A Little Stitchin' Time

 I've been working in the fun room.

It been a game of sorting and nixing and did I mention sorting?

I began a pinwheel quilt-top last spring.

I had the pinwheels arranged on the floor.

And there they sat. . . 

all summer!

The garden happened, and that was all there was to it.

Then the garden ran late~

Finally, during the past couple weeks,

I've been able to get back to it.

I finished the quilt-top.

I have to finish the quilt I'm quilting now

which is taking forever.

Then I have another one in front of it,

then I can get to this one.

(before the borders)

As I have been stitching,

I have also been trying to go through things 

and do what I like to call "editing."

I have done plenty of good ol' organizing,

and I have a stack of things to go to donation.

In addition to that, I've been trying to think

of projects to "use up" some fabric.

One of the things I've wanted to do for a long time

is make new ironing board covers.

I have two ironing boards - both vintage/antique.

The covers on both were in dire condition.

The larger board, I use for shirts and household ironing.

The smaller board, I like by my quilting 

for pressing blocks and quilt pieces.

I figured I would make a new cover for the smaller one.

So I gathered some fabric and set out to work.

Well, I didn't feel like measuring and thought I could just wing it.

I thought wrong.

Cheater cheater Punkin eater - never pays.

In this case, it was too big so I went ahead 

and put it on the larger board.

It worked fine but then I still had the smaller board to cover.

Back at it but this time I measured like a good girl.

It looks more "wine" colored than it really is.

Both work great and it cleans up the room that much more

having a couple more pieces of fabric out of the stash

and not having ratty looking ironing boards around.

It's funny how something so simple can render a sense of accomplishment and pleasure in using it.

It's nice to move back indoors for the winter.

Our first flakes fell this morning.

Nothing sticking and I still had to go to work,

but enjoyable to see nonetheless.

By February we will be singing a different tune.

But for now~

the first snowfall is cause for celebration.

Keep well and warm dear friends. 

 

~Buttons~

Well Hello there~

Before we get soaked, let's go inside.

It's been raining the better part of two weeks,

even had a couple of snowy mornings.

Can I put the kettle on for you?

You should stand by the wood-stove to warm up and dry off a bit.

I'll be right there.

There we go.

Now, I wanted to show you something.

I began doing this years ago,

but you know how some things just kinda slip by 

until you have a project on your hands.

It's these buttons, you see.

I've always kept my buttons.

I know lots of folks say they're not worth keeping,

but I keep 'em.

Whenever I go to cut a shirt for rags or a quilt,

I take the buttons first.

I haven't bought buttons in years.

They come in handy.

Mr. LB is constantly loosing buttons.

I just go to my dish of ugly, man buttons and find one the right size.

That doesn't sound very nice, but that's what I call them.

I was recently pulling some shirts apart for a project and pulled these.

Then what I do is get safety pins and string the buttons on those.

If there are too many, I just use a second pin and hook them together.

Then certain colored buttons go in various jars.

When I need buttons for a project, I just go to the jars.

This is the part that's slipped.

I have buttons in the bottom of this little basket,

and that wooden box,

and a variety of little dishes sitting around.

And there are more yet in jars that are in need of sorting.

So now it's a project~

gather up all my buttons and put them to right.

I might need bigger jars.

Oh listen, the water's hot.

Why don't you pick which cup you want to use,

and we'll sit and chat.

By the way, how are you at sorting buttons?

                                                          

A Welding Apron

The latest stitch has been nothing snuggly or pretty.

It's actually been something very useful.

Mr. LB is a metal fabricator,

and in addition to using his great math skills,

he spends plenty of time behind a torch.

Of course sparks fly,

and it's not uncommon for him to come home with holes

burnt out of his clothes.

We try to find his work clothes at thrift stores,

but it can still be discouraging when he has a nice pair of work jeans

and burns them up the first day he wears them.

When thrifting, finding his size doesn't always happen.

Shirts are a little easier to find,

but the wear on his clothes far exceeds most normal people.

Here's where teamwork comes in handy.

I happen to know how to stitch.

While on the look out for more jeans,

I found a leather coat.

I bought the coat and proceeded to make an apron for him.

The apron was actually his idea,

and I kinda just ran with it.

For the body of the apron, I used the back of the coat.

Then from the remainder made the straps, etc.

