Strings of Flamingos

 

I got to spend some time with my Singer Model 15 (treadle) sewing machine and a box of flamingo strings this weekend.

After making a hexie quilt featuring flamingo fabrics, I had lots of scraps.  I decided a string quilt was in order, and sliced lots of leftover fabric into 1.5 inch strips.  

 

I have made lots of string quilts, but never one using the diamond shape.  I cut the templates from a roll of newsprint-weight paper I had hanging around.

 

Once the strings were stitched onto the paper, I used an acrylic ruler and rotary cutter to trim the edges to fit the diamond template.

Before long, I had six diamonds pieced, enough for a string star!

I originally thought I would set the diamond shapes in herringbone-style strips, but after looking at the star setting I had some other inspirational thoughts.  I'm still working out my ideas, so we'll have to wait and see where inspiration leads!

Spider Web Blocks: Is the End in Sight?

 

The long Labor Day weekend gave me some extra sewing time at the camp.  I've been working on these string-pieced triangles since at least 2012, but it was more of a fabric therapy project than a planned quilt with a finishing date in sight. 

Earlier this year I decided on a plan for the blocks, and cut enough light yellow center "kite" shapes to finish piecing all the triangles.  This weekend my trusty Singer Model 15 (treadle) and I stitched the last of the purple and gold strings onto their foundations.  Now I just have to piece the triangles into squares and rip off all the foundation papers.  Maybe I can still finish this top before the end of the year?!

 

I still had a big collection of strings left after piecing the triangles, so I took a few minutes to tame them into some additional useful quilt block parts.  The longest strings were trimmed to 1 1/2" width and will go in the bin for 1 1/2" strips.  Smaller remnants were trimmed to various lengths and 1 1/2" width for Lego quilt blocks.  The remaining bits will go in the crumb bin for further adventures in crumb and string piecing.  Very satisfying to have everything neatly wrapped up!

Log Cabin at the Camp

This past winter, my Dear Husband asked me to make him a log cabin quilt.  He showed me a red, white and blue LC quilt he found online and said he would like one like it.  DH has really never asked for a quilt before, so how could I say no?

I knew I wouldn't be able to start it immediately, but I did start pulling fabrics from the stash.  Since January's color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge was blue, I even started cutting a stack of 2 1/2" blue strips while I was playing in the blue fabric drawer.

I made a sample quilt block using 2 1/2 inch strips, but I didn't think DH would like it, as the quilt he originally showed me had smaller strips.

 

The second sample block used 2" strips.  Much to my surprise, DH preferred the larger strips.  Maybe he knew I would finish the quilt more quickly using bigger strips!

 

By the end of July 4th weekend, I was off to a good start.

 

By today, I had completed 30 12" log cabin blocks.  Now I need to put them on the design wall at home to play with an arrangement.  I'm planning on a barn raising layout, but I'll need to play with the blocks for an even fabric/color layout.

 

I use a Singer Model 15 treadle at the camp.  I love sewing on it - the motion of the treadle is soothing and relaxing.  It's a great addition to log cabin therapy!

 

 

 

Trade Card Tuesday: Vive Ste. Anne!

I am no authority on St. Anne.

I only learned of her about 12 years ago when I began collecting sewing machine ephemera.  I kept finding postcards featuring pretty women with sewing machines, inscribed "Vive Ste. Anne".  This was in the early days of Google, but I still managed to use the internet to find out why ladies with sewing machines were fond of Ste. Anne.  Ah-ha - Ste. Anne is the patron saint of seamstresses!

Thus St. Anne became the theme for my early website sharing sewing machine trade cards and other ephemera.  How could one not want to celebrate the saint of sewing and other domestic arts?

Today's postcard is from France and is an unusual shadowbox style.  The card was never mailed, but  a note on the reverse is dated 1944.  There are no sewing machine decals visible, but I'd be willing to bet the machine is a Singer Model 15.  The wooden sewing machine case with extension table was made by Singer (I have one for reference) and the tell-tale tension mechanism on the back of the machine is a sign of a Model 15.  The model was introduced in the US in the late 1890s and was a staple of Singer production through the 1950s.  If you ever come across one of these machines, either as a treadle, hand-crank or electric - I strongly urge you to consider giving it a home!  Model 15s are workhorse machines and will prove a smart investment for care-free sewing.

