You gently insert this brush into the machine assembly….
….and it comes out with all of the dust and grime firmly attached…..
It DEFINITELY did the job….
I used it again to clean out under the needle….
….with the same result….
I used a soft piece of cheesecloth to wipe down the cabinet…..
A Swifter Duster works well, too.
Because my machine is not computerized, it requires oil. I once heard it described as a “thirsty machine,” so I try to remember to oil it regularly……
I always find it hard to oil the bobbin hook…..
….but do my best to get some oil up in there.
Then I run the machine like crazy for about a minute. Without a thread or a bobbin, I assume that it helps to distribute the oil where it needs to go!!
To get ready to pack the machine, I put the foot back on and lowered the presser foot. Final act was to place the needle in the down position…..
I placed it in the case and added the accouterments…
I SURE don’t want to arrive without these!!
Finally, this machine came with a knee lift, but since I would have had to drill a hole in my table, I had never tried it.
But, what better place than a retreat to see if I truly like it…..
How about you…..do you use a knee lift?
I can’t wait to get on the road and get some SERIOUS stitching done!!
…………………………………………………………….
“Let’s Get Scrappy is about how to decide, not about what to make.”
Let’s Get Scrappy is an on-demand online course that helps quilters overcome decision fatigue and finally make sense of their overflowing scrap bins. With four hours of step-by-step video instruction, you’ll learn simple systems for organizing, piecing, and pressing your scraps—so you can stop overthinking and start sewing beautiful, coordinated quilts with confidence and joy.
Well, I lied last week when I said I had shown you the last of Mom’s UFO stash I found while cleaning out her house some 10 years ago.
I had forgotten about these….
I recognize the pineapple from a Christmas quilt that she made, and the butterfly was left over from a couple of Butterfly Quilts, but the rest are a mystery.
And an equal mystery is what I want to do with them!!
This pieced-and-embroidered block is sweet…
….and it would be fun to add some borders and turn it into a pillow.
I think that I might just frame this small embroidery piece….
It would be a great addition to my spring decorating….
HMMM… since I will be doing that decorating in the next two weeks, maybe I need to get on this right now!!
Then there is this block…..
I have no idea whether this was something Mom made or Granny made.
But, I have an idea of what to do with it.
A few years ago, Kathleen Rountree spoke at our guild. Her specialty was making whole-cloth quilts from vintage linens…. something like this…
Wouldn’t it be fun to use that block as the centerpiece of a whole-cloth quilt and add tons of quilting around it?
It would take some thinking and time to design, but it is definitely going on the “to-be-done” list!!
So, I think that is about it for Mom’s UFO’s.
I have found it super helpful to write about them here and am thankful for all of your comments and suggestions.
What this series REALLY means is that I have a few more items to add to my To-Do list and a few items that no long exist in my UFO box!!
One of my favorite things about quilting is motivating others and helping them in their quilting journey. As part of this endeavor, I LOVE to present programs and workshops to groups and guilds around the world. All of my programs work well with Zoom meetings, and I would love to speak to your group.
At the beginning of each year, I pick one well-loved program to binge-watch during tax season.
Last year it was Midsomer Murders….
138 episodes of murder in Midsomer County, England….
At 90 minutes each, it is needless to say, I didn’t finish until well after tax season was over!
This year I have gone with “The West Wing”…..
155, fifty-minute episodes of political goodness!
During my “No QuiltCon Mini Retreat”, I chose to continue the binge watching.
And, of course, the episode featuring quilters came on. Here is the scene…..
White-haired quilters are meeting with the Vice-President while he ignores them and continues talking to the aide present in the room.
Two things bother me about this scene….
FIRST, the quilts are outstanding, and he should be amazed at the work!!
SECONDLY, not all of us are white-haired and bespeckled!! Some of us cover up that white hair with Clairol Natural Instincts!!
Having said that, I am reminded of walking past the “Lost and Found” desk at the International Quilt Festival and seeing a HUGE pile of reading glasses….
Apparently, we often wear glasses, but obviously can’t keep track of them.
