But it showed up cracked down there.

It’s been tagged and put in the queue to be fixed – which should be about a month – so in about a month we would will know what other damage has been done to her.  The good news is I took out the insurance, so if they actually still make the parts it can be fixed.  If not, I’ll have to go from there.

I know it’s just a sewing machine, but it makes me sad.  I should probably mention this was the very last birthday gift my father bought me before he passed away suddenly the following February.  I remember the exact conversation when I told him this was the one I wanted.  I shopped and shopped – testing them out and decided on this one without the computerized front (which was a newer thing at the time).  I figure a mechanical machine would last a long time.  Well… there you go – thank you UPS for tossing things around.

In the heyday of this sewing phase, I was gifted by my folks this Pfaff Varimatic 6091 and since the mid-90′s it’s been traveling around with me.  About 7 years ago I decided it needed a cleaning and tune-up and took it to a Pfaff dealer.  Well fast forward and in the spring I found the pressure foot was sticky.  I took the cover off with the light bulb and found the grease turned to glue.  Hmmm… well, it’s time for another cleaning, tune-up and a basic factory reset – so it’s flying off today to the Pfaff TN service center to be worked on by their trained professionals.  They said I should see it back in a month.  I guess they have a little backlog going.  I have a little sewing to do, so I’ll be anxiously waiting to get her back.

I followed this pattern and everything seemed to be going well, but then I decided I really wanted to use the elastic band, so how could I do that… I thought maybe a large button hole on the back.

Hmmm…. well that didn’t go so well, but it’s not so bad not to use it.  When I was putting the button hole in, I thought this would be so much simpler with knitting.  Cast off and then cast on – instant button hole.

One of my new found loves is the fountain pen.  I bought my first fountain pen and ink this past week.  This Poussiere de Lune translates to Moon Dust.  I love it and it’s an extra-fine nib Lamy.  Writing with it is just a joy.  It makes me want to write.  Of course I’m coveting their new special edition pink Lamy.

So we got our first delivery of the CSA this week and we got arugula.  Lots of arugula.  I made a pesto last night, which turned out just ok.

DH however fixed it up tonight with some chicken and put some more tasty things with it and it was much more mild tonight.  Last night it was way too bitey.

We also headed out to the home depot where we found some seriously cheap overhead lighting and bought two which should flood lighting into my studio area. The one thing I hated about working down there is – not enough light! That shouldn’t be a problem now. I will really know if it’s red or pink that I’m dyeing before I get it out of the room. Yeah!!!

Speaking of red, if you weren’t aware as I wasn’t until just recently, the Red Scarf Project 2008 has been moved up and is in full swing. I missed out last year and was totally bummed. I’m in for this year. For a donation you can get your name into a drawing for some seriously cool prizes. I saw a coveted Starmore book over there that would seriously look nice in my library. There were a ton of other great prizes too.

There has been knitting – here are the two sleeves side by side.

Nearly matching…. getting closer. I’m thinking by the weekend I’ll be casting on the Bee Fields Shawl. It’s really hard not too. It’s just so lovely, I keep looking at it fondly. Just the collar on this baby and then the sewing up. You’ll also be happy to know I finally mastered the spit-splice.

Today Monsieur Purl had a few errands that I knew would take some time, so I asked to be dropped off at the JoAnn Fabrics in the same shopping center. He took about 45 minutes came in and headed to the Halloween section and entertained himself for awhile. Actually he bought more stuff in JoAnn’s than I did. (lol) I picked out a few Simplicity bag patterns, because they were $1.99 and like most knitters – I’m a bag ho. Plus, they looked simple enough. After that, I picked out a bag and started to pick out some Quarter Flats for the construction. I’m having a lot of confidence in myself right now – because the change purse I gave Bev my secret pal came out so good. When we arrived home, Madame Purl’s mother called. Here is how our conversation went…

Mme Purl – “I bought a few simplicity patterns and picked out some Quarter Flats for it.”

Mother – “Don’t you remember the last sewing project you totally F-up’ed. I’m still living with the horrible results.” (I was on an extended visit with her and it was just a little needle roll.)

Mme Purl – (laughing) “Yes, I remember but I think this is easy. I can do it.”

Mother – “Just send it to me and I’ll sew it up for you. Stick with the knitting, you’re good at knitting.”

My mother is quite blunt. My friends will tell you I am too – I don’t mean to be, but you see what I’m used too. Anyway, I’ve learned over many, many years that it is really no use arguing with her over dumb stuff like this. So I will send it to her, but I also went back to the store and bought the same patterns and new fabric and will try a different model. This way if I ever get the bag back from her, I will have two.

I think that she really doesn’t have the time. She is an excellent, professional sewer, but I never get anything done because she is really too busy. I figure in a year I will get it back – maybe. If I get it sooner, I will let you know.

After a conversation with Monsieur Purl he agreed that I should try it again too. If I gave up everytime I had a failure, I would have never learned to knit, let alone spin. Those results were disastrous. I think I threw an entire 8 ounces away before I got anything that even remotely looked like yarn. Heck, I would never eat if I gave up when things failed – see yesterday’s post for that oops.

So what did I buy? 

Here are the three patterns altogether… The one on the left I’m making and the one on the right Mother is making.

These are the close ups – I’m making the bag on the left – I arranged the squares as follows – left to right – outside, inside, contrast.

Here is the one Mother is making. The one on the right as well -same with the squares, but in this one, one of the contrasts is the inside fabric too. So it’s outside, inside, and contrast.

Anyway, the way I see it is everyone will be happy. She will be happy she is helping me, I will be happy in double time because I will have a homemade bag from my Mother in fabrics I picked out and get to make one on my own to see if I can really do it. She never comes to visit me, so she will never see it – I’ll take her bag when I go to visit her. Sneaky I know, but it keeps everyone happy.

Anyway – Happy Fall. Let the knitting begin… I’m signed up to do the Zimmermania and I’m hoping to get swatched really soon.