It has a rectangle clip for his tape-measure
and is low enough in front that he can still get to his pen & soapstone.
After wearing it for one day,
he said he wanted it to have a belt sewn in.
He initially didn't want one, because he wanted it to be easy
to get on and off.
He found that it falls forward without a belt,
especially if his tape-measure is hanging on it.
The picture was taken before the belt was added.
So far so good.
Now, we'll just have to see how long it wears.

I have an old solid machine that I used for this project.
If your sewing machine is new and/or has a nice fine stitch
that you don't want to ruin, I would
think twice about sewing leather with it.

Until next time,
Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

A "New" Hand Crank Sewing Machine

I would like to introduce you to Sweet Nell.

She is a Frister & Rossmann hand crank sewing machine 

manufactured in Germany in 1905.

There is quite the history lesson behind her.

You will find no badge or makers symbol.

She has beautiful Egyptian decals

even though some of them have seen better days.

She stitches like a dream.

So the story goes,

as stated above she was manufactured in Germany in 1905.

She then took a little trip to a distributor in London, England.

At some point between when she was manufactured

and the time she was sold in England,

there began a war (WWI)

at which time her badge was removed.

No decent Englishman was going to buy a product

that was made in Germany.

This made tracking down her history a little more challenging.

Once I figured out what brand she was,

it all kinda fell together.
A backwards F and forward R within the scroll-work.

I got her last weekend at an estate sale.

I now wish I could ask the owner (now deceased)

where she got it.

Was it from her family?

Did she pick it up at a tag sale or second hand shop?

She had 8? machines there.

This machine was made in Germany,

sold in England,

and somehow through travels that span 109 years and

will forever more remain a secret,

now resides at her new home in Oregon, USA.

This is just one of the reasons I love old relics.

I can hardly wait to stitch something other than scraps with her.

Until Next Time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

You're Not Going to Believe This: Another Singer Sewing Machine

Evidently, I collect sewing machines.

No, not on purpose.

They are like strays.

They just show up at my doorstep,

and I can't let them go unloved.

Meet Jane (as in Jetson.)

She is a 1961 Singer Rocketeer.

Sounds like a do-op group doesn't it?

I cleaned her up and

she stitches like a dream.

Unfortunately,

she doesn't have her attachments with her.

(Her luggage must have been lost on the flight over.)

She reminds me of the cars from that era-

with the fender for the light.

And check out under the hood. 

The spool holder for the top is to the left 

of the two that are spring loaded 

and pop up when the lid is opened.  

To the right is where the attachment discs are inserted 

for those snazzy stitches.

Unfortunately (somewhat) this is another cabinet machine.

That makes three cabinet machines

plus the treadle!

I won't share how many cased machines

are living here.

I am running out of room.

I think this weekend, 

I will get them all out and

try to figure out which ones can stay

and which ones I need to find homes for.

In the past,

I have sold them to 4H-ers

for $10-$20 depending upon

how much I had into them.

They are great for beginners.

They are inexpensive, and

there aren't a bunch of plastic parts

that can break easily.

I wonder if there is an adoption agency for these???

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches.

My Newest Old Toy

I'm such a kid sometimes!

I'd like to introduce you to my latest toy.

I purchased it at a yard sale weekend before last 

and am just now getting to it.

When I asked if it worked,

the lady said,

"Yeah, but I think it needs a needle or something."

I said, "But the motor runs right?"

She assured me it did.

And indeed it does & yes, it does need a needle:)

She must have just used it for a display.

It has that great salmon colored case.

I am just enough of a nut,

that all my machines run.

What use are they if they don't?

Because I have a use for all ?11? of them you know.

I can't help it~ they just find me.

This one has an on/off button - black.

Then to run it, there is the little slide lever.

It is in dire need of cleaning, which

I'm hoping to get to today.

And maybe even add a needle:?)

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

Unstitched!

I really do love stitching.  However, unstitching? Not so much.  Yesterday, I was as much of an unstitcher as I was a stitcher.  My poor abused seam-ripper probably had sore muscles this morning.

I have been trying to get a few things made for a holiday show I will be attending.  I did everything from sewing the brim of the bonnet backwards to sewing the trim on the inside of the skirt rather than the outside.  After all was said and done, I got them done, and I think they are pretty cute. I still need to add the bonnet ribbons to finish them off.

I just love their profile.  I think I will make her a little book to hold.

