So I Can Sew!

I’ve been talking for a while about getting a sewing machine to try to make things to sell like rat hammocks, hedgie bags, play tubes and other fun pet stuff.   Basically, an idea for me to try to bring in a little bit of money.

We had planned on getting me one for x-mas but x-mas came early!  We found a machine we liked that was on sale at our local machine shop so we decided to get it.  Whatever, we’ll just wrap the box and put it under the tree cuz the machine is already set up!

The lady at the store was great, she showed me how to thread the needle and do the bobbin thing.   I really know f-all about using a sewing machine, but I’m learning!

I toyed with it some but haven’t really gotten to use it a lot because I’m rushing to get my tree skirt finished before Dec 1st, which is when my tree goes up.   I like quilting by hand so I’m not using the machine for that.  Also the machine doesn’t have the quilt stitch.  The machines with that were far too expensive and I couldn’t spend that much on my first one when I’m not sure if I’d even like it.   I CAN do the patchwork for future quilts on the machine though, and then do the quilting by hand.

The tree skirt is coming along nicely so far.  I have just half of the outer ring left to quilt and then I can work on the binding.   This month is going by so quickly though I will have to work my fingers to a nub to get it finished in time for the 1st.

In the photo it looks a bit mussed and wrinkly, mainly because I have to fold it up and tuck it under stuff to make sure the cats don’t think it’s a pillow and lay on it.   I think I’d go nuts if I woke up one day and found it covered in hair.   Not that it won’t be after it’s under the tree, but that’s different… it will be finished then.

I’m really quite pleased with how it’s turning out.   I think this will be the first artsy craftsy project I’ve ever gotten around to finishing!  My cross stitch is still in the cupboard half done, the quilt I started in my lessons is still needing to be put together.   This will be my first completed project… and it will only be out for 2 months! ARGH! After all this work I dread the thought of having to tuck it away in a box for 10 months of the year.

Getting back to the working my fingers to nubs thing, I nearly did a week or so ago.  Having only one thimble has proven to be somewhat disastrous when it comes to my other fingers.   At one point they got so sore I had to stop quilting for a few days so they could heal.  Not knowing what to do with myself I decided to pick up some yarn I had laying around and make myself a scarf.

I had 4 balls of Bernat Boa yarn here in two different colors.  Neither alone really made anything long enough for me to like it so I put them together and made one long scarf.  It doesn’t look so long in the pic but when it’s around my neck almost hangs to my waist.  It’s sooooo soft, I really love it.

My next knitting project is to learn how to make socks.   I just need to figure out what kind of yarn to use for it and how to follow a pattern.   Then I can knit myself and Xander ooooodles of cool socks.  If anyone knows of any good sock knitting tutorials online, let me know!