Sewing machines.

Just thought I'd share my sewing machine I got this spring from a friend. I'm so grateful to have a machine that works well!!
I grew up sewing on a simple white machine (I don't know the brand). It had tension problems and seemed to just give up one day even though my dad is usually good at fixing things and I'm sure he looked at it several times.
Then we adopted my grandmother's brown Singer Slant-o-Matic. My mother still has that one. It is true that they don't make things like they used to. It is a great machine, I have sewn several quilts and dresses with it. Probably most of my projects for about the last 10 years.
I also have a very heavy black/dark gray machine (I also can't remember the brand, sorry, it may be a White) that my uncle gave me as a Christmas present. It has never had the correct cords, though I assume I could find them online. For how heavy it is, I'm not sure how practical it is unless it was put in a table.
I also have a white New Home machine my dad found for me at a yard sale a few years back. I'm sure it just needs someone professional to get it running better. I used it a little, but the tension and other issues just made it a hassle.
And just in the summer, I got a gray vintage machine (I believe it is a Kenmore) from my father in law. I have yet to clean it and try it out. It did come with a box of presser feet and extra goodies.

It's amazing how many machines one can collect and hopefully I will get more of them up and running, even if I pass them along. It would be nice to keep one of the vintage ones perhaps if they work well.

Growing up the sewing machine was always something we had to set up and clean up once done (or once my mom was tired of it taking up the dining room table). I'm so grateful to have the space to leave my machine up.

Now I just need to make a cover for it!

2014

Amazingly it is 2014 already!
Last year I got married, moved across town and gained a sewing machine and some sewing stuff from a friend. With moving, I moved Most of my crafty stuff, and months later I am still trying to get things figured out in my (possibly temporary) awesome sewing studio!! I have been doing a little bit of knitting, and am hoping to do more sewing! It has been hard for me to carve out time to come in and work on things but it's a new year and I am feeling good about it.

So, I know it has been forever since I have blogged. And maybe no one reads it much anyway, but I feel like it helps me keep organized a little bit.

This year I'm hoping to finish some projects already in the works and to choose specific clothing items I hope to sew and try to gain some skills!  My fabric collection (much like my yarn collection) is full of odds and ends from previous projects. I'm hoping to go through my stash and find a way to label/keep in mind how many yards I have of my fabric.

Winter/Spring:
-I have made two Sorbettos by Colette Patterns and I am hoping to make more! They are a great stashbusting project. A simple, but awesome top that you can make too since the pattern is a free download!

-I bought couch pillows with the intent to make envelope covers for them. I have yet to buy fabric or look at my stash to see if I have enough fabric that I like to make covers.

-PJ pants. I have made a few pairs but they have been in weird prints like cats or crazy stripes. Maybe a solid color or small floral design.

-Quilts. Oh my, I'm in the midst of many quilts, not really working much on them, but I hope to start figuring it out.

I'm forever making lists and then putting things off to make other spur of the moment things. I know I may not stick to my goals... but I will just throw these ideas out and hope it will help guide my sewing.

Some skills I want to work on:
-Invisible zippers (I wonder where my presser foot went and if it will fit my new machine?)
-Buttonholes (we'll see, I'm so afraid).
-Making patterns fit me better, by sewing more muslins and hopefully not getting upset right away.
-Finishing the insides of garments better.
-Etc.