Sewing Machine Woes

Like computers, sewing machines are wonderful…

when everything is working as it should.

For someone like me, 

who sews pretty much everyday,

my sewing machine is a big part of my life.

My Janome machine is the newer 

of the two machines I have

and the one I use the most.

It is about 12 years old.

Because I sew so much,

I take my machines in regularly 

to have them serviced.

About nine months ago, 

this machine went in for

its regular maintenance servicing.

When I got it home,

this is how it was sewing.

For those of you really interested in sewing and machines,

 this is the underside of the sewn fabric.

It would sew perfectly for stretches,

then start the above.

Back to the sewing machine shop.

Several days later, I am informed the machine is ready to go.

It seemed fine sewing at the shop,

back home, the above again.

Another trip to the shop which

I might add is a half hour drive from my house.

Let me say, this is the shop from whom I purchased the machine

and I am a fairly regular customer since they service 

both my machines and my over lock machine.

They had just been taken over by a new owner or manager,

I'm not really sure which.

He would not even look at the machine

this time, insisting I was using the wrong thread.

I will admit I use Coats and Clark Dual Duty thread

and I realize that is not considered a premium thread 

by many people.

So back home again, I try using some

Mettler, which is considered a better thread.

The thread made no difference.

At any rate this saga has continued 

for the past nine months, 

three different sewing machine repairmen,

 countless trips back and forth,

and the appearance of my face in all my local shops

bringing nothing but dread 

to the people working there.

("her again…")

I guess it might be time 

to buy a new machine.

Thank goodness, I had my backup machine 

on which I've been sewing everything

during this time.

I paid $40.00 for this machine about 40+ years ago.

It was a used machine when I bought it.

It does nothing but straight stitch,

is all metal (no plastic on this gal), 

 but still sews like a dream.

(I made my wedding dress on this

machine a hundred years ago,

for goodness sake!)

The tattered manual is copyrighted 1953,

making me and this machine very, very

close in age.

(I'll let you consider which is older.)

Notice the above paragraph from the 

old Singer's manual re "REPAIR SERVICE."

Imagine a sewing machine service rep 

coming to your home…

Since the sewing I do is not fancy sewing,

this machine is perfectly adequate for me.

My big concern is having a back-up machine

for those times this one is being serviced.

I did  research to help me make a 

decision on what I should buy.

Everything I considered seemed to

really be more machine than I needed,

is electronic and/or computerized,

and has lots of plastic parts.

And do I really need a machine

that gives me 300+ different stitches?

Then I remembered my sister Nancy, who is not a sewer,

had a machine she had acquired years ago from 

her former mother-in-law.

It has been sitting in our basement for years.

What a strange coincidence we should both

have the very same old machine.

Hers is actually in a bit better shape than mine 

since it hasn't had the workout mine has.

I have cleaned it and oiled it and

it sews perfect stitches too!

I have found my back-up machine!

My plan is to alternate these two machines

on a weekly basis and I am probably 

good to go/sew for years!

AND I don't have to buy a new machine!

Meanwhile, the Janome, with all it's fancy stitches

is packed up and waiting for this 

summer's yard sale.

Mission Accomplished Part II

I've put in some serious sewing time this week,

making new window treatments for

my entry, living room and dining room.

I usually contain my sewing projects to my sewing room,

but dealing with the yardage needed for curtain making,

forced me to move to the dining room table

for the cutting portion of this job.

I purchased thirteen yards of the blue graphic print and...

...six yards of the floral

(not to mention, seven yards of lining).

That much fabric needs to breathe...

It's always a little scary for me to make the first cut.

Did I measure right?

Did I calculate right?

Have I thought it through well enough?

But, cut I did.

The bottom cafes and their linings all ready to be sewn.

I'm using these nifty little rings with hooks

for the top valances.

I'm making a very simple valance.

It will be made up of a series of squares,

the two fabrics, sewn together,

then folded diagonally with

two inches of the back fabric creating a boarder.

Can't wait to show you what they look like hanging!

Sweater Pillows!



You've seen them in Pottery Barn, Ballard and all

your other favorite decor shops.

Knitted pillows are very much the decor statement.

They can be time consuming to make if

you're going to knit them.

They can be pricey if you're going to buy them.

I've solved these problems by using

upcycled, repurposed sweaters!

Start with a sweater, no longer being worn, in good shape.
I like cotton sweaters,
because I want my pillows to be washable.

This sweater has cables on the front and back,

so I'll be able to make two pillow covers from it.

First, measure your sweater and decide the size

pillow cover you can cut from it.

Keep in mind the standard pillow form sizes,

so finding a form to fit your cover is not a problem.

Next, hold your breath, and start cutting.

Knitted fabric is very forgiving,

so if your square is not perfect,

due to the original sweater's shape,

don't be too concerned, it will work.

This will be one pillow front.



Because my sweater is a cardigan,

I am going to incorporate the

buttons and ribbing into this pillow cover.



Once the knitted pieces are cut,

you will need a coordinating fabric to sew

them onto for stabilizing,

and two pieces for the backing.

I am using a poly blend pique for these pillows.

For each pillow, cut one square the same size

as your cut knitted piece,

and two more pieces for the backing.

The two backing pieces should measure

the same length x 2/3 the length

of your square knitted piece.

Sew a hem along the long side of each of your

two back pieces.

Pin the knitted square to the fabric square...

...and machine stitch around all four sides.

I use a 3/8-inch seam allowance.

Next pin one backing piece,

hem side up,

to to the knitted piece.

Overlapping the first pinned piece,

pin the second backing piece onto the square.

Machine stitch around all four sides.

I use a 1/2-inch seam allowance here.

It's also a good idea to reinforce the stitching

at each of the four places where the backing

is overlapping.

Here is my completely stitched pillow cover.

Because the cut knitted edge is a bit messy...

...it's also a good idea to serge all the way around.

This will give your pillow cover a nice clean finish

on the inside.

All that's left to do now,

is turn your covers right side out

and insert your pillow forms.

By the way,

I prefer feather forms.

They are softer and easier to get into the cover.

However, I've used foam forms too,

and although they are harder to get into the cover,

they will work fine.

This week I am linking to

Metamorphosis Monday at

Between Naps on the Porch

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Making a Circular Tablecloth

This is one of my favorite spots in my house.

It's a small covered table in my kitchen.

It's the perfect place for simple meals,

a cup of coffee, reading the paper,

and good conversations.

Over time the blue tablecloth was

beginning to show its age.



Have you ever seen a more gosh-ugly table?

It definitely needs a cover.

I had recently purchased a couple of white quilts

at Homegoods and decided to put them

to use in the kitchen.

First, it was necessary to piece the two quilts together

and to find a large workspace to lay it all out.

My living room floor was the best spot.

Since I am making a circular table cloth,

I needed to find and mark the very center of my piece.

From that center mark, begin measuring the desired length--

widest part of the tabletop + (tabletop to floor + hem)2 divided by 2,

in my case 48 inches.

From the center point (previously noted),

begin measuring and marking at intervals in a circle.

Can you see my blue marks above?

With a ruler, then connect all your measured marks,

creating a circle.

Cut along this line.

Once the tablecloth is cut out,

place it on the table, wrong side up,

with the center mark as close to the

center of the table as possible.

Begin pinning the hem to your desired length.

Since this is thick fabric, I made a serged edge and

cut away all but one inch for the hem.

Then the hem was machine stitched in place.

Do you remember that ugly table?

What ugly table?

This week I'm linking with

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style