My new [to me] sewing machine!

I posted way back in December, asking for advice on what machine to get. There were a lot of responses for old Vikings, and I liked the looks of them, so I started looking. While I was looking, I found an old White machine at the thrift store for $12.50, and decided it was fate, when I plugged it in at the store and it worked. I brought it home, plugged it in, and ... nothing. It didn't work at all. My local repair guy, Joe (if you are local to Geneva, Il., I highly recommend the Creative Sewing Center), said it probably wasn't worth fixing :(.
I went back to looking for vikings, and finally found one! The woman was so nice, and wanted to just trade machines, her Viking for my cheap Brother, because she said she just wanted a more basic machine. I insisted on paying her for the Viking, but let her take $10 off for the Brother. It was a bit gummed up, and hadn't been used for many years, so off to Joe it went. I just got it back yesterday, and it's fabulous! It works great, and though it took me a bit to understand it, I was able to figure it out without a manual. It's a...


and has all it's cams (various stitches I can do with it)...


I played around with it, and love the fun stitches! Here's some of them. I just love the little hearts!


Now to get sewing!

It's Feature Friday! Refashion co-op

Yep, more knee patches! This is the first pair of jeans, that I bought new, that my son has put knee holes in. All the previous holey knees were from thrifted jeans, whose knees were already faded and on borrowed time. Hopefully this is not an indication of how things are going to be from now on... I can only patch them so fast ;) ! I asked my son what he wanted for this pair, and he said "stars... like on GI Joe stuff". Army green stars it is!

Here's the jeans, before and after....


and a close up of one of the knees, before and after...


It'll look cooler after they get washed a couple more times, and the stars get fringier.

What does this have to do with Feature Friday? Well, I occasionally blog for a coop blog, Refashion Co-op, and I blogged about this pair of jeans there. It is a great blog, devoted to upcycling clothes, with many different contributors. There are so many great ideas on there, and I highly recommend checking it out!

It's What I've Been Working on Wednesday!

My coffee was getting cold before I could drink it all. What's the solution? Mug cozy! Wool is a great insulator! This took me an embarrassingly long time to make, but I am really happy with the results. I used the zipper from a sweater to make the top edge. I not only like the way it looks, but it adds a "lip" on the top, so the mug can't slip through my hand, and it also keeps the top from getting stretched out.



A little bit of elastic, and a big button, ensures a snug fit. Not too exciting, but definitely useful!

So, What have you been working on?

It's Tutorial Tuesday! Felt piggy bank

Amy, over at While Wearing Heels, did it again! She came up with yet another brilliant & adorable tutorial! Aren't those little felt piggy banks just so darn cute?! I decided to make one for my son's Easter basket, to slip a dollar in. Since my niece has a pet pig that is gray, I made mine gray fair isle. I was amazed at how easy & quick (I sewed mine by machine, because i'm lazy), and easy this tutorial was. Amy used craft felt for hers, but I of course, used sweater felt. Thanks again, Amy! For the full tutorial, click here to be magically transported there!

Blends Challenge #2: The Results!

I apologize for taking so long with the results... it's been a busy week! Ready for some results?


Contestant #1 - funky patterned hoodie - 60% wools
Before & after:


Definitely felted some! I'm glad, because this one has great stripes & patterns.


Contestant #2- scenery patterned - 60% wools
Before & after:


This one did not felt, which surprised me. Maybe another run through a hot wash would do it, but no dice on this round!

Contestant #3 - cream fair isle - 63% wools
Before & after:


Felted!

Contestant #4 - yellow cabled - 65% wools
Before & after:


Felted!

Contestant #5 - pretty green & white stripes - 60% wools
Before & after:


Felted! I love how soft & dense this one is! Would make some great slippers!

Contestant #6 - lovely lavender - 65% wools



Felted!

Contestant #7- patterned mohair - 51% wools
Before & after:


Didn't felt :(. I can't say I was surprised on this one.

Contestant #8- light green - 65% wools
Before & after:


Felted!


Contestant #9 - bright turquoise - 55% wools
Before & after:


Felted!

Contestant #10- tan with chest stripes - 52% wools
Before & after:


This one was already lightly felted when I started, and it felted a little bit more.

So 8 out of 10 felted... not bad! I'm going to give those other 2 another chance to felt, the next time I hot wash a batch of sweaters.

It's What I've Been Working on Wednesday!

For a while now, i've been wanting to find a solution to a simple household problem. Where do we wipe our wet mouths after brushing our teeth? Wiping your mouth on a hand towel is unsanitary, no matter how well you've rinsed your mouth. Wiping your mouth on your bath towel is a little better, but probably unsanitary as well. My son & husband wipe their mouths on tissues, but that seems so wasteful! Then, I thought "I can make something!", and asked my husband if he would use them. He was totally on board with it! I figured flannel would be a good material, so I kept my eyes peeled at the thrift store, and though I couldn't find a good flannel sheet, I found these pajama bottoms. I just love the cute owl print!



They were washed, but but had no wear to them, and had lots of fabric! I cut out 5" squares (so they ended up 4"), made seams, and sewed twice, so they will last many washings.



I was able to get 46 squares out of the material. That will last us over a week (2 each x 3 of us = 6 used per day), so we will not run out of them in between washes. I've made 23 so far, and have quite a few to go. I don't mind though... they are kind of fun to make. These would have come in handy when my son was a toddler, as after snack face wipers!



So, what do you wipe your mouth on?