FEATHERWEIGHT SEWING MACHINE

I got a Featherweight sewing machine last year for Christmas and I just love the darn little thing.  I have bought some extra attachments for it since then but I was shocked when I walked into the Miller

Sewing Shop in Charm, Ohio and saw this!

This extension table is made by Sew Steady and it is just the cutest thing you ever saw.  It has the gold trim to match the sewing machine and just looks like a matched set.  I just could not leave without it!  Good thing I had a little money saved away for a rainy day!!  It was $139.00, but I have looked it up since then on the internet and saw it for $109.00.  Oh well, it would be to far for me to return and repurchase.  I would use that much in gas.

This little machine I wanted to put in our fifth wheel rv for when we travel.  This extension table will make it really nice to sew with.  I like to keep a small quilt or project available for rainy days when we decide to just stay in the rv.  I like to sew when it is peaceful and I don't have to stop and think, oh I should be doing this and that.  I have nothing else to do when I am in the rv besides watch tv.  So, this is perfect.  Well, I just thought I would post this for all you quilters who might not of seen it.  I don't know if this just came out and I haven't seen it or if its been around for a while.  All I know is I sure love it!!

QUILT SQUARE QUESTION?

I am changing the quilt a little bit from the pattern.  I like scrappy quilts, so I am rearranging the squares a little different than the pattern says.  I need to add the half-square triangles and can't decide if I want them all the same color around the square, making each one a different color or last choice to do them in two different colors.  I really think I like the last choice of the two different colors.  What do you think?  Do you like one better over the others?

SNUGGLE BUNNY

I wanted to make a little something for a friend's daughter.  She has had a very hard life.  She has cancer and she and her husband have tried for years to have a baby to no avail.   Well, they now have a precious little girl.  I have never met her but just wanted to make a little something cute for the new baby.  

I saw these little snuggles and thought it would be perfect.  I could whip that up in a half  an hour!  WRONG!!!!  Try two days!!  This always happens to me.  It is very simple and came in a little kit.  I didn't really need the kit, but I wanted to see the pattern.  I think it was $12.00 and I didn't think it was really that bad.

I started out by trimming the four corners with an old clear CD that I have used for years.  I just decide how I want it rounded and then just put a piece of painters tape on the edges to make my markings.  This way it will be the same on all four corners.  The first picture is a minky dot fabric and the second picture shows the top fabric which is also minky.   I never embroidered on minky and I don't think I would do it again.  It sewed out fine, but the fabric around the name kind of has a mind of its own now instead of following the grain of the fabric.

Next, I washed the stabilizer out of the embroidered name and had to let it set to dry.  This took several hours.  Now, I was ready to sew the ribbon around the edge.  I wanted to sew it very close to the edge to hold it in place before I sewed the two pieces of material together.  I thought I could sew this on while the material was still damp and I had to go very slow and use my stiletto because this ribbon is pleated and I had to hold each little pleat in place to get it sewed on correctly.  Then I thought I would throw the blanket in the dryer for a few minutes to finish the drying.   

Well when I took it out of the dryer, all of the ribbon shrank!  I was like "What The Heck??"  Why on earth do they do that? Now I had a real mess.  As long as it took me to sew that trim on, I certainly didn't want to do it again.  I guess it was better that it happened to me because I certainly would not want that to happen to a gift that I give someone and the first time they wash it, they have to throw it away because the trim shrunk!  I mean this was a real mess!!  I will never make this mistake again!    Something I won't forget about!

Then off came the trim and then I had to resew it back on.  I stood back then looking at the bunny fabric and I thought it looked kind of thin and cheap like it needed something.  So I decided to add a  thin layer of batting and I sewed it on diagonally with a zigzag stitch.  This looked so much better.  Finally, I sewed the two pieces together with a 1/4th seam allowance and left about a four inch opening at the bottom to turn the fabric with.  After turning I sewed a straight stitch about 1 inch from the edge and I was very happy with it.  It actually is cuter than the pictures and I love the diagonal stitch in the minky, it really adds an extra touch!  The sides look crooked but there not because it scrunches up to be so soft and cuddly. 

RED & WHITE QUILT - 1

Well, I started on the quilt and  I needed to make 28 blocks. 

This is as far as I got but I needed to stop and trim these blocks down to 4 3/4" squares.  I couldn't figure out how to trim them down and get all four sides even.  I didn't want to just cut them on two sides because one side would turn out smaller than the other.

I taped the back of my ruler with painters tape at the 4 and 3/4" mark and then I put a small mark of painters tape directly in the center of where my square should be.  When I placed this on my material, I could see how much needed to be cut off.  It was about 1/4 inch on two sides.  I just kind of eyeballed and scooted the ruler over to half of the material that needed cut off, which would be about 1/8" on the first two sides.  Then I trimmed the first two sides. I made two turns with the material which brought me to the other two sides of my square which needed trimmed and now I centered my square of material at the 4 3/4" marks by the tape exactly and trimmed off the other two sides, which equaled the other 1/8" that the square needed to be trirmmed.  I made sure that the diagonal line on the ruler was exactly at the point of the edge of the material square and the blue dot painters tape in the center was lined up correctly.  I looked at my pattern and these really do not have to match up with anything perfectly so I knew it didn't have to be exact, but I am sure they would be very close.  I really don't know how you could trim these and get them perfect unless you would have a ruler that was exactly 4 3/4" square.  Anyone have any tips?

Now I have all of the squares started to the first step and all the squares have been trimmed to 4 3/4".

I LOVE RED & WHITE QUILTS !!

