Storage solution . . . . rent a unit ???

We've all run into the problem, where to put "the stuff".  Not just fabric, but tools, thread, rulers, and of course leftovers.

Left over blocks, left over pieces, left over strips, ad infinitum.  You get the picture.

First I collected specialty tins, which I adore.  Then the Dollar Store came along with its vast array of bins and boxes.  Sadly, the variety of shapes and sizes did little to portray a sense of tidiness.


For years the mayhem continued . . .

Until Friday, when I found $1.00 photo boxes at the big W-M store.  End of season closeout, very limited color selection.  I filled the cart.

At checkout, the clerk said, "you must have a lot of photos".  LOL!



Until I began arranging, I had no idea how much thread there was.

Now I've moved on to baggies.  The hope of course being, when I have a few minutes of time, I can simply pull out a labeled box and begin sewing.

This 12-year-old baggie project would not fit in a box, so yesterday I sat down and sewed.  YES, "stop the presses" . . . I sewed a big quilt.

Happy New Year to ME!

Now it's back to organizing.

Here's wishing all of YOU a Sew-Full and far less cluttered New Year.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Yeah, I finished it!

 This year, I decided not to be a silly bunny

and hop from store to store on Christmas eve trying to find "the perfect present."

So I thought and I planned and finally I sewed.

For the smaller bag on the right, I owe a great deal of thanks to The Pink Penguin.

She ever so kindly set up a tutorial and I made a test run to verify the dimensions.

The bag on the right is 2" larger in height and width.  I also lengthened the handles on each.

The neon yarn fabric came from Mary Jo's in Gastonia.  If it's not on their web site you can call, perhaps it's still in stock.  I bought mine at the end of October.

To the drawstring ribbon on the smaller bag I added a few beads for weight and a bit of bling or perhaps a better word would be bauble.  

The interfacing is a fairly heavy one and took some time to firmly iron down.  Of course all fabric was pre-starched heavily prior to cutting.  The lining is 100% cotton, not vinyl.

I'm very happy with the results and now I want to make one for me, but with pockets on the outside and inside.

Dolly is very glad I'm out of the sewing room and back in the kitchen baking goodies.  Even if they're not for her, she'd rather smell something cooking.

Wherever you are or will be this holiday season, Dolly and I would like to wish you joy, wonderful friends, good food and safe travels.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

John C. Campbell Folk School Fireside Sale

On Sunday, I made it over to the Fireside Sale where several friends exhibit each year.  Sadly, for a variety of reasons, there were only half as many vendors as usual.

The Garland Dancers, swinging in the holiday season. 

Hand carved and hand painted thread spool Santa by Helen Gibson.  They come in different sizes.  To order your very own, just e-mail me.  Helen does not have a web site, but I do have her phone number.

Beautiful porcelain pottery by Marsha Bugg. 

Wonderful shaker oval boxes by Mr. Lenton Williams of Wattsville, Alabama.  Please e-mail me for his contact info.

Hand forged hammers and tools by Elmer Roush, a long time resident of the area.    Elmer and his lovely wife, Linda, also do custom blacksmithing work such as gates and fencing.  They are a very talented team.

And next up, lovely prints of local scenes.   My dear friend Suzy is incredibly gifted and I always enjoy seeing what she's been working on.

If you're seeking a distinctive gift for the man in your life, look no further.  Jim Craig had some of the finest pieces I've ever seen.  Handles were made from exotic woods, deer antler, turquoise, and even dinosaur bone.

Bright colored pottery mugs and novelties by Rob Withrow.  Another long-time resident of the area, Rob is best known for his large hand turned pieces.

and last, but certainly not least, hand punched pictures, each unique and wonderful.

I hope you'll mark your 2015 calendar for the first Sunday in December in order to stop in next year and support the amazing talent this area is known for.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

The solution was simple

It turns out, the bobbin hook was in the wrong place.  On both machines.

 It must be top and center,

 So when the throat plate is installed, the hook portion fits in the center space.

 That's all there was to it.

After reading extensive internet information and watching various YouTube videos, I did learn about throat plate burrs.  The screwdriver points to the location which was sanded down.  I imagine needles abraded the area through the years.  A nail file will work just as well for light sanding.

Many thanks to everyone who e-mailed and checked back with me.

Now that it's thoroughly cleaned, oiled, and ready to go, I plan on using my Featherweight more often.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

I've tracked down some new information.

Sometimes it's a matter of finding the right article and I'm hoping this works.

http://www.tandtrepair.com/Singer221/221LGR.pdf

So far, I've managed to remove the entire bobbin case unit.  Now I just need to find my Dremel.

After that, it's a matter of getting all the pieces back together.   Wish me luck.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Does anyone know how to fix a featherweight?

Three-fourths of my precious Saturday vacation time was spent trying to sew.

On either featherweight.  After sewing for about 30 minutes, the first one totally stopped.

I cleaned, I oiled, I checked, I read the book.  To no avail.

I brought out the second one and repeated the process.

I've changed the needle, the bobbin, and even adjusted the tension.

I've even switched thread brands.

You see, everything runs fine, until I put the thread in.  Then, after turning the wheel counter clockwise to bring the bobbin thread up, it gets jammed.  No matter if the presser foot is up or down, it still gets Stuck, with a capital S that goes with SEW, but it's a NO GO.

On-line tutorials were examined and NOTHING WORKED.

Even Dolly had little to say on the matter.

So I'm asking those in the know, any suggestions?

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .