A Very Handy Gadget

Before with no additional lighting
 

I've always wished that the lights on our sewing machines were in front of the needle so I could see better when I was sewing especially at night or on dark fabrics. Last year I saw some lights here that could be added to your sewing machine and give you loads more light to see by.

After  and no additonal lighting

What I really like about these lights is the fact that you buy a complete set and then if you are like me and you have more than one machine you can buy additional lights for the other machines. The light comes in two parts

 

1. the part that attaches to your machine

and

2. the cord that can be moved to whatever machine you need to use and connected to the lights on that machine.

So not only is it less expensive after the first complete set to add lights to you other machines, you can also get different sizes for your different machines. On my Pfaff 2140 pictured above I purchase the set that has 4 lights, but you can also get a set with 3 lights if your throat space is smaller. These are LED lights and they have really helped sewing to be enjoyable again especially at night and at workshops where lighting isn't always the best.

P.S. They also have a set for your longarm machine if you are needing some more light on it.

 

Here Comes 2012

Are you ready for 2012? I'm not sure I am but I guess I'd better get ready. I finished off 2011 by making some Christmas presents and just enjoying the sewing room. I made some baked goods also to give but they disappeared so fast I didn't have time to get a picture of them. I had some travel pillows so I made pillow cases for them for the kids across the street. The empty pillow case was for the oldest child who recieved her pillow for her birthday in September. I also tooks some fabric and quilted it to polar fleece for couch blankets for my son but neglected to take a picture before they were sent on their way. I included some pillow cases and I did remember to take a picture of them.

I made some Toasty Toes Socks for the better half he was really good this year he received 3 pair of them. They are made with polar fleece and very nice and warm in the cold weather. I'll have to take a picture of them so you can see them.

It was a great finish to the year and I had a lot of fun doing the sewing. It's been awhile since I could just enjoy sewing because I wanted to.

So what did you get made for yourself or for a gift?

Squeak Naughty or Nice

Today Squeak has been a real pill. Anything he can climb he does and anything he knows he's not supposed to do he does (more than once). I finally told him it was beginning to look like Santa was going to pass him by - didn't seem to phase him much. While I was in the quilt room this evening trying to get some sewing done in between chasing him to get the pins back he had taken out of the pincushion I found him on top of a 4 shelf stand playing with the chain on the light fixture. When I told him he had to get down he started batting at me. I think he has finaly reached his teenage phase. I sure hope it is a short one. Hope everyone is ready for Christmas.

On The Needles

I've been working on a knitted baby blanket for no reason other than to try out a new stitch. I really like the look of it and it is a very easy pattern. It's called the Farrow Rib Stitch and if you google it, it is easy to find. The nice thing about this pattern is it looks the same on both sides.

It is a beautiful 40 degree windy day here. There is a mouse in the house and all the older cats have taken turns guarding it's location. Then Squeak comes along and it is a growl and hiss stand off. So most of my day has been spent saving Squeak from being torn limb from limb. I'm beginning to think she will never learn when to back off. Well, I'm off to try and get some sewing done, again, we'll see how long that lasts.

February Already?

You've probably wondered where I've been and what I've been up to if you haven't just given up on me. Well, I've been working on Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt that I started at Thanksgiving, writing the instructions to the block I am teaching at one of my quilting guilds this month, and cleaning and sorting paperwork trying to establish some order so taxes won't be such a chore this year. (Who am I kidding on that one).

The green and white block is a Disappearing Four Patch Block. I started with 4 6" squares sewn together and then I cut 1.5" from the center line top, bottom, left and right and turn the 4 center rectangles 90 degrees and sew it all back together. Easy and fast to do.

Monday when I was trying to sew Squeak was making all kinds of

noise unter the sewing table and when I stopped to take a look this is what I found. Squeak had thrown herself away. She is not helpful when it com

es to sewing so everything takes much longer to finish.

Last but not least Connecting Threads has a new feature called Kit Builder. You can build your own kit

and they will send you the kit you built. This one is for a baby quilt and is costing me just under $13.00 pluse the backing.