I'm celebrating St. Anne through the end of July.  I hope you'll continue to join me on Tuesdays for more St. Anne postcards and sewing machine history.  At the end of the month I'll be hosting a linky party in honor of St. Anne - anyone is welcome to celebrate sewing and share their current (or any appropriate/special) sewing project.  Vive Ste. Anne!

Quilting at the Camp

We were able to get away to our camp this weekend for what we call the 3 Rs:  Rest, Relax & Recharge.  Yesterday was rainy and overcast, but today the sky was blue and there was a nice breeze to temper the heat and humidity.  We took advantage of the great weather and took the dogs for an early morning boat ride.

I had the opportunity to get started on my next camp quilt project.  I like to keep separate projects at the camp so I'm not constantly hauling stuff to and fro.  This project has been in the hopper far too long and I'm excited to finally get started!

The quilt is called Paisley Parade and features Minick and Simpson's Prairie Paisley line of fabric for Moda.  Published in 2008, the quilt was designed by Laurie Simpson.  I snagged one of the last remaining quilt kits produced by Lake St. Mercantile Quilt Shop in conjunction with the pattern.

Paisley Parade pushes my buttons on several levels.  It's a center medallion quilt, with multiple borders featuring pieced designs.  It's in one of my favorite colorways:  red, white and blue.  And the biggest drool factor may be the paisley-themed fabric line.  I'm always a sucker for paisley!

The first border is made from half-square triangles.  It didn't take long to stitch up 28 of them using my trusty Singer Model 15 treadle. 

The completed HSTs ready to be joined together to form border #1.  The blue paisley fabric in the background is the center medallion.  Next week I should be able to finish borders 1 & 2 and start piecing border #3.  I'll be looking forward to it all week!

Treadling Toward Retirement?

Several years ago my DH decided we could never afford to retire, so he wished to begin enjoying his retirement now, "one weekend at a time".  We searched for almost two years to find just the right place to escape the stresses of work and urban life, preferably on or very near the water.  We finally found just the right place and have been enjoying One Weekend At A Time whenever the opportunity presents itself.

My Dear Husband created this sign to announce his retirement policy.

Although I enjoy all the outdoor activities our weekend home has to offer, I can't escape from the stresses of work without some quilting, too!  To that end, I duly installed one of my favorite sewing machines at the camp:

This beauty is a Singer Model 15 treadle.  Collectors call the decals on this machine "Sphinx" or "Memphis".  I can't say exactly how old this machine is, but I don't think she was heavily used, as her decals are in beautiful condition.  Yes, I know it is possible to assign a date to Singer machines based on their serial number.  However, those numbers are only a guide to the general timeframe a machine was manufactured, and should only be used as a guide.  Besides, the machine is at the camp and I'm at home - I don't have the serial number written down anywhere.

The Singer Model 15 is a terrific workhorse sewing machine.  It sews a fantastic straight stitch and has a huge bobbin capacity.  These old machines were made to last and since they don't have plastic parts and electronics, they are simple to maintain.  My particular model only has a knob for stitch length adjustment, but later models have a stitch length adjustment lever and can also sew in reverse.  

The most distinctive characteristic of the Model 15 is the placement of the tension adjustment knob on the back of the machine.  If you find a machine with this type of tension adjustment, chances are it is a Model 15 or a Japanese copy of a Model 15.  Between Singer's manufacture and all the Japanese clones that appeared after WWII, the Model 15 was in production for a long time.  If you are looking for a reliable straight-stitch machine without investing an arm and a leg, you won't go wrong with a Model 15 or a clone.

Using a treadle sewing machine is pretty simple.  It might take a little practice to get the hang of it, but the treadle motion quickly becomes second nature.  The added exercise is a nice plus, too.  Living on the Gulf Coast - where power failures can happen with even a mild thunderstorm - it's also very convenient to have an electricity-free sewing machine! 

The Age of the Interwebs has made it easy to find antique and vintage sewing machine resources.  If you are interested in using a people-powered sewing machine, I recommend the Treadle On website as a great starting point.  It's a down-to-earth website loaded with practical information presented in a straightforward, but fond and often humorous way.  Treadle On!