Sew I See!

I didn't quite finish the Halloween quilt top by October 31st, but it was pretty close!  Here it is hanging over the lighting rail on the quilting frame: And here's a final "in progress" shot of the layout that spilled off the design wall and onto nearby surfaces, including the floor... I'm satisfied!  Just need to get around to quilting it (and another autumn quilt-top that's still lurking in the closet) before next autumn!  (Easy, right?) - - - - - - - Immediately after finishing this quilt top, I dove into some crumb strip piecing, because there were crumbs accumulating and I was in the mood for something spontaneous and carefree.  I already have enough crumb strips saved for the planned quilt, so I guess these will be saved for the next one... They're nothing special, but they were fun to make! - - - - - - - Since I didn't finish the Halloween quilt before October 31st, I thought I'd better start the planned Christmas quilt a little earlier!  I...

There's a new old sewing machine in the house.   That is, a new-to-me vintage sewing machine.   It's been here in the house for a while, actually, but what with one thing and another, I haven't gotten around to writing about it until now.   Okay!  Confession:  I actually wrote most of this blog post back in March, and I'm only now coming back to the draft in late August.  It's long and rambling, but I'll probably keep most of it.  There will be a "too long; didn't read" summary just before the photos.   - - - - - - - As much as I like the Minnesota, it has its drawbacks-- the special needles and the less-common (and more difficult to replace) shuttle.  I'm almost afraid to use it too much, for fear that I'll completely wear out the shuttle... I still will use it, I guess, and just hope for the best (and maybe find a spare shuttle, if I can), but I thought it might be nice to have a more modern vintage treadle.  Somet...

Warning! 😉  This is a particularly long blog post.  It's essentially everything I know and want to remember about a new-to-me sewing machine, so it probably has a lot more information than anyone else (except possibly a budding fan of vintage sewing machines) would ever want or need.  Tl;dr version:  I bought a treadle sewing machine and am excited about it. 😁 - - - - - - - I've thought for a few years, now, that I'd like to someday try a treadle sewing machine.  It would be nice to know that I can sew even without electricity.  I don't exactly expect to need  to do that, but still, it would be good to know that it's possible.  I do live in a place where hurricanes can knock out power for days, if not weeks.  I probably wouldn't feel like treadling away in the aftermath of a hurricane (it's so hot and sticky, and you're likely to be too physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted to feel like sewing!), but you never know.  We also ...