threading an old Kenmore

Ignore the straw on the needle screw. The arm of my walking foot was eating into the screw so I had to put a 'protector' on it.  

Click on the photos and you can see them larger. 

Step 1 - bring thread left and around thread guide.

Step 2 - Down right side next to tension dial

 Step 3- up left side

 Step 4 - to the right of the hook and go behind

Step 5 - bring thread to the left, catching hook

Step 6 - Bring thread back down

Step 7 - Bring thread to back of metal loop

Step 8 - pull forward and thread should catch into front loop

 Step 9 - thread needle from front to back

 

Irish chain quilt

 Not the best photos. A quilt I made for my daughter this past Christmas. Click the photos to see larger. (after you do that you can right click and open image in a new tab to see it at the full uploaded size if you want)

This first pic where I'm getting the layers layered gives you a better idea of the pattern before it's quilted.

This photo gives you a better idea of the patterns as the light colored blocks in the other photos make them appear white but they are actually a white print on a tan background. The dragonfly print is really pretty, too. I wanted a color closer to the background color of the dragonfly fabric but it wasn't to be.

These were the first 2 fabrics I had bought.

 This photo I'm showing what I used for the backing. I wish my photos were better so you could see that actual colors.

 

It ended up looking okay but I had really struggled with the quilting and feeding it through my machine so there's actually all kinds of uneven stitches from larger than they were supposed to be to super tiny. 

Here's the end result of the full quilt. I really wish I had a better pic!

Scrap tote

 These are very old and terrible photos but I'm going to post them anyway. This is a tote I made for myself back when the Cropper Hopper totes came out and it seemed like everyone had one but they were $$$. I would see the ads in the magazines and people would post about them. So I came up with one using a cardboard box as a sturdy insert and some fabric. There's one more outside pocket on the back side not pictured. I had way less supplies back then!

I still have the scissors and the tote. LOL A new box inside and I store page kits I've made  in ziploc bags in the tote.

 

 

Side note: This was my daughter's room and I painted the striped walls by hand. Painted a border and used foam stamps and craft paint.
 

 

 

Quilted pillow shams

 I made these shams to match the comforter on my bed by using old white bedsheets. I used thread that closely matched the color of the blanket and used a heavier stitch (straight stretch) so the stitching would show up better. I used a smocking stitch as a decorative stitch around the edge.

Daisy printed throw pillow

 I made this cover for a throw pillow with some leftover fabric I had from years ago when I made my daughter a summer dress. It was made with a zipper so it would be removable. I save zippers from the plastic packaging that sheets and blankets are sold in if I can't use the packaging for other storage and use them on other projects such as this.

Flannel pajama bottoms

The pattern I used for the kitty pants goes way back to when I was in high school. Circa 1989. It could use some adjusting because the top part is made quite roomy and then tapers at the ankle. But I thought the fabric was really cute. I'm making a small quilt from the scraps but it's been awhile since I've worked on it. By the time I get that done, the pants might be worn out.😄

 

Friendship pillow

 This pillow is made from a fabric panel I made it with a zipper since it was going to be mailed and I could mail it in a smaller package. It also make it washable. I had to relearn how to sew a zipper since I've done so few and forgotten. LOL

Cat mat

 I made this little nap mat for my kitty who liked to take a nap on top of a shelf unit on my desk when I was in there scrapping. I think it's the first time I've really tried machine quilting something as my sewing machine doesn't have much clearance room to maneuver large projects. Some day I may try again but the small number of quilts I've done (only one is a bed size for a twin) have all been tied.

I used leftover fabric and also a fabric from a pair of flannel pj bottoms that had seen better days.

Autum bed

 A couple of projects I made for my bed to give my room a fall vibe awhile back.

The afghan I had started some time before I decided to make the shams.

