Friday, January 6, 2012

My New Old Sewing Machine


I learned to sew on this machine when I was about 12 years old. It belonged to my mother and it's a few years older than I am. I'm probably giving my age away now. Two months ago she asked me if I wanted it and I took her up on the offer. I emptied out all of the drawers.... lots of old thread, buttons, pins and needles, snaps, hook and eyes, rick rack, hem tape, several pairs of dull scissors, patterns, the original tube of lube (looked like it had never been used), attachments galore, and the users' manuals. Not much in there that a quilter would use. But the manual sure came in handy when I decided to........


....take the machine apart, clean it, oil it, and lube it. And I'm happy to say that after putting it all back together.... it worked!! These old machines are so user friendly.



Look at all these attachments. Wouldn't you know that the one I really needed for quilting was not included. I had to get a darning foot, also known as a hopping foot or free motion quilting foot.



Here is the button hole attachment. I remember my mom using it but if I really need to make a button hole I will probably use my other machine because it would be easier than this contraption.



The chair has storage in the seat but that old gold vinyl covering had seen its better days. Doesn't it look so much better now ??


Here are a few table runners and small quilts I did on this machine.


My free motion quilting is getting better and better on each quilt. I am enjoying this old machine and I'm sure it will see me through many more projects. Thanks Mom!!


Monday, January 2, 2012

Chocolate Figs Quilt

It's finally finished! I worked on this quilt for almost three months. It is machine pieced and hand quilted. I used Moda Bella Solids Brown and Butterscotch and Rose charm packs by Fig Tree Quilts also by Moda with a Bella Solids Red binding.


Here is a close-up of the stitching and backing.

 
And this is what it looked like in the frame before I started the hand quilting.