What a Sham

Betsy and I are teaching a class to beginning sewers this coming Wednesday.  We have had most, if not all of the students in a previous class.  Hopefully they will remember some of what we taught them.  Especially how to thread the machine.

We will be making a pillow sham from three fat quarters.  I never work with fat quarters.  I always just used regular dimensional fabric.  This has been a challenge.  We wanted to keep it simple and keep the cutting to a minimum.  As a matter of fact, the plan is for us to do the cutting....that way we might get out of there on time this week.

 I had these fat quarters in my stash.  They were a gift. Thank goodness I had them; saved me a boat load of time cutting up some fabric into fat quarters.  Well, I had to cut some of my own stash into a fat quarter because when I cut the original fat quarter I cut it wrong.  Hence the purple that doesn't quite match.  But check out the stitches.  See how much that 201 likes white thread? 

This was the third pillow cover like this I made.  I made the first at Betsy's yesterday and the second this morning on the 31-15.(We awoke to the alarm clock choking on a brown out.  Fourth time in less than two weeks that NYSEG has failed us).  I love this machine.  It is so smooth and quiet.  No motor.  I did have to adjust the belt a couple of times.  But I think it is just fine now. Check out the knee lifter.  It lifts the presser foot up and when up it lets it down.  Way cool.

In teaching sewing to beginners, it is most helpful to keep it very straight forward and simple.  The draw string bag class was way too complex.  Hopefully this one will be just right.  We will keep you posted.

Bag Day

I started this bag in March when Betsy and I were getting ready for our sewing classes that never happened.  It is a nine patch quilted tote.  I used fabric from Betsy's stash and I love the colors.

I finished it today.  It had been languishing on the table for all this time.  I originally thought that I would try free motion quilting with one of the 301s.  Today I got an itch to FINISH something and so I just used the 201 and stitched in the ditch.  I thought that a walking foot would work the best and tried the one from my viking.  It is a low shank machine so I thought it might work.  Not so.  The regular foot did a fine job.  More testimony to the wonder of the 201.  I know that my Quilt Designer would not have tolerated that really thick batting without the walking foot.  I'll put up with the finnicky tension just to have the power of that 201. Plus it sewed through all layers effortlessly when I stitched the bag together.

It is completely reversible.  If you ever wanted to be seen in public carrying a bag that looks like men's pajamas. You can see that I did try some FMQ briefly but that was on one of the Kenmores without a darning foot.  It was summarily unsatisfactory.  The stitches are tiny and I am NOT looking forward to pulling them out.  One night when I am watching a movie.....maybe. 

I also finished Anna's bag.  I think that the strap is too wide but it is comfy.  I padded it with baby crib bumper batting that I had left over from another project. 

It too is fully lined.  I think it will hold up for a little while.  I plan to make another and I have already figured out how I am going to attach the strap on the next one.

Max had told me that I should make Anna a big bag with a zipper so I started this one in early June.  I finished it today.

 

It is fully lined and I think it would make a great overnight bag.  I think I will make a draw string bag for shoes and another for toiletries.  A nice little luggage set for a carry on.

 

Plagerism

My daughter in law wanted a zippered tote for her birthday (now more than a month gone.....)
She showed me one she likes.  The problem is the strap.  It is rope and digs into her shoulder when she carries it.  She had some fabric and we bought some lining while we were out that way a month ago.  I worked on it today.  Finally.

Here is the original.  I copied it without permission.  (plagerism).  I did change the strap.  So it isn't really plagerism.

Here is the one that I have made. I used batting for the strap to pad it.  It is quite comfortable.   I see, though, that the strap is too long.  Darn.  I basted it first, tried it one and found it fit me perfectly.  So I stitched it up with a good stitch. But now, looking at in on the mannequin it clearly is too long.  Anna is not as tall as I am, it will be too long for her.  Shoot.  Good thing I have a seam ripper. 

So much to sew, so little time

Tonight was our class on how to make a draw string bag.  It went way over time.   I planned poorly, not knowing the audience, and so we ran out of time. But, undaunted we all stayed until the project was done.  True we had to pitch in and help finish the kids' bags, but they were pleased.  I hope.  

Teaching sewing is hard.  I was so lucky to have had my Mom teach me.  I remember sitting on her lap and running the foot controller and she would guide the fabric.  It worked really well.  I don't remember when I graduated to doing it on my own.  But she was a good teacher and let me learn and work independently.   I sewed a lot in high school and then always had a sewing machine once I graduated from college.  My first was a Kenmore.  We used Kenmores in tonight's class.  I love those machines.

We had two 9 year old sisters (two of triplets).  I like to teach kids how to sew.  I think, though, that we cannot do a mixed class.  We had adults and kids in tonight's class.  Kids only or adults only is the best.

We wanted to launch the classes quickly.  Melany's store just opened and she had been getting many requests for classes.  So we jumped in.  Not a bad thing, really.  Educational all the way around.

Next week Betsy is in charge.  And I am happy to defer to her for the last class as well.  Still, I want to do a Saturday class with kids.  That would be fun... 

Lesson Plan

I made this today.  It is the prototype for Wednesday's class.  It was a fun little project.  There are plans on the web for free. 

It isn't hard to make at all. I did take photos and have outlined detailed, step by step, fully illustrated instructions.  I plan to hand them out at class.  Contact me if you would like them.....might be a nominal fee,  just so you know.  The blog is free. The Website isn't. 

