I’m writing this a week before the Bloggerati retreat – and it could well be the last Bloggerati retreat. I feel sad should this be the case, as the retreat has given me the chance to meet like-minded people and to establish some firm friendships. The impending trip also brings a few feelings of guilt – for not having blogged so much in the past year: I have thrown myself into the running, and also into getting things done for the community groups I am involved in. I have managed some sewing amongst all this, and I hope that I will make the time to write some blogs about my sewing efforts in the near future.
October sees me firmly in rehearsal season; our local theatre group has welcomed new members – and they are also getting stuck in, which is great from my point of view, because not only am I secretary, treasurer and vice-chair, but somehow I’m also down as wardrobe mistress / costumes too. I’m thinking that some more significant creations will make it on stage this year, as we will be doing Peter Pan – so OBVIOUSLY quilts are needed on the beds! Yes, quilts, for the beds, for one or maybe two scenes…! In the meantime I needed to work out how to create some mermaid costumes.
Anyway – I digress. A week to go and I’m already preparing for the retreat. If truth be told, I think I’m pretty much prepared now. I’ve decided on the main project that I’ll be taking with me – a foundation paper pieced BOM that I subscribed to 3 or 4 years ago… Foundation Paper Piecing is not my favourite form of patchwork, but it does produce some stunning designs, so I think that I should give it a bit more of a chance. As it was a BOM I have all the fabric and the patterns ready. In the next day or two I will look again at the patterns, and make any necessary notes about fabric placement, and I’ll also consider the colour of the thread I’ll use. I’m starting to think about a couple of smaller projects – like a different FPP project (a single block), and a hand sewing project or two – maybe adding buttons to the current BOM, or some cross stitch or other embroidery – it is always good to have something else to go to; after all, a change is as good as a rest.
As I go along to a Project Linus day once a month, I’ve become quite adept at sorting out my ‘workshop’ bag – the one in which I carry the rulers, scissors, rotary cutter, travel iron, threads and machine essentials. I like using a travel iron – having it close to hand for small blocks saves on heating up a standard iron and means less getting up and down. One other essential will be a sewing light; I’ve got to an age where I need glasses when sewing – I already wear contact lenses to correct short sight, and a really good light for hand sewing is essential. The workshop bag will be packed on Wednesday or Thursday – and one other essential item must not be forgotten – a notebook / notepad; you never know when you are going to get inspiration or an idea that you want to try. On the same day I will get my machine ready. This involves removing the knee lift (not so easy) and lifting the machine out from the drop-in box. Then it will have a good clean. I regularly remove the needle plate and bobbin case to give the insides a good clean, but just before packing the machine away for the retreat, I will give it some special attention. This special attention includes taking the bottom off the machine and cleaning it out. Here I should issue a word of CAUTION and / or WARNING: I attended a workshop some 15 years ago called “Do you know your sewing machine?” and during it we were guided in removing the bottom of the machine and cleaning it out. It is not something I would recommend doing willy-nilly (as it were).
Once the machine has been cleaned, it is packed away, complete with foot pedal and power lead, and then I’ll be just about ready for the adventure and fun to begin! One thing that is comforting to see at the retreat is the footwear…sometimes it is slippers, sometimes just socks – I found it reassuring that I wasn’t the only one who can’t sew in shoes (although I have been getting more use to it due to necessity).
If you have the chance to go on a retreat, I can highly recommend it. The chance to sit and sew all day, and have tea, coffee, snacks and meals provided is a real treat; it also provides a chance to make new friends and learn new things.
And a good time was had by all Chris! Nice to know I’m not the only one in ‘socks’ to machine sew (and iron!) and think I’ll check out the ‘bottom’ of my machine too!
Looking forward to it too…don’t forget the all important cushion