Tote for Sew Handy Machine and using a garmet rack when sewing

A while back I posted a photo of my little Sew Handy (made in 1955).  The original box is in terrible condition so she has a new tote bag for storage.

There are dividers to keep the clamp from scratching the machine as well as another divider to keep the manuals secure.

On one of the quilting groups I was asked how I use garment racks to help when quilting or binding larger quilts.   This system takes a huge weight off the shoulders and back.  It also keeps the quilt from veering off at an angle due to the weight of the fabric.

It really does work well!

Been a long, long time

No posts for how long?  How did that happen?  Life gets in the way.  My main excuse has been difficulty with my vision.   The eyes are co-operating better today so I'm going to post a few photos.

The first set of photos is not anything I made, but a gift I received at the volunteer sewing Christmas part.  An embroidered towel that has temperature/measurement conversions as well as cooking temperatures.  Thanks Jean for this towel.  What a lot of work:

Our volunteer sewing group is still making lots of fidget quilts for dementia patients.  Here's a couple of recent ones:

Hopefully I remember to post a lot more photos in the near future. 

A "New" Sewing Machine!

Wow, it hasn't been a month since the last post.  Who knows, maybe the posts will go up more frequently for the next while. 

My dentist should be able to retire soon.  I've had two crowns in the past month.  Actually the second one is still a temporary, with the permanent one next week.  Anyone wondering why I'm not buying fabric?  (Besides having a huge stash already.)

Between appointments I was able to get into the sewing room a bit.  Four fidget quilt tops are ready to take to volunteer sewing come September.  Now I have no excuse not to get working on DS's Christmas quilt.  It's on the frame, ready to be quilted.  I'm just too chicken to get started!  This top will not be easy to quilt.

Here are the four little fidget quilts:

Each quilt top has a block with a zipper, pockets, embroidery, either tatting or some other textured item and ribbon loops.  One even has a bow and a baby sock.

DH must have got tired of my checking all the garage sales we stopped at for a toy Singer sewing machine.  It's the thrill of the chase, you know.  Anyway, he decided to surprise me by buying one on eBay.  The 1955 Singer Sew Handy 20 arrived yesterday.  She is in great condition, complete with the original manual and table clamp.  A very nice stitch!

The cardboard box is in very rough shape.  I know I'll get yelled at by the "experts" but I plan on doing something with the box to keep the artwork preserved.  But the box will be destroyed.

I'll post a better photo once she is set up properly.

It took a while but a quilt is finished.

Back in December, 2017, Deb from hearts2hands let members know that there would be another New Years Day Mystery Quilt Event.  A number of us started the new year going between our computers and sewing machines.  A great way to start the year!  And a quilt top finished.

Seven months later the top is still sitting on the frame.  As there are a lot of tops that need to get quilted, it was time to start up the Bailey.  Several hours later, the quilting was finished and the quilt off the frame.  Not the quilting pattern I wanted to do.  Instead a simple meander.  But it's done.

The binding was finished yesterday. The quilt has been in the washer and dryer.

Today I've been piecing the backing for the next top to go on the frame.  This one can't take seven months to get done.  It's a Christmas present for DS.  And the quilting will be very fussy.  Time to get at it!

Quilt Tops and Sewing Machines

I had promised myself that I would be better with my blog updates.  Yeah, that didn't happen.  It's been ages.  But a lot has happened.

A molar broke, requiring multiple dentist appointments.  I now have a shiny new crown (I wanted a tiara). 

Volunteer sewing wrapped up for the summer with a great pot luck.  I was challenged to bring vegetable noodle dish.  Never one to do things the easy way (like purchase pre-made spiralized vegetables) I went all out and started by looking for a spiralizer.  Fortunately I lucked out and found a $109 electric one on sale for $39.  Better yet, the store was having a one day sale on the item so my final cost was just under $30.  Not bad.  Now to figure out how to use it.  That lead to a lot of experiments.  Some successful, some not.  My contribution to the pot luck was reasonably received and very little came home.  So I guess it was okay.

DH decided I need another sewing machine.  So he picked up a Sew Handy on eBay.  She should be here in a few weeks, and I can't wait!  We're not sure what year she was manufactured.  Once she's here, cleaned up, and researched, I'll put up a post all about this little machine.

At volunteer sewing, the gals were talking about quilted rugs made from jelly rolls (2 1/2" strips).  They are lovely.  A lot of fabric, batting and fusible web used to join the bat is used.  All the talk about rugs made me think of toothbrush rugs.

About 30 years ago I was shown how to make these rugs.  It was fun, but then other interests took over.  I found the toothbrush tool (toothbrush with a hole to hang it up with, the brush part cut off and shaped to a point).  But I could not remember how to make the knot used for the rug. 

A quick YouTube search and I found several methods, including the one I had been shown.  Naturally, I sent a link to the video to my Mom.  She immediately emails me back to say she was making rugs this way back in the 1930's when she was 5 or 6 years old.  These rugs were used beside the beds on winter mornings when the wood stove would have burned out and those floors were ice cold!  A lot of memories were talked about!  If I ever produce a rug with decent tension, I'll post a photo of it!

DH's parents love going to garage sales.  MIL brought over one of her finds:

A huge pile of flannel.  All in large triangle shapes.  I only remembered to take a photo when the pile was 2/3" cut down into usable squares and rectangles.  It took several days to get all this fabric cut down.  But it will be great for the fidget quilts the volunteers make.

Susan from our MeWe group posted a photo of a quilt she's working on.  As soon as she named the book I realized I have the same book.  And I've never made anything from it!  Off the the sewing room.  Sunny Lanes from Pat Speth's "Nickle Quilts" was quickly made.   This top made a small dent in my 5" scrappy squares.  I might have to make a dozen more to notice any real reduction.  But it's a start!

One of these days I'll get to the quilt frame, finish the quilt already on it.  Then finish the 5 or 6 waiting to be quilted.  Then get this one done!

Another Month!

I'm not doing very well in keeping this blog up to date!  And there are no excuses this time.  I can't even say that I've been busy quilting.

I did make a birthday present.  And it was well received.  I love this wallet pattern.  It's very practical.  And light.  Of course that depends on what's in it.  But at least it doesn't start out as being heavy.  Some wallets (and purses) are heavy before anything is place in them.  Which is why I use fabric bags, wallets and purses. 

This wallet has Daisy Duck on it.  My friend loves Daisy.  But it's really difficult to find anything with "The Duck".  Even at the Disney Parks.  I'm hoping that changes in the future.  But in the mean time.....here's "Her Duckness".

It's been over a month!

Where did the month of April go?  Birthday's have been celebrated.  Funerals attended.  And dentist appointments....too many dentist appointments!

I broke another tooth.  After the repair, I agreed to getting a crown for it.  The dentist didn't appreciate that what I wanted was a tiara.  We had words, he won. 

Then the tooth broke further down.  A temporary filling has been used until the gums heal enough to figure out if I'll need the crown or have the tooth pulled and an implant put in.  Or some other solution.  Who knows. 

I had been happily quilting along with Angela Walter's free motion challenge.  Then the haze on my cataract lens got so bad that I had to take a break.  The lessons have been saved.  The laser procedure that hopefully will fix the lens is scheduled for tomorrow.  If it's successful, then it will be catch up time for the free motion challenge.  I'm really looking forward to that!

I did make it to volunteer sewing last week.  Bringing my trusty Featherweight machine.  But my little machine would not stitch.  After a half hour of frustration I moved over to the pressing and pinning station and let others do the sewing.

Turns out that when I cleaned and oiled the Featherweight, I failed to put in the bobbin casing properly.  There's a little latch ((for lack of a better word) on the bobbin case that has to be secured by the needle plate.  Fortunately, DH was able to figure the problem out right away.

What's happening with hearts2hands Yahoo quilting group?  Looks like we may be moving over to a new platform.  With the Facebook privacy issues happening, a lot of social media companies are in a panic to cover their butts.  Yahoo Groups has new owners and they will be insisting that everyone agree to new privacy contracts.  Which most of us are refusing to do.  If we don't agree, we will be dropped from the groups.

How will we keep in touch?   Over the past 10 years members of the group have become close friends.  Some have met IRL.   We get inspiration and support from each other.  The hunt was on for a new platform for our group.  And Facebook isn't where most of us were willing to go.

One member suggested MeWe.  We checked it out.  Watched and read reviews not only on how to use this platform, but also the privacy protections.  Not bad!  The group has been created under the name A Scrappy Life.  Members are still not only getting used to it, but testing the privacy limits.  So far, it's looking good.  A bit more time consuming.  And there's a learning curve.  But I think we'll get used to it.

That's it for now.   Off to yet another medical appointment.  Hopefully I can spend time in the sewing room this evening.  Even if it's just to clean machines so they are ready to hum after my laser treatment tomorrow.

Next post I hope to share my secret (from DS) project.  I'm loving how it's turning out so far!!!