April 27, 2022

I finished the apron yesterday--yay!!

April 26, 2022

 I had a Beginning Embroidery Users class on April 7.  Francine was supposed to use a lesson plan--as the owner instructed her.  Apparently he knows how scattered she is.  We were supposed to bring our FSL baskets to show; and then she went over some things like stabilizers, needles, etc.  She got tired of that and then asked us if we wanted to embroider on toilet paper--which everyone did.  So we all embroidered on toilet paper--that was the thinnest paper I've seen for a long time!  Probably won't ever embroider on toilet paper again!

We had another Epic2 class on April 25th.  She was supposed to teach on QuickFont, design positioning, and the ribbon attachment--didn't happen!  She spent about half the class teaching the other lady how to  take designs from a CD, put them on the computer, transfer the designs to a flash drive, and then use the drive in the sewing machine.  So, what did we learn: 1) the site where we could download QuickFont; 2) the above computer lesson for the other lady; 3) she did a very short stitch out of 3 decorative stitches.  After 2 hours of the above, I said I had to leave.  Traveling 140+ miles and spending 2 hours for the above made me really disgusted!  So today (26th) I went to the site and tried to download the QuickFont program from the MAC site onto the MAC computer.  It gave me an .exe file which doesn't work on a MAC.  Can't remember my password for my 4D Embroidery software registration (that was in 2008!) nor where to put in a new one.  Anyway, needless to say, I'm at point 0 on QuickFont and will have to call support.  Francine was supposed to show us how to use it--didn't happen!  We had no teaching on design positioning or the ribbon attachment.  Not sure whether I will make that drive again for so little teaching.

I had paid for a virtual learning class for the Epic2 embroidery side and finished everything except the zippered purse.  When I started to put it together into a wall hanging, I ran into trouble.  Since the squares (4x4) are so bulky with 2 pieces of fabric, 2 pieces of stabilizer, and batting, I tried to press the seams open, which needed steam.  I ruined a couple of blocks--can't steam iron no-show mesh as it melts it and crinkles it.  At that point I gathered the blocks up and put them away--maybe I'll try to do something with them in the future and maybe not.  I learned a lot so it is ok--just no wall hanging.  I do count it as a finish!  

So, the next thing I did in April was to make a quilt top from the fairy panel.  I finished it today (26th) and it isn't bad but not exceptional.  I used a picture of another panel quilt to make it.  I think I have 3 more panels to finish.  I hope to finish the apron yet in April.  

April UFO #9

The UFO drawn for April is #9. 

March NewFOs

March has come and will be gone in one day--it went so fast!  I have a little bit to show this month, but no quilt.  I have finally started to conquer my Epic2 sewing machine.  I feel I've made some real progress this month but have a long way to go before I'm really comfortable with it.  So I took a class at my sewing machine shop in Idaho Falls for Embroidery Users.  It is free for those of us who bought our machines there.  What was interesting is that there was one user with a Pfaff, myself with the top-of-the-line Viking, and the other 7 ladies all had Brothers! One lady had a top-of-the-line Brother and had a good knowledge base for her machine.  Anyway Francine provided each of us with a 1MB flash drive, a FSL basket pattern, stabilizer, etc.  I used the shop Epic2.  It was interesting--not something I would ever choose to do on my own, but a good learning experience.  Francine likes FSL designs---I think they are fiddly!  Our homework was to finish the basket (4 sides, a bottom, and a handle).  She also gave us a FSL pattern for little "sewing machine" earrings. I finished the basket and earrings and washed out the water soluble stabilizer--and today I put the basket together.

I have an Epic2 class tomorrow.  I think there willl be 2 of us.  I'm looking forward to this class and have written down a lot of questions, which is what Francine wanted us to do.  She said we can have as many classes as we want.

I had paid for a virtual learning class for the Epic2 embroidery side.  It is presented on-line, uses Anita Goldstein designs and procedures, and makes a wallhanging.  I had hoped that it would guide me step-by-step in doing embroidery on my machine (there are different segments for Berninas and Vikings), but they assume you know the basics of your machine.  Believe me, I can thread my Epic2, wind bobbins, etc. with ease now!  Anyway, I need to make 3 more blocks, a zipper purse, and then put my wallhanging together---and then I'm done with the course!  I'll finish that in April.  I have never purchased Anita Goodstein's designs; they're really not my "thing."  I like making embroidery for quilt blocks or to put on shirts, etc.  But I'm glad I purchased the course "Embroidery Essentials" and have become more comfortable with my machine.  I willl probably purchase 2 more of the courses.  The lady who does them has a quilt/sewing shop.

