UFO Completed

This really isn't on my design wall this Monday morning, rather it's finally on my bed.

 FM quilted on my little Juki and like my first attempt at quilting, this was a bit of a challenge.  I love, love, love Cindy Needham and have expressed this in prior posts.  Cindy is a special person who takes the time to answer questions and give tips and suggestions. She's like having a friend living next door, someone who's there for you. 

 I was working hard at quilting feathers on the red boarders and the top thread kept shredding and the back was getting all knotted up with snarly things.  Following Cindy's handbook, I was using Bottom Line on the top thread and in the bobbin. It turned into a  frustrating and time consuming task, having to stop and re-thread the needle or pick out nasty nests on the back.

I wanted to give it up.  So I sent Cindy an email asking her for help and what I was doing wrong.  Within a day she responded with suggestions, one was not to use Bottom Line on the top.  She had experienced the same, having it shred.  She suggested switching over to Kimono silk as the top thread and use Bottom line on the bottom.  It worked beautifully.   Thank you Cindy!

Ready to quilt the last one hiding in the closet. 
Then it's time to start a new project!
Any suggestions what that should be?

I'm always sew happy to share with you.
Thank you.
Hugs,  Penny

 

Scrappy Monday

After quilting two queen sized quilts for Christmas, I've made a survival decision to make this one lap size.  I'm sure most of you know Bonnie Hunter, the Queen of Scrappy Quilts.  Her blog, Quiltsville is filled with information, free patterns and  lots of goodies.  She got me started on seeing scraps in a new light.  As well as how to organize all of those bits and pieces that I never had the heart to throw away.  Gee I'm glad I didn't.  I see more quilts in all of those rubber bins.

It was sew easy.  I started with cutting 2" squares always having them by my sewing machine ready to use as "Leaders or Enders" with whatever project I was working on at the time.  It didn't matter how long it would take to accumulate the completed nine patches, I was thrilled that I was working on another quilt and not wasting scraps.  Every time one was completed I would throw it in a container and forget about it.  What a treat to count them out and see I'm ready to make another quilt.

Ready to take a closer look at Sisters Nine Patch in Bonnie's book Adventures with Leaders & Enders.  It should go together pretty quick. Then I can start working on another of her many quilts.
Thank you for taking the time to check in with me.
I'm sew happy to share.
Penny

P.S. I've been away from sharing on Patchwork Times,  Design Wall Monday. If you want to see what others are doing, stop by.

Memories

I grew up watching my mother sew on her 1947 Black Featherweight.  She made the most memorable and beautiful things for me and my two sisters.  Ballerina dresses for make-believe play, to lined wool suits with matching jacket, button holes and all.

Sew blessed to have Mom's sewing machine. This is Betsy, named after her.

I never realized all the treasures that came with the machine.  It was fun looking over the original manual and reading about the presser feet and what they do. 

Sweet hubby following the tutorials for cleaning and oiling Betsy.

Check out the Singer Featherweight Shop for a storehouse of knowledge.  

He will be cleaning my 1964 White Featherweight next and I’ll post pictures of Gracie Lynn when she is ready for her debut. 

Until then....
Thank you for making me Sew Happy to Share!
Penny

The Joy of Christmas Gifting

I certainly bit off a big job when I decided to finish this quilt by quilting it myself.  

The only way to test what I’ve learned was to jump in and give it a go.  At the time it seemed like a great plan. BUT ”If I would have known then, what I know now, I never would have done it”. It never occurred to me that my first attempt at quilting was on a queen size quilt.  

The smile on her face made all the hours worth it.  I was so proud it was finished in time to gift to my daughter for Christmas.

Sew Happy to Share!
Penny