my sewing buddy

a cute nuisance

quilting with Enterprise

action shot!

As you may have guessed, I've been working on quilting my massive 12 + 2 = Q quilt. I'm just about half-way done now, and have been breaking up the task into small sessions. It's difficult to maneuver a quilt that size (it's about 88 x 88), but I've been following the tips from Oh Fransson, and that has helped a lot.
I've learned about Enterpise in the process, most of it good. For instance, I love that the thread is hidden in the top of the machine. This prevents Assassinationcat from messing with it, and also makes the machine look sleek and self-contained. The threading process is pretty easy, but winding the bobbin can be tricky - thread likes to jump out of the track it is supposed to follow. I've also broken about four needles so far because of thread-related issues, but that isn't really a critique of Enterprise.
Unfortunately, it's easy to accidentally hit the clear button on Enterprise and reset any thread length or width or tension adjustments I've made. But that's a pretty minor problem.
Overall, Enterprise has been a joy to quilt on - everything runs so quietly and so smoothly. It makes quilting the other half of this giant quilt look almost appealing.

the maiden voyage of the Enterprise

a good omen

introducing...

ENTERPRISE!

Who's excited?!

sewing machine...fixed!

Hooray! Apparently the problems I was having were due to a) a broken darning foot, b) a wrong size of bobbin, and c) a misplaced needle. So I was lucky enough to drop it off yesterday and get it back today. I've tested out some free motion quilting on a small quilt sandwich (I didn't want to risk messing up on my quilt again) and so far so good!
Tomorrow is going to be a good quilting day.

sewing machine broken... again

So it appears that either my sewing machine wasn't properly repaired when I took it in a few weeks ago or there is something else wrong with it. It skips stitches when free-motion quilting, and the needle occasionally hits something metal that definitely shouldn't be there. Luckily the shop that repaired it last time guarantees their repairs for 60 days, so I'm covered. It's super frustrating to be without my beloved machine, though - especially because I was part-way through quilting the black and yellow baby quilt!

a break from sewing

A few days ago, my sewing machine broke. The top thread wouldn't pull up the bobbin thread. I tried cleaning it, rethreading it, using different thread and bobbin, etc etc, all to no avail. So yesterday I took it to get looked at by a professional. I'd already decided that if the repairs were going to be under $100, I would have it repaired, and if it were going to be more, I'd just buy a new machine (there is one I've been eyeing, that my mother has).
I took it to one shop, and they said it'd be at least $60 just to look at it. Also that shop was weird and basically from the 1950s. So I took it to another, very nice sewing center and they gave me a free estimate. $90-100 to fix it. Sigh. It must be done. But at least the lady there was very knowledgeable and knew exactly what was wrong with my poor machine (the timing is off). Now I am without my sewing machine until at least Monday, and it is terrible!
At least I went back to my practicum yesterday and today, so I didn't have as many empty hours to fill. But what will I do this weekend? I have cross-stitching to do, so I suppose I can do that. But I will miss my machine!

Shopping spree

So I went on a bit of a shopping spree this afternoon. I started in the fabric section of WalMart (the closest thing I have to a fabric store within 50 miles, sadly), which had a surprisingly good selection of canvas, and of course, their famously inexpensive fabrics. I picked up a yard of black canvas, and two yards of two different fun prints. I'm going to use the canvas and one of the prints as a test tote bag, when I get my sewing machine out of storage, and use the other fabric and more canvas in a to-be-
determined color to do my sister's birthday present.

Then I needed some waste canvas in order to practice cross-stitching on my test canvas (something I can do before I get my sewing machine, thankfully). The closest Michael's didn't carry it. Thank goodness I called before I went to check it out, since it's 45 minutes away! That would have been a bit of a drive for a disappointment. The closest Joann's Fabrics said they might have it, which did not make an hour's drive seem worthwhile. So I ordered some online, and while I was at it, I got some more 14 count Aida in platinum and red, two colors I can't find at Michael's.

Then I needed some webbing and some hardware to finish it all up, so I headed over to JCaroline (which has great how-to's, by the way), and spent very little money. Everything over there is so inexpensive!