Hello, hello, hello!  I have really missed posting on my blog.  I think I told you long ago that I retired. My husband bought me the Janome 15,000 as my retirement present and he keeps reminding me this will be my last machine unless we win the lottery!!  I was so happy, but for the last year, it has just sat in my sewing room untouched.  Sometimes I would go in and just look at it, but I developed Rheumatoid arthritis and my hands have gotten pretty bad and I had zero energy.  I have been having trouble for several years now and have been to doctor after doctor. It took them about three years to diagnosis the problem.  To make a long story short, I was unable to sew. I didn’t feel good and laid on the couch most days. I  was so sad I just didn't feel like sewing on my new machine. Started medication last year and it didn’t work, but two months ago, the doctor switched me to something else and I am starting to feel like my old self.  Hands are better and I have decided to make a quilt. I still have to learn how to use my new sewing machine. I think I am going to love it!!

 My hands were so sore cutting out all these little pieces for the quilt, it took me two weeks to finally get everything cut out.  OK, this is enough of my problem so let's start sewing again!!  If you remember, I am more of a garment sewer than a quilter, so if you see me doing anything wrong or you know of an easier way, please let me know.

 

I picked out a red and white quilt from the Red & White Quilts book.  It is called the Turkey Tracks Block.  I didn’t want to purchase the whole book and they were offering to download it online so I thought this was a great idea.  It cost less that way.  Actually, this turned out being a big mistake.  I tried to copy and paste the quilt.  I wanted to print off the section of items that I needed to purchase.  I was having trouble getting this accomplished and the next thing I knew, they said I had printed my print limit.  I wasn’t able to get anything printed.  I just wanted a copy to take to JoAnn’s with me and never got it.  So I have to drag my iPad with me for every step on sewing and this is a pain for me. Lesson learned.  Nothing was ever mentioned about a print limit.  I would never do this again.  I will be posting the quilt and pictures if you would like to follow along with me starting tomorrow.  I am excited to get started!  Thank you for sticking with me, I appreciate it!!

HOW TO SHOP FOR FABRIC!

I came across this information this morning and thought it worthy of sharing.  On Rule #4 - 7, I did not know this, but I will be sure using this tip.  I remember I bought all of this fabric to make a sweatshirt and sweatpants.  The material looked nice, it felt nice, thick and heavy, but after I washed it and made it, my fabric hung like a rag.  This is a lot of work, time and MONEY to purchase fabric that has been sprayed with sizing to make it feel like quality.  Here are some great tips!

Rules of Thumb When Shopping for Fabric

Rule #1

A successfully chosen garment fabric will compliment the pattern design

• To determine a fabric’s suitability for a pattern, check the pattern envelope. Illustrations on the front show fabrics appropriate for the design; the envelope back lists suggested fabrics chosen by the designer.

Rule #2

A successfully chosen garment fabric will flatter the wearer

• To find out whether a fabric is becoming to you, drape at least 2 yards of the material over yourself in front of a full-length mirror. In this way you can see the precise effect of color and texture on your skin tone and figure.

Rule #3

A successfully chosen garment fabric will perform according to expectations

• To predict a fabrics probable behavior, you must know its content and finishes, also how much it will shrink and exactly how it should be cared for. The most reliable source of such information is the end-of-bolt label or store tag.

Rule #4

A successfully chosen garment fabric will be of good quality for your money

• To recognize quality or its opposite, you must become aware of the characteristics that signify excellence and those that disguise inferiority. The distinguishing features are often small and subtle, and detectable only to an experienced eye. There are some more obvious criteria, however, that can be used to the advantage by novice and experienced shoppers alike…

1. Weave shouldn’t be firm: You can test this by scratching the surface; if the threads shift easily, the garment seams may be inclined to slip or develop holes around the stitching.
2. Weave should be uniform: Hold it up to the light and check for any unusually thick or thin areas. A fabric that has them would not wear evenly. The light test will also show up any weak spots or imperfections.
3. Filler yarns should meet selvages at right angels. Yarns at an oblique angle mean fabric is off-grain
4. Dye color should be even and look fresh. If there is a crease-line, check whether color has rubbed off on it. This could indicate poor dye quality and also pose a problem in cutting.
5. Print colors should be even with no white spots showing through them, except in areas that are clearly meant to be white (Note: exception would be tie dye’s and batiks that often reflect natural irregularities due to nature of the hand technique)
6. A print that is geometric or otherwise symmetrical should meet the selvages at a right angle. An irregular print can’t be corrected.
7. No powdery dust should appear when the fabric is rubbed between the fingers. Visible powder is an indication of too much sizing, a frequent device for concealing poor quality
8. Fabric should shed wrinkles after crushing. If it does not, the garment will always look rumpled (Note: An exception to this rule of thumb is linen whose natural tendency is to do otherwise and is not an indicator of a poor quality fabric)
9. Notice after ascertaining the fabric’s stretch, whether it returns to its original dimensions. A knit that does not recover completely may sag or stretch our of shape in wearing.
10. Lightly but firmly tug fabric in opposite directions. Weak fibers that tear at the tension indicate a fabric with compromised integrity.

Invisible Zipper Application

I saw this technique this morning on how to insert an invisible zipper by Kenneth King. This was given to Kenneth by Linda Maynard. Kenneth is my favorite designer and if he uses this technique, then it's good enough for me.  This technique will not have the little bump at the bottom of the invisible zipper that you have with the usual installation process.  It has a few more steps but it comes out impeccable!!  Add this to your collection.

https://www.threadsmagazine.com/2017/11/14/smart-technique-imperceptible-zipper?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=editpost&fbclid=IwAR1sYLshT-XLBBYod_Gw2xFCBNjsxbNYM55JYVDsSf8ToplIaV_L-BfPal