Madame Purl » Sewing

Today is Not Your Day and Tomorrow Doesn’t Look Good Either

Madame Purl — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:54:26 +0000

Remember my lovely sewing machine from Monday’s post? My dear friend that I have cared for – oh for around 15 years. Not a scratch on her – just needed a tune up and good cleaning. Well it was apparently packed well.

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.

Out for a Tune-Up

Madame Purl — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:13:48 +0000

Years ago…before the knitting, before the spinning, before the embroidery, before the weaving… I sewed. The only thing I did was sew. I took sewing classes from beginner to advance making a suit even shirts with matching plaids. Then I moved onto pattern making even able to make a pattern with just a string and finally I had skirts that really fit correctly.

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.

A Near Mishap

Madame Purl — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:20:54 +0000

I have so many sewing mishaps, it’s amazing I have the audacity to keep going back to the sewing well. Every once in a while though I get a sewing bug and can’t get rid of it without giving it a go. I decided I needed a journal cover for my new datebook. I bought one of these Moleskine 18-month date books and I thought it would be nice to have a different color cover to be able to easily pick it up.

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.