Soon I will have everything I need, short of that darn sewing machine. Every day I regret not packing it in the car with me. One more month!

Tutorials I wish I could try!

Today, in my travels across the internet, I stumbled upon Sew Mama Sew's tutorial for a X pillow. Now I really wish I had my sewing machine!

I also found twelve22's zippered pouch tutorial, which not only uses awesome superhero fabric but looks clear and easy to follow. I can't wait to do some of these projects once I have my machine back! I'd love to make a pouch to keep all my current cross-stitch materials in - way cuter than a zip-lock bag!

more sewing machine news

So I have my evil nemesis back (my sewing machine), and I guess it's working. The stitches are now even, like they ought to be, but the machine seizes sometimes, and all in all I'm still sort of annoyed with it. To be fair, my old machine also seized sometimes, so maybe I should give my newbie a little more credit.
I guess I'm just anxious because I've never used this machine, so I have no idea what its "normal" is like, and how I can expect it to work. I practiced today on some scrap fabric, and got started on one of my old projects. I'm just not ready to try it out on my new projects and new fabrics yet.
Hopefully I'll get used to it soon!

awesome sewing machine news

I just got a call from the technician at the sewing repair shop, and he said that my machine did just need to be oiled, and that I could pick it up tomorrow. Huzzah! I'll swing by and get it before I go to work (they close before I get out of work), and I should be all set to start sewing tomorrow evening.
Now, all I need to do is kick this cold that's been bothering me, and I will be all set.

Sewing Machine Update

A quick update on the status of my sewing machine should help explain the lack of new content - as long as it remains inoperable, I am constrained to hand-sewing, which is much slower.
I took it to the sewing machine place, where a lady who was not terribly interested in my tragic situation took it and the sample of the stitching that I'd thoughtfully brought, and informed me that it probably needed to be oiled. Apparently sitting around in a basement isn't good for a sewing machine. Who knew? Re-oiling the machine will probably be around $65, which is more than I'd like but less than either a new sewing machine (the process of buying a new sewing machine daunts me incredibly) or having my other one shipped to me (because let's be honest, I'm more likely to use it than anyone else). The shop gives free estimates, so in theory, I will be receiving a call soon about what exactly is wrong with the machine. I dropped it off Thursday, but haven't heard back yet. Hopefully I'll get a call soon - it's so hard to sit around surrounded by awesome fabrics and be unable to utilize them!
I'll be posting pictures of said fabrics soon - as soon as I catch some good sunlight.

Obstacle

It is hard to imagine a real obstacle in the path of making crafty things. You can run out of materials, or the money to purchase more materials. A coffee spill can ruin your best cardstock, or stain your precious fabrics. You can have absolutely no thread that matches your eightybillion colors of felt, as I do. But all of these things are more or less fixable, and they also only stall a project or two at a time.
I have a real problem. And it's name is the Bicor VX-1005. You see, my sewing machine doesn't work. I made the mistake of leaving the machine I was familiar with at home when I moved in favor of the never-opened machine we found in the basement. A machine in a box, with a manual. It seemed like a good idea - easy to move, etc.
No, my friends, it was a massive mistake.
Having never used this machine before I set it up a few nights ago, I was unaware of its tricky threading process, its absolutely useless manual, and its tragic refusal to cooperate.
And this means that I cannot sew. I have been looking forward to sewing, been planning projects, been purchasing supplies, all in anticipation of setting up this machine and getting some work done. And now I am stymied.
Tomorrow I am going to take it to a sewing machine repair shop (such places still exist?), in the hopes that they can tell me what's wrong. It's probably some silly problem that goes back to my ignorance and the manual's uselessness. At least, so I hope! It'd be very sad if there was something actually wrong with the machine, since it's never been used, and I would hate to have to shop for a new sewing machine. Where does one even go to get one?
The absence of a sewing machine caused me to make the little ice cream treats in the previous post, just to satisfy my desire to create. But little felt projects cannot fully replace the feeling of sewing something big and impressive.
Wish me luck - if my machine starts working, you'll be seeing some neat projects around here soon!