Saturday, July 27, 2013

Sewing with the grands

It takes a lot of time to post a blog. Hats off to those that do more than one daily!

I've not had a "Friday finish" or been able to show anything NEW on my knitting needles. I have been sewing.

The 2 of the grands 7&10 were over this week and we made jammy bottoms. Only because of all the running around, and chattering I cut the front of one pair at a different length. So I shortened the back and tightened them up w elastic for the younger of the 2 girls.They actually did all of the sewing, w just a little assistance from me. One is a lefty, and it is harder for me to teach lefty.... I sat opposite her to teach her how to pin. My poor table, I don't think the cover is damaged, but they really didn't understand about pinning. "it's not a nail!" 

Here's the Finished Pair:                                                           and the second pair:

 

They had to be home before we finished them. I finished the hem and am waititng for them to return to work on the second pair. I thought we might be sewing today, but she has a BD party to go to. Maybe monday.... they are too busy. They both loved sewing on the little feather weight!
 
But here's what I've been working on:


It's a fabric I had for a long time, the fairies in the center of the star blocks. I bought the neutral at Rainbow's End Quilt Shop in Florida, Actually the Fairy fabric is also from there.
 This is for the second quilt similar to the first, I'm making a TON of flying geese.
 Also this is part of my Leader Ender project.



here is the main block of the leader ender project. I made one complete block, then finished all of the 1/2 square triangles. My Grandteen started me making this quilt, so I gave her the combined 1/2 square triangles some made into Flying Geese units, and all of the center squares so she can combine them for me to finish. She needs to do something on it, if not sewing it together she needs to own it some how.


I'm also making this at my senior center quilt group. It will be a teen sized by the time it is done. I saw it in a magazine and wanted to make it.... But it too is taking TOO long. I brought it home w me hoping to get the pieces pressed, and joined together. I will need borders too.


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

What have I been doing??

I upgraded from my Pfaff Grand Quilter on a frame, whihc don't get me wrong was a great machine! To a Nolting 17 Fun quilter.



Mike fromMemory Lane Quilting came out on Saturday and assembled the new machine, We loaded it w a couple yds of ugly fabric ( Sorry Bonnie Hunter, I didn't want to cut it up) and a scrape of batting that I had been saving for a baby blanket.

It ran great while he was here. He doodles well w it too! I even tried some feathers. I had some difficulty after I changed the bobbin out, and advanced the fabric.



It seemed to be pulling on me, like there was a burr on the needle. I adjusted the height and that seemed to help, and the tension of the bobbin. I hate messing w the bobbin tension. But who knows what thread was in there.


I wish I had taken pictures of him and the assembly of the frame. It was a 2 hr approximate task. Since I have some experience w quilting he left after some other info. I finished quilting that scrap, and am not turning it into a Dog blanket. Plan on sending it to one of my kids She can use it in the car. I've set up a second sample a little larger to practice on, but bc I'm out of batting I'm waiting to find it.

I think I might have some creme rose for Joanns. I thought it was too thin and haven't used it in a while. I prefer Hobbs 80/20 but that seems hard to find locally.


 After I finished that blanket, I proceeded to load another practice piece, and ran through the exercises Bc I was still having trouble w the stitches. It also seemed to be rough, noisy, and not as smooth as the one at the show.
I called and emailed him, but it was the week before  July 4th, I think he had said he would not be available. I had a wedding on July 6th, DH's Daughter was getting married. So he did come out the following week after the wedding.
Adjusted the machine, played with the machine, and then I tried the one out that he had as a demo at the convention center. NO comparison!
So I spent the extra bucks to purchase a newer used machine!
It worked so much better, I was able to easily do my normal doodle quilting, followed a stencil, my feathers still need to be practiced,
but so much better than before.
 
Well the computer is not uploading any more photos. I guess I'm done for the day.