2025 Deliveries & Stash Acquisitions

[Serinde]

Oh, yes, we do want to see!

[Mabel Figworthy]

My Christmas present from DH, delivered in a variety of boxes (including one that usually holds a 6V coil) and wrappings until I had them all - a lovely collection of Madeira silks.

[Serinde]

Gorgeous!!

[richardandtracy]

Definitely.

My stash contribution this holiday was 38 DMC skeins of colours from my Gryff project Tracy has 'borrowed' and I have given up hoping she'll replace.

Regards,

Richard

[Mabel Figworthy]

[Steam.Jo]

Another new toy:



Its a Bernina Bernette Funlock B44 Overlocker which means it was designed in Switzerland and made in Taiwan. The machine seems to be of a reasonable build quality but the tools it comes with under the cover:



The term Cheap and nasty comes to mind Disappointing as they had gone to the effort of making what seems to be a nice tray to store them in.

The pack of 12 spools of thread etc, came free with it as well as a 10 year guarantee

They promised that it would come fully threaded. I naively assumed that meant it would have a reel on the end of each thread but no just 6 inches of loose tails from when they tested it. They suggest tying the new spools on the the tails and pulling the threads through.

Jo

[Mabel Figworthy]

A bit disingenuous in their phrasing.... Enjoy the new toy!

[Steam.Jo]

I am pleased they left the tails as I have managed to pull through the new threads without having to read all about how to thread the difficult bits:



What I have always loved about my Bernina is how easy it is to thread and this Bernette (designed by Bernina) is actually not difficult to thread from scratch.

It can sew with four threads... I am learning all about this The far left thread is the one that does the running stitching of the seam you see. The next does a second running stitch to make the seam stronger and the other two are the "loopers". The loopers use up thread like it is going out of fashion

The manual is very good but I have decided to thread the machine up with some of my older 120 thread to learn about how it works (colour matched to the tension runs so I can see which does what ). I expect to remove the left hand (second) needle and aim to sew with three threads, the two loopers being whatever colour 5000m polyester thread I find at a good price.

Jo

[richardandtracy]

That looks like quite a machine. Hope it does all you want.
I have enough problems with one needle and one thread in a sewing machine. I can barely imagine the fun to be had with four.

Regards,

Richard

[Serinde]

Well out of my league!! But you go girl.

[Steam.Jo]

To keep me from getting bored I have just acquired another King Sized Quilt to make:



It is a historical American piece, the original of which has a documented history. What I like about it is it has lots of interesting blocks to make

Jo

[Serinde]

Calling Dr Tiny Cat! Steam.Jo is clinically insane! Stat!

[Mabel Figworthy]

Calling Dr Tiny Cat! Steam.Jo is clinically insane! Stat!

It does look a very interesting one, lots of variety to keep the enthusiasm going!

[richardandtracy]

Interesting and somewhat daunting, to be honest.

Which decade do you expect to finish it in? Looks like it will take time, and lots of it.

Regards,

Richard

[Steam.Jo]

Which decade do you expect to finish it in? Looks like it will take time, and lots of it.

Nothing like as much time as the HAED and it does not have to be done under a magnifier all the time in single strands. The aim is we have to live long enough to complete all of our stash so I am going to live until I am about 300

What I like about quilting is that it is lots of little pretty bits that you can do separately and then after you can put them together to make a whole - if you want many people just do the patchwork.


It is an Aussie kit from ThreadBear who specialise in historical pieces and it came with masses of fabric. There are 100 fat 1/16ths labelled as the "starter set" for this piece, what I need to work out is what the rest is for. All the pictures of the finished quilt seems to have a very light white/cream background colour but this kit came with a much darker more yellow cream. I might have to buy the original book in which there is a photo of the original to find out if it should be the lighter shade or was actually much darker.

Jo

[Serinde]

It is going to be a lot of fun and beautiful, no matter how it's finished.

[Serinde]

Sale on DMC threads at Paper & String: https://www.paper-and-string.net/embroidery-dmc-mouline

[Mabel Figworthy]

Oooh, and just when I need to buy the stranded cottons for my Silk Shading module.....

[richardandtracy]

That's a good price. Shame I have all but 1 that I need at the moment, and postage makes it not worth it.

Regards,

Richard

[Mabel Figworthy]

Stranded cottons for a new line of kits (bottom row) and the shades needed to complete my project box for the Silk Shading module: