Getting there

It was another busy evening working on TBs and mowing. I have these six reaady for the final stitching.

These five are ready to have the self-binding pressed.

I had counted the number of lining pieces wrong so I was one short. I have plenty of that gold sampler print so this will be a quick fix.

My goal for tonight and saturday is to get all the thread beds finished including the snaps on the other 22 in that pile. Sunday is going to be dedicated to making scissor pouches. I will be interested to see how many I can get done in one day. Have a great weekend!

TBs are coming together!

I am making steady progress on this set of 12 TBs. The interfaced linings are trimmed, and the zipper pockets are all assembled and trimmed. Next was to start taping the quilting lines on the lining pieces and positioning them on the outside fabric.

After I quilt them, I stitch on the flannel. Here are four units ready for the self-binding to be pressed.

Here is my pile of pieces and parts. I have three more linings and outside fabrics to stack, mark then quilt. When this step is done, I will pair the unit up with a pocket.

Good progress on the table gift TBs

Last evening I got the fleece interfacing pressed on to the twelve lining pieces. These still need trimmed to size.

I pressed all the pieces for the zipper pouches then started sewing them together. Nine are sewn together. They still need trimmed to size.

Here are the last three zipper pouches that need sewn together. That won't take long.

Lots of finishing and cutting

I finished sewing the self-binding on the cute pig TBs and PBs. I put the TBs in the pile with the other TBs that need snaps.

After I was done with finishing those, I started cutting out the TBs I want to use as table gifts. I don't remember where I bought this clearance fabric at online, but I had in mind to use it for making TBs and PBs for a cross stitch retreat the moment I saw it. I bought 6 yards because I thought people would like it.

I cut out 12 to start with and I still have 3 1/2 yards of fabric left. I am going to use the gold colored sampler fabric for the inside lining and zipper pocket lining. I had bought a bolt of it last year for $4.00 a yard! I have all the pieces and parts staged for these first 12 TBs.

It dawned on me last evening that I should have kept a record of the color of the zippers I use for TBs and PBs. Sometimes it is hard to tell what color I need to order. Well, I started that! I had bought a couple of colors in this latest order just to see what the color they were  in person. I still need to label some of the colors, but this will help a lot in the future. I am still missing a few colors which I will add eventually.

Big progress on PBs and TBs

My order from Wawak arrived on Saturday morning so I could get to finishing up TBs and PBs. I used 29 of the zippers this weekend. I wasn't feeling very good on Saturday so I really had to push myself.  I did go out and trim the yard and did some laundry too. I wasn't up to mowing.

My goal was to get all of these TBs and PBs that I staged on this table done. I almost did.

I got these seven project bags done.

These 18 thread beds are done except for the snaps. The Hulk will be busy tonight!

I have four more project bags almost done. I only need to stitch the self binding down.

And once these four thread beds are then stitched then everything I had on the table will be completed.  

I only have three weeks left so I will spend that time getting the PBs and TBs made for my table gifts then work on the scissor pouches. Table gifts are what you give the other stitches sitting at your table. It is not a requirement, but it sure breaks the ice when you are sitting with strangers! It is fun to see how creative people are with their table gifts.

TBs done, zippers ordered, ballot, and weekend plans

I finally got those six TBs done. Two of them had lime green zippers so I added the same color for the snaps.  Every time I use The Hulk to install snaps I am so glad I made the investment!  He makes it so easy!

I need to get the making of TBs, PBs, and the scissor pouches wrapped up in the next few weeks. I ordered the zippers I needed for theses TBs and PBs plus a few more so I could get the bulk discount yesterday morning. They are scheduled to arrive Saturday so this weekend I hope to get many of these finished. I did what work I could on some of them like pressing the zipper pieces to size and quilting the lining. Once I get the zippers so I can construct the zipper pockets, they will finish quickly.

I needed more iron-on fleece pieces for PBs so I got those cut.

The very first thing I did after work was fill out my ballot. It is ready to go! I will hand deliver it to the BOE today which is just a couple miles down the road from where I work.

This weekend I need to cut out the fabric for the PBs and TBs that will be table gifts for the cross stitch retreat I am going to. I also want to put a dent in getting the scissor pouches made. I will be spending my weekend in the sewing studio! Have a great weekend!

Cutting vinyl and 6 more TBs almost done

While the light was good when I got home, I cut up the rest of the vinyl I had for PB fronts and for TB zipper pockets. This ought to last me a few days.

I finished up the zipper pockets for the found scrap fabric and now all six TBs are ready for the final stitching of the self-binding.

A mixed bag of activities

Wednesday is recycling and trash day, so I took care of that last evening. I taped the quilting lines on the four thread beds of the current group I am work on,  got one quilted and the flannel sewn on

A lady I work with wanted a baby quilt for a friend, so I got the label made and sewn on. It will be delivered today.

I dug out my yarn winder and wound that beautiful natural colored wool yarn into a ball. I now have the knitting needles with a counter ready to go.

This is what I am going to make. The pattern said it needed 145 yards of yarn and the skein band said it was 200 yards. Let's hope I can get this made for this winter! LOL!!

Last thing I did was look for the scrap of one of the batiks I was using for the current group of thread beds. I had thought I had cut the fabric for the zipper pockets, but I can't find those. I finally found the scrap that was left (I had already cut the lining pieces). I can easily get the two pocket pieces cut from this scrap.

A small bit of progress and s cool skein of yarn

I didn't get much done last evening. I was tired from driving on Sunday and Monday - an hour each way to the birthday party then Monday to an eye doctor appointment. All I managed to get done was the zipper pocket for four more TBs. I am using up small pieces of batiks for the lining on these.

One of the guys at work had gone to Virigina over the weekend and brought me back a present! It is a beautiful skein of wool yarn! It is the natural color of the sheep and it is a warm deep chocolate brown color. I want to knit a neck warmer out of it. I just have to find a pattern.

More TBs and PBs, cake, and a bolt

It was another busy weekend. I managed to get twelve TBs completed and 8 PBs.

Sunday I went to a birthday party for a family member at a Mexican restaurant. The food was good and the company was great!

One of the guys picked up some of the bolts that flew off the bridge as the steel was getting chopped up for recycling and removal. When the shear would cut the steel especially at the knuckles where the steel was bolted together, the bolts would snap off the fly all over the place. He gave me one as a souvenir.

A back up for the back up

I have a Pfaff 1475CD sewing machine. I bought it in 1993 I think. Over the years I decided to buy another one as a backup. I took it with me to California when I went to my brother's house a couple years ago. He and his wife needed cushions and pillows made for their breakfast nook. I left it in CA because I need to go back to make drapes. I came across an excellent opportunity to get another 1475 at a really good price so I bought it. I had emailed the seller about how the machine would be packed.  They had a 100% rating on eBay.  The machine arrived in just a couple of days. It was packed very well!

Lots of bubble wrap and some Styrofoam packing! I got everything out of the box and was excited to plug it in. It works like it is brand new! Woohoo!

I still need to go thru the rest of the stuff it came with.

I also got my order from 123stitch. I saw the model for this chart in April when I was at Hobby House Needleworks, but they didn't have any in stock. I finally just ordered it.   I saw that 123stitch had sewing machine needles on sale and I needed some so I bought a few packs of those.

I have been cleaning my space at work so I can take my backup machine and sew at lunch. Call me crazy! LOL!! Have a great weekend!