I love to sew, mainly quilts and bags. I am 66, married to Fred and have one son, Matthew, who is 27. I enjoy embroidery and applique and prefer to machine piece and quilt my projects. I love my vintage Singer sewing machines especially my Featherweight 222K. I’m enjoying treadling on my 201K Singer and I collect Miniature Sewing Machines and currently have three Essex , one Singer 20, one Singer 40, two Vulcan Miniatures and my latest, a Grain. My love of sewing I believe comes from my Grandmother - I still have the drawings she made for me to embroider on tea towels many many years ago!

Monday 12 August 2013

SEVEN

Block # 7 that is!   Here is my A4A #7 block...
# 7  Aiming For Accuracy quilt-along

Batik # 7

We were given a much easier block this week !  still Quarter Square Triangles involved but now we pretty much have those down pat!  especially with our wonderful ruler!

All sewn on my Singer 201K but the first block (blue/brown) was pieced using the recently purchased 1/4" foot and the Batik block was sewn using the old Singer foot with the screw on seam guide.

I had a few issues with my points on the blue/brown block but the Batik block went together perfectly first time!  I think I prefer the old foot and guide as it seems to be much easier to keep the scant 1/4" seam straight and I can see what I'm doing much better.  

I was going to make these blocks last night but the machine was sewing a bit weird so I oiled her and cleaned out the shuttle area and then let her soak everything up overnight.  Today she was sewing like a dream!  These old machines require fairly frequent oiling, something I will have to remember!

I tried out the Coles Iron-Aid (not starch)  today - using it instead of Crisp - and I think I prefer it.  I sprayed the fabrics prior to cutting and then again when I was joining the units and then again at the end once the block was made.  My blocks did not finish up all stiff like they have been when I used Crisp.  I'll be adding a bottle of Best Press (like they use in the U.S.A.) to my Craft Show shopping list as I really want to try it.  It goes without saying that all of June Tailor's rulers will also be on that list :-)

Other sewing ....    I managed to get all of the rows together for the baby quilt I'm making, now adding the borders.  The Aussie Log Cabin has its first border on, just waiting on the last border.

Suddenly our Winter has disappeared and it feels like Summer!  quite hot today and same expected for tomorrow so Fred and I will head off down to the Gold Coast for a swim and a coffee:-)   and don't think there will be no sewing for me tomorrow....... I always take my embroidery bag with me everywhere!

Happy Sewing!!
Helen

FABRICS USED IN THIS BLOCK:-

BROWN CONTRAST FABRIC -  "MONOCHROMATIX" BY PATRICK LOSE FOR ROBERT KAUFMAN
ORANGE - RAINFOREST COLLECTION BY  CORAL TREE FABRICS "SUMMER RAIN"
YELLOW -   PEBBLES YELLOW, BROOK BY CP DESIGNS FOR STUDIOFABRICS.COM
BLUE/BROWN/MUSTARD SWIRL - NANCY MIMS FOR MODGREENPOD   ROBERT KAUFMAN

Note: I'm not listing the Batik fabrics as most are unknown  (been in the stash for a very long time)

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