Fabric Sample Book Cushions

Hello

The lovely Sarah from Drawn Threads gave me some fabric squares from a sample book, the type that you choose your sofa fabric from.  I had the idea to make some new cushions out of them. Managed to get 5.5 inch squares out of each one of the pieces of fabric which was handy as when I sewed them into a nine patch it was exactly the right size for my existing cushion pads.  Phew. Backed them with an off cut of fabric that I bought for £2.  Used the zips unpicked from my old cushion covers.

While in the cushion making mood, made some more using the leather I was given along with pieces from Sarah's free fabric box and upholstery fabric I was saving for a rainy day.  Covered some buttons for the middle with matching fabrics.

I like the idea of thrifty makes, gives me more pleasure than just buying new cushions.

Cheers
Sharon

Quilts for Twins

Hello

My nephew Lee's wife is haviidentical so I made a couple cot quilts for them.

Used the same fabric but made them slightly different.  One has patchwork butterflies and the other cute bunnies.

As I had some fabric over, made a useful bag to put them in.  I was lucky to be given some leather from a local furniture company, the green was the perfect colour to match the green in the fabric, jammy or what.

Babies arrived safely one last night before midnight and the other early this morning so different birthday dates which will be nice for them when they grow up a bit.  They are both a decent size so should be home soon.

Cheers
Sharon

Update, babies doing well, identical girls.  They have called them May and June.  X

Sylko & Trylko Cotton Display Drawers

Hello

I've been grounded at the moment not allowed to work as I have stitches in my face!  Oooh err, had to have a lesion removed which looks dramatic so I am telling everyone that I have had half a face lift and when I have saved up enough money will get the other side done!  Hee Hee.

Sooo to cheer myself up bought a Trylko cotton set of drawers off Ebay to go with my Sylko drawers.

The Trylko box was a bit chipped so spent yesterday trying to mix paint to match the purple paint, easier said that done.  Got as near as I could and touched up all the white chips which made it look tidier.

To give it a nice sheen polished it with some beeswax.  Not sure if the purple colour is original, I suspect not as its quite rough and there is no logo on the top but it goes well with the orange drawer front.

Its missing a handle so am on the search for a replacement.  Wondering if I could get a replacement 3D printed will have to explore this option.

So here is my trio of vintage drawers

Complete with contents

The lovely Anita sent me a present, a tin full of fab quilting threads which I have stored in my vintage sewing table which I rescued from Dad's garage.

Not sure if I will  be able to use all the reels of threads but will have years of pleasure just looking at them!

Cheers
Sharon

Haberdashery Fabric Shop in Whitby

Hello

A little while ago we had a weekend at Whitby on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors.  Its a beautiful port town famous for its Whitby Jet Jewelery worn by Queen Victoria.  Also the inspiration for Bram Stokers Dracula.  When you look at its Gothic ruined Abbey you can see why.  Even on a bright Spring day it looks scary.

The close up photo of the Abbey was blurred (user error) but below is the church next door.

It was chucking it down when we arrived so we had a soggy walk into town from the  caravan site.  It was so wet I resorted to putting a coat on Buzz, he was not amused.

I did find a gem of a shop in a back street, being after hours it was closed, I pressed my nose against the window drooling over the lovely fabric.  Had to wait until Monday when I could go and shop.  Judith's shop has been open for 50 years!

 She had the best collection of fabrics, wall to wall displays.

 She kindly allowed me behind the counter so that I could take a photo.

It's not a huge shop but packed with goodies.  Well worth a visit.  She even has a holiday let above the shop, what better on your holiday having a fabric shop on the floor below!

And yes, I did buy some fabric, it would have been rude not to.

Her contact details are

Judiths Fabrics
Patchwork & Dress Fabrics
Haberdashery
Established 50 Years
Closed All Day Wednesday (She was closed on the Sunday as well)

Judith Williamson
12-13 Brunswick Street
Whitby
YO21 1RB
tel. 01947 603213

Sharon
X

Singer 201 Faulty Knee Controller

Hello

Have been making a pair of baby quilts over the weekend.  Pieced the quilts on my Singer Featherweight, she is such a great machine to sew on but when it comes to machine quilting I change over to the Singer 201.

I have been having a bit of problem with the 201, the knee controller kept sticking on a bit and therefore the machine didn't stop when I wanted it to.  Tricky, so I put it away in disgrace after checking the mechanism and not finding anything obvious wrong with it.  Looked on Ebay I was lucky enough to find a complete system so I could have a proper go at fixing it.  Have been putting it off for a few weeks but after sewing the quilt this morning, enough was enough so out came the screwdriver.  Being Singer, I just needed one size.

The knee leaver fits in a hole on the side of the machine, the motor controller is under the black cover.

