Mostly quilting. I started out with the idea of doing a video of quilting with rulers on a vintage machine. I got lots of stuff to put a video together, but this new tablet/laptop with windows 8 has been very difficult to put together with learning a new editing program and I haven't yet got it put together. I also made video of machine darning, the one mending chore I actually enjoy (because it's so like free motion embroidery or quilting).
This was a pretty huge hole that will never rip again. No patch to peel off. The heavy build up of thread is stiffer than the surrounding area but the recipient was willing to trade that for keeping her favorite jeans. I've seen a business online that repairs holes on jeans with thread build up matching the warp/weft of the original fabric. It would be fun to be that good at it.
Playing with the quilting and darning reminded me that the 201's foot pedal sticks after extended use. I intend to buy a new pedal one day but decided to just switch out the feet with a machine I'll probably never use. It's an old vibrating shuttle that works ok but isn't much joy to use- it is a pretty cute 3/4 size to look at with it's old godzilla finish. 6 minutes of work and the pedals were switched. No further issues with the 201 if I want to zone and free motion for hours. It would race and have to be pumped to stop. The 201 is one fast machine anyway and racing is a pretty furious pace. I have been enjoying having speed control again.
A warning to anyone who uses vintage machines and free motion quilts: you may not want to use a supreme slider on an antique finish. The gold crackling above was the result of having the slider on for about 1/2 hour of quilting on a little orphan block. I noticed the paint flecks on the back of the slider before I saw the deck and was very shocked. This machine isn't most prized for it's paint and so I wasn't devastated but I won't be using the slider again on it. I have not had any problem using the slider with newer machines. Truthfully, I have never felt that it made that great a difference in ease. When I have quilt dragging I stop and redistribute the weight and I'm happy. Likewise I have found the quilting gloves unnecessary. Sometimes if my hands are dry and the fingertips don't seem to have enough grip I use a little of that stuff office people use to moisten fingertips for handling paper- works great and doesn't affect the fabric. God knows this technique might not be great for a quilt that will never be washed and is being entered into some world class shows and then museum bound. But for my purposes, it works great.
The last thing I have to say is goodbye to one slightly brutal winter. I've lived on the shore of Delaware for 25 years now and never seen ice on the beach before. It was cool for the experience, now I'm more than ready to move on to blossoms and the beginnings of fresh local produce. Yay, spring!
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