Singer 401 cover

I had just enough of the fabric I’d pre-quilted to make the Featherweight cover left over to make a matching cover for my 401, so I did!

I’m not sure I’ll ever bother making full sides for my covers anymore, I think these are every bit as cute and much, much faster to make.  The Soft and Stable by Ann is just really terrific for adding lots of body!  No more slouchy covers!

This morning I had to run to town for straw bedding for the chickens and geese, along with a trip to Lowe’s for some more potting soil, as I have a fresh batch of herbs ready to be planted.  I’m putting all my perennials into pots so I can easily transplant them up to the farm when I’m ready.

I’d no sooner returned home when the phone rang, with some man calling to let me know he’d found my checkbook… on the highway!  Ack!  I looked in my purse, and TWO of my checkbooks were missing!  I have no earthly idea how they fell out of my purse, but I was extremely grateful to have one of them returned.  I called the bank about the other as soon as I retraced my steps with no luck.  I really can’t imagine how my checkbook ended up on the highway.  How freaky!

Some of you may know I fell off the wagon last year, after three whole years of being coffee free!  But this morning I went cold turkey again (and I’m feeling quite cranky about it).  A small pot of herbal tea started my day… and not very well let me tell you! :)

A quick stocking!

I bought the most gorgeous stocking at Tuesday Morning the other day for a whole $16!  I couldn’t make it for that, but they only had one so I decided to whip up another.

Mine of course is much simpler, but I’m pleased with it!  I used some oatmeal linen for the stocking and the ruffled band, pre-made miniature crocheted doiles behind the buttons, and just some lace every inch and a half up the front of the stocking, which I grid hatched first.

I used the Soft and Stable again for the batting, I really love that stuff!  It was quite difficult to turn the point of that toe out however!

I would like to try a more elaborate stocking, but I don’t have time right now.  This one works and we’ll call it Jim’s… I want the big one! 

Speaking of, he and I are off to Little Rock for the day to do some shopping.  I want to go to the quilt shop, Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn and the Fresh Market.  I think the Flyin’ Fish for lunch!

Design Wall Monday

I finished up the dress for my 630 last night, so technically it isn’t still on my design wall…

 While I love the way it looks, this will need to be totally redone before I even think about a tutorial for it, my lack of general sewing skills whomped me upside the head in this one! 

I will need to figure out a better way to do the ruffles and hem.  I had no intention of hemming it at all, but would have preferred to bind the bottom edge like I did on the covers for the 830 and serger.  However, I confess to being stumped when faced with the edges of the ruffles, the bottom ruffle, and the side seams.  Hence it ended up just a smidge too short.

While this looks great on the outside, the inside is quite sloppy.  I’d have to line it, which isn’t something I normally do with the covers.

The “By Anne Soft and Stable” product was absolutely magnificent for this, I am a convert from fusible fleece!  I used half inch grid hatching on the side panels, and they are absolutely poofy!  The cover is completely self supporting, which not only looks nicer, but makes it very easy to take on and off, no saggy parts to get caught on any of the machine protrusions.

But regardless, while this one isn’t show quality, it certainly covers another of my machines! Only five more to go, thanks to the new featherweight additions and Jim’s re-immersion into the sewing world… a recently won Singer 301 off of EBay.  I wonder how many of those he’ll buy?  LOL

Head over to Judy’s to see what everyone else is up to this Design Wall Monday!

Playing

What I wouldn’t give for an elaborate sewing shop, with lots of lace, trims, buttons… I’m stuck with Walmart and Hobby Lobby!

Now if I were a planner, (hahahaha) then the sky would be the limit, I could design my project and shop online.  Alas I’m a “winger” and it definitely has its disadvantages.

When I first started my studio makeover, all I knew was that it was going to be based on the Moda Etchings fabric line.  Anytime I’m at Hobby Lobby and see some trim or button in red or ivory, I grab it!  That’s not saying much sadly.

I spent the morning modifying the Bernina 830LE motif, thinking I’d stitch it on the front of my 630 cover.

Not bad huh?

Unfortunately I decided that wasn’t the right look.  Perhaps if prior to sewing down the ivory lace on either side of the center panel I had grid quilted that section, it might look okay, but the soft and stable would squash down around the design and make it look bad.

But I think I like this well enough, buttons and trim from my limited collection.  Perhaps I need a button and trim stash eh?  Oh dear… I shouldn’t have said that… should not have even thought it! 

Bright red piping will set it off nicely.