I Cannot Sew Without ___.

What can you not sew without?

You can sew the guided quarter inch foot in this picture.

Gosh, my list is long but here are a few things I truly cannot live without (or maybe, things that I just really like!).

A seam guide. I use several different methods depending on what machine I’m sewing on. Recently, I purchased a guided quarter inch foot for my Featherweight. To be honest, it’s taking some getting used to. I think I like it….?

This is a close-up of the Guided Quarter Inch Foot that I have been using on my featherweight. I purchased it here. 

On other machines I use my “purple bumper”. Think back to the last time you went bowling and had to beg your husband to let you put up the bumpers. It kept you out of the gutters then, and it’ll keep you on the straight and narrow in your sewing as well.

If I can’t find my trusty “purple bumper” I’ll reach for painters tape. I stack several layers so it creates a lip that my fabric can push against. It’s cheap, works great, and you probably have some around your house.

These are my “purple bumpers.” They come 5 to a package, and one lasts quite awhile. I’m actually not sure that I have ever replaced my first one. They are available for purchase here.

The key to each of these guides is that you have an accurate way to check your quarter inch, or scant quarter inch, seam. After all, the guide will only work correctly if it is placed in the correct spot. My favorite tool for this is the guide that has a spot for your needle to slide into. If that is not an option you could carefully use a ruler.

This is an example of a seam guide with a needle slot. It is available here.

Another thing I cannot seem to sew without are small snips, or scissors. Again, it depends on where I’m sewing for what I reach for. I’ll share pictures of my top three choices. I like snips that are small, easy to use, and super sharp!

To be honest, I’m pretty set as long as I have good snips and a true quarter inch guide. Of course, I could get into the fact that I’m a ruler snob and I only like Creative Grid rulers or that Aurifil Thread in any light grey shade is always on my machine.  Technically I could get by with other options but my complaining might be a little ridiculous.  This post is about what I cannot live without, so I’m trying to keep it narrowed down to the absolute necessities.

Customer quilt quilted using Just Roses and backed with Shannon Cuddle.

The last thing that I cannot, will not, without a doubt won’t do is quilt without taking my right shoe off. I can leave the left shoe on— that one isn’t a problem— but there is no possibility of me sewing with my right shoe still attached to my foot.

If you have ever been in Quilter’s Hideaway, our quilt shop, you have probably heard “Where is my shoe?”, “Just a second, I’m looking for my shoe.” or some version of this more than once. Anyone else? I cannot be the only single-shoed quilter.

Customer quilt quilted using Flowing Water pattern.

Anyways, I would love to hear what you cannot quilt without.

See you at the machine,

Care

… Have you found my shoe yet?

Moving, Changing, Growing

It has been awhile since a blog made a presence. I blame… life.  Every time you think things are about to level out, something else comes up. I think there will just always be something. Recently, I was in a good friends wedding the weekend before we were supposed to be selling our house and buying another house which all was happening about a week before a huge program change at Quilter’s Hideaway. I’ve always said I would rather be busy than bored… 🙂

Customer quilt quilted with Fireworks.

A couple Friday’s ago, when we were about to leave for my friend’s Rehearsal Dinner, Dalton and I received word that our seller was still lacking some paperwork and our move was postponed. I think it probably worked out for the better looking back. I was able to spend more time at Quilter’s Hideaway working on Millie and preparing for our biggest challenge yet—changing to a new point of sale system.  We were also able to rest up more following the wedding before moving.

Customer quilt quilted with Damask.

Our move ended up being postponed one week, two weeks before we are/were to go live with our new system. The move happened fairly uneventfully and we are now full focus on our new system.

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Side note: This move symbolized so much! We were sad to leave behind certain things at our old house—a shed my brother-in-laws, father-in-law, and husband built, our “first” house as a married couple, the place we introduced our youngest puppy to our family.  However, this move meant that QH was successful! (AMAZING) It meant that it was time to move closer to the shop and shorten my over-an-hour drive to work every day.  All our hard work was paying off, and I could not be more thankful for YOUR support.

 

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If you have entered the shop in the last week, you noticed it was a little chaotic.

Customer quilt quilted with Rapunzel. 

When we opened the shop our goal was to merely open. The details were all slightly foggy. We were learning as we went and the Point Of Sale system we started with wasn’t handling our growth well. There were components of it that I loved, but mostly it was a pain. We have been blessed with incredible growth, and with that, we are going through a few growing pains.

Customer quilt quilted with Fireworks.

We made the decision to change our Point of Sale system, which also means we are changing our website, newsletter process, and so much more. It is exciting. It is nerve-wracking. It is a learning experience. It might be a little stressful.

 

I have had more than one bowl of ice cream this past week; whatever it takes, right?

Customer quilt quilted with Meandering.

To say I am excited for this new system is an understatement.  Do I like this conversion process? Absolutely not. Is the timing a little iffy? You bet.  But I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.  I also feel like it is time to make a change now, while we are still young. We just celebrated our 1.5 birthday, after all.

Customer quilt quilted with Meandering Circles.

Stick around.  The next few weeks are going to be pretty awesome. I might have an ice cream party at my new house if we all make it through this.

 

See you at the machine,

Care