March till now sewing

 Not nearly enough sewing has been going on since I posted in March.  Here is a quick catch-up.

I've had reproduction (Chinese) hand cranks to use on my sewing machines for many years. I found an original hand crank at a quilt store that was going out of business, several years ago, but the handle doesn't lock in place, so I haven't used it. I've been wanting an original hand crank, but hadn't come across another one.  Well, I ordered 2 of them from Helen Howes in England.  Helen is a parts supplier for vintage sewing machines, and also an art quilter.  She is very knowledgeable about vintage sewing machines.  The hand cranks arrived the end of March.

2 hand cranks in great condition

I installed one on my main hand crank.

1927 Singer 15 with an original hand crank

up close of the hand crank

Boy, I didn't know that there would be such a difference between a reproduction hand crank and an original hand crank.  The original hand crank is very quiet, turns easier, and doesn't have any 'loose' feel.  Now to figure out what machine will get the 2nd hand crank.

In April, I taught paper piecing to my little quilt guild, Wego Quiltin'.  I taught it on Zoom.  I clamped my phone so that it would be over my work surface, and tested the whole demonstration for my husband (I wanted to make sure that everyone could see what I was doing).  I could watch what I was doing on my laptop.  

testing my demo

bad lighting

better lighting

When you demo something, you need to make several samples.  I finally finished sewing all the different parts I used, together to make 6 butterfly blocks. 

my 6 finished blocks

I love to participate in block exchanges with my hand cranks and treadles.  Treadle On has several different exchanges each year.  Our Spring Basic exchange was 4 patch blocks.  We always try to have 2 'simple' exchanges each year, so that people who are learning how to use their treadles and hand cranks can participate.  I made 4 sets of 8 blocks each.  I like to use sewing themed fabrics for many of my block exchanges.

Spring Basic exchange blocks

I finished my March Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks (dark green).  I skipped the April blocks (light/bright blue) and started the May blocks (red).  I'll get back to the April blocks sometime this summer.  My dark green blocks look almost black in this photo.  They really are green.

March RSC dark green blocks

I finally finished all the blocks for the Harry Potter Castle quilts for my new grandson.  I've been so distracted lately that I kept making lots of mistakes and had to redo some blocks.  

One block was very frustrating.  The pattern says it makes a 10.5" x10.5" block.  Nope, it makes a 20.5" x 10.5" block.

WAY too big for this quilt

both blocks

I need the wand and quill to fit in a 4.5 x 10.5 window in the Castle.  These blocks will probably be put on the back of the quilts.  (yes, I make 2 matching paper pieced quilts for each grandchild, one for now, and one that I can put in my guild's quilt show, and save for later).

I finished the Hogwarts Crest blocks.

Hogwarts Crest

both blocks

Howler blocks.

Howler

both blocks

Hufflepuff  and Slytherin blocks.

Hufflepuff

both blocks

Slytherin

both blocks

I thought I'd finished the Gryffindor blocks, but they were missing something.

Oops!  Missing something on these blocks

Gryffindor blocks (correct)

both blocks

With the Ravenclaw Crest, I cut one of the corners on one of the blocks wrong.  Another stupid mistake because I was distracted.  You can't add a 1/4" seam allowance back, so I had to rip that block apart (very hard to do when the machine stitches at about 25 stitches to the inch) and re-make 2 parts of that block.  

Ravenclaw

both blocks

Since the wand and quill blocks were way too large to use, I had to make more blocks.  I chose the Elder Wand and Umbridge's quill.

Elder Wand

both blocks

Umbridge's quill

both blocks

Not nearly enough progress for almost 2 months sewing.  I still have the other baby quilt (Fractured Diamonds) to quilt.  I did at least get it basted. 

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Weight update:

I've lost 32 pounds so far, since the end of January.  The weight loss is slowing down now.  The doctor warned me that it would slow down after the first month or two.  It didn't start slowing down until the beginning of the 4th month (May).  I still have a long way to go.

A few finishes

The Camp Tuckabatchee quilt show is coming up at the end of March. I promised to donate several project bags.  Here are the 7 project bags that I finished.

back of the last 2 project bags

I'd made these project bags last fall, but hadn't gotten the binding stitched on them.  Now they are DONE! 

My Treadle On vintage people powered sewing machine group has several block exchanges each year.  It's a great way to get people to use their hand cranks and treadle sewing machines.  Since some of the collectors are just learning how to sew with their machines, the Spring and Fall basic exchanges are a great way to learn.  This year, the Spring basic block exchange is Rail Fence blocks.  I made 4 sets (one set in each color), and they are waiting for me to get them in the mail.

Rail Fence TOBE blocks

These blocks were made on my 1927 Singer 15 hand crank. 

1927 Singer 15 hand crank

I have another finish, but I haven't gotten any pictures of it yet.  Hopefully I'll get pictures this week.  It is also for the Camp Tuckabatchee quilt show.

Spring Basic Block Exchange

Treadle On, my treadle and hand crank online group, has several different block exchanges each year.  I participate in quite a few of them.  One of these days I'll make some quilt tops with all the blocks I've collected over the years.

I volunteered to be the hostess for 2 different exchanges this year.  Being hostess isn't hard.  Everyone sends their blocks to me, along with a postage paid return envelope.  I collect all the blocks, sort them, put them in the correct envelopes, then mail them back.  Fun!  Oh yea, some people even send hostess gifts with their blocks.  Yipee! 

This exchange is the Spring Basic.  We take turns rotating 3 different blocks for the Spring and Fall Basic exchanges (4 patch, Rail Fence, and Half Square Triangle).  With basic, simple blocks, it makes it where anyone can participate if they want, even if they don't have much sewing experience.  The only rules are that the fabrics have to be pre-washed, and the machines used must be either a treadle or a hand crank (people powered machines, not electric).  It's a great chance to use some of the lovely vintage machines that we have collected. 

This exchange was 4 patch blocks.  People could make as many as 4 sets of 8 blocks.  Each set uses different fabrics, and some people use different machines for each set. 

Here are the blocks that were sent in.  We had 7 different people participate in this exchange. 

Charlotte's 4 sets of blocks

Brenda's 4 sets of blocks

Anne's 4 sets of blocks

April's 4 sets of blocks

Jay's 4 sets of blocks

my 4 sets of blocks

Katrene's set of blocks

I stayed late after church, and used the church's tables to do the sorting.  Much easier than trying to sort in my kitchen or dining room.  This is what it looked like when I'd sorted the blocks.

all the blocks sorted into stacks

I'll mail all the packages back to everyone on Monday.  It's always fun to get a squishy full of blocks in your mailbox. 

I mentioned that some people put in something special for the hostess.  Here is what I got.

extra fabrics, extra blocks and a Micron pen

All of these fabrics will be put to good use.  The extra blocks will be added to mine, and put into a quilt soon.  The pen will be used to sign future exchange blocks.

I've already received several sets of blocks for the next exchange.  It is the Chocolate 9 Patch that I've blogged about before.  Not long, since those blocks are supposed to be in the mail by Sat, May 12th.