Sewing Through September Day 5, 6, and 7

 

First project completed!
Candy Corn Bag Project Bag

Today, September 7, is my momma's birthday. She's been in Heaven for 27 years now. I still miss her very much. She taught me to sew when I was quite young. I learned by helping her. She used to make clothes for me and for herself. She also sewed many things for the home. She didn't even need a pattern for lots of things. I didn't inherit that from her. I did inherit a deep enjoyment of sewing. So much so, that I used the money I received for high school graduation to buy a Kenmore sewing machine that I used for many years. I couldn't imagine moving out of my mom's house and not having a sewing machine!

That old machine finally gave out after many years. I've replaced it twice since then. My current machine, a Singer One, has served me since 2012. I actually thought it was newer than that. I looked back and found the blog post sharing the purchase. 

While sewing the candy corn bag this weekend, I spent most of the "sewing" time fighting with the machine. I took it to the repairman last winter due to issues with the tension. It wasn't much better when I got it back. I haven't sewn since I started working full-time at the clinic back in February. Now I remember why. It's just so frustrating!

What? The one activity that has always felt like I was born to do it—frustrating? How can that be? I'll tell you.

Sewing is frustrating when your machine skips stitches, has poor tension that cannot be fixed no matter what videos, the manual and even Chat GPT tell me. The computer part seems to be messed up, too. The last time I tried to use it, the zigzag wouldn't work. Now, I have to put the needle all the way to the right to be near the center. 

So, here I am at the beginning of Sewing Through September with a malfunctioning machine. I'm just not sure what I'm going to do.

I know that I need to replace it. I need something that is going to last. I need something that I'm not going to need to replace. What that is going to be or what it's going to cost, I don't know. I want something with metal parts that can stitch straight and do zigzag. I don't need anything fancy just functional.

I finished the first project, my candy corn bag today. I'm not sure what I'm going to do tomorrow since the machine is on the blink. 

Any suggestions for a good machine that's going to last me many years?

Any suggestions for a sewing project that doesn't need a machine?

Help wanted. 

~smile~

Be blessed, 

Laura 

Still determined to sew through September!

Related posts:

Sewing Challenge Month at Harvest Lane Cottage

Thrifty Things Lately at Harvest Lane Cottage #151

Shocking Information About the Bread we Buy!

 I am shocked!

Maybe I live under a rock, but I had no idea that the breads sold in the grocery store nearly all have unsafe levels of glyphosate. Any is unsafe, actually. This includes those that are labeled organic.  Glyphosate is in Round Up weed killer by Monsanto. 

Please watch this video. My bread habit is going to change. I'm going to research flours and grains next. Then, I'm going to make my own bread when we want it. I'm shocked.

According to this video, Bayer, owner of Monsanto, has paid out nearly 100,000 lawsuits to people who developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Gasp!

My son received that diagnosis earlier this year. He has had radiation treatment and is currently in remission. 

Please watch this video or look into for yourselves.

Concerned,

Laura

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

 

Tiger and Penny
Yes, Tiger outweighs Penny!

Enjoy these last few days of summer.

I'll be inside in the air conditioning!

But, I've not always had it. Here's how we coped. 

We've been hovering at or above 100 degrees for too long!

I'll be back with a Sewing Through September update on Monday. Most of my sewing time today was spent fighting with the tension on my sewing machine. 

Happy Labor Day

weekend!

Laura

Sewing Through September Day 4

The chaos I call sewing.

Here I am. Day four. Once again, it was hard to come and get started. I knew that I needed this challenge. I also needed the accountability that you ladies so sweetly give me. Tonight, I started tired and with a headache. But. I. Shall.

I read the pattern again and noticed that I needed two more pieces of fusible woven interfacing. I cut those first. Then, I began fusing the interfacing. Well, I would have if I had not just plugged in the iron but turned it on! Did I mention that I don't think well with a headache?

The pretty cutting picture

Keeping it real in the cottage. This is thrifty. Someday, maybe God will provide a new one. For now, this still works. Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!

