QM Bitty Blocks

I found out that Quiltmaker is doing a Bitty Blocks block of the month this year (January).  I decided this would be a great way to get comfortable with my featherweight.  This morning I whipped up the 16 blocks needed, bow ties.  I am thinking that this quilt is going to be a blue and white quilt, but I may change my mind as I go.  They will measure 3" when finished.



Playing with a couple of designs that are possible with the bow tie block...


I'm pretty sure that these need to be sewn into one row, but I'll wait to figure out which way I want them to go.

I think I decided that my FW should be named Josephine.  After all, her name is already on the case :)

Updates! A Featherweight and Progress on 2014 SAL

Two weeks ago I purchased a 1947 Featherweight 221 from a friend on the Washington State Quilters list.  I just started looking, put out feelers in case anyone knew of one local that I could purchase, browsed ebay, shopGoodwill (like ebay) and craigslist and was pretty much put off by how much they were being bid up.  I knew eventually I would own one, and decided to be patient.  Well... then came the first of the month when one regional facebook group allows for sale postings.  And Mary W still had her featherweight for sale.

It took me this long to finally sit down with it since I'd been sick and had no attention span to really play.  Today I did, and I think I am in love.  More than I thought I would be!

It has 5 bobbins, bobbin case, 7 feet, brush, screw drivers, manual, needles, keys (2), lubricant, oil... All in great condition. The light also works, but I have since ordered an LED bulb along with more bobbins. Also... an invoice from when it was serviced:

If you look at this at flickr at a greater resolution, you'll see the service date and the price for a cleaning and oil for $5.50, in 1953.


A question for those in the know... is the power cord suppose to be white like this? It seems like it has a powdery substance on it. Should I be concerned?


It sews a great stitch!



I love the original owner's identification still on it.


Such a pretty faceplate!

I oiled it (with the oil I currently have, not sure if the oil in the can is still ok, will have to read on that), and lubed the motor, and tried it out while working on part 4 of Primitive Gatherings' 2014 SAL.


Just two more rounds to go and the top will be finished. Hopefully I will be done before 2015's SAL is announced :)

One funny thing, while working on the top I decided I am going to use up the threads that are on the 5 bobbins before winding with what I have.  I ran out--or I thought I ran out--of the first bobbin, but when I pulled it out I found that it had a different color thread underneath what I had been sewing with :) Making do!  The featherweight also came with a 500yd spool of cotton thread, with a price of just .39!  I don't know if I'll use that or just keep it in the case.  Mary originally purchased the FW on craigslist, I'm not sure how it made its way from Colorado to Portland, Oregon, but I am thrilled to have it now.  I am thinking about naming it Miss Lee which is mine and my mom's middle name.  Seems appropriate.  Or, maybe Josephine? :)

And then I looked across my sewing room and found the kitten found a box (which currently has printer ink stored) to nap in. I'm surprised it didn't fall off the spot it was resting on.

Oh Loki....

Edit: I think I may have found Josephine by the power of the internet.  If it is the same person (and I don't want to renew my ancestry account right now to dig deeper), she lived from 1914 until 2008, age 93, and died in Englewood Colorado (which isn't far from Lafayette).  Still no clear connection as to how the featherweight made it to Oregon.

SBOW: Finished Center!

Tonight, to close out 2014, I finished up adding the extra appliques that extended outside the blocks.  I am still unsure if I am going to do the last applique border, it is already larger than the space I planned to hang it from.  Though, the applique would not take very long so I won't make a decision for a couple more days.  Right now I will keep it up on my design wall so I can admire it before I decide the next step.  As usual, it was hard to photograph, but you get the idea. I really do love it.



Little closer for the center where I changed out my initials for the cat:


2014 had some good and some not as good.  2015 is going to be great with adventures I am positive!  Happy new year!

(Just wanted to add, this quilt is from Primitive Gatherings called Sunflower Gatherings)

SBOW Block 13... again

I have sewn down all the pieces that were extending beyond the original blocks in the quilt top (that were already fused underneath pieces already sewn).  This morning I decided to prep the blocks that need more pieces and embroidery, that's when I discovered that I wasn't paying attention to block 13 when I first prepped and appliqued!