I also got a boarder on a child's quilt and the back pieced and ready to go.  Even something this simple I can flub up on.  I was sewing the boarder strips together and sewed one going across the wrong diagonal. 

I just have to say, "I am now one very talented unstitcher."  Do you ever have those days - Naaa, (don't admit it, and I won't tell:)

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches (and no seam-ripping)

Cathedral Window Progress

I was able to go to quilt group yesterday, so I took along my Cathedral Window quilt to work on.  I posted some time back when I was still collecting the fabrics - see here.

I'm not sure if I mentioned it, but of the background fabric (dark browns,) I needed 25 yards to make 396 9.5" blocks.

I have here my blocks cut.  I need a few more and have the fabric, but didn't want to drag along the cutting mat, ruler, and cutter in addition to my own iron and travel board.  There is one there, but I didn't want to hog it.  Once these large blocks are cut, they get folded (using an iron) into a 4 inch block.  It's like origami with fabric.

My mother-in-law gave me this cute little can, so I put all 594 of the 2.5" windows in it so they won't fray, get lost, or collect dust while I am working on the background.

They all fit - barely.

Then I got my picnic basket - yes, you read that correctly.

It all fits in there so it isn't just sitting around in piles.  As of yesterday, I have 200 of the 396 large blocks folded/ironed.  Over half way there:)  I did start sewing the centers together one evening just so I could sit down stairs and actually see my hubby, but I won't let myself start sewing them together until I get them all folded and pressed.  There are several fabrics so I want them mixed up - not a cluster of all one fabric in one corner etc.  If you don't like to iron, I wouldn't recommend this pattern.  I can hardly wait to do the real stitching on it.  I am doing it all by hand so it isn't exactly a quilt in a day sort of quilt.  I will keep you posted.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches.

Easy Peasy Gift Idea

I have made these for years.  This set is for my aunt from my mom & somehow I am the one sewing:)  Did you know that the average American uses 7 trees worth of paper napkins each year?  That's just napkins not counting all the other paper 'stuff' we use.  I am not a freak, but I do like to do my part in trying to produce less garbage and do what I can to help the environment.  The shopping bags are a blast, buuuuut something else that is just as much fun is a set of cloth napkins.  I have a set for every holiday as well as a couple of extra sets just because.  I seldom use paper towels or napkins.  It's great, I don't run out & I get to play with fabric.  I will work backwards here to show you how.

First, decide how big you want your napkins.  For my everyday napkins, I make them about 15 inches square.  That makes it easy as far as figuring - you can get three from about 15 inches of fabric.  The width of fabric varies a little so I just measure and divide by three.  Depending upon the fabric, sometimes they are only 14.5 inches square.  That's fine too.  More formal napkins are usually a little larger - maybe 18-20 inches square.  At that measurement, you get 4 out of a yard to yard and a quarter of fabric with a strip left over to put in a table runner - see a bonus either way.

Once you have decided and have your fabric cut into squares, it is time to sew.  I have a rolled-hem foot for my old machine (okay, I hear you - one of my old machines.)  This makes it easy.  I just continue one right after the other then snip them apart and move on to side two.  You do want your finished edge to be at the bottom of your sewing edge as you work.  The unfinished edge is easier to feed into the foot.  When you get to the last side, you have to make a little rolled hem and place it under the foot to get it started - at least for this very small one.  Some of the rolled-hem feet make a little larger hem, and they seem to be a little easier to feed.  If you don't have the presser foot, you can just make a small rolled hem as you would on most sewing projects.  I have made hundreds of these, so I love my foot!  Now that's something you don't hear every day.

I like to frey check the corners when I am finished just for good measure, but that is entirely optional. 

I don't quite have this set finished yet - I'm getting there, but it is really cute fabric so I am enjoying it.  Just think, another excuse reason that is to buy fabric (and help save a tree too.)  Have a beautiful day.

As always, Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches.

Serious Problem

Okay, so here's the problem.  I have these things that are needing to be done like laundry, floors, lawn, etc.  You know the kinds of things that I am talking about right?  Weeeell, we went to a couple of quilt shops yesterday, and now in addition to what I am already working on, I have new fabric beckoning me to come play.  How ever does one put her needle down?  I couldn't handle the pressure.  I went and cut some blocks for a cathedral window quilt I am planning on doing - 396 background blocks using 25 yards of fabric - yikes.  The fun part will be post ironing stage when I actually get to sew.  I also got a couple of other pieces just for hoots and giggles - like this one. 

Isn't it wonderful?  And, notice the naughty fella in the background taking a peek.  I just loved it, have no idea what I will do with it, but loved it still.  Here's a little closer shot.

I did go out and mow the lawn and will soon begin laundry, but had to get some fabric time in.  I think between loads, I have a couple stitches to put in place:) So, I was thinking - no laughing, eh go ahead and laugh, because I came up with a few indicators that it's time to set the needle down:

It's time to stop stitching when...

*you can't look out the window and see the children playing in the yard, because the grass is taller than they are.

*your laundry pile it taller than your fabric pile.

*on your phone under emergency contacts, it has the number to your local quilt shoppe.

Heehee

If you can think of more, please leave them in comments so we can all read them.  I love to hear from you.

Many Smiles & Even Stitches 

My "Newest" Singer

  I just have to show you my latest little Singer sewing machine.  I don't know if sewing machines 'find' anybody else, but they just seem to be drawn to me (as opposed to the other way around:) 

My pictures are a little off today - please excuse.

Well, this sweet little gem came to me pretty dirty.  It is the size of a featherweight and in the cabinet.  The handles on the cabinet are not original, but it is in overall good shape.  Rather than the foot pedal or treadle, it has the knee pedal - which I admit, this is the first one I have that way.  In case you didn't know, you can go on the singer website here and follow the prompts to date your machine.  They will even print out a certificate with your name and the serial number of your machine on it.  This one was made in 1910.  Now, I need to do this with a couple others.

I just have to show you a couple of the before shots - you know before the half of container of q-tips and alcohol and soap and water etc.

Yes, I know the hammer is down in the photo - I was working with the tension; the tension plates were stuck shut!  After I cleaned it, the stitches were perfect!  I can't wait to actually make something with it.  If you have a Singer, I would love to know what you are stitching on.

Free Tutorial Burlap & White Book Mark or Name Tag

Here I go again.  Just thought I would show you a little how to book mark out of burlap and white muslin.  First you will need to go get the piece of burlap you have hiding in a special place so it doesn't make the rest of your fabric smell funny.

Then cut a strip off the end.  It is important that you cut on the grain of the fabric staying between two specific fibers.  If this is tricky for you, try pulling one fiber from the edge.  This will give you a cutting path.  I cut mine two inches wide. I am making a book mark.  If you are making a name tag, you might want it just a tad wider (a nice name tag size is 2.5 X 4.5.)  I then cut 5.5 inches from the strip.  (I will be making more than one so I cut a whole long strip.)  I then cut a piece of iron-on interfacing about 1.5 X 5 inches and ironed that (steamer off) to the burlap.  Very Very Very important - make sure the shiny side is toward the fabric so it doesn't stick to your iron.  That would be bad.  The measurements I use leave about 1/4 inch all around to pull some of the fibers away for a 'fringy' look.  Heehee, I like that word.  I then did what I refer to as doodling with my needle.  I just made a couple little flowers.  I don't use patterns for little things like this, but you could draw a little flower, a cat, write a name, or just any ol' thing you are into.  Next, you will need to get your white muslin. 

Snip and tear from one corner, then from the same corner, snip and tear in the other direction so you end up with a freyed corner.

 I then lay the burlap piece on the white muslin and snipped and tore to make it just slightly larger than the burlap (about another 1/4 inch on all sides.)

 

 

Now you will need your wonder under or heat-n-bond which ever double sided adhesive you prefer.  Cut a piece just slightly larger than the interfacing you cut before stitching.  Iron it (shiny side down & no steam) on the burlap piece.  While you are at it, might as well iron the muslin piece.  Peal the paper off and  place the muslin on the burlap making sure it is centered both top to bottom and side to side.

Iron this from the back - you don't want to take a chance either cinging or snagging your embroidery on the front.  Also, the heat travels through muslin better than it does through burlap. 

And "Voila!"  There you have it.  If you are making name tags, simply hot glue a pin back to the back of the tag or use fun, big safety pin to pin them on.  It is almost easier to make several of these at one time and use the little assembly line technique rather than just one.  This one is going to a very nice lady I met in Prosser last weekend. 

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think.
Hope you are having a fantastic weekend.