Oh the Irony!

After finally getting the 3 Blocks applique project (previous post) assembled, the reality that my main sewing/applique machine Bernina 550 needed service hit. The service icon had been up for several weeks, and DH was making a trip near the sewing machine shop, so off it went. Ouch on the estimate. 

The applique project has been pin-basted and carefully folded up awaiting the return of the 550, practice with the Bernina Stitch Regulator, and finishing. Out from the closet came the old retreat machine, my beloved Bernina 1130 that is fortunately in good working order, and I've plowed through an entire rail fence top with no problems.

Then… piecing machine #2 had a broken tension spring. It’s an older Juki straight stitch. I don’t know how long I had been sewing on it with a broken spring. Lately I’d been hemming repurposed fabric for pillow covers and flat cloths. After a lengthy search online, hopefully the right tension spring ($10) has been located and ordered – cheaper than another $$ trip to the repair shop – which is option #2 if my repair doesn’t work.

And the walking foot on my studio machine, mainly used for binding, heavy work and piecing battings, had a break on the plastic casing of the walking foot that holds the quilting bar. This machine is sometimes called into service for heavy duty quilting. DH found a plastic washer and epoxy and glued it on the outside of the casing to hold the guide foot in place. The cost of a new walking foot for this older Janome wasn't justified as the walking foot works fine and the guide bar is only in occasional use.

Think positive thoughts for my old Bernina and the serger.

Three Blocks

 Three blocks from McKenna Ryan's "Nesting" pattern, fused but not yet stitched.

I waited until the block patterns were on sale, and it took me over a year to actually start on the blocks. Once I got going, it was assembled in about a week. The blocks were enlarged from 8" to 12", and even so some pieces were very small. I'd done one of McKenna's patterns many years ago. I changed up the colors quite a bit - had to have a red boot, re-drew the birds to look like goldfinches, and the wheelbarrow needed to be blue like ours. The center block watering can has a scrolling design, and I'll probably enhance the design and give it more weight with thread as it looks washed out.