Tag: sewing

Back to [almost] normal

July 24, 2026

Today, I took the last dose of prednisone. Thank goodness! I’m ready for my sleep cycle to get back to normal. Most evidence of my allergic reaction to the insect repellent is completely gone. There’s still some redness in the areas that reacted the strongest, but it’s slowly fading away. Mosquitos are still biting. I purchased a bottle of Cutter Skinsations with DEET 7% to use when working in the garden. Zero reaction and no mosquito bites either.

Our weather forecast is calling for heavy rain most of the weekend. Sadie and I ran took advantage of this morning’s dry window to run errands. We passed several schools and a teacher supply store on our travels. The parking lots were full. Then, I remembered that local school staff report on Monday for preplanning week. Has it really been five years since I reported for what would become my last preplanning week as a public school librarian? Indeed it has.

Fast forward five years. There’s still some semblance of back-to-school prep that takes place in my life around late July. I take advantage of back-to-school sales to stock up on school supplies, reward trinkets and books we’ll use in the R.E.A.D. program and CraftLAB. This weekend, I’ll be finishing up the final few details for quilt camp. We start Monday at 10:00 a.m. in my basement sewing space. Instructional planning is a lot more fun when it’s on my terms and my schedule!

Not much teaching took place spring semester because life and the quilt show happened. For fall semester, my teaching schedule includes CraftLAB, a monthly sewing group at the Midtown Library and a machine maintenance class at the quilt museum in Carrollton. It feels good to see my teaching calendar active again.

I’m also collaborating with a local indie pet supply store to host a personalize your pet’s stocking workshop in early November. I’ll teach students how to add their pet’s name to a cuffed stocking or create a personalized hang tag using a simple backstitch and embroidery floss. We’ll see what happens locally, if anything, after that. I’d love to find a spot where I can teach classes a couple of times a month. I don’t mind paying a modest fee to use the space, but I have zero interest in opening a full-blown stitch lab in a retail storefront. That ship has long since sailed.

Quilt Camp Preparations

July 21, 2026

Next week, Sadie & I will be hosting three teens (can’t call them ‘tweens anymore!) for quilt camp. So far, it’s been a collective effort with friends adding things to make it extra special for the girls. One friend contributed a collectible box for each girl to hold her fabric kit and camp swag. I was able to borrow two folding tables to help meet workspace needs. Others donated random batik leftovers so I could cut extra 10″ squares to offer more variety for their selected projects.

A sewing machine I’d loaned out several months ago for a teen sewing program at a nearby library (and thought was permanently gone) was returned in time for camp. It’s original shipping box had deteriorated to the point where we actually threw it away at the library last week. A hard plastic sewing machine case was suggested as its replacement. FB marketplace showed one available 6 miles away from me – clearly in good condition, but rather dirty. Twenty minutes of scrubbing with hot, soapy water yielded a perfectly usable sewing machine case at a fraction of the current crazy retail prices – plus Sadie got a ride.

I’m also trying to complete two current projects and get the quilt sandwiches basted before my sewing space is converted back into classroom mode for a solid week. This way, I can FMQ and work on other projects while their creative chaos is basically confined to the rest of the room.

I’m thankful to be on day six of prednisone. The allergic rash is mostly gone. My doctor mentioned it would probably be another week before the flare-up subsided completely and my feet/ankles would be the last to recover. This definitely seems to be the case! Anyhow, I can wear short sleeves in public again without grimacing. That’s a good sign.

Happy 250th Birthday America!

July 3, 2026
Celebrating the 4th by sewing patriotic themed blocks on my American-made Singer 301A!

The pattern is Star Salute, which was part the 2026 Liberty Box from Fat Quarter Shop. Fabric used is the FQ bundle that came in the box and the white-on-white background came from another quilter downsizing her stash. Binding will be a denim blue cotton from my inventory. The pattern includes an pieced backing option which consists of a large center star made from leftover HSTs and white yardage, plus some light gray fabric I already have. In case you’re interested, the finished size meets the QOV guidelines. This particular quilt will most likely be donated to my guild’s Quilts for Cops partnership.

My 301A was made in Anderson, South Carolina in 1957. She came to me via the Florida Panhandle, where my niece found her at a yard sale for $125.00. She was farm fresh, but still had the original bobbin case, set of presser feet and foot controller in the trapezoid carry case. There’s no telling how long this sewing machine had been in someone’s shed or attic. Outside of a spa day, the most useful updates Miss Carmella’s received have been the acrylic extension table, stick on thread cutter, walking foot, and FW Shop seam square/seam guide duo.

After much experimentation this past week, I’ve learned how to compensate for the lack of an adjustable needle position to achieve a scant 1/4″ seam. The original presser foot in tandem with the seam guide consistently works the best for me. The secret for me is pinning on the left side instead of the right. It does feel awkward at first, but careful pinning means my seams match and no points on HSTs and FG are cut off.

FYI – the acrylic extension table is from Taylor Made Tables and the stick on bee thread cutter is from Lori Holt. Besides an LED light bulb, the only addition was a set of matching crocheted spool pin doilies from a local maker.

Miss Carmella is ready to complete our quilt top over this July 4th weekend!

Enjoy the fireworks, food and fellowship while you stay cool in the heat!