Tag: sewing

  • My cross stitch story

    I honestly can’t remember when I started cross-stitching—or even what my very first project was. The first one I do remember was “Jesus Knocking at the Door,” a Bucilla kit (from back in the 1990’s). I was probably 17 or 18 when I got the kit, finished it around age 19 or 20, and gave it to my mom. It’s hanging on her wall in her bedroom, still in a cheap frame with no glass, yellowed from age, and has knots all over the back. I had masking tape around the edges. It was done by a teenager who had no idea what she was doing… but I loved it.

    Years later, I picked it back up again. Around 2014 or 2015, I bought a tiger kit for my son, who loved tigers at the time. It was on black Aida, and I learned the hard way that stitching on black fabric is not my happy place. It ended up in the UFO pile, where it still lives today.

    Then one day, I stumbled onto a Flosstube video—Sarah from A Stitchin’ Mommy—and my mind was blown. I had no idea you could buy fabric in colors other than white or black. I didn’t know there were different types of fabric besides Aida. I didn’t know you could buy patterns without buying a kit, choose your own floss, stitch without a hoop or frame, or even dye your own fabric. My whole world opened up.

    Like many, I got a little carried away. I found Heaven and Earth Designs, fell in love with massive full-coverage pieces, and bought way too many giant projects I’ll never finish in my lifetime (Boho Seaside Max Color, I’m looking at you). I eventually realized that smaller patterns can bring me just as much joy—and can actually get finished.

    Today, I have close to (or maybe more than) 100 cross-stitch projects in progress, plus a dresser full of floss, fabric, and patterns. I don’t finish often, but I love every stitch. Some pieces I’ve given away, some I’ve kept but haven’t framed yet, and some… well, they’re still in time-out. Right now I’m taking a break to focus on a wedding quilt, but I still think about cross-stitch every single day. And someday soon, I’ll be back at it—probably starting another project I don’t need, but can’t resist.

  • Sewing Machine Update

    Good news—my sewing machine is back in working order! 🎉

    But here comes the next problem… I’ve got just one more block left, and I’m completely out of batting. Since this is quilt-as-you-go, I sew the fabric directly onto a batting square for each block. I thought I cut enough, but apparently I can’t count. 🤦 So now I’ll have to dig around for something else to use—because I’m definitely not buying a whole bag of batting just for one block!

    And if that wasn’t enough, I almost had another mess with fabric too. After cutting everything, I was left with just one lonely strip. 😅

  • When Your Sewing Machine Turns on You

    Some days, quilting is peaceful. Not really, but I like to pretend. (Zazu likes to “help.” Zephyr needs all of my attention. And Zuri runs in and out of the craft room hissing at everyone.) Other days, your sewing machine decides to betray you in the middle of a project.

    I was sewing along on my QAYG (quilt as you go) quilt blocks that I’ve been working on for weeks. Everything was good. Or as good as can be when you’re me. Then, out of nowhere, I had a brilliant idea to see what would happen if I lowered the feed dogs.

    Now look, I’ve been using sewing machines off and on for my whole life. I know how to use them and what the different things do, but I’m in no way a professional. Also, I forget things very easily. Often. Always.

    Lowering the feed dogs did not do what I was hoping, so I raised them back up. And now my machine is broken. The thread is catching on that little arm that hangs out over the top of the bobbin case. I have removed all thread, removed the bobbin case, cleaned everything out, replaced everything, and it is still catching.

    I have another sewing machine. I love my other sewing machine. It’s my favorite. But it’s broken too. My daughter-in-law and I decided to take it apart one day to “fix it,” and now it just gives me an error message when I plug it in. I think I know what’s wrong with it, but fixing it is going to involve taking it apart again. So I bought this new machine instead! Yep… now I have two broken machines.

    And here’s the problem — this isn’t just any quilt. It’s a wedding gift for my son, and the wedding is in 62 days. Every block I finish is one step closer to getting it done on time, and every day I’m stuck without a working machine is a day I’m falling behind. Because I’m a stitchin’ hot mess. I’m sitting here with two broken sewing machines and a deadline breathing down my neck.