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I have been sewing a lot since Christmas because of my NEW sewing machine. My old one was like the Model T Ford of sewing machines (ok, not really), but I was always having issues with it. Forest obviously noticed my frequent freak-out moments mid-sewing and got tired of hearing me moan about my difficulties.

I'm sure my mom will appreciate the decrease in phone calls to her asking "how do I thread this machine again?" or " the bobbin is jammed, what do I do?" My mom gave me this machine years ago and I have been so grateful to have it, but as a beginner this new machine is much more suited to my abilities.

I made this apron:


And am working on these place mats:

Both are from Amy Butler's In Stitches. I really love that book - my goal is to make everything in it.

I've also been playing around with the special stitches on my machine. My favorite part is that I can unplug the foot peddle and all I have to do is push a button and it sews magically on it's own. So Fancy.

Posted by raya 12:37 PM  

15 comments:

At January 9, 2008 1:50 PM Stef said...

LOVE the place mats!!

 
At January 9, 2008 2:27 PM Alishia said...

Wait, it's got a wireless foot pedal. THAT is fancy!

 
At January 9, 2008 2:29 PM raya said...

Well not exactly - if you want to use the foot peddle you have to plug it in, but it also has a "push button start" (like the new BMWs) where you just press that and it starts sewing...no foot required. And it has speed control! It's more like a computer than a sewing machine, really.

 
At January 9, 2008 5:22 PM Making it Lovely said...

Ooh, is that a stem design for the placemat stitching? It's so cute!

 
At January 9, 2008 6:00 PM Glassford Hill Girl said...

The stiching on the last placemat (the leaves) is really beautiful! Makes me want a new fancier sewing machine! :)

 
At January 9, 2008 7:28 PM Erin said...

I love my old school sewing machine. But, wow, the fancy stitches... That looks great. Nice, nice!

 
At January 10, 2008 7:51 AM kristin said...

having those stitch options would make it so i couldn't get any project done... ever. but i would be having fun using all of them! beautiful work.

 
At January 10, 2008 8:53 AM Alexis said...

I love those place mats and I firmly believe that you can never have too many aprons. Well done!
:)

 
At January 10, 2008 11:37 AM KT said...

Awesome! It is so fun to see you sewing and becoming so good at it!
Mom

 
At January 14, 2008 5:23 PM Bob said...

HI,
I'm in search for my first sewing machine, can you tell me the name/model of your sewing machine that did these stiches (blue stiches on the placemats)?

 
At January 14, 2008 5:29 PM raya said...

Bob,

My sewing machine is a Brother Model XR-7700. We got it at Costco and it is really affordable for a first machine.

 
At January 16, 2008 6:46 PM C said...

Obviously I need to learn to sew like yesterday.

 
At January 17, 2008 10:53 AM Patricia Scarpin said...

This is so beautiful - I love place mats but not always find nice ones to buy.
I wish I knew how to sew.

Your blog is stunning!

 
At February 7, 2008 11:03 AM HAIVAN said...

I received a brother es2000 and has issue now...the thread won't catch on the the fabric at all, as i sew the fabric goes through and the needle goes up and down on it...but the thread never ends up sewing the fabric.

do you know what i'm doing wrong?
anyone ?

 
At May 24, 2008 7:51 PM Bob said...

Hi again,

Your machine Brother Model XR-7700 ... does it have a ruffler (to sew fabric into ruffles) attachment ?!?!

 

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