An Exchange, A Win and Some Sewing

Just before I left for Texas, I mailed my two Functional Bags in for the exchange with my Treadle On group. We have several different exchanges that we can participate in each year.  These are the bags I mailed in.

bag with brown zipper was for the exchange, hubby got the bag with the green zipper

grocery bag for exchange

The bags I got from the exchange arrived the day I got home.

from Lisa

from Denise

I'll enjoy using both these bags.

Also, shortly before I left, I won some blocks from Erin.  These blocks were waiting for me when I got home.  I think they will make a great quilt.

32 blocks from Erin

It took several days for me to get organized after my trip.  I needed to get everything put away (lots of goodies and machines).  I'm finally starting to get some stitching done.

string blocks on Betty Sue

strings and string blocks

Bonnie Hunter will be coming to my quilt guild in May.  I was signed up for one class, Tulip Fields, from String Fling, but, I'd also put my name in for another class, Happily Scrappily Irish.  Well, last week, I was told I could take Happily Scrappily Irish, from Adventures with Leaders and Enders, too.  Woohoo!  Oops!  I don't have that book!!!  Well, after calling several local quilt shops, I had to order the book.  Meanwhile, I needed to start cutting fabric for both classes.  Thank goodness, one of the ladies from my guild provided me with the info, so that I could start pulling and cutting fabrics.  I'm almost done (just a few 2" squares left to sub cut).  My book arrived yesterday.  I'm almost all set.   I stitched all my string blogs, and trimmed them, for Tulip Fields.  I've also stitched all my triangles for Tulip Fields.  Bonus, I only bought one fabric for both quilts (sashing for Tulip Fields).  The rest is from my stash.  No, I'm not using 'scraps'.  I'm just not good at using scraps.  I pulled yardage, and, cut both quilts from the same fabrics.  See all those blues, greens and teals above, well, my strings are made from them for Tulip Fields, and, my 2" squares for Happily Scrappily Irish are also cut from them. 

New bags & Machines

I've been making some bags for a functional bag exchange with Treadle On.  These bags have to be made on a people powered sewing machine (treadle or hand crank).  Not a problem for me.  My problem is which machine to make them on, since I do have quite a few options. 

I made one of the bags, a grocery bag, at the quilt show last weekend.  I used decorator weight fabric, and stitched it on the 1914 Singer 66k with lotus decals. 

stitching on the bag, during the show

I didn't have a pattern, I just copied one of the grocery bags that I use.  I did make the straps go all around the bottom of the bag, instead of just attaching them to the top.  I figured it would be stronger that way.  It made for 9 layers of fabric, where the ends meet, on the bottom of the bag.  Not a problem for this machine. 

This is the finished bag.

grocery bag

I made a bottom for this bag, to give it extra support.  I used plastic mesh, then covered it with matching fabric.

plastic mesh

bottom bag insert

I can make up to 5 bags for the functional bag exchange.  I decided to make another bag, and a matching one, for hubby.  I used the Box Bag pattern that I got from the Sewing & Quilting Expo 2 years ago.  This is a simple pattern.  I do find it easier to make, if the zipper is much longer than what the pattern calls for.  That way, you don't have to stop, and move the zipper while sewing. 

I made this bag using silnylon, that I'd found a while back, at the thrift store.  I've been meaning to make hubby more stuff sacks, but, he requested this bag instead.  My son had made him one, a couple of years ago, and it is his favorite bag.

Box Bags

Hubby wanted the green zipper, since he is a BSA Venturing Crew leader, and, green and yellow are Venturing colors.  The one with the brown zipper will be for the functional bag exchange.

I doubt I'll make any more bags for the exchange, simply due to lack of time.  I found that sewing on this silnylon was pretty easy.  I figured it would be more difficult, since my son had had some trouble with it.  We both decided that it is easier using a hand crank, instead of a motorized machine, since I could go slower, and leave the pins in (less slipping that way).  I don't have zig zag on my hand cranks, so, I just stitched each part 3 times, to make sure they were reinforced. 

When I recovered my sewing chair, I had some scraps of quilted fabric left over.  I didn't want to waste it, and, yesterday, I figured out what to do with it.  I made a glasses case.  It was my 'leaders and enders' project while making the Box Bags.

glasses case

Last night was quilt guild.   A lady from the guild gave me 2 sewing machines.  Woohoo!  I hadn't gotten a new, vintage machine since January.

The first machine is in a cabinet.  The top of the cabinet looks like it has been refinished.  The machine is a 1922 Singer 66 with Red Eye/Red Head decals, made at the Elizabethport factory in Elizabeth, NJ.  It is a back clamp, and is missing the bobbin slide plate (easy to get).  It is electric, but, when I clean it, it will be converted to a hand crank.  Someone else from the guild may have claimed the cabinet already (if it fits her vintage Pfaff).  If she doesn't get it, then I'll keep this cabinet.  It's nice.

1922 Singer 66 #G9279616 back clamp

top of cabinet

The other machine is not in good condition.  It is a class 15 machine (copy of a Singer 15), made in Japan after WWII.  The presser bar is totally stuck.  It is also missing the foot.  The wires have been cut to the light and the motor (scary wiring).  Lots of stuff has been taped to the machine.  I'll try to clean this and see if I can get everything moving. 

Japanese series 15 machine

with all the electrics out of the way

This machine came with 2 manuals, neither of which go with this machine (Singer manual, and Kenmore accessories manual). 

The case for this machine is in very sad shape.  I'll see if I can repair it, and make it sturdy.  If so, then I'll recover the outside of the case, to make it pretty again.

case is coming apart

Saturday is National Quilting Day!  I'll be at the church Ladies Craft Day, working on a quilt.  What will you be doing?