Rules for Success

 

 

 

Psssst....pass it on!  The quilting auntie, Nyla wasn't joking. 
"DON'T SEW OVER PINS!!"

 

I'm nothing if not obedient....pretty much...I never met a rule I didn't like. 
It's in my DNA.  

 

But, sometimes accidents happen and then you lose
a day-and-a-half of quilting. 

Millie, as in "Thoroughly Modern...."

EEEEKKKKKK!!!  Error "E3".  I tried everything I knew
to clear the error...which really means
turn off the machine, then turn it back on
and then search the internet.

The internet consensus was "...take it in..."

Of course it is late on a Saturday afternoon.  In KY A LOT of businesses are closed on Sunday.

 Miss Ellie, the matriarch.

 

 

 

Sunday afternoon/evening was spent setting up Miss Ellie. (Isn't it the truth...the older generation always comes to the rescue.)

I'm ashamed to say it has been so long since I've sewn on Miss Ellie that I needed to oil her up....and I've forgotten.... 

How to oil
How to thread
How to wind a bobbin
How to insert the bobbin
....which way does the needle go on a Featherweight?

Watched a bunch of videos from The Featherweight Shop.  (Can't say enough good things about these people.  A lot of their content is free.)

 

So, now Miss Ellie is all set up and ready to go.  This evening, after work, I can start sewing again.  I'll call English's Sew and Vac and make an appointment....they are way out in Reidland...a 20-min drive! (That's a long way in these parts.)

And, speaking of the Quilting Auntie...more than one Super Bowl Sunday was spent visiting quilt shops while the men-folk watched their game.....HERE  February 8, 2016.  How I miss her.  And she was the ultimate rule-follower.

Me, Auntie and Gail

Don't Wear White Shoes After Labor Day

Labor Day is the official (unofficial?) end of summer.  School for my g-sons starts tomorrow; football season has started
(Boy has it ever....I'm the foober* driver for Wednesdays and Thursdays...) and I think we can squeeze in one more quick trip.....

Tomorrow Miss Ellie and I will board a Southwest flight for Nashville.  Off to see my baby sister and the B-I-L in their new home "in town." (My dad is now living with them instead of next door.)  She asked me to bring my sewing machine to make curtains for their new home.

"Really, sis?" 

Miss Ellie.  1953 Featherweight.

     But, this is what we do for those we love. 






      So last night I gave Miss Ellie a spa night and she is now all de-fuzed,
      oiled up and shined up... ready for her trip. (I will admit, I did have to watch a few 
      video's from The Featherweight Shop on how to un-assemble and 
      reassemble a Featherweight.)



     (I have flown with Miss Ellie in the past....no one blinks.  
     She may get swabbed for bomb dust.)







I will get my quilting fix, however.... their new house is only a few miles from Hancock's of Paducah! 

 And The National Quilt Museum.

My April 2019 Kentucky Trip.
The official sendoff...breakfast at Cracker Barrel

*foober = football Uber

Hand Me That Screwdriver, Please.

April & Carmen Henry of April's 1930s are touring the U.S. this summer and helping Featherweight owners keep their babies in tip top shape.

My friend, Robin, and I spent a couple of days in San Diego with the Henrys and a dozen of our closest friends (who we'd never met before this class...)

First, we took the machines all apart.  The face plates, the belts, the bottoms, the bobbin housing.  It was a bit intimidating and made me somewhat nervous... a lot of little screws and pieces.

 But, we had a good teacher... and a few helpers

And in the end, we were all successful in getting the machines back together again.   A lot cleaner and purring like kittens.

My Miss Ellie
1951

P.S.  My sister gave me her mother-in-laws old sewing machine.  It is not a singer, but it is vintage... I think about 1970s era.  I'm going to try out my new skills on it... :-)