Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend

My sewing machine died.  I brought it to the repair shop earlier this year because the presser foot wasn't holding pressure.  When I picked it up, they said she was getting old and wearing out and that further repairs weren't worth the price.  I was not going to take this information easily.  I looked up repair videos on the net and found that I could replace the brushes in the motor and give it new life.  I was able to make that repair and decided to her it as an exclusively for quilting.  But, a few months later, it just stopped.  I have power to the machine, all the buttons work, but the needle won't move.  It's not the foot pedal (I tried one from a friend's similar machine).  It's some sort of electrical problem that I don't know how to diagnose without schematics.  So, I mourned and went on a search.  Meet my new (to me) machine:  The Pfaff 1471!  She is replacing the Pfaff 1371 that I bought in (approximately) 1984.  I think this machine is vintage 1985 and runs great!  Sewing on this does indeed confirm that my older machine was wearing out.  Fabric feeds much nicer through this new machine and the tension is much more reliable.  And there are twice as many decorative stitches; I'm excited to make some new napkins with some fancy decoration.  So, RIP my old buddy and welcome to my new loyal friend.

These are some of the last pieces completed on the old Pfaff:  

Another of Grammy's UFOs completed. This is the last of the drunkard's path quilts.

And the last one pieced.  The one pictured with the new machine is the first of the 9-patch grammy quilts that I've started quilting.  That makes 3 complete, 1 being quilted and 5 more to quilt.  My goal is still to have all 9 quilts completed by the beginning of July, 2019.  I figure if I can get 1 completed per month, I can meet this goal.

About 6 months ago, a friend told me her daughter was expecting their first grandchild and asked if I might be interested in making a baby quilt for the baby and new parents.  Of course I said yes - I hardly need an excuse to make a quilt.  When I asked her to tell me about her daughter and her likes, she said she loves bright colors and suggested purple, fuscia and turquoise.  I wanted to do something fun and thought diamonds fit that description.  This quilt was way out of my comfort zone because other than the color and shape of the piece, I had no clear vision of what the quilt would look like.  I took the pieces and fabric to a quilt retreat with the goal of having the top completed by the end of the weekend.  With no idea how to start, a friend suggested to start by sewing pieces together.  I sewed larger diamonds of 4 pieces then started putting them on the design wall.  After a few hours and a lot of rearranging, I ended up with this scrappy star, which I love.  I used left-over pieces for the back and a wild Kaffe fabric that was a perfect match.  My friend was thrilled with the results and it was finished just a week after Rosa was born.

My consultant on the quilt was a guild member and friend, Jenny, who often works in bright, cheery fabrics.  She let me raid her stash for additional fabrics and helped me with the lay-out and courage to play with the design.  Once on the design wall, everybody at the retreat assumed the quilt was Jenny's and not mine.  I still have some of the fabric left over and may make a more tame version of the quilt using grey or black with the bold colors.  But, not now.  There are too many other things screaming for my attention.

 Like knitting ...

These socks were supposed to be for me, but my measurements were off and they're a bit too small, so they will be a  stocking stuffers for my daughter.  And this scarf is from some the yarn my friend left me before her move.  I love the color!

 And cross stitch ...

 The cat is the label for the cat quilt I talked about a few posts ago.  The monogram was supposed to be for the pin cushion, but I misread the directions and it's WAY too big.  So, the hummingbird was stitched for a small pin cushion that is part of an antique sewing box that will be a later project.  The bird is less than 2" across.  I'll figure out something to do with the G later.




















And applique ...



I've completed two more Ladies of the Sea blocks.  I have 5 more blocks and 2 border panels to complete the applique.  I think I can have the top done in 2019!
























I've worked on a lot since my last entry.  I NEVER get bored!