2014 Finishes and Machines

I did lots of sewing in 2014, but, I'm only showing finishes.

I learned how to put in a zipper in 2014.  I made 2 zippered pillowcases for hubby's camping pillow.

first ever zipper (pillowcase)

2nd pillowcase

I also made a set of dog booties for Padfoot, in January.

Padfoot in her booties

These booties only got to be worn for a week, since we lost Padfoot in mid January. 

I made several pincushions, some for a pin cushion exchange.

Marilyn's pincushion

pincushions with labels attached (the 9 patches were the labels) I made 3 of these

I also made 4 mug rugs.

mug rug

mug rug

I made 2 of these.  I kept one for myself

Michelle taught me how to make purses, when I visited her in February.  I've now made 8 purses.

my purse, made at Michele's in February

Krystal's purse and Michele'e purse

Betty's purse

These purses prompted the new owners or family members to ask for more, for other family members.

Rene's purse and Doris' purse

OU purses for Betty's daughers

I've been sent some very strong hints, from others, that they, too, want some purses.  I may be making more purses in 2015.  We'll see.  I still want to make me another purse, but, I haven't had the time to quilt the fabric yet.

I learned (then helped teach) how to make a 'Box Bag' at the Sewing & Quilting Expo.

Box bag

I need to make some more of these bags.

My aunt asked me to make a baby quilt for her first great-grandchild.

baby quilt

I got to meet the baby in October.  I also sent some matching burp rags.

burp rags

The Harry Potter group was asked if they could contribute Harry Potter themed items for a Make a Wish recipient.  This was my contribution.

Harry Potter themed mini quilt

I also got to finish one of the Quilts of Valor quilts that I'd made.  I seldom see my quilts, after I turn in the top (to be quilted by someone else).  This one came back to me for binding.

Quilts of Valor string quilt, finished

Erika asked me to make her a quilt for her graduation.  Here is her quilt. 

Erika's quilt

I finished another Quilts of Valor, that I had started.  This one also came back to me for binding.  I got to award it Memorial Day weekend. 

Quilts of Valor quilt

We had a block challenge with my little quilt guild.  We all were asked to make a block that will go into a Quilts of Valor quilt.  Here is the block I made, using extra HST's from the above quilt.

12.5" block

In July, I visited my aunt, Pat.  When I got home, I made this quilt top for her.  I haven't quilted it yet (bad girl). 

Pat's quilt top

up close of Pat's fabrics

I did finish a quilt in July, for my son's best friends wedding.  Here is Oliver's wedding quilt.

Oliver's wedding quilt

label on back of quilt

My son also asked me to make him something to hold his audio speakers in his car.  His car has LOTS of road noise, and, he has a hard time hearing his audio books while driving.  He said that this worked well.

headrest speaker holder (front)

headrest speaker holder (back)

While traveling in August, I used my mother-in-laws vintage Singer to make 3 satin & flannel baby blankets.

3 satin & flannel baby blankets

I finished the 'Birds on a Wire' wall quilts for my youngest son.

Birds on a Wire wall quilts

I also made a sample table runner for a class that I taught at church.  My mother got this table runner for her birthday.

Christmas table runner

I made a Quilt of Valor for my neighbor.  He finally got home this fall.  Karen quilted this for me.

Steve's Quilt of Valor

me, presenting Steve with his quilt

In September, I started a Mystery Row block exchange.  Here are the blocks that I've made so far (some kept, some exchanged).

Septembers blocks (1 exchanged, 1 kept)

October's exchange block

October blocks I kept

November block

November block (exchanged)

I was also in several block exchanges with my Treadle On group.  All the blocks have to be made on either a hand crank or treadle sewing machine.  I'm only showing the blocks I made for the Canning Jar exchange.

pickles, made on 1914 Singer 66 hand crank

carrots made on 1925 Singer 66 hand crank

peas made on 1925 Singer 66 hand crank

blueberries made on 1941 Singer 66 hand crank

I went crazy, cutting out 60 degree table runners this fall.  Most of these became Christmas presents.  Each one makes 2 different table runners (one long, one round).  I wound up with a total of 38 table runners.

8 Snowmen round table runners

there were 4 of these (I only show 2)

4 Snowman table runners

2 Apple table runners

2 Apple table runners

2 Beach themed table runners

2 more Beach themed table runners

4 Beach themed table runners

2 Sunflower table runners

2 Sunflower table runners

3 floral table runners

3 floral table runners

My son wanted a Christmas tree.  I made these, and sent one to him, and one to his fiance.  I kept one for me, that is hanging in my sewing room.

3 mini Christmas tree quilts

My son and his fiance came for an early Christmas.  I figured that Krystal needed a stocking.  Here is what I made her.

Krystal's stocking

I added bells to this.  I thought I'd taken a picture of it, with the bells on it, with Krystal holding it, but, I can't find the picture.  Oh well.

After Christmas, while organizing my sewing room, I found this quilt top, that I'd made for Quilts of Valor, a long time ago.  All it needed was the borders added, to make it large enough.  I added the borders, for my last finish of the year.

Quilt of Valor top, finished

Here are some pictures of what I'm doing in my sewing room.  I'm a long way from being finished.  As I pack up more of my son's stuff, I'm folding material on Comic book boards, so that I can see what I have.  I've been doing this since mid November.

some of the fabrics, folded and put on bookshelves

folded fabrics peeking out from under my ironing board

more folded fabrics (and lots of binders full of projects)

I have TONS of buckets of fabrics in the basement.  I hope to pack up everything in the closet (large walk in closet) and set up more shelves to put fabrics in.  I already have the shelves, I just need to pack up the closet.  Packing is the hard part since that closet is FULL and I can barely get in the door.  I wonder how many more UFO's I'll find as I go thru those buckets of fabrics?

Machines in 2014

As you all know, I also collect vintage sewing machines.  Here are the machines that I documented in 2014 (yes, I may have missed some).

Eldredge Chain Stitch machine (non-working)

1941 Singer 66 hand crank 'Betty'

Kenmore 158.13580 (1981)

White electric

Sewmore electric

New Home Type F electric

Universal (Italian) sewing machine

1903 New Home Type A treadle  (it will be headed to it's new home soon)

1953 Singer 401A

double sewing cabinet

Singer 301A sewing machine

toy sewing machine

toy sewing machine

1927 Singer 15 (in a base that hubby made)

Damascus treadle (needs a new home)

Kenmore 158.17530 (1969-70)

cams, etc that came with the Kenmore

13 sewing machines, 2 toy machines and a double sewing desk.  Not bad.  I've even stitched on some of those machines.  My son has claimed one (oops, I forgot to take pictures of another Kenmore I got in December, for him, not for me). 

Looking forward to another, stitching  year in 2015.