Tag: crafts

Show your sewing machine some love

January 5, 2026

A new year is here. Before getting started on your winter sewing projects, give your sewing machine a little attention. It’ll make your stitching time during the cold winter months a lot more pleasant.

Step 1:
Give your machine a mini-facial: clean out the dust bunnies under the needle plate, add oil where needed, install a new needle and give it a good wipe down.

Step 2:
Locate your sewing machine manual. If you can’t find it, check the support section on the manufacturer’s website or check Pocono Sew & Vac’s website to see if there’s a link to a free download for your machine. Print a copy and place it in a 3 prong plastic folder to keep with your machine. Also save the downloaded file somewhere in the cloud, so you can have access to it in case you forget/lose your printed copy.

Step 3:
Record your sewing machine’s basic stats on a sticky note and keep it with your machine manual:
Model and serial number
Modern machines? on a sticker near the power switch or on the back of the machine.
Vintage machines? may be stamped underneath or on a metal plate on the machine bed.
Shank: low, high or slant?
Max stitch width: 5 mm, 7 mm, or 9 mm?
Bobbin size and type: Class 15, Class 66, specialty brand (Elna, Viking, Pfaff, Bernina)? Metal or plastic?
Snap on feet: center needle or slightly offset left? (Janome made top loading machines use snap on feet where the connecting bar is offset to the left. This means some of the feet in the big accessory packs sold on Amazon may not work.)

Step 4:
Go through all of your sewing machine feet and bobbins. Make sure only the ones that work with that particular sewing machine are in the accessory box. Refer to your manual and info recorded in Step 3. Missing any feet? Time to visit your local sewing machine shop or order online.

Step 5:
Protect your sewing machine. Make or buy a cover to keep the dust out. Plug it into a surge protected power strip. If you take your machine to classes, sew days and retreats, buy a case/padded bag to safeguard your machine during transport. Sure, the designer trolley bags are pretty, but there are plenty of other budget-friendly options out there as well.

A common question: Do I need to take my machine in for service every year?
The answer is YES, if one of the following applies:
1. Your machine is under a warranty or has a service contract.
2. You spent megabucks on your sewing machine within the past 5 years.

Otherwise, the answer is NO. Every other year is generally fine as long as your machine is operating normally.

Keep in mind that the cost of a routine service is now $150.00 per machine. Depending on your particular model and age of machine, it might be worth buying a new machine instead of taking it in for service & repair. Only you can make that decision. Me? If it’s one from the big box store, I’d probably replace it. If has sentimental value and I plan to hang onto it, I’d definitely get it serviced at least once.

Psst: If you like to DIY, it’s very easy to learn how to service (and make simple repairs) vintage sewing machines and many mechanical machines.

Photo by FOX on Pexels.com

New Year’s Day Stitching Fun

January 2, 2026

Today, I joined 1500+ other quilters in the Stitchin’ Heaven New Year’s Day Livestream mystery quilt-a-long. This has become a NYD tradition for me. There’s no charge to participate and the quilt shop gives away some really good prizes every 45 minutes or so. Today’s prizes were electronic gift cards with values ranging from $50 to $250.

How does it work? A cutting guide and Team Rob/Team Tiffany fabric selections are released a few weeks ahead of time in their FB group. You can order a laser cut kit in your choice of those 2 colorways or use fabrics from your stash. I opt to pull from my stash. During the livestream, each block is broken down into units. The hosts usually demo a couple of different techniques and show the audience how to use new notions. I precut enough fabric to make 2 blocks and go from there. There’s a 30 minute lunch break built into the schedule and a soup recipe is shared ahead of time. (Hint: I buy a ready made version at the grocery store).

Ready for the Stitchin’ Heaven New Year’s Day Live sew along
One of each block made during the livestream.
More blocks cut and ready to assemble at tomorrow’s sew day at the library.

In the past, I’ve made the blocks in a patriotic colorway (go Team Rob), which were turned into placemats to donate to Meals on Wheels. This year, Team Rob chose a colorway that I really, really liked! I mimicked the colors as closely as I could, using fabrics from my stash. Once I saw the final quilt reveal, I knew I wanted to make a 3×3 block layout with borders (finished size: 48″ square). I actually have enough fabric to make the 9 blocks and borders! Haven’t decided if this will be a donation quilt or a Sadie quilt. We’ll let her decide!

This year, my husband was actually home on New Year’s Day. Normally, he’s out helping with a community service project or away on an active operation with Team Rubicon. He thoroughly enjoyed being able to watch college football uninterrupted today. 🙂

A TV for my sewing space is on the to-do list for 2026. Perhaps, I’ll be able to host a small group here to join in next year. We shall see.

Let’s talk scrap management

November 29, 2025

Meet my scrap bin. It’s a medium plastic decorative storage basket found at stores like Target and Hobby Lobby. Nothing fancy. Most of what you’ll find in my scrap bin are bits smaller than 5″ square and random jelly roll leftovers.

I realize there are quilters who have elaborate stash management systems and cut all leftover fabrics to pre-determined sizes. Some even write books about their stash management systems. Me? I prefer a much simpler approach.

At the end of a quilting project, I “process” any leftover fabric. Random, full-size precuts are stored with my 2-1/2″ strips, 5″ squares and 10″ squares. Any larger pieces are returned to color-coded bins.

My quilting bee group makes several scrappy quilts a year for charity, so I sort the remaining bits for future charity projects, the scrap bin or the wastebasket. When the scrap bin gets full, it’s time to add a project to the rotation to use up some of the scraps.

Here’s my current project:

Foundation pieced scrappy half-square triangles

The FPP paper pad yields fifty 6-1/2″ blocks. I have enough of this white-on-white print to make about 12 scrappy HSTs. I’ll grab another white fabric hunk when it’s time to make block #13. Said blocks will be made into items to donate to my guild’s community service (placemats or a baby/toddler quilt).

Once a scrap become smaller than 2-1/2″ square, I toss it. If it’s been a busy, active quilting season and I’ve accumulated way too many scraps, I’ll pass them along to a friend or donate them to Scraplanta.

As a former librarian, I culled different sections of our book collection on a regular basis. It’s a key part of collection management. Applying those same principals to my fabric stash, including scraps, keeps things manageable. It’s great to save the scraps, but you also need a plan to use the scraps and/or divest of the scraps.