop would arrive still unassembled, with the user having to pair the right cable with the right component. There also exists the possibility of a missing component, which could render the desktop being unusable.
In contrast, All-In-One computers are virtually plug-and-play, with the ports are easily accessible to connect peripherals and accessories to. Also helping its user-friendliness is its simple interfaces.
In addition, using an All-In-One computer reduces the dilemma on cables to a minimum, as it resulted in just using the power cable, especially if one is using Bluetooth-powered peripherals.
Some of these feature multi-touch screens, which enables users to manipulate the screen like they do with tablets.
The most prominent version of the All-In-One computer is arguably the Apple iMac, which was first introduced way back in 1998. Of course, there are other versions that run on Windows based from the different manufacturers, whether from Lenovo, HP, Dell, and ASUS, or any other.
Grab your own All-in-One computer right here at MacMall where you are always sure to get the best deal.
Best Sellers: All-in-one Computers
Apple 27" iMac with Retina 5K display, Quad-Core Intel Core i5 3.2GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB Fusion Drive, AMD Radeon R9 M390 with 2GB of GDDR5 memory, Two Thunderbolt 2 ports, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Apple Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2 - Late 2015
Quad-Core Intel Core i5 3.2GHz, 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 SDRAM, 1TB Fusion Drive, Four USB 3 ports, SDXC card slot, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networking, Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology
Dell OptiPlex 3030 Intel Core i5-4590S Quad-Core 3.0GHz All-in-One PC - 4GB RAM, 1TB HDD, 19.5" HD WLED Non-Touch, DVD+/-RW, 802.11a/g/n
Intel Core i5-4590S Quad-Core 3.0GHz, 4GB (1x4GB) 1600MHz DDR3L, 1TB 5400rpm SATA, 19.5" HD WLED Non-Touch, DVD+/-RW, AMD Radeon R5 A240, 802.11a/g/n, Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit with Windows 8.1 Professional License
Lenovo C40-05 AMD Quad-Core A6-6310 2.40GHz All-in-One PC - 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD, 21.5" LED FHD, 802.11ac, Webcam
AMD Quad-Core A6-6310 2.40GHz, 8GB DDR3, 1TB DD, 21.5" LEDFHD, AMD Radeon R4 Graphics, Webcam, 802.11ac, Microsoft Windows 8.1 64-bit
Apple 27" iMac with Retina 5K display, Quad-Core Intel Core i7, 4.0GHz (4th generation Haswell processor), 16GB RAM, 512GB Flash Storage, AMD Radeon R9 M295X with 4GB of GDDR5 memory, Two Thunderbolt 2 ports, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Apple Wireless Keyboard, Magic Mouse
Quad-Core Intel Core i7 4.0GHz, 16GB DDR3 SDRAM, 512GB Flash Storage, Four USB 3 ports, SDXC card slot, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networking, Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology


