Thursday, June 6, 2013

The Sewing Machines

Summer's back!  I am energetic again!  When the sun comes out, I'm a whole new woman, and this woman is happier and gets more accomplished.

I've been working on a second Blue Star Mothers quilt.  This one's bigger and scrappier, although as you can see, it's a controlled scrappiness.  (I may have some control issues, but that's a whole other blog.)  All quilt projects teach us something.  Sometimes it's that it contains a technique, or color combo or block that we never want to do again.  This is actually a really good thing to learn.  If you don't like a project, take the time to figure out why.  Then you never have to go there again.

But I digress.  Here's a chunk of the new quilt.




And here's the lesson.  I have not yet found the perfect sewing machine.  My Janome Horizon does many things well.  It has lots of space for quilting and quilts beautifully.  (Okay, there was that time last fall, but never mind.)  It has about 9000 stitches and puts up with acrylic painted canvas which is a bit like soft plastic.  It also has a whole bunch of feet, including a special dual feed foot which is a bummer to put on and makes it sound like a freight train.  I generally love this machine, but it's not ideal for patchwork where I want a lot of little seams to match up.


I've had this  machine for almost 3 years (Thanks, Mom) and use it almost every day.


I'm not a super perfectionist, but I like everything to match. Okay, mixed message.  Let's just say match within reason.


I do not like to stop and put on feet that don't just snap on.  I'm patient with the quilt, but not so much with my machinery.

 I fought this for about a dozen Blue Star blocks and then decided not to fight anymore.  My ten-year-old Pfaff 2044 is always set up in Barb's space and its integrated dual feed works great.  I'm so much happier with the blocks and there is decidedly less ripping out.  It's true that the sewing space on the Pfaff is smaller, it does not have push-button thread cutting (which is really nice, by the way) and the bobbins are smaller and have to be refilled more often.  But if you want some seams to match up, look out!  This baby gets it done.



And no changing of feet.


So is the ultimate machine out there?  Maybe.  Does it cost the earth?  Possibly.  Am I fine until Barb moves to a bigger place and can do quilting activities there and takes the Pfaff with her?  Absolutely!  Until then, I won't jump off any bridges until I get to them.


Check out these Queen Anne cherries.  I don't really like the taste of cherries except in pie, but I love the look and think there might be a cherry quilt in my future.  In my spare time.  (Imagine insane laughter.)



By the way, I'm teaching the Blue Star Mothers quilt at Let's Quilt in West Linn, this Saturday.    There are a few spaces left and new students are most welcome.

Enjoy Summer!

Candy