Thursday, October 27, 2011

A Tale of Two Blouses

Love two new patterns that have just been issued:


Though I seem to be in a bit of a slump, I am forging on with some successes, some UFO's. CLD A Cute Angle blouse is now finished. I learned a lot and will love wearing this. Focus on lessons learned...

Stella is (evidently) a UFO. Thought I had finished it, but it's too tight in the hips. Of course, I should have made a muslin, but sometimes I am very, very stubborn. OK, now what? Vents, maybe.

Stella

ACA Top
Is this when you just make a quilt?

Monday, October 24, 2011

New Baby


Today my sweet friend sold me her Singer featherweight 222K, vintage 1955. I am so excited and cannot wait to sew on her. It is amazing how light she is given her age. She is almost as old as I am. And I am not light.

Baby has no bobbins but I found a source online. She seems to purr as she sew little invisible seams. Evidently the bed extension can be removed, leaving a tiny free arm for sewing small areas. And she has the ability to drop the feed dogs. This feature was for darning, back in the day. Today it is for free-motion stitching. Amazing.

Dear friend also gave me the original manuals and retro carrying case.

Yes, I am a sewing machine nerd.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Magic Feathers

Sashiko is one of my favorite forms of zen sewing. Another I have just learned about is the Magic Feather project, created by Jude of Spirit Cloth. Her videos are succinct, yet clear and inspiring. The feathers she has posted have all been lovely, yet each different. I have just made two magic feathers. This is my first.

Then I continued making little sashiko gifts cases from Nancy Shriber: