Stitching the pieces together

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited January 2013

    O.K., Ladies...

    ANNOUNCING....THE BATTERY-OPERATED SEAM RIPPER!!!

    Kind of a cheezy video, but I could probably use one of these things...Undecided

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8beiUraqUM

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  • Gingerbrew
    Gingerbrew Member Posts: 2,859
    edited January 2013

    I watched the ad and I don't think it is cheesy. It would work. SOme use electric hair clippers on machine embroidery.   

    I saw a scalpel used for a seam ripper on embroidery too or no I think it was on serging. 

    My newest find was a seam ripper with an ergonomic handle that is a little rubbery so it won't slip. I am going to buy one.  I have had my fingers go numb in the past with the usual old seam ripper. It also never occurred to me that seam rippers get dull! Of course and I never ever thought of it. Off to Amazon to find the ergonomic seam ripper. 

    AJ did I tell you I bought the Evolution machine at the class. I said I loved it but I dont think I told you I actually bought it!!!!  I can't imagine I will ever need another machine. probably. 

    Hugs Ginger

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  • Elisimo
    Elisimo Member Posts: 1,601
    edited January 2013

    Ginger, That is great! I do a lot with my Evolution. I started out with the Emagine & traded up to the Evolution just before Christmas. I love it!!! I don't think I will ever need another one ever!

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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited January 2013

    When I worked in the furniture factory sewing upholstery, we would use the pressure foot like the video to hold work, open the scissors and use the blade to cut the threads, it was a quick way to 'ribbit'. Although I won't do that with my quilting, it can stretch the fabric and it is easy to cut the fabric, not like the heavy upholstery fabrics.

    Sheila

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  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 19,483
    edited January 2013

    I just happen to have a battery operated beard trimmer that DH won't use, he has another favorite. Maybe I will have to get it out and try it.

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  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited January 2013

    My Mom always used a safety razor blade to rip.

    Does anyone have a suggestion for getting those prickly tags out of garments? I have fleece pj's that I love, but the label remmants still scratch. The main part of the tag has been removed. I did cut a sweater getting the tag out. It's a hoody, so no problem hiding it.

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  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 19,483
    edited January 2013

    If you get a successful answer, I will be thrilled.  I have a couple of tops that have those sharps tag edges in them.  I do love the companies who have now gone to the "tag-less" option.

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited January 2013

    I think the worst tags are those sewn in with clear monofilament thread, like fishing line.

    I've worked for hours with a seam ripper to get those suckers out. Yell

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited January 2013

    Well, I've amazed myself. DH was off the past two days working on a project, and I actually finished putting together the top to my "watercolor" wall hanging!

    It went much more smoothly than I imagined, and except for two bonehead mistakes I made (REALLY not my fault....the instructions were not clear Surprised ) it came out looking pretty good, if I do say so myself!!!

    Still have to choose a border, and then quilt it, but will take pics tomorrow and post just to show the progress so far.

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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited January 2013

    Addition to the Bazaar projects, one older woman at church brought a garbage bag full of acrylic yarn (most of it brand new skeins) to my mom to use as she sees fit. My mom got a copy of the original 'mile-a-minute' afghan pattern from another friend and gave it to me. There were 4 skeins of copper kettle (brown/burnt orange shades) verigated yarn to do the center strips and off white and solid burnt orange to do one round of inside border and black to do the outside border. I crocheted last night, while my husband was home and got 3 center strips done out of the 9 needed. The center strips really do work up a mile-a-minute.

    I am looking for some other quick and easy projects like winter scarves, cowls or hats to use up some of the yarn. and I have asked if anyone would like to learn to crochet to teach them some of the easy patterns.

    Sheila

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  • Gingerbrew
    Gingerbrew Member Posts: 2,859
    edited January 2013

    We have been in a blackout so I am just posting.  

    My DGD 2 years and 5 months old said , "I want to learn to sew."   She knows the stop and start and cut buttons on my machine but thank goodness she doesn't know how to turn it on.     

    At preschool she told the teacher she wants a lesson on the "sewing a button on work." 

    It just makes my heart glad. I did go buy an old german made childs machine, the kind you turn the wheel by hand, no electricity.  

    She also wants to knit but I think she needs to be a little older. RIght now she just workes the needles back and forth.  

    I am sure my Grandma is doing the happy dance up in Heaven.

