Bonnie Hunter, Part 1

Today was the first day of Bonnie Hunter classes with one of my quilt guilds.  This was the Tulip Fields class.  I didn't want to make those tiny, tiny blocks, so I re-drafted mine, and made them MUCH larger.  I showed my 'prep' work for these classes in a previous post here.

I got all of my block parts finished, except the sashing.

64 Tulip Fields blocks

I wasn't sure if I liked the size I picked for the sashing, so, I didn't cut any of that fabric until class today.  I finished one block, and sashed it.

Tulip Fields block with sashing

I didn't want my quilt to be as busy as Bonnie's quilt, so, I made the blocks larger, and made the sashing larger, too.  Now to cut the rest of the sashing, so that I can sew the blocks together.  I also have to square up the rest of the tulip blocks.

I'm using Betty Sue, the purple Featherweight on this quilt. 

Betty Sue next to one block

The block above, with sashing, measures 21" square.  My quilt will finish, with borders, as a queen size quilt.  I still have lots of border string blocks to finish making, too. 

Here are the other ladies in the class, along with Bonnie.  There were 6 Featherweights at this class, including a mother and daughter table, each with their own Featherweight.

Diane sat across from me

Bonnie and some class members

LOTS of strings!

a string of tulip triangles

Bonnie speaks at our guild tomorrow night (Pride of the Prairie Quilt Guild).  I'm taking a 2nd class on Friday.  Bonnie is teaching 3 classes this time. 

Betty Sue's new accessories

I've been busy sewing on Betty Sue, my new (to me) purple Featherweight.  She and I have been making some accessories for her.

quilting on 1939 Singer Featherweight

Betty Sue has some scratches on the bottom, because of her snug fit in her case.

scratches on bottom of Betty Sue

The first thing I made was a bag, to put Betty Sue in, when she is in her case.  This way, she wouldn't get any more scratches.

Betty Sue in her new bag

Betty Sue, all safe in her new bag

Betty Sue in her bag, inside the case

bag (thread) peaking out of accessory case

The next thing Betty Sue needed was a cover, for her folding table, so that it wouldn't get scratched.

Betty Sue's new folding table cover

Betty Sue's new folding table cover

I did try to put button holes in the bag, for the ribbon.  I attached a Singer button hole maker to the machine, carefully following the directions in the manual.  I've not used a button hole maker before, but, I have several in my collection.  Well.....the feed dog cover, that attaches to the bed of the machine, wouldn't attach properly.  I finally gave up, BUT, when I was putting all the parts away, I saw THIS on the bed of Betty Sue.

paint chipped away in screw holes, on bed of machine

I was in shock!!!!!   Talk about an UN-happy lady!!!!  I'll be looking for some paint to match Betty Sue's purple, so that I can repair this damage.  It may take a while to find the right color paint. 

Next, I started on 2, yes 2 different sewing machine mats for Betty Sue.  One mat, will be for when I take Betty Sue, with out an extension table.  This mat doesn't need to be very big.

smaller sewing machine mat for Betty Sue

up close of the pocket material (pins)

The other mat, is for when I take the extension table with Betty Sue.

large sewing mat, for use with extension table

up close of pocket material (faux selvage)

Of course, those pockets need some sewing items to go in them.  I've been looking for purple items since I knew Betty Sue would be mine.

purple (and other color) pins in a purple box, tape measure & retractable tape measure, scissors, and seam ripper

I'm thinking of adding ties to each mat, so that I can roll them up, with the sewing notions in the pockets.  I wouldn't want to lose the notions, and, I don't want to be taking them in/out, each time I use the machine.  I bought a set for each sewing mat (I love sales).  I do still need one more seam ripper in purple. 

I still need to make a pin cushion thread catcher for Betty Sue.  I also plan on making her a slip resistant pad for the floor (I'm tired of chasing her foot pedal around).  I'll make both of these to match Betty Sue's other accessories.  I already have the pin cushion thread catcher cut out.

I think I'm starting to get my sewing mojo back.

Meet Betty Sue!

Here she is, 'Betty Sue', the purple Featherweight!

1939 Singer 221 Featherweight #AF179008

Sue, who I got this Featherweight from, had named this machine 'Betty' after the daughter of the original owner.  You can read the history of this machine here.

Well, I already have a Singer named 'Betty'

1941 Singer 66 'Betty'

(named after another collector friend in NZ, who shares the same 'birthday' as the machine), so, I decided to add a middle name to the purple Featherweight, in honor of Sue, whom I got the machine from.  Since this machine came from Texas, 'Betty Sue' just seemed to fit nicely. 

Here is another view of 'Betty Sue'.

