New challenges

I finally received my new invisible zipper foot about a week ago.  So, I finished a couple of other projects and once again returned to making clothing.  Remember this pattern I bought some time ago to make a dress for my daughter?

Well it's almost done!  I put the zipper in yesterday.  Love, love, love the invisible zipper foot!  It really is invisible!  Well almost.

I decided to line this dress, even though the pattern only calls for facing.  Long ago and far away I used to make jackets for myself often.  I even took a class in how to make a suit, so I have done lining before but figured I needed a refresher.  I turned to YouTube.  It came through for me in the form of Angela Kane. She has some very detailed videos on YouTube for sewing clothing.  I managed to get my lining to be just a little bit inside the edge of the dress, couture score!

I knew I could make this dress the real test is whether or not it fits.  I'm not very accomplished at altering patterns yet.  I will see my daughter this week so keep your fingers crossed for me.  Just have the hem left.  

I made a simple back for the next quilt on my longarm.  It is my goal to finish it by the end of February.  I'd better get busy.  I'm enjoying making the backs for my quilts now too.

Have a Creative Day

janet

eBay and mortality

You may remember I inherited my mom's Singer featherweight sewing machine.  I joined a group on Facebook for people who have these machines and have learned a ton of information.  Mostly I've learned it can easily become an obsession and take over your life.  Not really but sort of...

The attachments you can get, if you can find them, look like so much fun!  I would love to have this attachment but it is very rare and therefore also quite expensive.  Doesn't it look like fun!

http://youtu.be/KvkK1XTR9Jo

Also this one for darning socks

Or making ruffles, oh wait, I do have this, I haven't had a chance to try it yet but I will soon.

Anyway, all this lusting after parts had me perusing eBay.  After awhile it starts to dawn on me, most of the people selling sewing machine parts have no clue what they are selling.  They are either mislabeled, and/or mispriced.  The one that really got me thinking was the "rare Singer Kenmore parts for sale!"  Of course when you add rare the price is automatically higher but for a Frankenstein machine it was ridiculous.

This got me wondering how things end up being sold on eBay as a Frankenstein machine, when they were probably at one time owned by someone who loved them dearly.  Neither of my kids sew, horrifying right?  So, I suppose when I am gone my sewing machines and parts may end up on eBay.  And, unless I get my stuff together they could end up being sold as Singer Kenmore Bernina Innova parts!  So, since I was in the middle of cleaning my sewing space anyway, I have now started labeling parts and have designated boxes for each machine.  I don't want my babies sold as Frankenstein parts!

I stopped cleaning and sorting long enough to finish these bags for my sisters.  This is a Lazy Girl Design called Miranda Day Bag.  I love all the pockets inside.  The outside fabric is from my mom's clothes.  Two are from a denim dress and two from a bright blue pants outfit.  I embroidered a flower on each and quilted some flowers and a hummingbird.  I added a colorful lining because my mom liked color.  The two black bags are for my daughter and myself.  They are from a jacket that already had the colorful stitching, I did echo quilting around the stitching.

I just finished piecing a back for my sampler quilt today.  I liked the last back I pieced so had to try again.  Here is the sampler.

Here is the back.  The strips of color are the same fabric used as a lattice between the blocks on the front of the quilt.

Now to get it on the longarm.

I spent several days trying to get my old Kenmore going.  It has an invisible zipper foot which would help for making clothes.  Instead I have one ordered for my Bernina (it's on back order) because I killed my Kenmore. 😥

Also spent several days trying to get my Bernina to talk to my laptop so I could download embroidery designs.  Managed to download one design and they quit talking.  Still working on that problem. 

Have a creative day

Janet