Thrift Store Score

I stopped in at one of the thrift stores in town yesterday and found a few goodies. I like this particular store because they always have a lot of sewing supplies. A Singer 404 in a case was sitting on the floor with a note that said “Runs, but needs tension adjusted,” and I was so very tempted—cleaning and adjusting the tension mechanisms on those machines is not difficult—but I have to be realistic about the time I have to spend on machines. I am re-homing one next week and I need to keep the inventory moving out, not in.

However, in a dresser drawer marked “Quilt Projects,” I found a bag of twenty-four 9-1/2” churn dash blocks:

They are red with low-volume cream/white print backgrounds. Just add sashing and a border and poof!—instant quilt top! I might make one additional block so I can do a 5 x 5 setting. Margaret would be proud of me, I think. She often bought half-finished projects at Mennonite relief sales, finished them, then donated the quilt back to the sale the following year.

I also picked up an Easy Circle Cut Ruler and a thimble. I am irrationally happy about finding that thimble. I have such fat, stubby fingers that most thimbles are too small. I have one that fits me perfectly and I am so afraid I am going to lose it. Now I have two.

I popped in to Kalispell Copy—they are the big construction plan copy center in town—to have the Style Arc Kristin Dress pattern printed on their large-format printer. I’ll trace my pattern from that master.

I chose this dress pattern because it’s very similar to a couple of favorite dresses I bought at H&M, of all places. I especially like that this pattern has bust darts, which hopefully will give the dress some shape and help to keep it from looking like a potato sack on me. One of the three lengths of ponte knit in the stash—navy blue, periwinkle blue, and hot pink—will be perfect. Before I use one of them, though, I’ll make up a muslin to make sure I like the fit. This pattern also has gotten good reviews on the Sewing Pattern Review website. That’s a great resource. I read the reviews and noted that everyone who made this dress said the zipper was optional, so I will try it without.

Before leaving town, I stopped at Joann Fabrics (of course) and discovered that a big chunk of their juvenile knit fabrics have been put on clearance. New fabrics are starting to arrive. I talked to Deb, the manager, while she was cutting my fabric, and mentioned that I was teaching serger classes in town. She said that was great because people don’t often know how to sew with knit fabrics, which is why so many of them end up in the clearance bin. Now I feel like I am on a mission.

I also dropped the construction company tax information off at the accountant’s office. That item has been (happily) crossed off the list. I am a favorite client of our accountant, because I don’t leave things until the last minute. I think the only time we’ve had to file an extension was when I was in the hospital in February 2018.

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When I got home from town, I finished quilting the center of the tumbler quilt. Now it’s on to the border, although I need to make up a quilt sandwich and test the motif I plan to use so I can make sure the spacing is correct.

I may take a break from quilting next week, after I finish my homework for Ruler Club. That won’t take long. But then I need to give some attention to the pile of projects that need to be machine appliquéd. I’ll set up the Janome to do those so they can move forward. I’m trying to batch my projects for efficiency. I’ll probably cut sashings and borders for a couple of quilts, as I might as well do those together, too.