Sewing Nights, Week Two & Three

The Giant Sewing Room is very slowly evolving, one week at a time.  This is what it looked like after the first week, and we've tweaked a couple things since then.

Corrin absolutely loves Sewing Nights.  The first week, she cut out her first bag.  The second week, she finished her first bag.  The third week, she cut out 3 more bags and started sewing them together!  What a go-getter!  

Rayona is one of our beginners.  Unfortunately, we're not terribly organized with pre-planned projects for the beginners, but as long as there are a couple of pros on hand, they're welcome to bring whatever they want, and we'll help them along.  I knew it might be a bit quiet for a while, so I brought my wedding photo book for her to look at.  There were 3 of us sewing around the same table, and Rayona was playing musical chairs and stealing the chair of whoever got up to iron, or cut.  But really, sewing nights are about spending time together first, and getting sewing done second.  We definitely get lots of visiting done!

I managed to mix up the squares for boy quilt #1, and I got all the squares sewn together.

Here is a sneak peek, with one strip of the border fabric.  The next 3 will go very fast.  Assembling and layering quilts is the easy part.  The time-consuming part is cutting and making the squares.  Especially when you think big like me and have to make 80 squares for 4 quilts!  But I'm having a blast, and I can't wait to finish these off and start on the girl quilts!

While I was picking out penguin quilt colours, and Rayona and Avril both got distracted helping me, Corrin kept working, head down, until she finished her first bag!  Look at the clock on the wall.  It's 10:15 pm.  Past my bedtime!  We have way too much fun.

This is the lining of the bag.  Totally reversible.  It looks awesome!  I love it, Corrin, and I am so proud of you!  Can you teach me your work ethic?  

On week three, I brought a new addition to the Giant Basement Sewing Room.  One of our upholstery customers is getting her sofa recovered, and she just happened to have this immaculate industrial Singer lying around, needing a good home.

We took it in, got it serviced, and are trading it with her towards the cost of her sofa upholstery.  In turn, I'm going to buy it from the upholstery shop, one little paycheque at a time.  Isn't it gorgeous?  Immaculate, I tell you.  Not a scratch.

I tried it out by sewing my borders to my quilt.  I love it!  I swear, once you go industrial, you can't go back.  The foot pedal has its own personality, as every industrial does, but they all sew so fast, so straight, so strong.  I am in love.  We have the best customers.  

Here is Corrin, making amazing progress on her bags.  Way to go, girl!  And Avril decided to have some pity on one of mom's old machines, which has probably never been serviced.  She cleaned out the fluff and tried to get her to shape up.  Remind me to pay you for your services!  You spent a good hour sweet-talking that poor thing, and I think she listened!

After a week off, I can't wait to do it again and see what we all can accomplish!  I am so thankful for my sewing buddies.  :)