FO: Maya Blouse

Remember this? I shared it last week, with the promise of some modeled shots.

I was tempted to do more jumping shots, but not this time (but it will happen again, because it was fun).

Instead, you get a goofy smile.
My sister always gets the best of me.

Again, this is New Look pattern 6010, in Leah Duncan's Maya fabric.

I highly recommend this pattern, and intend to make a couple of others (although short sleeves might be best for Houston climate).

I haven't shared this here yet, but I purchased a new sewing machine at Quiltcon. It's the Janome 8900QCP, and they were selling classroom units for a steal. So, I did (thanks to my sweet husband).

The new machine is 99% of the reason I can now successfully sew buttonholes.

I don't know what my problem was on the old machine, but a buttonhole was never successfully produced.

Now, I don't have to avoid them!

I'm pleased with this blouse, and even wore it this weekend to my grandmother's 88th birthday celebration.

When asked how old she felt, she replied, "I feel like a question mark."
She's still got spunk.

Trying to get it right

After the HMQG retreat, I stumbled upon a sewing machine foot I didn't know I owned. A guild member mentioned her 1/4" foot, and said it came with the quilting foot she'd purchased for her Janome. Since I had a Janome and a quilting foot, I realized I most likely had the same foot.
Eureka! I found it, and immediately thought about how much easier it would make my life.
I attached it and went to town on sewing my second block for BaMS.

I finished, and put it with my first block to mail, when I realized that the new block was most definitely smaller than the first.

How could this be? The 1/4" foot should have made me more precise, and I was stumped.

Then I remembered that the needle position should have been adjusted to 4.0 (vs. the default 3.5) before proceeding.

OOPS.

This week, I made a third postage stamp block, and now I can send Aylin her blocks.

And now I'll remember to adjust the needle each time I turn on the machine.

The too small block will go in my scrap bin. I'm sure I'll find a fun use for it!

I started a Wiksten tank this weekend, and almost finished. I'll share it soon!

What's in the box?

A blogibirthday post is still forthcoming, but in the meantime, I have something to show you.

Olias is very curious about what this box has inside. He respectfully requests that I remove the contents quickly, so he and Bella can conquer the box.

I obliged. Meet my new sewing machine, a Janome DC 2010. It sews like a dream.

I felt like it was time for a step up in my sewing tools, and I'm glad I made the investment. I was out of town part of the weekend for a family funeral, but I worked a few hours yesterday to finish the top of my table runner.

I've got a plan for the back, and hope to work on it some this week.