The Learning Curve Hurts!

Sometimes it's fun to learn but sometimes it hurts.

I finally decided to start really 

using my "new to me" sewing machine.

Yes,  I did read the manual and visited YouTube

to get some good advice on where to start

and some hints on making free motion quilting easier.

I started doing some straight line quilting and gradually

upped the speed for the sewing.

A really productive morning happened.

Two small quilts were stitched up.

Later that afternoon stitching began on a slightly larger quilt.

A little bit of distraction got in the way 

and I ran over my finger with the needle.

Yes, it hurt and yes, I did the instinctive thing 

and pulled my hand away.

You won't have to see the painful result but here is the needle!

 Yikes! Yes it went all the way through 

but the poke cleaned itself out effectively. 

Now I only have a little bruise and no permanent damage.

It is a good reminder to not let your mind drift 

while  stitching .

Here's a quilt I was working on.

It was one of the smaller legacy quilts 

finished and bound last week.

This week, I managed to pin base three lap quilts.

The top  one here, 

the bottom quilt here and

the finished one on the bottom.

Stitching went fairly fast but safely. 

Three are binding ready!

Look at this great line up of 

quilts on the move!

I am enjoying the new machine.

 It has a feature like my featherweight.

Unusual, I know but the bobbin area 

underneath a singer featherweight is open.

It is easy to keep the area clean with a small brush

 or a nice blast of pressurized air.

My new and much more modern 

machine also has a bobbin free to the outside world.

 A  blast of pressurized air chases out all the thread

cutoffs lint and dust bunnies. It is oddly rewarding too!

This product is available at my local bargain store.

I  stock up with three of four cans and label them,

1/4, 2/4 etc. When I get to 4/4, I swing by and restock.

The week is getting pretty busy, with some family time, 

snow, home chores, and some medical assistance,

so it may be a lean week for finished quilts.

Happy stitching this week and keep focused 

so you don't run over your fingers.

Stay safe and sew on!

Linking up with:

Design wall Monday

Monday Musings

Sew & Tell

To Do Tuesday

Ohh! A Favorite Find!

 Another winning streak continued for me with a

vendor prize at a quilt retreat. I used my gift 

certificate to buy this little goodie.

Here it is all set up.

I am hoping it will keep me from having to do

a clean up on the sewing table every time I get a drink.

This contraption holds a drink, and has a side hook

for a thread catcher, sewing scraps or even some garbage.

I was going to pack it away in the retreat supplies,

but I realized I do more spilling at home

 than I ever do at a retreat!

Here it is all set up with not bag as

there are waste baskets nearby.

A little homage to the US here, as it is election day today!

A new plan came up and 

now there is a baggie hooked on to collect

dog bed scraps.  

There is a debate on using scraps for

bed filling but some vets find the 

beds useful for recovering animals.

A win for everyone!

Happy stitching