I already had the material for the pillow shams. Fabric that had been sitting for ages and I finally put it to use.  I was lucky the blue I had was a very close match to the comforter, which is a dark blue. I do need a new comforter now. It's looking a bit shabby between the cat having raced across the bed on multiple occasions and making little tears and the stitching giving out that holds the batting inside. But finding one that isn't made of plastic (polyester - 'microfiber') is just about like trying to find a unicorn. The problem with polyester (besides more plastic the world doesn't need) is it generates a lot of static. No thanks!! My mother-in-law had bought my kids 'microfiber' sheet sets once. I vowed that would be it and that material would not make it onto beds again when those were gone. Hate, hate, hate it! Anyway....

 I don't have a ruffle foot for my sewing machine, I had to baste stitch and ruffle it by hand! (not fun) 

Felt case and mug cozy

This felt case was inspired (and mostly lifted) from a phone case that was seen online. A friend had posted it and said she wanted to make one for her ipad so I secretly made one and surprised her with it. The original creator did a wonderful job. (It's no longer in her etsy shop but to give credit where it's due, it's SewSweetStitches.)  I made this almost a year ago.

I made these recently for another friend who has been dealing with terminal cancer. I just wanted to let her know she was thought of often and to brighten her day so I made her a mug cozy (and a crocheted chicken coaster LOL). The little heart ornament I wrapped separately with a note to open when she was having a bad day and needed a hug.

A little bit of sewing

I made this for one of my online friends who saw the dress online and wanted one for her daughter. It's very simple to make. You can find directions if you google t-shirt dress or something like that. Basically, you sew a tube of fabric and sew it to the bottom of a shirt. Hem the skirt part. You can gather or pleat the skirt part before sewing it to the shirt. You can use fusible adhesive (wunder under or heat n' bond) for the appliques. You basically are making an iron-on. Stitch around the edges after it's adhered.

Well, I wasn't thinking and bought half a yard of the orange polka dot instead of just a quarter so I had plenty of it left and decided to make this skirt. She can wear it with leggings in the winter.

I STILL had some left so I grabbed some dark corduroy fabric I had and made this purse. I really didn't think the handle through a whole lot so it's not perfect but the 2 year old won't mind. LOL Mom who asked me to make the dress doesn't know about the purse yet. tee hee. I did spill the beans on the skirt.

State Fair 2012 - lots of pics

Last year I didn't get around to doing much to enter so I didn't enter anything. This year I entered 16 items and 13 received blue ribbons! (Our fair uses the Danish system of judging.)

Sorry, the pics I took at the exhibit aren't very good. Other than the little shade that I gave away, if anyone wants to see a better pic I can take another one at home of the item. :)

First, the less than stellar. My muffins (zucchini) only got a participation ribbon. The landscape color photography, a third place ribbon (I think having a 5.0 megapixel camera doesn't help when blowing up and well, I am VERY amateur. LOL ) My little woodsie & craft stick Santa in a chimney (Christmas tree decorations), a second place ribbon.

Here are my blue ribbons! The knitted felted pocketbook is the first knitting project I've ever completed followed by the knitted scarf (which, btw, 'homespun' yarn is a bit of a pain to  knit with. Probably makes it easier to camouflage imperfections in stitching though.) I've only made about handful of quilt blankets (mostly lap/crib size - only one bed sized one) and this was the first time I ever did a binding. And it's a continuous binding (thank you, youtube!) I did make a mistake doing the corners and had to fix it - which involved stitching the corners back together.

 

Then we have beadwork (earrings), ceramics - other (I painted an unfinished piece), children's clothing - skirt, decoupage (which I posted here, lit up.

 

 

Drop cookies (chocolate peppermint chip), felt craft, pillow, scrapbook page. We don't have a category for paper crafts. I have to enter it under special crafts - other.

 

 

 

Then here's the candle shade I made which you put on wine glasses. They taped it to the glass though so it's a bit wonky. And I forgot to take a pic of it on my way through before so I took it when I was picking my stuff up. And last, my wet felted hat made from a recycled wool sweater. The holly design I needle felted all the way around. And it actually fits on my head smoother than how it looks on the dummy head they used. LOL

 

 

 

Ok, I think I got them all. Thanks for looking and let me know if there's anything you want a better pic of. Some of them are pretty bad. LOL