Betty Sue, the Featherweight

Look, even her foot pedal is purple!

purple foot pedal

Whoever painted this machine did a great job.

no drips here

lovely purple drip pan

nicely painted motor, too

Betty Sue came with a few attachments and manuals.

attachments that came with Betty Sue

manuals

Betty Sue fits nicely in her vintage case.

Betty Sue in her case (towels is to protect the paint from getting chipped)

The accessory lid fits nicely, with everything in it.

accessory lid to Featherweight case

I haven't had a chance to see how well Betty Sue stitches yet.  We didn't open the box with Betty Sue in it until after I'd cleaned my 3rd machine of the day, and fixed supper.  I was too tired, after cleaning 3 machines, to play with this one.  I'll play with her after I run some errands this morning.

I'm thinking that Betty Sue needs some things made for her, like, a cover for her folding table, so that it doesn't get scratched by the faceplate.  She also needs a sewing machine mat, to sit on.  I'm sure she'll also need a few more things, too.  Maybe stitching some things up for Betty Sue will bring my sewing mojo back (it's been missing since before Christmas).

PS:  'Betty Sue' came from our hometown in Texas.  She's been living just a few blocks from my mother and in-laws.  What a small world!

Christmas and the New Year

I haven't been stitching the past several weeks, since I've had family in town.  Yesterday, I finally got into my sewing room, but, I only had time to organize things.  I'd moved half the closet stuff, and the dresser drawer items into my sewing closet, while family used the guest bedroom for over 2 weeks.  More went in, while my oldest son gave up his room to his little brother and new sister-in-law for a week. 

While my sewing room was being organized, I took the time to clean, and also to finally put the cover on my new ironing board hubby cut for me.  The top is 18"x60", held onto a new ironing board with screws.  A friend had me add foil to the board before I stapled the new ironing cover on (she says it will reflect the heat back to my project better).  I haven't had a chance to iron yet, so, I'll see soon if it works.

new ironing board and cover

The old ironing board is a vintage wooden ironing board, and, since is is so short, I had to set it on bed risers, to get it to the height I wanted. 

I wanted to show you some of the great presents I got for Christmas.  First, I love Harry Potter, and have all the books and audio books.  I saw the new illustrated Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on Sarah's blog, back in October.  Of course I showed it to hubby, and, guess what was under the tree.

illustrated edition

 I also got a few sewing related items for Christmas.

fabric bowl and double ended seam ripper, that my stepfather made me

bobbin buddies

1930's scissors my stepfather gave me

A few days before Christmas, a blogging friend, from my hometown, contacted me.  Was I interested in buying her purple Featherweight?  I printed out pictures, from this blog post, and showed them to hubby.  After he sang the praises of a Featherweight to his parents (who'd arrived that morning) he told me that the Featherweight would make a great Christmas present for me.  Woohoo!  Guess what will be headed my way in the next week or two!?!?!?

pictured from Sue's blog (I'm mentioned in this post)

I made hubby a mini quilt for Christmas.  He saw the pattern, way back, when I won it, on my blog, so, I couldn't show the quilt until after he received it (no secrets here, since hubby reads my blog).  I changed the dog from tan and white, to grey, to make it look like hubby's Alaskan Malamute, Ratchet.

Ratchet (where he lays when I'm in my sewing room)

hubby's hiking mini quilt

On Tuesday, I drove my son and daughter-in-law to the airport.  I stopped by the Quilts of Valor sew-in on the way home.  We are meeting in a new place now, since the quilt store where we started, is closing by the end of January :(    Prairie Shop Quilts was one of the best quilt stores in the Chicago area, with the friendliest staff around.  Bonita ran the store for almost a decade, and decided to leave to spend more time with her family.  Well, after I visited the Quilts of Valor sew-in, I headed to the quilt store, to see if I needed anything that was left (like I really need any more fabric).  Of course I found several different sewing theme fabrics that I had to bring home.  While there, Bonita gave me the last vintage sewing machine in the store.  Several years ago, I cleaned and serviced all the vintage machines she had at the time.  Those machines sold in the first few days of her going out of business sale.  This machine, that was left, was dirty, and needed new wiring and TLC.  No one had looked at it, after seeing the shiny machines. 

Singer 99 (knee controller) in Bentwood case

scary wiring!

I'll get this machine cleaned up and converted to a hand crank in the next few weeks. 
Hubby thinks it's cute (he likes 3/4 size machines). 

I have to get moving in my sewing room.  A friend and I are hosting the Holiday party for our larger guild (held in January instead of December) and I have projects to complete for the party.  I'll try to remember to take pictures of all the decorated tables that other ladies are hosting (we are also hosting a table, along with the whole party). 

Hope you are having a Great 2016!