Halloween Sewing

My supplies laid out. I spent some time yesterday preparing my kids' Halloween outfits. I had to make two patches. Can you tell what they are going to be from the pattern in the middle?

They decided months ago to be Star Trek officers. In fact, when the movie was released at the beginning of the summer Kellogg's had an offer on the back of cereal boxes that if you sent in nine symbols off the box you could get a free shirt. We consumed a whole lot of cereal here this summer. Only Kelloggs sent us a message a few weeks ago that the offer was such a success they ran out of shirts and they're on backorder. How couldn't they expect this? It's Star Trek. So I bought some shirts and will make a patch.

I satin stitched the edges and then sewed the insignia in the middle. Science officers get the circle; engineering gets a swirl. (Command crew gets a star--but I'm not making one of those--couldn't find a gold shirt). Yes, I know all this...without even having to look it up. Hanging over my sewing table off the lamp is a small USS Enterprise.

Black pants--check. Shirt with insignia--check. Spock ears--check. We're ready.

Sewing Susan

This is an old needlecase with...Sewing Susan! Look at Susan sew. Her friends marvel at her dexterity and skill. (Although the one on the right has a bit of snide look if you ask me. Jealousy no doubt.)

Holiday Apron

The holiday season is here! With all the extra baking and parties why not make a holiday apron like the one on this pattern? You can have one for every occasion. Try and go the extra mile like the model too. When you are hostess wear a very fitted sheath dress, high heeled strappy sandals, glittering brooch and earrings, and bangle bracelets on both wrists. You'll have quite a party.

My Rant Of: Did you think you were first?

I don't usually blog on the weekends, but I saw something outrageous on someone else's blog so I'm going to. I read it and a few minutes later went back to read it again I was so amazed. I don't read a great many blogs and only check on two regularly every week: Classic Movies and Sidewalk Shoes where I see all the great things Pam is cooking and I am not. Also she shows her cats every Saturday and I like cats.

I visited Sew, Mama, Sew a few weeks ago and saw it was Scrap Month. I had some time the other day and went to it to see what projects people had come up with. I even started looking at people's blogs. I found two where the writers complained that people were copying their ideas and not giving them any credit. One of them said a particular person was not only copying their work but their wording to sell the stuff on Etsy. Ok, using the exact wording--that's copying. But the other person? I looked at her quilts for several minutes. Nothing new.

Her quilts were made using patterns that have been around a hundred years and more before she was ever born. Yet she is being the one copied?

My top photo is a bar quilt waiting to be quilted. The next photo (and yes, they're not good photos) is from the book A Treasury of Amish Quilts by Rachel and Kenneth Pellman (1990). Obviously it's bar quilts. The below photo is from the same book of the Chinese Coins pattern where the bars are pieced. These two type quilts are probably the easiest to piece and yet look great--that's why they've always been popular. I remember seeing bar quilts twenty years ago that were made in England using rose florals that had faded over time--beautiful. I made one myself by hand in 1994 (I really don't know where that thing is now). The particular person of the blog had several bar quilts as well as simple squares. There was nothing wrong with them, but how are we all copying her?

Is it that we're using similar fabrics? We problably are--that's what's available now. 1930's quilts are similar to each other because those fabrics were what was available then. The fabric companies today have even made it too easy for us to match patterns. I used to have to match up everything. Now I can find fabrics grouped and matched already. The Paisley Quilt was that way. I went in Hobby Lobby and spotted the three matched fabrics--I added the orange for more color. Even the end of the bolt will tell you what fabric group goes together because they name the pairings. I feel it's almost cheating. How can others not be buying the same fabric? I found the flower one below at Hobby Lobby three weeks ago. I went back later that same week to get more and the whole bolt had been sold. Last week they had more and I bought some. A lot of people in Chattanooga alone must have this same print by now.

I went back to that person's blog and funny enough, the whole part about people copying her had disappeared...a little editing out, hmmm? Didn't like a couple of the comments left? (No, I didn't leave a comment). And last of all, does this person think that with the millions of quilters in the world we're all turning to her blog? What an ego! Maybe she should think positive and start selling kits.

When it comes to piecing, I haven't seen anything new in years. Now applique... that's different.

Subtle Sewing Machine Card

You have to look at the open book to see what this trading card is about--a sewing machine. I don't even know what kind. The back of the card is damaged and unreadable. It's a nice little scene though and a pretty dress.

Scrap Pile

Yesterday's scraps got thrown in my scrap strips bin. I even up the edges of scraps and put them in there for use on my string quilt. I also keep paper squares the size of the blocks I want in there too. I cut up my kids' school papers; otherwise they would just go in the recyle bin.

