New Home for Blog

I've had it with the changes in blogger.  Come find me here:
http://nurseknits.wordpress.com/

Necchi Nora for sale

Necchi Nora, with cams and cabinet.  Neither machine nor cabinet will will any beauty contest, but both are in good operational condition.  Not in a position to ship.  $200

two free pieced quilts

 The one above, in velveteen, was an ebay purchase.  I usually can figure out some seams where it looks like bigger strips or blacks were put together, but on this one, not really.  It has a blanket for batting, and some nice 1970's calico on the back.  Ever since I abandoned the cotton only prejudice, I have been able to pick up some real improve beauties on ebay for cheap.  Broaden your mind: include polyester.

This one I made, out of old denim scrubs, my husbands, and my kids jeans.  The yellow is some twill from....something.  It hangs over our bed, and has fleece for back and bat.  I had envisioned it as a picnic type quilt, but the bedroom needed a calming influence, so up on the wall it went.

Mystery Czech Sewing Machine

This one is a bit of a mystery.  Labeled Made in Czechoslovakia, and "Stitchmaster", a very common badge name.  The stitch length lever is the long lever to the right of the pillar.  The black knob is the zigzag control.  The bobbin case looks like a Pfaff 230, so my best guess is that this is a clone of that machine, sort of.  The face plate looks similar to Pfaff, as well.  I haven't gotten as far as finding a needle for it, but it looks like it takes a round shank and not a flat shank needle.  Found it in a junk store.  Anyone ever seen one?  There is no manufacturer name anywhere on it. If I knew what needle it took, I'd be a happy camper.  I tried a regular needle, a 15x1, and it does not fit.  It needs a new presser foot, as well.  The one it has is a straight stitch foot on a zig zag machine, so someone broke off one toe (ouch) of the presser foot so they could zigzag.  Very sub optimal.

I'm in a bit of machine doldrums.  I need to sell my Necchi Nora, and cabinet, to make room.  But first, I need to photograph it, and to do that I need to clean up the.....Then there is the completed quilt top and back hanging over the ironing board.  They need to be pressed, and then pinned, and then quilted. I have four blouses and two pairs of pants cut out, waiting to be sewn.  What can I say- It's raining cats and dogs here, and I just want to take a nap!

Vintage Machine Love

I was thinking about why i like vintage machines so much, other than my need to be difficult, and then I read this bloggers post:
http://charleeturner.blogspot.com/2012/02/buying-sewing-machinego-vintage-or.html

I leave you with a picture of Foxie, who has re-purposed a box of fabric as a Small Dog Bed. I probably wouldn't have made anything as cute as this with the fabric, anyway.

Bird Decals

The decals on the bed of my latest resident here at the home for abused and underapreciated sewing machines. The machine has been coated liberally in oil, now i will spend many hours and many cotton squares gently removing grime.

Cupcake Apron

I have made dresses that were less involved than this apron. That said, none of it was hard, but was picky. It is cute, but not so cute that I will make it again, unless, for some odd reason, I need any apron for an event. If I sold things at craft fairs, or worked somewhere like that where my crafty cred needed to be broadcasted, then yes, I would make this again.

The apron is displayed on my new, paper tape dress form ( just google it for many, many, tutorials on the subject. I have named her Truly. Because it was truly startling to see how big I've gotten, and it will be truly wonderful to be able to get clothes to fit better, and it is truly a conscious effort to love my self as I am now, and not how I will be in some undefined future.

Here's the vintage seam binding I used around the neck and pockets. Sweet! One 4 yard package did just those areas.