My Viking Designer Diamond was several new machines back and that is why my learning curve is high.  My biggest hurdle is navigating the menus.  By the end of this year I will be up to speed.  Right now I can hardly wait to start my Christmas tree embroidery for a quilt!

The other thing I finished was a Janet Powers counted X-stitch---irises.  I had made it one time many years ago and gave it to Mike for his house.  I love it and have wanted to make it again for a long time--decided this was the month.  I cannot believe how she blends the different colors.  Her designs are based on water colors, and she is excellent.  When you are up close, you see lots of individual colors but when you stand back, the colors blend and look like a real iris!  Love it!

And that's my month of March!

March 1, 2022

 The UFO for March is #3.

In addition to finishing the butterfly pillowcases and the baby afghan, I finished a second set of pillowcases, 3 Christmas ornaments, and a lap quilt made with a panel.

These ornaments were a true UFO!  I bought the booklet and the plastic shapes back when Chris was in lower elementary school--his first grade teacher displayed the one he gave her for Christmas for years.  I had these done except for hot gluing them together.  So these must have been embroidered at least 38 years ago--took a long time to finish!! And I just noticed that the church is not centered!  Completed 2/23/22. 

  This lap quilt finished at approximately 50X60, smaller than I would have liked.  I'm glad I tried the French Braid border as I haven't used it before--but it took a lot of time and  had a lot of starts and stops!  I made this very similar to the sample that was at the Sewing Corner of the Ace Hardware in Thayne, WY.  I added the outside border and corrected one error (they had all the braids going one way except for one border).  I'm happy with it.  Completed 2/23/22, a NewFO using a panel.             

  

The set of pillowcases were finished with piping that was purchased when Hancocks in Casper closed (20-30 years ago).  I don't like the purchased entredeux as well as what I made on my Designer Diamond--the holes are too large--but it is much faster since the heirloom entredeux stitch probably has about 10-15 stitches for each hole.  (I have just found out that stitches C8, 5, and 10 can be used for entredeux on the Epic2!). So, as we were watching Justified on TV, I thought about using a couple of rows of purchased lace as an edging--and I have a lot of lace purchased when Hancocks, Casper, closed!  The next day I auditioned what the pillowcases would look like with the lace--and didn't like the look.  But in that drawer, I saw peach piping (purchased same place, same time!) and it matched the 3 shades of floss used on the pillowcases--and that's what I used.  I think I like it better than a single row of crochet that I used on the other set of pillowcases.  I have only 1 set of pillowcases left to embroider/finish.  Completed 2/17/22 (from scratch).

Baby Afghan in Feb.

 Finished #2 project in February!  What a good feeling.  But let me tell you what you shouldn't do--and hope I pay attention to my own advice!  We were at a garage sale last summer, and I saw a sack with yarn and knitting needles.  I loved the yarn--it's called Baby Cloud in Tutti Frutti by Red Heart.  I bargained with the lady and finally bought 3 skeins of the Tutti Frutti and 1 skein of pink for $3--leaving some other yarn and the knitting needles.  It's a boucle type yarn, incredibly soft and with a lot of texture.  And I love the soft pastels.  Well, I was sure the 3 skeins (4.5 oz.) would not be enough to make a large afghan so I searched at different stores but could not find additional skeins.  Amazon had Baby Cloud in blue, lavender, etc., and one set of 2 skeins (1 was Tutti Frutti) for about $20.  Not interested!  I decided to make a baby afghan and used a DC with a Chain 1 between.  It was still pretty small when I finished the 3 skeins but it is an acceptable size with 2 rows of pink (6 oz. skein) in a solid DC.  It's done!  Lesson learned:  don't buy yarn at a garage sale unless you know it isn't discontinued!!  Glad it's done--sooooo soft!  Completed 2/9/22.

First Finish for February

UFO #7 was drawn

I finished the stamped XStitch pillowcases--pair #3---on the 6th.  I would like to finish the Baby Cloud yarn baby afghan, a counted XStitch, and 1 quilt in February.  I can't believe how much "stuff" I have to do!  I need to quit getting anything new, whether it's on sale or not!!