I sat down and sewed on Faygo Kitty Machine… which my Mother has insisted we call them… these may [...]]]> So if you’re keeping count this is really the 4th, but I hot handed off that Viking to get the Horizon and never looked back.  It wasn’t a bad little machine, but we just didn’t bond.

I sat down and sewed on Faygo Kitty Machine… which my Mother has insisted we call them… these may be what I call grief gifts.  You know.. the “Oh well fell better if we get ourselves a little something.”   She also got one and we instantly bonded to our new lovely machines.

There are just too many things I love about this machine.  One is the stitching.  It makes a beautiful stitch.  It’s a straight stitch only machine.  It does one thing and does it really well.

Next is the fact my fabric is not randomly ate at random intervals by menacing feed dogs.  Next is no stinking mess on the back of my sewing from the bobbin thread.  It starts and it stops right away, no extra stitch.

Finally it’s has a solid foot like the Bernina’s, which I think gives them the edge in piecing.  It also has POWER… can take a seam with lots of nesting seam pieces with a blink of the eye.  No shooting off to the side, no balking — just blazing a trail right over them.  Love that!  It has needle up and down and a push button stitch cutter and it was cheaper than my 3160QDC.  Amazing.

So far I’m amazed at how awesome my quarter inch seams are coming out.  Really there must be a lot of play in the feet on my Janome machines as I always seem a little short – with this lovely creation I’m either bang on or a little bit big, which I like because then I can square up the ugly bits.  So meet my new favorite…

I finished two bags for friends for Christmas prezzies.

Here’s the insides… one in beige and one in gray.

I also managed to finished the [...]]]> So last day of the year… just a small wrap up, as I’ve been busy as ever working on projects and trying to check things off the list.

I finished two bags for friends for Christmas prezzies.

Here’s the insides… one in beige and one in gray.

I also managed to finished the foundation paper piecing mat and get it done, quilted with some red metallic thread, and bound.

Up close of those tiny little pieces.

Finally… picked up some new wall art… indulging my quilting sense.

Also appears my Flickr plug-in has broken with this latest WordPress update… hope they get that fixed soon, but you can see higher quality photos always at my Flickr page here.  Hate having to scale back my photos.  There does seem to be a few changes in this latest edition of WP that I’m not too crazy about.  I’m hoping that smooths itself over soon.

I ended up having to use a 100/16 titanium Topstitch needle when I did [...]]]> Finished my Smart Shopper pattern by Sweet Treasures.  Great pattern.  Not sure if I would add both extra muslin pieces.  It made it really thick.  It is nice how it stands up though and you can’t see the inside fabric.

I ended up having to use a 100/16 titanium Topstitch needle when I did the French seam.  A great learning experience with the French seam.  You have to do the bottom like you’re putting on binding.  You get to the bottom where you get to 1/4″ before the end, but don’t go over.  Then you start the other side.  Tricky the first time, but totally doable.  I made the French seam larger than probably normal, but it was easier to go wider with such thick seams.

They walked me through the pattern and each side it’s [...]]]> I’m off this week and working on one project after another.  Love it!  I found this great stand up bag pattern at the LQS and this beautiful crane fabric that I fussy cut to get the scene and decided to give it a go.

They walked me through the pattern and each side it’s 2 pieces of muslin, 1 front fabric, 1 inside fabric, and 3 (yes 3) heat and bond light layers.   So that’s 4 layers of fabric and 3 layers of the heat and bond.  Then you fold over 1/4″ and then again 1 1/2″ and topstitch down.  Well, I’ve been testing out the new Superior Titanium Coated Topstitch Needles and let’s just look at how well it did.  I’m using an 80/12 needle for this project.

Amazing. It just went right through first try without any issues. I just love these needles.  I got these needles with their Home Sewing Machine Try Me Pack.  What a great way to sample their thread and needles.  Superior is up there in my thread love and if you order from them shipping is cheap and ridiculously fast.

So totally gorgeous inside fabric, right? Hopefully another FO soon.

I decided on a thread sampler pack from Superior Threads and let’s just say I haven’t had a chance to play with everything, [...]]]> I really like thread… I’m sure it goes with my love of yarn and other fibers.  After reading this wonderful book Threadwork Unraveled, I decided I needed more interesting thread.

I decided on a thread sampler pack from Superior Threads and let’s just say I haven’t had a chance to play with everything, but so far I’m very pleased.  They even included needles to use, which I forgot to put in my picture.  I needed the dark brown thread for my little bag and it worked out great.  I’m hoping to work up a little thread sampler in the coming weeks, so I can try everything out.

However, if [...]]]> I have a new little knitting notions bag.  This was one of the little kits that I picked out at the quilt show and it turned out great!  I’m so pleased with myself.  What took the longest was the zipper – I futzed it and futzed it until it was just right.

However, if you do this project I would highly recommend squaring things up one you get the interfacing fused to the bag pieces.

It’s a This & That pattern – #154 – Out & About.

These are actually huge and fit a large lace project complete with spinner.

This is Bev’s Cat in the Hat bag.

These are Dawn’s lovely traditional bags.

These are my bags – the one [...]]]> More bags have been created and the ones needing delivery have been delivered.  I think we’re all enjoying them.

These are actually huge and fit a large lace project complete with spinner.

This is Bev’s Cat in the Hat bag.

These are Dawn’s lovely traditional bags.

These are my bags – the one reminds me of tile and of course the cooking chickens couldn’t be resisted.

I have been spring cleaning this week and will hopefully be organizing my two rooms as well.  I have a hankering to try :gasp: pants. 

I managed to whip up this large knitting bag and the shawl even on [...]]]> So I have not forgotten to knit.  I’ve been working on the Northern Lights Shawl (a Rav freebie) with my newly purchased Sophie’s Toes Magic Ball in Preppy Girl.  This is my project page if your interested in my notes.

I managed to whip up this large knitting bag and the shawl even on the spinner fits in nicely.  Yeah!

I love it.  I have a few more to whip up for friends.