Friday, September 2, 2022

A little sewing

Hello friends and followers.........

Even with all the yardwork this summer, I've been in the mood for sewing. I  finally dragged out my machines that had been gathering dust on a shelf in my craft room. 

I have a Singer and a Riccar (old from the 90's). I love the Riccar! It is SO heavy duty.... but it had quit working when I tried to use it earlier last year. A friend of mine cleaned and adjusted it for me, and then it worked.. but I could not find the feet to go with it! So I had to order some from Amazon.  

You see... I wanted to do some sewing on my paper crafts, like around tags, and the pages of my little albums, etc. But I didn't want to use my "good" Singer (although I think the old Riccar is better!).



I was able to use the Riccar a few times to sew on my papers and I was so happy!....but it was short lived...........  as then the bobbin ran out, and I could not remember how to thread a new bobbin! And I tried using one that was already wound, but in doing so, unthreaded the top thread to the needle, so tried rethreading the needle, but then I would sew a few stitches and the thread would break! Over and over again it broke. Very frustrating!

I tried rethreading, adjusting and rethreading again many times... and watched some Youtube videos, but it still breaks. I can't figure out what I did, as when I first got the new feet, it worked fine.

Oh well, time to move on from that fiasco......... so I decided to use my Singer for some fabric projects. And guess what? I used it a little, and when I went to wind a new bobbin, the bobbin rewinder kept stopping and not winding the bobbin!  It would beep and stop....over and over and over......... So again, I went to YouTube, and found a video for my specific machine.. and it said I would have to open up the top case, dig in to the "clutch" and clean it or adjust it. Oh no.. I didn't want to do that! So I found another video that said the tension may be wrong on the little arm where you wind the bobbin, so I tried loosening that.. and low and behold, it worked! (..........for awhile anyway).

So I proceeded to make 7 pillowcases and about 10 fabric gift sacks, plus did some mending.







I was on a roll with the pillowcases! I had laid out several from my stash fabrics 2 years ago, to make pillowcases! I guess it's better late than never right? 

I made 2 pillowcases to match my new(ish) quilt that I bought last Fall to brighten up my bedroom (the first two shown above). They look so pretty on my bed. The rest I put in the little gift shop here where I sell my papercrafts.

And the gift sacks I also wanted to make for the little gift shop here in town (Hummingbird Junction), so I went through my older fabrics and pulled from those.  I found a good video on YouTube on how to make them with the sleeve for the cording of a different color. I loved that look.
  



I used some of my novelty fabrics for the gift sacks. Loved these owls and my retro style cowboy ladies.

I decided to make some pillow covers for some of my throw pillows that were Christmas designs, and from doing that, got 3 "new" pillows for my bed. 
The "Wildflower" pillow I bought from the little shop here in town.


I "shoppped my house" for a picture to put above my bed (had been a blank wall for months........) and got a cute little birdhouse and plaque to match, so I'm very happy with how it looks now. Both the birdhouse and plaque I bought at the Hummingbird Junction), where I display my papercrafts for sale. 



Love this sign!

That's about as far as I got on my sewing projects, this time anyway. My Singer bobbin winder pooped out on me again quit working again, so I had to wind the last couple of bobbins by hand to finish my last two gift sacks!

I had company last weekend, so put my piles of fabric (yet to be made gift sacks) away, and the sewing machine away..... and those will come out again on another day..... when I'm on a sewing roll again.

HAPPY SEPTEMBER!!

~Marilyn~



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15 comments:

  1. How fun you felt like sewing this summer. Very cute. Happy Labor Day. xoxo Kris

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    1. Yes Kris I'm glad I did it while I was in the mood! The machine is put away now... Marilyn

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  2. What fun and colorful fabrics for your sewing pleasure! I found a facebook page for Humminbird junction and can see why they would be interested in carrying your creations. What a fun store it would be to just walk through. I have never had the pleasure of finding such a place.

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    1. Lynn, the Facebook page you found for Hummingbird Junction is indeed her shop. It's just chock full of "stuff".... just about anything you could think of.. all "gently used" and some new, but I could spend hours in there. Everyone I take to visit there fall in love with it. I feel privileged to be able to put my goodies in there and enjoy making things for it. Marilyn

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  3. Everything you make is so lovely and your bedroom looks like the perfect place for a relaxed and peace sleep, sweet dreams:)

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    1. Connie, I do love my bedroom! Every time I walk in, I feel so cozy... especially at night with a low light on. I just need a new bed... the king is too big for the room... am hoping to eventually get a queen, as I still do like to stretch out! I'm loving the teal with the pink, but still love my pinks and green combinations too. xoxox Marilyn

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  4. Oh sewing machine woes! I've been sewing and having problems too! Usually in my case, my thread hops off the tension/ threading hook and creates big stuck bunches of birds nest threads or a gremlin swallows the bobbin thread inside what I think is a loose bobbin case.
    Salem no longer has my sewing machine repair shop, or primary quilt shop, or so many other big stores now!
    Changing times as a result of pandemic/retail problems.
    But you found a way to carry on!! Good for you!!

    I love all of your sewing and the wonderful number of pillow cases and cute bags you've made. Your bed is very cute! Everything is cute and so much fun!
    I love small projects that bring a lovely sense of accomplishment and instant gratification.

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    1. Michele... you are so right! Small projects are fun and I can actually get them finished! The pillow cases were fun and I used many of my older fabrics.. and even made myself some new ones which I enjoyed. I am addicted to making those gift sacks for some reason.. maybe because fairly quick and I get to use 2 or 3 different fabrics and enjoy their beauty!
      I need to get my machines both worked on... I hope you have luck with getting yours fixed too! No fun to find those birdnests underneath!!! :-) :-) :-)
      I usually make Christmas fabric gift sacks and smaller items too, so I need to tend to at least one of my machines and get it working right!
      And yes.. I do love my bedroom.. the teal with the pink is very calming and soothing, and I've had fun finding new wall placques with quotes to put up.. and make me think positive thoughts each day!
      Hugs.. Marilyn

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  5. You sure had your fill of bobbin problems! But, you still managed to sew some lovely things!

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    1. Amy yes I did.. I I need to get both machines fixed so I don't put off using them again very soon! Winding a bobbin by hand is very slow going, especially when you're half done and then it flips out of your hand and totally unwinds! Marilyn

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  6. You have been busy in spite of the sewing machine challenges! I get so frustrated with machines. LOL I do absolutely ADORE the owl gift bag!!!! Sooooo cute!!!
    I've been doing a lot of slow stitch, or at least trying to in-between traveling with my husband and watching our youngest grandbaby when we're home. I've visited a ton of thrift and antique stores, gathering lovely notions to use in future projects.

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    1. Anne.. I've seen slow stitch on YouTube. I wonder if it's similar to embroidery but just called another name? I used to embroider alot in my younger years. I'm glad you are enjoying it! Oh have fun too visiting the antique and thrift stores! Marilyn

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  7. Well done on the pillowcases! They just make a wonderful gift for the person who has everything. Thanks for sharing your ideas♥

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    1. Susan, yes they do! They are fun to make and fun to use up fabrics I've stored for many years! I even enjoyed making myself some! Marilyn

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  8. How great to see you happily sewing, Marilyn. You have been busy, and I'm glad to see it. Your fabrics are so pretty. I really like the birdhouse and the plaque. Like the quotes, too! The gift sacks are super cute! xo

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