 Next class we will be making a pieced, envelope pillow cover.  I guess we had better get busy on that lesson plan........

I wish I could just sew all day.  Maybe someday......

Sold!

It's going to Florida.  I spent two hours packing it tonight.  Ebay is funny.  I was pretty convinced that the machine was going to stay home.  Five minutes to go on the auction and I was trying hard not to be too disappointed.  I mean, it is a Centennial 201 and it is a lovely machine.  Quiet and powerful and it makes a nicer stitch, really, than my own.  But still, I don't need two (or three).

I was working on the Drawstring tutorial for Wednesday night's class.  The email bing sounded and to my surprise eBay informed me that the machine had sold.  Must have been an auction stealer according to the bidding times.

So it is off for the South.  Better it than me. I lived in Florida in 1973.  I was a kid (20) and it was ok but I don't do well with the heat. Still, I had a great little sports car there; a TR-4A.  It never ran when it rained.  How can a British car never run in the rain? 

http://world-viewer.com/photos/triumph-tr4-a/11/

OOOHHH now that I look at it again, I  want one......

No Charge

I took in a Singer 348 to Clean, Oil and Adjust yesterday.  The machine was expelling some millet and sunflower seeds.  When I removed the drip pan this is what I found

Now G. had told me she was sewing along fine with the machine and it all of a sudden stopped sewing.  None of these seeds were to blame. When she brought it to me, I found that the power cord was loose and I thought that was the problem.

I happily cleaned this machine.  I oiled it, cleaned old grease off of the gears and applied new grease and wiped the whole machine down with some Krud Kutter.  It sure was pretty when I was done.

Then I decided to test its stitch.  OOPS  I forgot to clean under the power cord.  Double OOPS and some other expletives when I unplugged it, turned it over and found THIS.

So this is scary.  I did not run the machine.  I tucked it away, called G. and told her about the sad finding.  She retrieved her machine tonight and offered to pay me for the work I had done.  I said  "NO"  I would not have done any of that work had I been smart and checked this out first.  My fault and she shouldn't have to pay for that, for Pete's sake.  She argued a bit and finally I said, " Just make a donation to the SPCA then."  Seems fair.

You know, I really do want to repair and refurbish sewing machines.  But it takes a lot of skill and even more common sense.  Some day I will acquire enough skill.  Its' the common sense I worry about.  I wonder if there is a gene for that?  Sort of like the tidy gene.

www.sewingmachinemagic.com

Our web site is up.  It is a baby and has only one page.  Folks just have to be understanding right now as I get educated about how to build a site.  I figure if I can learn how to re wire a motor I can learn how to build a web site.  Wish me luck.   www.sewingmachinemagic.com

Bye Daddy

Betsy and I decided that we needed a Web Site.  More than just the little one page deal we got along with the Domain that we bought from GoDaddy.  So I signed up for their WebSite Tonight do it yourself Web Site Builder.  It was a disaster.  Apparently the latency in my satellite dish is too long and I was unable to log in successfully 9 times out of 10 and when I was successful I would get booted out for time delay....It was a most frustrating experience.  After three days of trying this and that and that and this (I went next door and used a neighbor's Hughes Net satellite, worked just fine, though slow).  Today I finally went over to Betsy's to try one more time.  It did not work there either (she has the same dish that I have )   According to the ISP tech, GoDaddy is supposed to have some sort of setting that could be adjusted to accept satellite users.  Not so according to the very nice young man who helped me today.  I cancelled the account.  Now to find a Web Site builder that will work.

Bye Daddy

Kenmore 158.1931

I just had to work on a machine today.  I spent too much time trying to get a decent photo for the web page http://sewingmachinemagic.com.  I had to haul the 201 down from the sewing loft and set it all up and try and try to get something in the back ground that would allow readable text.  This will just have to do.  Later I will take another photo...Much later.

This Kenmore is one of my favorites because it has a free arm.  I use my 1760 a lot and I love the free arm capability.   There are times when I feel that I should be loyal to the flat bed machines....then I need the free arm and I am done with that silliness.  There is nothing like a free arm when you need it.

I bought this machine on eBay from BM.  She packed it very poorly and it arrived damaged.

 She did agree to take it back.  Then I changed my mind.  Forgetting to include the foot controller in the package when I packed the machine for return  inluenced my decision.  Plus it came with a whole lot of goodies.  The machine makes a very nice stitch and the stretch stitches now work (they didn't when it arrived, "fully serviced and ready to go.")  Whoever serviced this did  a lousy job.  The old grease was still stuck on the gear cover.  

And the gears were dry

I cleaned out the old grease and put some Tri-Flow grease on those gears.
Much better....You can see how the Tri-Flow grease really sticks. 

The tension was all wacky and I spent some time taking that thing apart and re-assembling it.  I finally got it right.  Setting the number dial on this machine is not as easy as setting it on a Singer such as the 66 or even the 401.  I just fiddled with it.  Don't ask, please, I just really don't know what I did.  I did not try to machine out before I took the tension apart.  It looked odd to me so I just figured it was wrong.

The machine stitches very nicely now.  Except that the cams don't work right.  Tomorrow the machine goes in the Jetta for a sauna.  Maybe that will heat some of the gunked up oil and grime and then I can put more Tri-Flow somewhere in there and try it out.  Who knows?