I occassionally get the strips out and sew a few blocks together. It's an old piecing method. I first saw a string pieced quilt similar to this years ago on a book cover: Old and New Quilt Patterns in the Southern Tradition by Bets Ramsey, a local quilter. She showed how scraps, "strings", were saved and sewn onto paper foundations. I loved the idea of using even the smallest scraps.

I like to use a unifying color somewhere in my scrap quilts and chose bright turquoise for this one. Sew your fabric to the paper with a small stitch and press the seams each time. When you've filled the paper turn it over, cut around the paper edge for your block, and finally pull the paper along the perforations to remove it. You can do crazy quilt blocks this way too. I have and it's fun--even the tiny scraps get used. For a challenge use diamond shaped paper and make string stars.

As Mrs. Ramsey says in her book, "For economy and practicality, Southern quiltmakers have produced hundreds of string quilts in a variety of patterns." Economical, practical...I like everything about it.

Smaller and Smaller

How small do your scraps get before you toss them away? For me it depends on the fabric. I really liked the fabric from my paisley quilt which was simple horizontal stripes. I used those leftovers for another quilt top which was lying on my sewing table in yesterday's post (still excited about that table). And these scraps above are left from it. Yes, I will use them.

The Big Table

I like a lot of table room to sew. Actually who doesn't want a lot of sewing area. So look what I spent Saturday fixing up. Are you saying, "OMG, she cut a hole in that beautiful antique lawyer's table!" Why yes, I did.

This fabulous oak table, measuring 56 x 32 inches, came from the dump where my dad found it several years ago. The top was badly damaged, but being the woodworker he is, he built a new one. He used the table for a while then it disappeared. He mentioned getting rid of it a few months ago and I didn't think anything of it. As I was trying to quilt on my 15-91 I was struggling with the weight of the quilt on the small writing table style cabinet it was in. I began thinking of options and asked my dad if he still had the table--yes, it was in the garage. I didn't think it would fit through my doorways, but, amazingly, the legs come off! I told him what I wanted it for and he said he would fix it up.

Saturday, I took a sewing machine up to his workshop where he, my husband, and I set to work. First dad cut a rectanular hole an inch smaller than the machine bed. Then routed it down on the front and back for a lip for the machine to sit on (with two slots for the hinge area to tilt in the back). He measured the hinges and got out a box with drill bits, found the 1 1/8" one and drilled down two areas for the hinges to sit flush in the table.  In this next photo you can see the round hinges set in and a hole that the cords run through.  There is also a hole like this one in the back of the drawer the machine is centered over for the cords to run out of to the floor.  (I don't use this drawer to keep from putting friction on the cords).

In this next photo I've tilted the machine back a bit so you can see the front lip it sits on.  We were trying to mimic the sewing cabinet the machine originally sat in.

As usual with this sort of project it was a little adjusting here, a little adjusting there until the machine fit perfectly. If I didn't have an expert woodworker in the family this would have been out of my range.

It's beautiful and functional.  Since the quilts I work on are mostly baby quilts they fit great on the table with no drag.  I also like the extra space for clothes sewing as well.  I've since moved that little cabinet out from under the table so I can roll my chair back and forth at the front of the table to work in front of the machine or at the side.

Because the table came from the dump, didn't have its original top, and was stored under junk in the garage I didn't feel too bad about cutting into it. At least it's being used now. If you find a cheap table somewhere consider this. If you have a more modern machine that doesn't have hinges or need a lip to sit on you'll probably have an easier time fixing it up for sewing. Some machines had a hole cut for them with a sort of cradle underneath for the machine to sit in.

It's all too exciting! And didn't cost a cent!

Stylish in Bed

In honor of cold and flu season being full upon us I'm showing this vintage bed jacket pattern. Even if the lady of the house was so sick she was confined to bed, she was still stylish enough to receive visitors.

Floating Thread

Ahh, this baby has gone fishing...where spools of thread float upon the waves. Kerrs Spool Cotton to be exact. I'm not familiar with this brand, but I would go fishing if I thought I could snag some good spools of thread.

Half a Sweater

This little baby kimono will never be finished. Truly. I used one of those vintage patterns that tells how many ounces of yarn to use and really thought I had enough. But I got this far and looked at the sweater and then at the yarn I had left--not enough--no way. So this yarn will get used for something else after I unravel it. I really like the simple kimono pattern and will make it again--with yarn to spare.

Paisley Scraps

The paisley quilt had some scraps left over that will of course be made into another quilt. It's lying on my design board (i.e. the floor). I'll get those squares and rectangles together somehow. It' like a puzzle.

