stich, rip, stitch, rip, stitch, rip, stitch, rip, spend,

and so on....


grr.... Been having quite a few problems quilting this quilt that I pieced together last year!

This is Miss Nina (the Bernina) She is a bit of a temperamental old gal and likes everything "just so", she is a bit stuck in her ways and doesn't like to try anything new.  Forget any thread that isn't Guttermans and don't even bother loading ANY of the other bobbins, except the one being used right now. (a real pita). And she HATES you playing with the tension dial, just as well that the tension doesn't usually need to be adjusted!

She is a very rare "flatbed" model (so the repair man told me) with most Berninas of that vintage being "free arm" models.  Now, I can see the advantage of having a free arm model, but what would have been the advantage of having a flat bed model??  A curtain maker rather than repairer/dressmaker????  Anyone know?? 

My Mum acquired her from the Sewing Machine shop in Shepherds Bush (which is still there btw, just a stones throw away from all the fabric delights on Goldhawk Rd) 
Sadly she has know idea what she paid for it, but as we were pretty brassic (poor) when I was a kid, it must have been fairly reasonable in todays money.  She said it was slightly over her budget but she still felt that she had got a really good bargain.

now where was I...


I basted the quilt at the weekend.  I had two DH free evenings this week, so |I could sew without anyone moaning about 1) the noise of the machine and 2) "are you going to talk to me tonight"
 However, I have spent every night sewing & then unpicking :(
I just could not get the tension sorted.  Tried new needles, cleaning, oiling, tension dial tweaking everything the books (or mr google) recommends. (and Miss Nina Hates)

So today, I called into my local quilt shop & asked for their advice.  They were really helpful and came to the conclusion that it was probably the blue fabric causing most of the problems.  I bought it in Fabricland purely for the colour.  The label said "composition unknown" but after washing it was apparent it was quite synthetic.  It is also heavier than the quilting cottons with a very close weave.

So the advice was to switch to a blue thread (I was using a bright yellow for contrast)  and try much smaller needle size.  I have to rebaste the quilt after all the sewing & unpicking, but once I get started I will let you know how I get on.

On my way out I spotted this amazing quilt/hanging... (sorry I didn't get an actual photo)

It is from this book by Janet Clare
Which I added to my shopping bag alongside the said blue thread. (just don't tell DH!)

I have my Mum's 60th next year and the designs are also something that the MIL would really love.  It would be so easy to make the little characters look just like the Grandkids. My mind is already whirring away with ideas.

There are some book reviews here and here. (where I "borrowed" the above photos from)

the morning-after-the-night-before make

I have found the perfect hangover cure! 

This was a kit that I bought at last years Knitting & Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace.  I think it was bought from The Bramble Patch. 

The boys were at Nanny's as we had been to a wedding the day before.  So whilst Mr Tam laid in bed nursing his hangover (or in his words "catching-up" on his sleep from a heavy working week lol) I got stuck into this project.  T'was pretty easy and was finished before the boys returned home after having lunch at Nanny's.

and The Little Man was very pleased with the end result!  Even managed to find a posh trouser hanger to hang it up with!

I have just spotted the panel on ebay if anyone was interested - it is from a range called "kate & nate". (there is also a girl version)

Introducing Mr Monkey

Poor old Mr Monkey! He has just had to undergo some major surgery! I have had to sew most of his leg seams back up! Not sure if it is a result of my workmanship or the fact that he is often caught up in a tug-o-war between the Little Man & the Little Fella! Both of whom want to take him to bed!

As I was sewing him up , I remembered that I had never introduced him to any of you!

I made Mr Monkey around this time last year, but was dissapointed in how he turned out! I made him all on the machine, except his mouth. I am not happy with his mouth but have not yet been able to find the sock-monkey-makers secret to a perfect mouth! I also used some verrrrry stretchy socks, which made a very large sock monkey and took nearly a whole cushion worth of stuffing! At one point I was going to bin him, but then the Little Man spotted him & spent the rest of the day dragging him around, so Mr Monkey ended up moving in to the Tamster household!

I have been meaning to make another, but need to find the secret to a perfect pout first! (anyone wanna share lol ???)