Sewing Machines

I borrowed my Mom’s Singer when I first started sewing this past summer.  It was better than no sewing machine, but I did not love it.  My parents got me a Brother CS6000i as an early birthday present and it was so. much. better. than my mom’s Singer.  It has awesome features and had a bunch of quilting features included.  And I learned a great deal with it.  But lately it’s been frustrating me.  I expect that I sew more on it than it likes, so I bum it out a bit.  If I take a break it usually works well for me again.  For a little while.  And then it gets kind of fussy.  When I use it for “normal” sewing stuff, like my Christmas presents, it usually works great.

When I tried making my brother a quilted gun sleeve with canvas fabric, the walking foot pretty much crapped out on me.  It did not like working that hard and now it is ineffectual, which makes quilting a bit difficult.

I have also found myself having a very difficult time sewing a straight quarter inch seam.  I can’t get the fabric to pass through the machine straight.  I have to feed it in at a slant to keep the seam straight.  It’s not so annoying when I’m working on something that doesn’t require such preciseness, but now that I’m trying out more difficult patterns, it’s making things frustrating.

I wondered if it was a user error.  Maybe I just really stink at sewing.  But I’ve since tried a few different machines without difficulty.

So, it’s time for an upgrade.  This has been a frustrating development since my husband is a grad student and I mostly stay home with our two kids.  I started working last fall to help support my new “hobby.”  And, after discussing it with my husband, my job will now pay for a new machine.

So I went to visit our local dealer on Friday.  And I am head over heals in love with the Bernina Aurora 440 QE.  Right?  Could I make a bigger leap?!  :-)  I looked at most of their machines, and tried a Janome that was probably more suited to my price range.  But I want to quilt MORE!  And I love the quilting “accessories” that come with the 440.

I loved sewing on it and even tried the BSR foot – I made a lovely swirly design despite the experience being only my second try.  Ever.  :-)  It’s just. so. awesome.

So – if everything works out, I should be the proud new owner of a Bernina next week.  So. Stinking. Excited!

Disappearing Nine Patch

My lovely disappearing nine-patch square.  :-)

Eep.

I’m working on my first quilt sans a pattern.  Eep.

I fell in love with the disappearing nine patch, so I am planning to use that for this project.  We’ll see how it goes.  :-)

Here is my lovely Oasis (3 Sisters) fabric all cut up for my nine patches:

WIPs

In addition to piecing my new quilt top:

I am also hoping to finish up a late Christmas present for my nephews.  I’m making a checker set.  The checker pieces are a tedious process, however.  So I’ve decided to work on just a few each day to get it done.

New Quilt

I am working on a new quilt.  I fell in love with the Sparkling Cider pattern by All Washed Up.  I wanted to try it out with the smaller quilt.  My fabric is all cut, and today I finished piecing the stars.  These are two of my favorites:

Blogger’s Choice Fat Quarter Bundle Competition

I found this fun competition that Quokka Quilts is sponsoring.  Since I’m totally in love with fabric now, I decided to play along.

I originally started with a softer, more shabby chic-like palette, but recently fell in love with Happy Mochi Yum Yum prints, so I decided to start there instead.  So here is my bundle:

1. Crazy Daisy Pink with Orange by Benartex Fabrics
2. Folk Heart Pink and Yellow Wallpaper by Rosalie Quinlan for Lecien Fabrics
3. Daisy Cottage Pink Home Sweet Home by Lori Holt of Bee In My Bonnet for Riley Blake Designs
4. Kona Cotton Pear Solid by Robert Kaufman Fabrics
5. Happy Mochi Yum Yum Tangerine Floraburst by Monica Solorio-Snow for Lecien Fabrics
6. Super Coral Swirling Words by Gudrun Erla for Red Rooster Fabrics
7. Pocket Full of Posies Blue Tiny Set Floral by Foliage for Windham Fabrics
8. Sunny Happy Skies Pink Tonal Florals  by Bella Blvd for Riley Blake Designs
9. Kona Cotton Orange Solid by Robert Kaufman Fabrics
10. Power Pop Strawberry Girlfriend by Jenean Morrison for Free Spirit Fabrics
11. Happy Mochi Yum Yum Cherry Confetti by Monica Solorio-Snow for Lecien Fabrics
12. Kona Cotton Pomegranate Solid by Robert Kaufman Fabrics
13. Indian Summer Pink Small Floral by Zoe Pearn for Riley Blake Designs
14. Meet Me At Sunset Pink Aquatic Stripe by Dear Stella Fabrics
15. Pocket Full of Posies Key Lime Tossed Mini Floral by Foliage for Windham Fabrics

2011 Recap

After a more than 20 year sewing hiatus, I started sewing again in June of 2011.  (I sewed a few projects during my youth and took a sewing class in middle school.)  I started hand sewing felt food for my dear daughter.  It was so. much. fun.

In July of 2011, my mom let me borrow her machine and I sewed my first creation.  I spent more time unstitching than sewing, but even after 7 months, I still seem to have this issue.

Since then I’ve completed about 45 sewing projects.  And what better way to capture them than a picture “montage.”

My Felt Creations

My Sewing (Machine) Creations

My Quilted Creations

It’s been a wonderful year of learning.  I’ve  had so much fun, I am so excited to see what projects 2012 will bring.