Oh my, you know what it's like, you don't post for a week and then you have trouble deciding what to post about...so here is a bit of everything.
Easter was good. Some things were traditional, such as too much chocolate, and some things weren't, such as driving up to Essex on Easter Sunday through a snow blizzard! Mister J won the Easter competition at school which I am thrilled about as it has given him a little confidence boost.
I received my centre block for the round robin swap on Friday. It is from Luisa in Portugal and is delightful. I'll photograph it tomorrow and give it it's rightly deserved own post to mull over what border to put on it.
I'm having machine issues, so really need some sewing advice. On the whole I find the subject of sewing machines quite boring, you buy one, and you use it to sew. However, my attitude is changing as my machine is not being so obedient. I have been free machine stitching on fabric and paper for college, but am having terrible problems. I think my machine does not like it, but thought I'd blog about it here to see if anyone has any tips. I have a basic domestic Janome machine, which doesn't have feed dogs you drop, it has a plate to cover them. Every time I have tried sewing with it, the thread has looped at the back and in the sample below 2 needles broke. The plastic plate which covers the feed dogs has marks on it where the needle has hit it, and i use the darning foot. I love this technique, but am getting really frustrated with my machine. I was bought up on British sitcoms and my machine and I keep having a Basil Fawlty threatening his car moment! Whilst on the subject of machines I am having a further dilemma. It really needs a service (not linked to the free machine stitching as it has always disliked doing it), but it will be £45. Part of me thinks I should just part exchange it and try out a new machine. I would have a maximum of £200 to spend, but if any of you have a budget machine you can recommend, let me know. Likewise, any tips on free machine stitching would be much appreciated.
Here is the front of the piece I was sewing, along with a sample I gave up on this after realising I was flinching when sewing in case another needle broke!
The loopy back - horrid eh?
My second dilemma of the day are these crochet Converse boots. I followed the pattern, but feel the sole doesn't work. I think if I was to make them again I would slip stitch the sole to the upper. So what do you think readers, do these look great and I am being fussy, or does the sole look just a bit silly? They need their black laces in, but I didn't want to crochet them unless I am going to give them to the person I made them for.
Do these look like seventies platform Converse boots?
Something else I'm up to which I'm not going to blog too much about, is a project with Mister J's school. This week I did resist fabric dyeing with 90 reception age children. My hands are a bit stained, but none went on the children - phew! It is for a background to a wall hanging which the older children will applique on.
Lots to do this week. I have some free log cabin blocks to try hand sewing as part of my Gees Bend project. I am really looking forward to the hand sewing. I need to get my quilt project designed and ready to be approved, and try to finish my bag. I also would like to get my Round Robin done and sent out early. I have also acquired a couple of new books so will post some photos of those - the usual seventies applique I love. Selvedge is out and looks like a really good issue, and I have already scanned some photos from the new Crochet Today to blog in a minute, so there should be a bit more happening round here this week!
Hope you are all adjusting to the clocks changing. Since I have had children I much prefer losing an hour as it means I can say I got up at 7 o'clock, rather than 6, which sounds much more sociable!
Happy Sunday x