Tag: crafts

ECQG Paint Chip Challenge

October 26, 2026

Every year, my guild hosts a challenge in which all members can participate. The challenge chairperson gets to determine the type of challenge and the rules. In recent years, it’s been some sort of art-theme challenge that generates a lot of beautiful art quilts. We have a number of talented quilters in the guild who’ve won ribbons and have received recognition at the national level. That would not be me, but my skills are on par with most of my fellow guild members.

At a recent charity sew day, one of my table mates shared that she didn’t participate in any challenges or shows because of the critiquing done by some of the “armchair quilt judges” in the guild. I totally understand. Several months ago, I excitedly shared a small quilt I’d completed on my Elna 782 with the ASR. I was proud to finally have something I felt was worth sharing because it had been a struggle for me to learn how to use the stitch regulator. One person immediately began to nitpick my quilting skills. A thick hide is definitely required if you put your work out there for others to see.

This year’s challenge has apparently drawn the most participants in recent memory. It’s a paint chip challenge. Participants received a paint chip (Behr paint sample card from Home Depot) in a sealed envelope. The color name is to be integrated into the quilt’s theme. Colors allowed are that paint chip (and all gradients in that color family) plus one additional color. White, black, and gray are considered neutral and unrestricted. Size range: 24″ x 24″ minimum to 48″ x 48″ maximum.

My color is a dark teal and Behr’s assigned color name is Out to Sea. The design incorporates my interpretation of a traditional Ocean Waves block. Here’s the top ready to be basted and quilted:

My quilt is based on a single block that is rotated to achieve the overall design. The colors are all in the teal family and positioned to add movement to the quilt. It took about five months to gather all my fabrics. They came from my stash, existing kits, local quilt shops and even Wal-Mart. The quilt contains 432 2″ HSTs that finish at 1-1/2″. I used the Bonnie Hunter Essential Triangle Tool and the B size Clearly Slotted Ruler to trim when needed. Purple was my additional color and positioned to create a secondary pinwheel design when all of the blocks were sewn together.

Completed quilt for the ECQG Paint Chip Challenge

I quilted my project on my domestic machine – FMQ in a random swirl design using Glide thread. Binding was attached the traditional way to the front, but machine stitched down. A friend suggested I try the 1/8″ double-sided basting tape from By Annie to hold the binding in place on the backside in lieu of using Elmer’s glue. OMG! Much faster and no super sticky fingers. The hardest part was starting the pull strip on the basting tape.

In my happy place

October 10, 2026

A week ago, I taught my Sewing Machine Maintenance Class at the Southeastern Quilt & Textile Museum in Carrollton. Most students brought newer model Brother machines, but one brought a vintage Singer which uses Centaur bobbins (new to me). Each class always has a machine I’ve never seen before and this one was no exception. I’m glad the student reached out prior to class about needing help finding a machine manual. I found a free version of a similar machine. She actually printed it out and put it in a notebook to bring with her to class. We spent extra time after class deciphering how to load the bobbin correctly. I finally got the machine to sew. The student went home relieved and happy.

There was a check for my instructor fee and a vintage non-working Kenmore sewing machine waiting on me when I left. A year ago, someone had reached out to the museum about wanting to dispose of two old non-working Kenmore sewing machines. I agreed to take them to someone mentoring aspiring sewing machine technicians. Nothing ever came of it.

Imagine my surprise at receiving a message that one of those old Kenmore machines would be dropped off before Saturday’s class. I brought it home, not quite sure of what to do with it, since the person I’d promised the machines to (a year ago) had recently given me a fully serviced Kenmore machine to pass along to a deserving student.

Curious, I opened the case to examine the machine inside. It was a Janome made 10 stitch machine that looked very similar to my sister-in-law’s 12 stitch Kenmore from the late 1970s. No manual. No accessories other than what was on the machine and the foot pedal/power supply. I plugged it in. It powered on. It was dirty.

Everything seemed to move okay. I was able to find a free copy of the instruction manual, so I decided to play service technician. I cleaned her out, gave her a long drink of oil and put everything back together, only to discover the machine only sewed in reverse. I’m positive this is why the machine was given away.

Tri-Flow, time, elbow grease and the internet helped bring this lovely lady back to life. She has a new LED light, sews both forward and reverse, winds a bobbin smoothly and no longer has a lopsided bobbin access door. There’s still a bit of stiffness in her joints as she goes from stretch stitches back to regular sewing. This should continue to improve as the Tri-Flow gets worked into all those hard-to-reach pivot points.

She now sports a new needle plate, an original manual (found on Etsy), bobbins and has a set of presser feet/accessories – including the hard-to-find darning plate on the way.

Interesting tidbit: This Kenmore model 385.1249380 was manufactured by Janome for Sears in April, 1983.

The Thread Post from The Featherweight Shop works well on vintage Kenmores, too. I tried it from both spool pins. but transferred the Thread Post back to the far right spool pin for better thread delivery. The left spool pin was removed and stored in the accessory box. I ordered a green/white flower spool pin doily to replace the red felt.

The Kenmore and vintage sewing machine groups to which I belong tell me this one’s a keeper. We’ll see.

A peek at 2027 quilt class/event possibilities

September 6, 2026

I don’t know if the ECQG webmaster meant to publish the guild’s 2027 speaker/class schedule just yet, but it’s definitely LIVE. I already see workshops in April and July that I’d like to take! This was a nice surprise to see when I went in to register for an upcoming charity sew day in October.

Myrtle Beach Quilt Party sign up is now active. I shared the info with my guild friends. It’ll be even more fun if a couple of them can also attend. One has indicated she’ll stay with family in the area if she’s able to go. Meanwhile, I’m exploring other accommodation options besides the retreat hotel.

As I noted the ECQG class dates in my calendar, I reviewed what I’d already scheduled for early 2027:
January – Myrtle Beach Quilt Party (going)
February – Quiltcon 2027 in ATL @ AmericasMart (going to socialize and shop)
April – Guild class on mariner’s compass using a special ruler technique (note on calendar to sign up 3/5)
July – Guild class on improv – dresden blocks and/or bird/nature blocks (note on calendar to sign up 6/5)

Other possibilities: Middle Georgia Shop Hop (early February), Jabez Quilt Seminar – KY (early March), Sewing Expo (mid-March), Mountain Quilt Fest – TN (early June)

There are definitely classes, retreats and conference opportunities out there. You just have to make the effort to look for them because they get hidden under all the social media posts and emails we get on a daily basis.

You may have noticed my 2027 events are within driving distance (6 hours or less). Airfare has gotten crazy expensive. I’ll either need a fabulous deal on the flights or the location has to be one I’d absolutely regret not going while I had the chance.

Photo by Erik Mclean on Pexels.com