On Monday I was packing up my things to go to our Sewing Circle. I was in a hurry, and when I grabbed the case of the featherweight I found last month, I managed to rip a 1.5″ long gash in my left hand.
Now, I’m naturally clumsy, but this only happened because Continue reading
Ok,.. not really, but it’s pretty cool.
A really short post today, to make up for the long one last night. 
Thought I’d pop into a couple of thrift stores to see if there were any sewing machines that needed rescuing while I was out picking out rulers, and thread and needles, and found this for a really good deal. Continue reading
As I mentioned in a previous post, I intend to do a comparison between several threads to decide which I like the best for piecing and quilting. I currently have 6 of the threads that I reviewed from a cost point of view, plus one spare (Sulky) that my rep at SMS asked me about, and I’m considering picking up the last 2, just for the heck of it.
Tomorrow, I’m headed out to get a couple of rulers (they’re on sale for 70% off at the local fabric shop – who can pass that up? As an added bonus, they sell one of the two threads I’m missing for this test) and some topstitch needles so I will pop into the quilt shop at the same time and grab the MasterPiece. Over the next several weeks, I hope to review each thread, by making a set project that will require piecing, as well as quilting.
I’m thinking of using this Continue reading
Expensive really is in the eye of the beholder. Take thread for instance. I often read things like:
I love x brand, but it’s so expensive!
or
Brand y is pricy, but I think my quilts are worth it.
So I thought I’d do a little price shoot out with thread. Continue reading
I made a few changes to the site in the last week or so.
It occurs to me that I forgot to update you readers on how Stormi’s been doing. Back in November, I posted about some problems she had, and a new diagnosis of CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease), and a change of vets.
Stormi suggesting that it’s a good time to take a break. A nap break.
She’s doing Really Really well. Continue reading
I had a 301 brought to me last month. I was told that it didn’t run. That’s all I’d been told. Strangely when I plugged it in, it ran just fine. I told the owner I’d tune it up and get it back to them.
I did a basic clean up on it, then I started oiling. I started at the top the way I always do. I worked my way to the faceplate and cleaned and oiled in there. Then I turned the machine on its back and got ready to clean and oil the bottom of the machine.
As I rocked it on its back, I heard the sound of “pieces” moving around with the inertia I’d created.
Huh?
I love learning! One of the things I’ve realised about quilting and sewing in general is that you can never learn all of it. I spent a day a couple of weeks ago just watching videos from the Superior thread company (all of the videos posted on youtube)
I learned so many things that will do nothing but improve the quality of my sewing and quilting. I really want to get my hands on some of that Superior thread too! I would love to feel and see the differences for myself, but my supplier doesn’t carry it (yet) so I’ll have to spend some time looking for some to sample.
I read this in an “old” Serger book this week again. I read it probably about a year or so ago, and needed the information today. I thought it was a good enough tip to warrant publishing here to help everyone out.
From ABCs of Serging by Tammy Young and Lori Bottom:
A comment in the book, made by Sue Green-Baker Continue reading
The longer I work on vintage machines, the more I find parts that I need that are no longer available. Sometimes I can get lucky and find something that works. Sometimes we have to “make” them. I thought that this blog is a great place to keep track of successful and even unsuccessful substitutions.
Successful substitutions will help people keep the machines running. Unsuccessful substitutions will at least save you guys some money, by not trying the same thing I did. 
Continue reading