A Perfect Fit

Do you have a perfectly fitting thimble? One that stays on your finger well and doesn't fall off if you point your finger down? But not too tight either.

This one is mine. Back when I first needed a thimble someone gave me one that always fell off and was a pain to use. I mentioned it to my mother who informed me thimbles came in different sizes. News to me. She had several extras and we went through a thimble fitting. This one is the result. Yes, it's a cheap generic one, but it's mine and I like it.

Bolero

This is a 1938 beauty--a bolero jacket pattern with embroidery and cross stitch transfers included. And what is particularly neat about this pattern? I made it. Well...sort of. Actually back in the 80's I made a bolero jacket from another vintage pattern but I thought it was boring, so I took the embroidery transfers from this pattern to jazz it up a bit. I have it stored in a cedar chest. Here I am wearing it:

I took the photo in my son's room--he has the best lighting and mirror in the house. Don't ask me why I didn't just use this pattern in the first place. I don't remember, but I must have had a reason. The fabric I used was not very good. It feels like a poly/cotton blend--a little heavy on the poly side. Back then I had to use what was available and this was it. I chose the embroidery over the cross stitch pattern. Yes, I can embroider. Look at all those French knots:

The above bit is on the back centered at the hem. I surprised myself when I looked at it. The sewing and embroidery was pretty good. I haven't embroidered like this in years.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to a certain someone who likes old movies (and Maureen O'Sullivan). In honor of the day, here is the Maureen O'Sullivan Hollywood pattern. A rather lovely dress and far more fabric than she wore in those first few Tarzan movies.

Odd Card

I find this advertisment card from J. & P. Coats a little weird. It puts me in mind of Alice in Wonderland. Maybe it's the hat. Maybe it's the whole outfit. Maybe it's that insane smile. If he catches that butterfly, what is he going to do with it? Pin it down alive? Pull its wings off? Weird.

What Jackson Pollock and I Have In Common

Did you see a week or two ago the story about Jackson Pollock's name being woven-painted into one of his paintings? I don't see why this comes as a surprise to people --unless they're people who've never created things themselves. Who doesn't sneak their name into things they've made?

Back when I cross-stitched, my initials were always hidden in the lower right corner. Needlepoint too. Even my first free motion quilting (the photo above) has my initials in cursive in the border. I don't think anyone else can tell what they are, but I know they're there (going sideways). It's just fun to do.

Cowboys Again

Yes, this is the cowboy quilt again. I gave it to my sister for her new baby boy. She liked it so much she wanted to know where I bought the fabric so she could go get some and change her whole nursery theme to cowboys. Now that is a successful gift.

Hats!

Autumn is here. And here are some hats I've made. These are simple hats that I've worked on while sitting in doctor's offices, waiting in the car line at school, in the evening when I don't want to follow a pattern. I'll bag them up and give them away soon.

1930's Robe

To go over those 1930's nightgowns one needs an equally beautiful robe--and here it is. Since the weather change here last week, I will be getting out my not-so-beautiful fuzzy, lumpy robe.

Thread Trade Card

Go figure

The Beloved Elna

Surprise! I have another sewing machine in case you wondered. Afterall, I only got my fancy machine and vintage machines this year. What have I been sewing on for all these years? The Elna Air Electronic SU--precision made in Switzerland (it says that right there on the front of the machine).

I tried to research this machine and didn't find much except one woman saying if she had a fire she would grab this machine over any other on the way out and another post saying these are a bit hard to find because the people that have them don't get rid of them. I have to say they are right on both counts. My mother bought this machine around 1980 and sewed enough stitches to go to the moon and maybe back. The motor burned out and she paid to have it replaced. That says a lot.

When mom bought her other sewing machines she offered me a fancy one that embroidered. I was a bit lukewarm about it at the time. But when she offered me the Elna instead I was in shock. Of course I said yes. This sewing machine is fabulous. The stitching is beautiful. And see that round bubble foot controller? I always thought it was the neatest looking sewing machine controller around. It works smoothly, easily, wonderfully.



The machine has a metal housing, but is still lightweight. It has built in stitches, but uses cams for more. I have 18 of them in their case. It needs one drop of oil on the bobbin shuttle. The Elna doesn't do free motion quilting well though. I do all my piecing on it. My husband asked if it broke would I pay to get it fixed. First of all--don't say such horrible things, and, yes, I would pay to have it fixed.

I wonder if mom thought she made a mistake giving me this sewing machine. She would ask after it sometimes. Even in her last few months she told me to bring it up so she could oil it. I would laugh and say I took care of it. And I do.