Presser Feet and Pouches

This week’s podcast episode is part 1 of an overview of sewing machine presser feet. When I am not doing an interview, the topic of the podcast tends to be whatever happens to be relevant in my sewing life, and this week, it was presser feet. I’ll have to finish part 2 in a future episode, and presser feet for sergers and coverstitch machines will be yet another episode.

I stopped in at the quilt store yesterday morning and discovered that not only do they sell used machines, sometimes they have used furniture for sale. I was able to get a table for my 880 that fits perfectly into the existing space, at a deep discount off what something similar would cost me if I purchased new. I can sew with the machine set up in my current table, but I can’t use the knee lift and that was beginning to drive me nuts. Buying used is a win-win for everyone.

Our renters have a thriving graphic design business. They occasionally run into bottlenecks getting items produced locally. A few weeks ago, they mentioned they were thinking about buying an embroidery machine. I asked Tera if she were willing to sell hers—and she was—so I put them in touch with her. It sounds like they’ll be buying her machine and learning to embroider some of their own merchandise.

I didn’t have a lot of time to sew yesterday, but I managed to knock out a quilted pouch:

This is one of the Rosie Caldwell quilted pouches. I quilt a piece of yardage—usually a remnant—on the Q20, then cut out the pattern pieces. That is far easier than quilting each individual pattern piece. These will probably end up at market in September. If I keep a stack of them by the machine, I can knock them out in odd bits of time here and there.

I am itching to start some bag patterns. I really want to get back to the Haralson bag, and I have plans for a few others. I ordered more of that bonded nylon from Wonderground Fabrics because I love the way it feels. I adore this print:

This will probably end up being some kind of fun sewing accessories bag for me. I’m looking at the byAnnie A Place for Everything pattern.

We are still getting periodic rain showers. I’m hoping to work in the garden this morning before the predicted thunderstorms come in this afternoon. I know the grass will need to be cut again soon and I am sure the weeds are coming back with a vengeance.

The chicks are running fearlessly all over the coop and chicken yard—the husband observed that they are probably a lot more resilient than we think. They get right in there with the crowd when I toss out scratch grains.