Jennie on Saturday

[Granny Penny]

For anyone interested in patchwork and quilting Jennie did say on one of the programmes today that she would demonstrate one of the quilting shapes (I'm sure I could have put that better) on Saturday. I think it will be, Be Creative with Simplicity at either 2.00 p.m. or 6.00 p.m.

[JAMMY]

Thanks Penny, I'm just getting interested in my sewing again after many years. Mostly as my husband bought me an embellisher machine for my birthday and have now ordered a sewing machine from C&C as my machine is 29 years old, desperately needs a service (last service was more than 15 years ago!!!) and only has a straight and zigzag stitch, so when I saw the Cooper 27 at under £70 on Monday I decided to go for it. My husband did give me a frown! That's the trouble with spending money after a birthday.

[Granny Penny]

I have the Cooper 27 Jammy. I bought it when they first brought it out and so far it has been a good little workhorse. What does your embellisher machine do? The only other larger bit of equipment I have bought is my baby cricut which, as well as card cutting, I have used to cut applique shapes for sewing - only hearts so far :grin:

I have bought (fairly cheap, this one!) an ordinary rotary cutter to help with straight lines and am looking for a quilting/patchwork ruler. At the moment I think the biggest I can afford may be best but I am not at all sure.

I can't believe the information we can now get from the internet. I want to make a baby quilt and there was an excellent four-part tutorial on You Tube. I would love to see more workshops on C & C with Jennie or others taking us on a "from the basics" journey. There are a lot of gagets for sale in the sewing area of C & C and I think they would increase sales by increasing our ability! You may have seen my post recently to say that I have sold my first sewing item - an apron for a little one. If you go to my blog (below) and click on the "Some of My Sewing Projects" to the right, you can see what I have been up to so far. I would love to see your projects when your sewing machine arrives.

[JAMMY]

Hi Penny,
Have looked at your blog and liking what I see. My sewing machine arrived this morning and loving it, even takes my metalic threads. I would like to try free embroidery (know I need a seperate foot for this) but my old machine would not have been suitable. As to what I will make I have no idea yet! I make a lot for charity (eg summer fetes and christmas bazaars) so hope to run up some cheap and easy projects with some of the scraps in my garage.

My embellisher is like needlefelting on steroids!!! Imagine a sewing machine without thread or bobin and 12 needles (with barbs) instead of one. I am having so much fun, I have attached some photos of what I have made so far (have had it for a week) and in the following post as it appears I can only attach 5 photos at a time. The purses (one of them has our church logo on) and pencil case have had the zip felted in as well as felting the seams. It gives such a great finish and so quick. I don't think the machine was cheap, but as a birthday present I'm not asking! I saw it on C&C several months back and it sold out before the hour was out and I told my husband about it. Not a word since then, but he remembered.


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[JAMMY]

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[Susan W]

They are lovely Jammy, I particularly like the felt bowls.

[LynneH]

That sounds like an interesting machine. What a fab pressie. Your projects all look great but the elephant is my favourite. It's so cute!

[Granny Penny]

I love the idea of needlefelting on steroids Jammy :grin: I'm with Susan on the bowls - they are like a cross between sewing and works of art. I have never got round to felting ... so many crafts, so little time!

I am hoping to be able to be able to do all I want to at the moment quilting wise with the Cooper 27 and will be interested to see how you get on with your freehand embroidery. I am absolutely stunned by some of the "sewing" machines available - the specialist quilting and embroidery ones are amazing. I am just making things I like the look of at the moment.

Susan, Lynne, do you both sew? I did so much when I was young - the 60's! and also for my daughter until the vogue for "labels" caught on, it's lovely to get back to it now.

[LynneH]

I used to sew years ago, Granny Penny. I made myself a few posh dresses for Mess functions. The problem was I had a small waist and big bum. So although I had no problems with the sewing, I wasn't very good at adjusting/fitting things. I did have one of those dress form things but I didn't really get on with it.

I always wanted to make a posh ball gown in DPM (camouflage) just for a laugh. Actually I could get away with it now in the Officers' Mess.

My sewing machine was bought when we were first married so it's over 20 years old now and would probably need replacing if I was to get into it again.