The knee lever goes into the round shaped bit and that revolves, which moves the linkage bit with the big screw, then that pulls on a plunger switch in the motor controller (hope that makes sense).   When you stop pushing the knee lever the plunger switch is supposed to go back in switching off the motor but on mine it was sticking slightly open.  Tried oiling the linkage but no joy (never put oil in the controller itself).

The next thing I did was try the new knee lever in case my old one was worn, no that wasn't it. So changing the parts was the next thing to try.  Scary or what.

To remove, take the screws out on the linkage. 

The turn the machine on its back, being careful to keep fingers out of the way cos its extremely heavy   There are 5 screws, the top two hold the linkage in place and the other three the controller.

The linkage and controller lift out together, the finger on the linkage fits onto a loop on the plunger switch.  I took the cover off the controller by removing 2 screws underneath.

Comparing the two controllers, I thought I had found what was wrong, the white controller is mine, the back pad (which is like a back stop for the plunger when its pulled out) was worn on the edge.  So I swapped the controllers over.

I compared the my linkage with the new one, exactly the same so I put the old one back on.  You have to link the two parts together, slide the back of the linkage into the hole in the base, keep the controller level when you drop them both into place, you have to jiggle it a bit.  Then put the 2 screws in on the linkage, then carefully turn the machine on its back and put the screws in underneath.  Just hold the controller in place while you locate the first screw hole in the base of the controller, then the others are easy to screw up.

Switched the machine back on, it was a little better but still stuck on a bit.  So had to repeat the whole process again and take them both out.  Swapped the linkage for the new one and put it back together again.Yippee, it works.  Should have tried the changing the linkage first then I wouldn't have had to change the controller, doh.  Still can't find whats wrong with the linkage, its exactly the same as the other one.

A useful thing to stop you loosing the screws is a magnetic pin tray, if you haven't got one, then a dish to put screws in is essential, trust me, screws are tricky little blighters who like to hide from you!

Above is the offending linkage.  Afterwards I thought of an easy fix if you haven't got new parts.  Just tie a piece of fabric around you leg and put the tip of the knee lever into it, then you take your leg off the lever, it will pull it back into the stop position, just don't forget you are tied to the machine hee hee.

Its best to switch off these old machines when you have stopped sewing.  I take out the knee lever as once I forgot to unplug the machine and left lever in place.  It dropped down and slightly switched the controller on which then got quite hot!  Luckily I found it in time before it went up in smoke.

Cheers

Sharon

Teeny Terrier Transformed - Yeah

Hello

Well we've done it, transformed Tina from a stressed out little dog who was guarding, not eating very much and growling into a joyful bundle of fun.

She is putting weight on, not barking any more, a more confident little dog.  I am so pleased,  I knew there was a canny little dog in there somewhere, all it needed was a little understanding and knowledge.

Our dogs guard and bark, we expect it and think its natural and for most it doesn't cause a problem.  But there are some dogs like sensitive Tina the responsibility of being on guard gets too much for them and they go into a melt down.  Recognising this is tricky, when our dogs look at us they are asking us a question, the knack is know what they are asking!  I am better at reading dogs than people but that is a good thing, I love it.

Here she is on her best behavior in her new waterproof coat.

She is such a joy, she now comes to work with me along with Buzz. She is a big hit with my customer Don, she sits on his knee.

Oh, have been practicing my dog training techniques on horses.  Another customer of mine has a very large horse who is scared of new people, I approached him while he was in his box making sure that I made no eye contact at all, quietly put my hand out so he could smell it.  By the time his owner had taken a rug off her other horse, he had his head over my shoulder while I scratched his shoulders.  He was nearly asleep, Liz was amazed he was letting me near him let alone touching him.  So horses are like dogs, if they are nervous making eye contact scares them.  Easy when you know how.

Sharon
x

Lori Holt's Bloom Along - Applique Flowers

Hello

It's a glorious day in North Yorkshire today and I want to garden but the lawn is too wet to walk on.  Doh.

Sooo having a go at Lori Holt's Bloom Along http://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.co.uk/ applique quilt.  I bought the templates a while ago and have been saving the pages to do at a later day but just couldn't wait to try it out.  I have got four blocks completed, the Bloom Along is up to Block 12 so some catching up is in order.  Sewing the shapes on the Featherweight which is ideal for the small tricky ones and doing the applique by hand which is a relaxing pass time on a evening in front of the telly.

Loving it.

 The lovely Anita gave me a box of quilting threads, ideal for appliqueing  the flowers on, can get the right colour so the stitches hardly show.

Well off to start No. 5!  I haven't done all four this morning, did a couple on Friday afternoon.

With all these flowers I am gardening in a way!  It's less strenuous and much cleaner.


Sharon

x