Sorry--no pictures

 The new machine is working fairly well.  It came with a video that is supposed to show me how to do everything, but I found that the video and manual disagreed over several very important points right from the beginning, so have relied mainly on the manual. After very little experimentation, I realized that the machine works in basically the same way as the old one with the exception of having a walking foot, rather than a more built in form of specialized feed.  I've never used a walking foot, so tried it out while putting the binding on a small quilt.  I was not pleased, and switched to normal feed system, fairly quickly.  One major issue was that there were many skipped stitches while using the walking foot, but these continued when I used the normal foot.  So I have to blame the actual stitch setting that I was using--one that I probably use more than any other stitch setting.  I'll be calling the store today to mention it to them.

Next I tried free motion work, and the machine performed well, my free motion skill less well.  I've always been well regarded for my free motion work, to the point of teaching it several times to different groups.  So practice is in order.  The next charity quilt will be entirely done with free motion feathers--and I'm looking forward to doing it.  I very much favour Victorian Feathers , as demonstrated by Karen McTavish on Utube, and that's the method I'll be using. Using this method in the small scale of a 40" by 40" quilt will be challenging.

Big decision, big changes

 My wonderful, reliable Janome sewing machine, is still working, but many small issues are making using it frustrating.  So today I bought a new one.  I was even offered a trade-in for the old one, as I'm dealing with the same retailer/repair depot that I've dealt with for almost 15 years.  They had a wealth of wonderful machines that would do everything but walk the dog.  However, I took  my age, as well as the work I usually do on the machine, and selected almost the same machine but a couple of generations more newer.  I don't pick up the machine until tomorrow, and have spent time today getting the old machine ready to go.  Unfortunately, many of the gizmos and gadgets that I've purchased for use with the old machine, are of no use with the new one.  The only one that I feel is really important to me is the thread cone attachment that was added to the machine when I bought it, 14 years ago.  I will be wanting something similar for the new machine, even if I have to pay for it.  Tomorrow I hope to be able to post pictures.

Life gets in the way

 The most recent charity quilt was finished last early this week, but beautiful weather sent me outside to sit and read, and drink Starbucks coffee.  Then tiny canker worms drove me inside a couple of days later.  Now we're dealing with extreme heat and that finally drove me to the basement studio.

This quilt was supposed to be in an entirely different technique, but I discovered that my big basket of pre-cut had been culled, and I'd forgotten about doing it.  Damn brain fog!  Since I had planned to work with browns, I carried on and just sewed brown-ish squares together.  The result wasn't terribly appealing, so I added some yo-yo's to scattered squares.  I had forgotten having made these, but had a box marked "yo-yo's" on one of the shelves in the storeroom.  Funny what a variety of treasures are tucked away in storage, especially treasures that I had forgotten having.

The other techniques I had wanted to try is now in progress, but using various blue scraps, as that was the only colour left in the scrap basket.  I hadn't wanted to make another blue piece, as I've made so many.  I know that the charity  gets quilts in colours normally associated with babies-pink and blue, but usually receive very few appropriate for boys. Everything I'm making is in bright colours that I hope could be used for either.  This technique is very labour intensive, and I don't anticipate it getting finished for at least a week.  There is also a chance that I will have to buy more thread, in a certain colour, and this will require a trip across the city, something we really don't want to do in this heat.