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I always dreamed of running away and joining the circus, and then on a recent Wednesday I did — and took my whole family with me. We sneaked away from bothersome school and work obligations and went for a private group class at Cirque School in Hollywood.
Cirque School was founded in 2004 by Cirque du Soleil veteran Aloysia Gavre, who quips that her vision was to allow "anybody with any body" the chance to join the circus. Our troupe of wannabe trapeze artists, contortionists and acrobats consisted of two adults — in fairly good shape but not limber at all, as in the last time I did the splits was in sixth grade — and two boys, ages 6 and 9. We'd signed up for an hour of individual attention that took us from acrobatics to aerial tricks to tumbling.
We entered through a small alley in East Hollywood — less than a mile from the theater at Hollywood & Highland where Cirque du Soleil's "Iris" is now playing — and there it was: a 6,000-square-foot studio with trapezes, crash pads and gauze curtains just like in Cirque du Soleil.
There was a wire to walk on, and a hoop suspended in the air. And there was a beautiful man with a perfect body ready to train us. His name was Sagiv Ben Binyamin, and when he's not teaching classes for ordinary, inflexible people like us, he is a performer in Troupe Vertigo, a theatrical circus troupe made up of Gavre and other teachers from the school whose performances feature trapeze, aerial silk, contortion, acrobatics, hula-hoop and hand balancing.
We had signed papers saying we would not sue if we broke our necks or fell from trapezes. Still, I was amazed at what Ben Binyamin encouraged us to do.
We ran around and warmed up, and then we stretched — a lot. I am so tight from my desk job that after my first backbend I wondered if I would complete the class. Ben Binyamin had us do regular somersaults and cartwheels followed by dive somersaults — no arms, just launch into the air, tuck and roll — onto a crash mat. We dove, then somersaulted, through a ring of fire — well, an imaginary ring of fire.
Benji, my younger son, flew through the ring like a boy shot out of a cannon but forgot to somersault and landed on all fours. Theo, my older son, dove through, tucked and rolled, and landed like a pro. Jonathan, my husband, and I were awkward — but delighted with ourselves.
As we struggled, others around us perfected their tricks. A girl hung from a hoop by her neck and spun around. A man climbed to the ceiling on a ladder of gauze. A woman practiced walking on a wire with bamboo sticks to support her.
"He is a nurse at Cedars," Gavre said pointing to one man.
"And she is a mother of two," she said, pointing to a lithe woman swinging on a trapeze.
Gavre said she wants Cirque School — beyond providing fitness and fun — to create a sense of community often missing in this sprawling city without a center. "They are experiencing things that are very scary all at once," she said of the amateur performers all around us. "It is very bonding."
Ben Binyamin swung up onto a trapeze; we climbed up onto ours, tried to copy him and watched ourselves in the mirror so we could correct our form — and admire ourselves. We learned a succession of moves — such as bird's nest (back arched, chins up and smiling) and mermaid (hanging sideways, one arm flung out in a dramatic flourish), and progressed to an upside-down straddle, no hands.
The rope dug into my ankles, then my legs. It hurt. Ben Binyamin nodded.
"In Cirque, we say the more beautiful, the more painful," he said.
We looped gauze around our feet and hands and suspended ourselves in fabric from the ceiling. I barely knew what I was doing. Ben Binyamin wove me in and out and upside down through the fabric as if he were tying an elaborate nautical knot — and suddenly I was hanging upside down with my legs spread wide, gauze supporting my lower back in the air. I couldn't have escaped if I tried. I extended my arms, and my boys used them to do a flip as if I were a jungle gym. Wow. That was an excellent spinal stretch.
We all had had weak spots, moves we feared might snap our aging bodies or simply blow our minds with the effort required. Ben Binyamin encouraged and spotted, but never pushed. He seemed to have a sixth sense of what might be too much or where we might get stuck — forever.
We ended up on a hula-hoop-sized ring suspended from the ceiling. Once again, we climbed on and threw ourselves sideways in a mermaid, then hung upside down in a no-hands straddle, playing to the imaginary crowd that was crying out our names. Ben Binyamin jumped on the hoop and spun so fast he was like a gyroscope — a blur of perfect beauty. I copied Ben Binyamin, pushing my legs out to spin slow, pulling them in to go fast. It was thrilling, and nauseating. I got off and stumbled like a drunk; Ben Binyamin told me to jump up and down to stop the dizziness. I was queasy for an hour.
Still, it was heaven. To flip. To spin. To swing on a trapeze and sail through a hoop. No matter what you look like — and really, beginners, you do not want to see yourself — it is a thrill.
At the end, Ben Binyamin gave us a private show. He shimmied up the fabric to the ceiling. He wrapped himself up in the fabric like an angel, then spun his way back down to the ground like a falling star. To see that kind of beauty up close takes your breath away.
I always dreamed of running away and joining the circus, and then on a recent Wednesday I did — and took my whole family with me. We sneaked away from bothersome school and work obligations and went for a private group class at Cirque School in Hollywood.


