But how many of us really follow these recommendations? I'm usually pretty good about changing the needle. But I'll also spend the extra money for titanium needles so I don't have to change it as often. And my Husqvarna Viking sewing machine has only been in for a cleaning twice in the 9 years I've owned it. It's a workhouse and I'm glad it's kept going. I just find it difficult to part with the ~$85 a cleaning usually costs, although I realize that would be a better investment than paying for a new machine! I'll have to put that on my New Year's Resolution list.
As for cleaning out the bobbin, I'm hit or miss. If I have deadlines looming, I tend to forget about it. But when I do get around to it, I do a very thorough job. I take apart all the pieces and use my tweezers to remove every bit of lint I can reach inside the machine. With my machine, I can rotate the bobbin case to get all the way around. (You probably have to see it to understand what I mean.) At the retreat last week, Tamah (who also has a Viking) began to clean her machine and so reminded me I should as well. Look at all the lint I managed to get out! Gross huh?
Remember each square on the mat is one inch!
Now back to the things I sewed to accumulate all that fuzz... I started a pieced BOM (block of the month) last year through Quakertown Quilts. There were 12 blocks in varying shades of white, red, gold and green. I had finished all but the last 5 blocks. At the retreat, I managed to finish those as well.
I enjoyed working on them even though they aren't really my favorite colors. Each block finished at 12" so they would make a nice lap size throw by the time you add sashing and borders.
However, I have enough quilts that size and figured a small wall hanging would probably suit us better. I don't know yet what arrangement I'll use. It will continue to sit in the UFO pile until some time next year.
But I have taken a couple of the blocks and made a table runner for my SS. December is the last month of the secret sister program and the time of our big reveal. I haven't quilted it yet, but when I do, I'll take a picture and share it with you.
Now for the next step in the ugly quilt saga. Just to remind you, my sister picked out a fabric she absolutely loves and asked me to make her a very simple quilt for her living room. It's gone through several iterations and has been pretty hideous through each of them. I decided to throw it out the door and start over. I never felt comfortable with that design and I should have listened to my instincts. I played around with EQ5 (Electric Quilts software) last night and came up with a design that I liked much better. Luckily my sister agrees with me - so I'll get started on (hopefully) my final attempt.
This was the first time I imported fabrics into the program, but it won't be the last. It was so easy to do and you get a really good idea about what the finished product will look like. When I finish it,you can judge for yourself!
Until later, take care!
No comments:
Post a Comment