    Hugs and love

    Ginger 

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  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 19,483
    edited January 2013

    My mother recalls sitting beside her aunt emulating her as she tried to copy an already made doily.  Mother says she had a great ball of knots but she was having fun moving the hook in and out of the thread.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited January 2013

    I'm BACK! Finally getting things situated from after Christmas.  I finally signed up for my beginning quilting class.  It starts February 25.  Here are the fabrics I picked out for my class project, which will be a crib-sized quilt:

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited January 2013

    And here are the fat quarters for the quilt I want to make

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited January 2013

    And HERE is the EVIL sewing machine that I am going to tackle tomorrow morning.  Positive thinking, I WILL GET IT adjusted to sew.

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited January 2013

    Ohhhh....MelissaDallas.....you are in big trouble!!!! Wink

    You've already picked out some GORGEOUS fabrics for your first quilts, and I can already see your "stash" growing at an alarming rate!!!

    (Don't worry. Massive stashes are the hallmark of all great quilters.) Heck, mine is small, but I buy fabric for no reason at all, other than I like it.)

    Good luck with your machine!!!!

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited January 2013

    Oh - forgot to share a tip for new quilters...something that I learned my first day in class sooooo long ago!!!

    When a pattern calls for Dark, Medium, and Light fabrics, sometimes it's difficult to tell which is which, especially when they are prints.

    There are some tools out there (red plastic, or green plastic) that are supposed to help, but my teacher taught us a different way.

    Simply make a black and white copy of your fabrics on your printer. You can put several samples in at once to copy. Reducing everything down to shades of gray makes it VERY easy to identify which ones are dark, which ones are medium, and which ones are light.

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited January 2013

    And finally.....

    MY WATERCOLOR QUILT!!!! (Wall hanging....)

    Still needs border, batting, quilting, and binding, but I wanted to show you that I got the top done!!!

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited January 2013

    Blessings, that is a very neat idea.



    For the pastels I just want to copy an old quilt I have that is really no pattern at all. It is a scrap quilt with small half triangle squares all jumbled with several sashing borders. Very charming. It is also an interesting size. It is just the dimensions of the top of my full size bed with no overhang, so perfect to fold on the foot of the bed to pull up for some extra warmth without a lot of weight, plus nice to drag in to the living room to my chair without being too big.



    I can already tell I am most definitely not in style. All the bolt calicos are bright & bold & modern. I like pretty, dainty, old fashioned, soft colors & small scale prints.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited January 2013

    Beautiful. That is really pretty.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited January 2013

    Does anyone else use an Ipad? I find it really frustrating to not be able to post photos from it.

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  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited January 2013

    Blessings, that is really gorgeous!

    Melissa, that will make a really pretty quilt.

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  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 19,483
    edited January 2013

    Melissa, your fabrics are lovely.  I like the retro fabrics of the 40s and 50s, too.

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  • Gingerbrew
    Gingerbrew Member Posts: 2,859
    edited January 2013

    Melissa you fabrics are very pretty. I like them very much, they are to my taste for quilts, especially.

    Blessings suggestion for a technique to determine if your print and colors read as dark or light is going to be very important to your success with these amazing fabrics. It took me forever to begin to understand what "they" were talking about with using red plastic to view the fabrics.  I hope you have great success.

    Hugs Ginger 

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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited January 2013

    Blessings, I too like the tip for determing the light/med/dark. I haven't heard that before, but I will share it with my quild tonight. I also love your watercolor quilt it is beautiful.

    Melissa, your colors work so well together, they will make beautiful quilts.

    Sheila

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  • Eph3_12
    Eph3_12 Member Posts: 4,781
    edited January 2013

    Oh my goodness, what a gorgeous piece of work Blessings.  Love the quilt-LOVE IT!

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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited February 2013

    Well, I wasn't the first to hear about using the copier for determining light/med/dark, but they also said you can do the same thing with your camera, just take a picture and view it as b/w. Since most of us have cameras on our phones, it is something we can do while in the store before we purchase the fabrics.

    Sheila

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited February 2013

    LOVE the watercolour quilt!!! Nicely done, sweetie!

    A camera is very good to use to see if you have balance in the placement of  your blocks, too (B4 you sew them!). It will show any overt boo boos. Same as looking in a mirror when you hold up your wall hanging. You tend to look differently at things when you make them, so it`s good to find another way to view them.

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  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 19,483
    edited February 2013

    I have been working on a quilt for "baby who?"  I am having fun with the colors.  I have the squares pinned to a quilt made by my grandmother.

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  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited February 2013

    Does anyone have a source for swim suit patterns? They seem hideously expensive in the stores (more than I would pay for a winter coat).

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