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Amendola getting up to speed with PatriotsThe Sports Xchange
May 21. 2013 10:27PM
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Neither quarterback Tom Brady nor head coach Bill Belichick met with the media at the New England Patriots' first open OTA workout of the offseason on Tuesday.
So the spokesman left to talk about the dramatic overhaul at the receiver position with the Patriots was the guy most involved in that positional transition — free agent addition and would-be Wes Welker replacement Danny Amendola.
The former Rams wideout admitted after his second OTA practice in New England that he feels a little bit like the new kid in class working with Brady and the rest of the offense.
"Sometimes, yeah," he chuckled. "Walking around, I got lost in the building a couple times. I feel good, though. It's good to be here."
Better to get lost in the stadium than on the field, where much will be expected of Amendola this season. As New England's first major free agent signing of the offseason, he arrived in Foxborough just as the well-liked and highly productive veteran Welker was leaving town.
Amendola looked sharp in his route-running, quick getting into and out of his breaks, and sure-handed when the ball was thrown his way in the media's first chance to see New England's new No. 80.
He appeared quite comfortable overall in his role with his new club, looking anything but lost.
That may be in part due to his relationship with Josh McDaniels, the Patriots offensive coordinator with whom Amendola worked briefly in St. Louis.
"It's familiar," Amendola told reporters after practice. "When Josh was in St. Louis, I got to know it pretty good. It's a little more intricate out here. It's something to grasp. I'm learning every day. It's the verbiage. That's the most important thing, the vocabulary of the offense. I'm learning, day in and day out, studying at night."
If language is the most important thing for Amendola right now, developing his on-field relationship with Brady is a close second. Already, the two have worked together out in California on their own, and during special teams periods in OTA action, Brady and Amendola, along with veteran free agent receiver Michael Jenkins, went to another part of the practice fields to work on routes and timing.
"Anytime you get a jump and get to work with each other is good. We're getting a lot of good work in right now," Amendola said of his extra reps with Brady.
"The more work is the best in this OTA period. It's something we're working on. It's good to have all the guys out here. Everybody looks good so far."
The new New England receiver came away impressed with the guy throwing him the football.
"He darted me in the chest with one ball. Inside my head, I was like, 'Wow, this guy can really wing it. That's why he's Tom Brady.'
"He's a really good quarterback. Everybody knows that. I'm just trying to be on the same page. So far, so good. It's very important. It's something you work on every day in the meeting rooms, outside of the building, forming relationships. You play better on the field that way."
As for the inevitable comparisons to Welker, Amendola brushed those aside like a seasoned pro.
"That's not something I need to worry about," he stated. "I'm worried about the playbook and getting the routes down and getting on the same page with my teammates. The good thing is, I don't have to worry about that stuff."
Amendola is one of 12 Patriots at the receiver position, only two of whom — Julian Edelman (who hasn't been on the field as he recovers from a foot injury) and Matthew Slater — have experience on the field with New England. The rest are rookies or veteran free agents. They also have Kamar Aiken, a practice squad holdover in his third NFL season.
Super hosts: SF, Houston
NEW YORK (Reuters) — San Francisco and Houston were chosen Tuesday as host cities for the 2016 and 2017 Super Bowls after National Football League team owners voted for the two ahead of Miami.
The San Francisco Bay Area will host the 50th Super Bowl in early 2016 at Levi's Stadium, the brand new home of the 49ers, which is still under construction.
Then Houston will stage the 51st edition of the sport's championship game in early 2017 at Reliant Stadium, the home of the Texans.


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Texas bishops up the ante
Two Texas bishops, Kevin Farrell of Dallas and Kevin Vann of Fort Worth, have issued a strongly worded joint statement about the priority of abortion as a moral issue in this election season. Contrary to many interpretations of the U.S. bishops' Faithful Citizenship document, which holds abortion as one very important issue among many others, Farrell and Vann argue that "there are no 'truly grave moral' or 'proportionate' reasons, singularly or combined, that could outweigh the millions of innocent human lives that are directly killed by abortion each year." In other words, according to these bishops, you may choose to vote for a pro-choice candidate if all in the race are pro-choice, but if one is pro-life, Catholics are obliged to vote for that candidate no matter what her position is on other issues.
The bishops go on to list a number of intrinsic moral evils that would disqualify a candidate from a Catholic voters deliberation: "legalized abortion, the promotion of same sex unions and 'marriages,' repression of religious liberty, as well as public policies permiting euthanasia, racial discrimination, or destructive human embryonic stem cell research." That's quite a list, though I must admit it seems odd to equate civil recognition of same-sex couples with abortion and euthanasia, which according to Catholic teaching are forms of murder.
Texas, of course, is hardly a battleground state, but news that the bishop of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Joseph Martino, ordered that a letter with similar conclusions be read at all Masses on October 4 and 5 (replacing the homily) in his diocese may provoke a swing to the GOP in that battleground state.
Or it may provoke a backlash among Catholics, many of whom do not want their bishops telling them how to vote.


text: My 10 1/2 month old son is great with a cup and table foods, but loves to nurse 4-5 times a day...especially before sleep. I need an MRI this Friday and have been told I must not breastfeed him for 24 hrs afterward. He used to be in daycare, so I think I can get him to take the EBM in a bottle for the daytime hours, but I am super worried about not being able to nurse him at bedtime and upon waking the next morning---his favorite nursing times. (A caveat, he prefers me to put him to sleep. Have tried letting dad do a bottle at bed in past and both dad and baby were unsuccessful and I was called back home to help calm down our son!) Any ideas or tips for making this 24 hour period easier on baby,especially at bedtime? I planned to wean the bedtime feeding around 12months anyway, but didn't want to have to do CIO. This may end up being a CIO session if I can't figure out a gentle solution


text:
'Trust Me,' Jan. 26
Trust Me (TNT) Premieres: Monday, Jan. 26 TNT's newest series stars Tom Cavanagh ("Ed") as Conner and Eric McCormack ("Will & Grace") as Mason, long-time friends and creative partners in a Chicago ad agency. Their relationship is tested when Mason gets a promotion under less-than-ideal circumstances, making him Conner's boss. Monica Potter ( "Boston Legal") also stars.
Copyright © 2018, The Morning Call


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