Ready to Sew.....

One of the problems with having two houses is that you sometimes have two of everything.  Sometimes you only have one item and when you want to do something at both houses with that one item you have to haul it back and forth.

I am learning to quilt.  I have completed two so far this year.  I have two tops that need to get a back and batting set up and then go to my quilter.  I have been a sewer, off and on, for many years.  I have computerized sewing/embroidery machines in each house, along with a serger in each house.  I have, in addition to those machines three Singer featherweights and my old Kenmore machine that has a large variety of basic, decorative stitches.  Over the summer, I was also given a Precision Deluxe machine in a cabinet.  The Precision and the featherweights just sew forward and backward, so the old Kenmore is my only machine that goes beyond basics without being computerized.  It still runs beautifully and is very, very quiet.

I have also have learned that if you want to have consistency in your quilt, you sew all of the seams on the same machine that you began the job with.  For my current project, I want to use my Kenmore.  I took it to North Carolina for the Golden Girls Quilting Retreat and I had it at the summer home in Maryland.  When I got back from North Carolina I unpacked the truck and, as usual, things got piled on the table in the dining room.

In between all of the other things in my life that have happened since we got back, that table has been crowded with ‘stuff’ and this weekend was getting things set up again for sewing.

Before Cutting Station

Cutting Station

First was to set up my cutting station.  I had it set up  in front of the attic door before, and while it has been nice to have it gone, I need it back up as this next quilt has a great many cuts to be made.  

Then I have to clear off the table, put all of the stuff away and then set up my machine.  Once that was done, I actually clamped up the new ironing board to the table.  It is really, really sturdy.  I think it is going to work out really well, especially with my new cordless iron.  Sew… sew… sew!  I am all set.  Hoping to get the blocks really knocked out in short order.

All cluttered up

Clamp-on ironing board & cordless iron

Ready to sew