Sigh...

Sewing is so frustrating!.  I'm currently making a beginner-rated project (a bag).  I decided I wanted a bit of contrasting trim between the ruffle and the top, and I ended up spending probably 3 hours trying to get that to work (that includes the time spent fussing with the machine due to my own stupidity (sigh)). :-/  I decided to give up on the trim - i just want this bag DONE.  I don't understand a lot of the instructions, including those for the bottom, so I spent a bit of time fiddling with that.  Here it is while I was trying to figure out the bottom (which is why it looks so lopsided, and the handles aren't attached yet either):

I'm using this machine:

A Singer Fashion Mate 237.  This is a great old machine - all metal inside, smooth and pretty quiet.  And I fixed the bobbin winder this afternoon, so it's darned-near perfect. :-D  I'm surprised at how well it's sewing through all these layers!

Unfortunately I still haven't had a chance to play with my 'new' machine (the Rocketeer), though I did get the easy-to-get-to bits cleaned up.  Next up, and the Rocketeer's first project, will either be the apron kit, or one of these tote kits I found at Hancock's last week (on clearance!):

It might have to be one of these bags - I need more practice before tackling the apron.  Yeah, that's the ticket!



The spinning club did a Spin-the-Park yesterday in a different town; we had a great time and I did almost a third of this merino/yak from Corgi Hill Farm on the Polonaise:

This is *very* nice to spin, and I'm looking forward to the rest of it. :-D

WOO HOO!!!!!

I've been thinking about getting a modern sewing machine that was lightweight and 3/4 size (plus a couple of other requirements - like 'cheap' - cheap is good!) for occasional traveling, since my vintage machines weigh a TON.  So I moseyed on down to the nsOSMG (not-so-Old Sewing Machine Guy) I've bought my s.m. parts from when I was fixing machines to check out a couple of Janomes (one he didn't have, and it turns out I don't want after all), and look what he had:

A Singer 500a Rocketeer!!!  

And now it's MINE!!!

I've wanted one for a long time, and I'm thrilled even though it's dirty and may need a little maintenance (but that's half the fun!) And it's in a Touch & Sew case as he didn't have a Rocketeer case, but it fits well enough. :-D

I *really* want to go play with it, but I have a couple of other things I have to do first. (sigh)  And now I need to decide which Touch & Sew goes away first. :-(

Guess I'd better get my tasks done so I can go play!

Shoot!

Forgot to do this again yesterday. :-/  The older I get, the more I forget....

Not much to report as I was LAZY this past week and weekend, but I did pick this up while at WalMart the other day:

Isn't that just the cutest thing?!  It *looks* easy, but I haven't read the directions yet (and forgot to buy thread - I'm pretty sure I don't have any hot pink thread) but I really want to get started on it.

I did spin on the Penguin a little bit; since Spin Club is tomorrow night I was planning to take it along and get a lot done.  Unfortunately the parking situation is messed up at our meeting location and the Penguin is heavy and isn't stable on my cart so I guess I'll just have to start a new project on the Production - perhaps this (it's much lighter-colored IRL):

(freebie from Corgi Hill Farm :-D)

I also worked on the great wheel, replacing the maiden upright with bigger PVC and trying a different design on the maiden.  The new maiden design didn't work, so went back to the original style.  Didn't test-drive it yet - hopefully I will do that this week as there is another spin-in-the-park coming up. :-)

Saw The Expendables this weekend - LOVED IT.  I love the 80's action flicks and am a huge fan of Jason Statham and Stallone.  The fight scenes were awesome!  I did think Jet Li was underutilized though.  If you like lots of explosions and action, this is the movie for you!  Definitely one I'll be adding to my DVD collection (rumor has it there may be a sequel!). :-D

Have I ever mentioned...

How much I love my old sewing machines?  After spending the weekend trying to excavate the craft room that most of them reside in, I used this one:

to add a strip of the fuzzy side of velcro to my purse strap to keep it from sliding off my shoulder constantly.  I had tried self-adhesive velcro, but it was slowly coming off and leaving a nasty residue behind.  My handy little 3/4-size Singer 128 zipped right through that vinyl strap and velcro like nothin'.

All fixed!

Time flies!

Somehow I managed to not post for a couple of weeks again. :-/  Actually I don't have much to show, though I did meet my Tour de Fleece challenge.  I finished the merino!  Eight ounces in 3 weeks is a new record for me!

So I haven't done any crafty stuff since the end of the Tour. :-D

I do need to re-do the maiden upright on the great wheel.  I was hoping to get that done this weekend, but I started cleaning out the basement craft room so I could get to one of my many sewing machines to do a small sewing job.  But then I discovered water damage on one of the walls so the cleaning job has turned into a much larger job.  I'm still not done, but I can see the machines now. :-)  And walk in the room without tripping over anything!  And I did a big de-stash of my acrylic yarn (though I'm sure I still have more than I'll use).  Now I need to remember how to use the machine....