Little Susie Homemaker

Tag: sewing

  • New Sewing Machine!

    My hubby got me a new sewing machine as a Christmas present. I got a Bernina 590 which includes the machine embroidery attachment. Wow, is it ever nice!!!

    I learned to sew as a kid. Both grandma’s and my mom sewed. There were home economics classes in both jr. high and high school that included sewing.

    For quite awhile, I used my grandma’s old (from the 1980’s, not an antique, although are the 80’s now considered old enough??) Singer sewing machine. I was told when I got it that something needed to be fixed, but it was going to cost more to fix than the machine was worth. Based on that, I never expected much from the machine and only used it for very basic sewing.

    Being retired, I wanted to be able to do more and better work. I took the machine mastery 101 class where I learned how to properly use the machine, learned all the various features and learned how to service the machine. I had no idea I had to oil the machine EVERY TIME I use it!!!! HOLY COW, no wonder that Singer wasn’t fabulous, I was being very neglectful.

    In January was the two-day embroidery mastery class. I immediately came home and did 4 small embroidery projects! (Literally before dinner that night.)

    Here are some of the things I have worked on since getting my new machine.

    I made a fall table runner. I’m a sucker for anything autumn or pumpkin themed. I machine quilted this one using templates I had at home. For anyone who hasn’t machine quilting, there is a learning curve! This project is at the start of my curve.

    With the embroidery machine attachment, I wanted to give that a try and make a few things. There are tea towels for my college roommate’s birthday, my mom and one for our travel trailer.

    The above snowman quilt was a combination of quilt piecing with hand applique. This is a primitive pattern my mom gave me years ago. She bought everything needed but never got around to making it. She gave it to me and I’ve been intimidated for years to even try it. This winter, I got tired of setting it aside whenever I went through my stash and decided it was time to no longer be intimidated. Mom was VERY patient in waiting for this.

    I did NOT make the above stuff, but from the first time I stepped into the quilt shop where my machine was purchased, I saw these little mini quilts and knew I needed to make them. (Again, I’m a sucker for anything autumn or pumpkin themed). Turns out these are part of a 6 month program thru Kimberbell and are the mini quilts for September and November 2024. I ended up buying the patterns and made my own.

    They don’t look exactly the same, but I love how they turned out. This was a fun project that combined both quilting and embroidery. I mostly used fabrics I already had in my stash rather than exactly what the project called for.

    This past year, we had a fireplace insert installed to have a heat source should the power go out. (There have been some silly, dumb reasons (i.e., criminals being ridiculous) in our area that made us decide we needed to be prepared.) After the first few fires of carrying wood in a few pieces at a time, my husband asked me to make him a firewood sling. Without a pattern and using material and old jeans I had on hand, I made him one. I love how it turned out and so does he!

    And finally, with Joann Fabric going out of business, I have stopped in a few times and picked up some mini templates which came with 6 patterns included. I decided to make a couple of placemats using a ‘flying geese’ pattern for our travel trailer. I used leftover fabric from the trailer makeover I did a couple years ago.

    I’m enjoying my new sewing machine. I have a feeling it will not get quite as much use in warmer month. But, it will definitely get a LOT of use in the coming years!

  • Reusable Paper Towels

    *Updated 1/9/2025 – scroll to the end for the update

    In previous posts, I’ve mentioned that I am looking for ways to avoid the stores (thus saving money). I was at a garden show earlier in 2024 and one of the vendors was selling reusable paper towels. The vendor’s stuff was cute, but she didn’t have the color scheme I was looking for.

    I looked over the product she was selling and thought “this is easy enough that I can make it myself.” It was flannel cut into 10×10 squares and the edges were ‘hemmed’.

    I went to the fabric store and purchased a yard each of flannel that was more to the colors/patterns that suited me.

    I received a new sewing machine for Christmas and was thrilled that it has the stitching ability to do the ‘hemming’ that I wanted to do. (It’s an overlock stitch)

    Like all projects, I procrastinated in getting started, but mostly that was due to waiting for the new sewing machine.

    I started by washing the material, so any shrinking was done before cutting and stitching. I then cut the material into 10″ by 10″ squares. (The material was folded so I was cutting more than 1 square at once)

    I then starting using the overlock stitch on my machine to finish them up. Sewing squares isn’t all that exciting. LOL

    Once I got all four sides done, I snipped any threads, and cut off the rounded corners with a good paid or scissors.

    I was careful around the corners to not cut the overlock stitch. I do expect a bit of fraying on those corners when I wash it. But, it’ll do that until the material falls off to the stitch and then it should stop.

    To roll them up like paper towels, I rolled one, then overlapped it with the next and kept rolling. It turns out 5 yards of material end up making about 3 rolls of ‘paper towels’. (I have scrap material left, but none that was large enough for paper towel size.)

    But they are finished and I love how they turned out!

    One less thing to have to buy at the store!

    Update: 1/9/2025 – My husband and I took a vacation on the other side of the mountains and the town has an adorable little store that we love to stop in at. Low and behold, they had some reuseable paper towels – 12 for $36.95!!!! :O This was definitely a cost savings.

    These are just like I made, but plain. I spent about $25 for 5 yards of material and used a spool of thread I already had at home. I ended up with about 55 ‘paper towels’. Holy cost savings Batman!!!!