All those leaves... they needed to be under the yellow flowers.  In order to make them fit I had to adjust and trim down.  I was already wondering when I finished block 13, "is this it?" because it kind of seemed bare.  Too bad I didn't double check at the time.

Here's what it will look like when it is finished.

I have five blocks prepped with the extra pieces now.  I plan to watch the Seahawks and sew away!

SBOW #13

Finally... I am mostly finished with block 13.  I still need to add on the flower blossoms once it is attached to the quilt top.  At this point I need to finish sewing the middle row which this block is a part of (13 is the center of the quilt), and then start attaching the pieces that extend from the original blocks.  Hopefully that won't take me long, but seeing that my "block of the week" has turned into a 7 month project, there's no telling when I'll be done.


Block 13 is suppose to have the quilt maker's initials in the center of the ring, but I decided to add my cat instead since she was such a huge part of my life. Losing Gracie this past September has really left a hole in my heart.  I decided to honor her in this quilt.

This weekend I plan to sew up the rows and then get started with the applique that needs to be added.  I am unsure if I am going to add the final border of applique as well, but I will decide that after I am done with the block steps first.  The pieced borders are all ready to be attached now as well (I finished up all that sewing while on retreat in September! Whew!  A lot of four patches to be sewn!).

God Jul!

A Savior was born!  I hope everyone has had a nice Christmas, whether filled with family, friends, children, or not.  Enjoy the holiday especially to those who are finding the new normal as life changes.


I have had a difficult time with the changes following my parents' deaths 11 and 12 years ago, so many changing traditions.  While getting ready to prepare our Christmas Eve dinner--which our new tradition has become a rib roast we save from our 1/2 beef we purchase every summer--I was remembering all the holidays with my mom and feeling pretty sad.  Kevin came in and we talked about the changes and how I am still trying to find "it".  Holidays can evoke such emotions that are strong because I assume so many of us don't have that Hallmark movie ideal, so we believe we are missing out.  Kevin and I talked about how the new traditions need to start again with us, and we are finding that way now.  We do have traditions now that we've started with the kids (finding an annual ornament together with the boys--which involves at least an hour pressing buttons at the Hallmark Store in order to find the "right" one), prime rib of course, Christmas cookies, and the first Christmas gift by Dad on Christmas eve.  I think sitting around in jammies all day is also a great tradition :)


Anyway, however you celebrate or not, please remember that you are cared for by the Father.  If you are sad, feel free to message/email me and I'd be happy to chat with you.  In one more week we will be celebrating a new year, may it be even better than 2014!

A New Finish, A Remembrance

After I finished Kevin's Father's Day t-shirt baseball quilt in June, I asked my friend Julie if I could make her a quilt using some t-shirts from her son.  If you don't already know Julie, her son passed away too young from really unknown causes (though, related to his heart).  He was a remarkable young man, follow this link to his obituary. Further, he was honored this past July for his work in the wheat breeding program at the University of Idaho: link to article here, and one more.  I was very happy when Julie said yes!  Now, she is a very prolific and wonderful quilter, so there was a bit of pressure I put on myself to try to make sure it turned out well.  I had a few issues here and there, but I think most quilts do as they are being constructed.

For Kevin's t-shirt quilt, I did not frame the shirts.  I think the effect would have been much better if I had.  So for Brad's quilt, I did frame them and I am pleased with the outcome.

I remember meeting Brad when he was about junior high age.  He wanted to collect pine cones from our trees because they were different than those where he live in Idaho :)  He had an interest in science at a young age, that was definitely apparent.

The back of the quilt is made from two flannels, one dog paw print to represent his dog Kenobi, and a fabric that has depictions of the outdoors.  I also had an extra John Deere shirt fabric that I set within:

When I was making Kevin's t-shirt quilt, I had an idea in mind for Brad's quilt (this was before I even asked Julie), but in the end, I did not do the wheat quilting design I doodled.  I did find wheat fabric though, perfect.  It is a directional fabric, so I was glad that I didn't mix up my strips.  The wheat is all going in the same direction :)

I had a helper when I was sewing down the binding:



Julie and Doug received the quilt today, and I hope it gives a bit of comfort to have something to hold on to that was Brad's.