Thursday, November 15, 2012

Really Random Thursday

Mostly I have a lot of show-and-tell today, and not of my own doing. First up - Weekender Bags have been popping up all over - each so unique and wonderful. I don't tire of seeing new ones and hearing about people's experiences making them. It's just one of those "I have to tell about it" sewing encounters.

No sooner had I shipped off my Hurricane Sandy Help! blocks, but Jennifer was showing off completed quilt tops with my blocks in them! Here's one - I think she has three tops done already, with more blocks pouring in every day.
Hurricane Sandy Relief Quilt #2

And over in the Picture-Perfect Polaroid Block Swap group, there's a couple of new projects definitely worth sharing. A Baby Name Book by gillianms85, based on this tutorial
Baby name book for Nate 
N is for Narwhal 

And a really fun Polaroid Quilt by busybeequilts. Jamie Lee blogs at busy bee quilts, and posted about the quilt here. Did you see the personalization in the bottom right corner? I just love the blue, gray, & green together.
Polaroid Quilt

Polaroid Quilt

Ok, this is truly random. I took a pic of hubby's Christmas cactus yesterday. It is just starting to bloom! Two years ago, hubby mysteriously got a green thumb as far as Christmas cacti are concerned. Serious. This one has 40+ buds on it, and they are just starting to open up. I inspect it every morning as I open the front drapes, and I admit, it just makes me happy.


Just a reminder that there's a Tuesday at the Table giveaway going on hosted by Knotted Thread! Link up a table-related post any day in November, and you have a chance to win a stack of fat-quarters of Joel Dewberry's new Notting Hill! The whole collection can also be found in the Knotted Thread shop.

Lastly, I have a survey of sorts. When I spent some time with the staff at my local sewing machine shop recently, the clerk did some test sewing, and rather than plug in my foot pedal, she sewed by pushing a button right on the front of my machine. I knew that button was there (it functions as long as you don't plug the foot pedal in), but had never seriously tried it. She says that's all she uses. And that's all I've used in the 10 days since. So I'm curious . . . do you sew using a foot pedal, a knee bar, or a button on your machine? Do tell. (Poll available on A Quilter's Table facebook page.)

Linking up with Really Random Thursday.

26 comments:

  1. I saw that baby book on Flickr. It is so creative and cute!

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  2. Mine is blooming like crazy too!

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  3. I got a new sewing machine, and I'm trying to make myself use the button on the machine. It kind of takes a mental shift!

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  4. That Polaroid quilt is awesome!

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  5. Those weekenders ARE amazing. I keep thinking I should try another one--scrappy this time. But then I regain my sanity...

    I haven't done anything with my polaroid blocks yet but those are some great ideas.

    And what a beautiful Christmas cactus!

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  6. Loved your post today. I will make the Weekender Bag one day LOLLL it's such a lovely bag and the Christmas cactus brings back so many good memories. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. I love looking at all the Weekenders... They all turn out so different! It's fun to see everyone's unique take on the same pattern :)

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  8. How do you control the speed of sewing with the button? It seems to me that you'd need a third hand? Which sometimes seems like a good idea anyway....

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  9. so many cute projects! I love that Christmas cactus especially, my first time seeing one

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  10. My machine doesn't have a button, but I'm also wondering how you control the speed. I do have a knee bar but it only controls the foot going up and down, and I never have used it, mostly because I started using my machine on a round table, so couldn't, and just got into the habit of not using it. So it's all foot pedal for me :-).

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  11. So many fabulous things! I don't have a button or a bar so it is the good old foot pedal for me! If I had a button, I think I would use that though....

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  12. I have the option to use the push button, or the foot pedal - I also have a knee lift, which I'm ashamed to say I've never tried. I've also never tried sewing with the push button. I feel like I stop a lot when I'm sewing, to remove pins or whatever, that I don't kow if I'd like it.

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  13. I am like Heather, I have the button and knee lever too and never tried either. I will give the button a try and see how I like it.

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  14. Love the Weekenders, and everything else! I need to get some gray and tackle my Polaroid blocks. I think I'm avoiding trimming them... I also have push-button start, but I only use it when sewing long, boring overlock seams on clothing. I stop too often when sewing normally - tried it with the button, but I prefer stopping with my foot. However, I have a knee-presser-foot-lift, and I use that constantly.

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  15. Great round up of makes!

    I have a button but don't use it because I find it difficult to precision stop with it, which I need on bags and clothes, although when piecing I can see it would be useful

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  16. There's a TON of awesome stuff on this post! But my favourite is the green thumb. I have murdered an actual needs-no-attention cactus in my time - those fuchsia buds are just gorgeous!

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  17. I always use my button press function when I FMQ!! I don't have to worry about varying speeds as I just set it to the one I can cope with and away I go! Very handy!

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  18. Love all of those weekenders, and the baby book from the polaroid blocks is so cute!

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  19. I can't grow Christmas Cactus to save my soul!! My mother had the best luck. Her's looked just like your husband's. I recently finished making my version of your Mod Angles Cushion & I love it and your tutorial!! Might make a couple for my daughter for Christmas, guess I better get started. Thanks for the tut.

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  20. Jennifer is fabulous with her organization and sewing skills. It's amazing to see all the blocks coming together. I've loved seeing all the weekender bags appearing.....very inspiring!

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  21. I honestly had no interest in making a weekender as I lose steam fast with projects like that, but after seeing all of these cute QAYG ones...I am now adding it to the list.

    And as far as how I sew--I'm a foot pedal girl. I never even think of pressing a button to do it and I'm not sure if I'd like it or not...

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  22. I love seeing everyones Weekenders, they are all so different!
    That baby name book is amazing, what a clever idea to use the polaroid blocks for it.
    I've been looking at a new machine and it has the button feature. I think it would be handy for me with a toddler who keeps pressing the pedal!

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  23. I usually have both hands on the material I am sewing, so even if I had a button....I don't think I could sew straight using it. Well...I can't sew straight anyways! Ha

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  24. First things first..Love you blog.. Next, I have a button on my machine and use it all the time. There is a speed control also. I use my foot pedal when I need both hands, like curved piecing and corners on binding. I find I can sew much longer, no crampng in my leg.

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