A Bit of Sewing...

I am taking it easy because I don't want to get sicker. I took the weekend chores slowly, and by Sunday afternoon, I felt good enough to do some sewing on the new tent for Millie.

I used two different greens on the tube pieces because the project was to be made with what was in my stash. I need to make a cover for the pillow, but there's no rush for that.

She's Back!

The sewing machine repair guy called me this morning and said he could not get the thread cutter to fail. Apparently it cut threads every single time no matter what stitch or stitch length. Wow. So he said I could come and get it.

Problem is, I am sick, sick sick. I have been sleeping on the couch all day long. I even slept through the Tournament of Roses parade, which I like to watch every year. I started feeling it New Year's Eve Day, when I woke up with my throat was so dry it hurt. Last night I had to make a trip to the drugstore to get some cold medicine, throat lozenges and a vaporizer. Then I went next door to the grocery store to get orange juice, popsicles, and tea. I slept better last night, but when I slept through the parade I knew I wasn't going anywhere.

The sewing machine repair shop closes at 5:30, just far enough away that I can't get there before they close if I leave work at 5:00. If I couldn't get my machine today, I'd have to wait until Saturday.

Bleh.

The dawn broke over Marble head. (There really is a town called Marblehead about an hour's drive away, it really does face east on the coastline, and dawn really does break over it. In addition to being a terribly wonderful bad pun on several levels, it is the equivalent of "D'oh.")

The sewing machine repair shop is in Hooksett. My dad lives in Hooksett. My dad is 84, retired, and loves to help me out. I called him, and an hour later my sewing machine was back where it belonged.

Thanks Dad.

So when I'm feeling better, I can get back to work.

Another Tent for Millie

My sewing machine is in the shop because the tech wants to test it with a new bobbin race. The thread cutter works intermittently, and when it doesn't it's the bottom thread that doesn't cut. A new bobbin race may resolve the problem. Intermittent problems are the hardest to troubleshoot, so I'm fine with it.

While I can't sew I'll do stuff that doesn't need my machine. I have had this fabric for several months and I think it will make a terrific tent for Millie. Now is a good time to cut it out.

I'll also tidy up the studio a bit and press fabrics for the next scrap slabs.

To those who are wondering, yes, I do plan a tutorial on the scrap slab quilts I've been making - Fruit Loops and Treasure Trove along with any other variations. I'll let you all know when it's ready.

Happy New Year!

The Winter Tent!

Well that didn't take long!  I got home from work, changed clothes, fed Millie and then Face Time'd with my son, DIL and granddaughter for about an hour before I made my dinner and then went into the sewing studio to start sewing the Winter Tent for Millie.  I deliberately chose this rather subdued fabric instead of the riot of red, green and gold that is most common in holiday novelty fabrics. The original tent was already bright, I wanted something a bit softer. I also opted to not have the casings be a contrasting color.  I'm happy with the bottom, if I lift the pillow I see the right side of the decorative fabric, and not the wrong side. The underneath is likewise attractive.

Later, I made the red flannel pillow cover and that really spiced it up a bit. I have to replace the bright colored fabric that holds the tubes together at the top. I'll probably choose some scrap of white fabric and leave it there after the holiday season is over.  I'm happy with it.

Of course, now that I've made it, Millie may decide to sleep in her heated cat cup instead of the tent.

She's a cat. What else is new?

 Of course, Millie is all about surprising me.

 Apparently Millie approves. She's slept in the tent all day!

Starting the Tent

The Holiday fabric I bought online for Millie's tent was supposed to arrive at work a week ago Friday. But Friday was our annual Holiday party, and nobody was at the building to receive it. Then on Monday I had to leave early for an appointment, so I only received my package on Tuesday.

The fabric had to go through the washer and dryer, and then be ironed before I could start cutting out the pieces.

One of the pieces - the casing for the legs of the tent - needed to be cut four times. Working with a tissue paper pattern is frustrating enough, but moving it around four times seemed a bit absurd. On a whim, I measured it - exactly four inches wide, by 29-1/2" long. WELL! I'll tell anybody at work that while I don't mind working hard, I don't like working stupid. I have a plexiglass ruler exactly four inches wide, so I folded over my fabric and used the ruler and my rotary cutter to cut two pieces in less time than it would have taken me with the tissue pattern. Then I did it again to cut the last two pieces.  I did make one other change.

One of the thing that always annoyed me about the tent was the base. The right side of the fabric faced down, and the wrong side of the fabric showed on the inside of the tent.

Even covered with a pillow you can still see the wrong side of the fabric. I decided I wouldn't do that again, so I cut an additional panel for the bottom of the tent. You can see it in the second photo. It's contrasting fabric of tan and gray.  Works for me.

I made the original tent way back in 2007, and it didn't take me very long, so I'm going to take a quick break from the slab triangles to finish this up.  I've got a nice red flannel for the pillow. I hope Millie is pleased.

There is, of course, no guarantee!

Backing for Fruit Loops, the Tent and a Funny.

I usually like big prints for the back of my quilts. I think small ones are kinda boring. I couldn't find any one big print that seemed to have the bright fruity colors of the Fruit Loops flimsy.

I found this print in different colorways, above. The print is large and it varies, like an organic shape. Well, if I can't have one print, I can have fun with different colorways of the same one, so I bought two yards of pink, gold and green. The white with black print at the bottom will be the binding.

I also bought a bunch of black and white prints for the side triangles of the next slab triangle quilt.

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Oh yes, the tent...

Here's the pattern for the tent I made for Millie. I made it back in 2007. I don't know if the pattern is still available. I'm not willing to part with mine.

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Funny story:

We had our annual open enrollment for health insurance today at work. Every year the admin of the health provider gives away five $50 Visa gift cards.

Five years ago I won one.

The next year I won again.

The next year everybody wanted to sit next to me, hoping my luck would rub off.

Last year, nope.

Today the CEO announces the raffle and says, "The winner can't be Angel or Lynne."

So who wins the first one?

Angel.

Then they pick the next three names. One winner is in my row. And which number comes up fifth?

Mine.

I threw my head back and laughed as I held my ticket up for "verification".

The CEO shook his head.