I've been making little tiny bits of progress this week. I'm using my minutes. I get a three day weekend for Labor Day. Thank you, Jesus!  I plan to finish this bag by Monday evening. I cannot wait to show you (and me) the finished bag! I may need to check my yarn stash for something fallish!

Tonight, I finished cutting the fusible interfacings and applied them. I used fusible fleece for the outer fabric and woven fusible interfacing for the lining. 

I'm a barefoot sewist. I like to feel the pedal to have better control of my stitching. 

I now have the casing for the cord basted on the top. It's way past my bedtime. I'm done for now. I'll be back with my Saturday progress.

I'm getting excited.

Enjoy your weekend!

God bless us one and all in Jesus' name!

Laura

Sewing Through September

Sewing Through September Day 3

 

I had helpers tonight. Here's Paco. He likes to sit in his basket on my desk. He's my son's dog, but he comes to visit often. He is like velcro with his grammy. 

Tonight Penny kept watch from the floor. Maybe she thought I had food? She often sits in my old office chair that I keep just for her. 

Oh my, if not for y'all, I would not have made progress with my project bag tonight. I woke up really early—about 4:15 this morning. I had to get up by 5:00, so I went ahead and climbed out of bed. It's 8:41 now. I'm having trouble keeping my eyes open. 

Tonight, I knew I didn't have much energy. I cut the fusible fleece and the contrast piece for the outside of the bag. Then, I went through my supplies for a drawstring. I didn't have to search far.

This is what I'm using for the drawstring. I was going to cut it tonight, but I couldn't decide if I wanted to use black or white. I'll wait until the rest of the bag is finished. It's a set of replacement drawstrings for hoodies or pants. It was $6.99 on Amazon, and I've already used it for some projects. It works great. It has a bit of stretch. It came with a marvelous threader. I'll show it in one of my future posts. Best of all, I had it on hand. Everything has been from my stash of sewing supplies. 

I didn't do much tonight, but I did something. I'm going to count that as a win.

A couple of final thoughts...

And as you can see, I didn't give up chocolate today!

Day three down. I'm getting ready for bed!

Blessings,

Laura

Sewing Through September

*Amazon affiliate links included

Sewing Through September Day 2

 

I've made a start! First of all, I've chosen the pattern that I'm going to use. It's called The Fundamental Drawstring Bag from Cocotte & Co  Creations. It is a pattern that I purchased on Etsy. I made it once before in a smaller size. This time, I'm going to make the large size. 

I won't be sharing the details of the measurements and such since it is a pattern for purchase. It's well worth the money, because it also has a complete video showing how to make it. 

The candy corn will be the outer fabric. I love candy corn! The pumpkin color will be the lining. The white on white will be the contrast color that holds the drawstring. 

I'm rather proud of myself. I chose to start work shortly after supper, and I followed through. The thrill of creation was increased, because I utilized two Christmas gifts that weren't out of their packaging yet. First, I used Christmas money from my dad to purchase an Oliso wool pressing pad. Thanks Dad! Second, I used my new Oliso mini project iron that my son gave me. Thanks son! Swoon! I love them both. The quality is amazing and made pressing a cinch with a little spray of Mary Ellen's Best Press. 

I'm looking forward to my next mini sewing session tomorrow evening!

Would you like to sew through September with me?

Leave me a comment! If I have enough interest, perhaps I will figure out how to link the projects.

Be blessed, 

Laura

Sewing Through September

Amazon affiliate links included

Sewing Through September

It started out with a great plan. Sew every day in September. After all , September is National Sewing Month in the United States. Last night, I went through my fabric and found some pretty fabric that has candy corn on it. I'm planning to make a project bag with it. It's laying on my table already to iron and cut.

Then, today happened. I came home from work exhausted.  ,

Truthfully,  that's not unusual for me. When I got home, my husband told me that he needed a button sewn on tonight before his  business meeting. So, I'm taking the easy way tonight. I'm counting on sewing on his button as my sewing for the first of September.

Kind of pathetic, I know.

Do you ever come up with plans? Then you find yourself just too tired to do them, that's me tonight.Tell me about how you handle things like this. Do you push through?Do you give yourself a break? I'm just wondering

I'll do my best post again tomorrow. 

Do you sew?

Do you want to join me?