Like butter!

I just finished sewing seven, yes count them seven curtain panels. I just have 4 more that I need to make and then I'll have some window dressings for all the living room windows. Now I just need dh to hang up my new window hardware. But, what's this about butter you ask? Well, it's how wonderfully easy it was to sew them up on my little brown wonder the Viking 6440. Ahhhh...she is so smooth and the stitches are just fab. I know I've gushed about her before, but my goodness what a pleasure she is to sew on. She really does sew like butter. Here's a picture of her so you can admire her in all her splendidness!




And while I'm talking about butter I should mention my scissors. I finally broke down and took 3 pairs in to be sharpened. It's amazing that I could actually cut anything on them when I compare them to how sharp they are now. If you've been struggling with a pair of dull scissors, I urge you to run, don't walk and get those things sharpened! It'll make your life so much easier.

A birthday gift and a new toy

So, look at me, plugging away at that to do list. I finished N.'s birthday gift and go it in the mail this morning. I also have just about finished another knitting project and got the stuff to start on another one. Progress I tell you is a good thing.
I love how the dress for N's came out, but I'm not at all pleased with the neckline on the shirt...from the outside it looks fine, but the inside...I don't know and I have a feeling it might be too wide and gappy (excuse me as I make up some new words) in the back. I always have trouble with the knit neckline on Ottobre, and I don't know why exactly...I've never done one where I didn't redo it at least once, it's very frustrating. There's got to be some trick.
Oh and my beloved Pfaff serger has been acting up...I've figured out that it's the foot pedal and the machine itself is fine (although being that the company that made it is no longer in existence...not pfaff the actual manufacturer, it's only a matter of time before something happens that spells the demise of my machine). In my panic to finish my gift and of course knowing I use my serger every time I sew, I got on craigslist and found 2 used sergers that I was interested in. I checked out the reviews for them on PR and both got glowing reports and I asked the sewing mamas and each had a legion of fans. In the end it came down to age and price. The Viking was cheaper and younger than the Imagine serger. I really was impressed with how each machine serged, but I was concerned that the imagine that was at least 13 years old, but probably older and would give me some trouble. So I bought the viking. So far I like the viking 905 and as long as my pfaff keeps serging I will keep that set up for serging and the Viking set to roll hem. I'm excited about that since it's a pain in the ass to convert the pfaff to rolled hem. You have to change the needle plate, take out the left needle and change all your settings. The viking was much less involved, plus the rolled hem it produces is gorgeous. Anyways...more toys for me to play with.

I missed the Monday meal...but I was working on something really cool!

I'll be sure to add a great meal tomorrow. I had a busy day yesterday. It was O's 3rd Birthday. And I also begun a fun and worthwhile rehab project on a sewing machine for the girls I volunteer with.
I'm in the Junior League (I know...who would have guessed it) and I've been teaching a group of girls in my placement how to sew. It's been such a blast and the interest has grown and we no longer have enough machines for everyone to sew on so it's taking us ages to finish stuff. Well, I've decided to donate my extra 401 to them and also posted on freecycle for some machines. I got a wonderful response from a lady that had her grandmothers machine. DH went and picked it up last week. It's an Alden Deluxe ZZ machine. She said her gm loved it and once sold it, bought something else, hated the new machine and then bought the Alden back from the lady she had sold it to . Alden is an American company that distributed Japanese Class 15 clones, it's all metal and in the cabinet I swear it weighs about 70lbs!
Anyways...it was filthy...on the outside...the inside was a bit dirty, but certainly not the worst I've seen (that distinction belongs to my pfaff 260...ugh that was awful). I got out my GoJo, alcohol and dawn soap and cleaned off the outside. It's a wonderful turquoise color. I vacuumed, cleaned and oiled the inside. Replaced the belt and the bobbin tire. I thought I was set...not so fast! It wouldn't go. I had to rewire the kneepedal! Ugh. Anyways, I've run it for a bit and tested out the stitch. Very nice! I'm so excited for these girls to have this machine. They are so excited to learn to sew and so proud of their projects.
I feel so fortunate to be able to be able to make the slightest difference to these girls. They've had very difficult lives. Last week one of them told me about when she lived in the mission (a homeless shelter) and how they never had enough food. I was so sad that I couldn't really think how to respond to that. It's really just a crap shoot really. I'm not any different from them. I just happened to be born in to a middle class family, had the importance of education emphasized to me, encouraged to go to college and just had the advantages of that upbringing...but for the grace of God go I.
Anyway, just want to share my vintage machine adventure. And for any of you out there looking for a great workhorse machine don't overlook that forlorn looking machine in the corner of a thrift store, garage sale or your grandmother's attic. You just might find a wonderful machine that will give you years of pleasure.

My new baby

Oh she is fabulous! Here she is just as I promised. Isn't she a beauty and she sews like a dream. I do love her so...I feel like a mother as she joins her siblings in her adopted family, singer 503 and kenmore 1030. I don't have a favorite. I love them all so much. Sometimes I wish I could just sew all day long so I could get to sew on them all.
Just look at her in action. I was working on O's tunic from the OOP vogue 7894. It's adorable, but it was more hand sewing than I usually like. But, that's one of the things that I'm working on in my quest to improve my sewing skills. I'll have to post a picture of the tunic too. I have been sewing alot.

Ok, so maybe...just maybe it's a sickness

My sewing machine collecting habit, uh obsession. Can I tell you I just love sewing machines? I really do. Just this week 2 followed me home. One more almost did, but I had to resist and had a pang of regret later. My latest acquisitions are a Singer 401 in a cute Victorian looking cabinet and a little brownie Viking 6430 with all the original accessories. I could have sang when I saw the viking. It's so perfect, but goodness is it heavy as sin! I must take pictures...wait, I always say that, but this time I really will.

Just call me Mary

Frickin' Typhoid Mary that is. For the second time in a month I have strep! What grown person gets strep throat...jeez! I knew my throat hurt like heck, but I thought it was something viral. Well, I hope I get rid of it for good this time. I have a ton of stuff to do this month and I can't be sick! I'm so far behind on all my sewing. I really need to hop on the kids Christmas outfits and get some pictures. I'd like to be able to do them around Thanksgiving and get them out early. (Yeah! Right! )
Oh...cleaned up the FW 221. It wasn't very dirty at all. Someone really loved it and cared for it and now I get to love it and take care of it! Yay for me! I love sewing machines, they're so cool.

It was a good day

Today was family day. We went bowling and to the Borders...oh and tried to go looking for a MP3 player for A. It was fun. It's too bad you have to bowl 10 frames, we sort of lose M and O. about halfway through.
But, best of all...I finally got a FW 221. It's so exciting. I've wanted one for ages. I'd take a picture, but my battery on my camera(well, the charger) is kaput. Anyways...as soon as I can, I'm going to take one to share. It was a good day!