Well I've decided to practice making my cat a small quilt before I tackle the window coverings. After cutting out the squares I pinned the first row together then (to my horror) To save my life I could'nt get the machine to sew a straight line!! When I cut a board with a skil saw I cut forward not side to side! Who designed these sewing machines anyway.

So after much pracice I finally get my 1st row sewed and I realized some of my squares were upside down! Shisa! Anyway I've managed to get the squares all done. My back hurts, my hands hurt and to top it off somehow I sewed the T shirt I had on to a square?? Don't ask me how!

Well today I had my 1st experience in a fabric store. Bought some backing material and some batting. Met this old guy who was sneaking around looking at knitting stuff and he sheepishly admitted he was trying to learn. Said he was getting funny in his old age! Ha!

Came home and cut out the backing and pinned it then my little sewing machine quit! I'm not giving up tho. Maybe I can find a much better used one somewhere?

The moral of this story is building a rock house is a hell of a lot easier than sewing!!!.....Kirk

-- Anonymous, February 23, 2003

Answers

ROFL......snort, snort...

-- Anonymous, February 23, 2003

Congrats to you, Kirk, for tackling a "hobby" that's always been thought of as a woman's "thing"!! I admire you! AND...I'm jealous!!! I want a sewing machine! When I was younger, I hated sewing. But today's machines can do almost anything...except clean the bathroom :-)!! I read somewhere that at some colleges the males students were taking up knitting. So (sew) keep it up!!!

As for the fact that you sewed a square onto your t-sirt...just sew a couple more squares onto the t-shirt and you'll be designing your own clothing line :-)!!

-- Anonymous, February 23, 2003

Kirk, I'm sorry to have to tell you, you DO need a better machine. I thought I'd wait and hear what you had to say about the little handheld thing. It's sort of like comparing a three-for-a-dollar screwdriver to a good quality power screwdriver/drill. ;-) If I understand your description correctly, a regular sewing machine sews "back-to-front" rather than side-to-side.

When I first learned to sew, my mother took a piece of fabric, drew lines on it (with a ruler and pencil), and had me practice sewing a straight line down it. You might want to try that.

If you have a sewing machine sales and repair place, you probably can get a decent reconditioned machine. You want a mechanical model, NOT some computerized machine -- those are too complicated and have features you probably would never use! Some people will tell you that the used machines from a machine dealer are overpriced. Maybe so, if YOU know how to repair and recondition a machine. On the other hand, you might find a bargain in the paper or at an estate sale. But if you don't know machines, that could also land you with a lemon.

What a lucky kitty you will have! A quilt all her own! Did you ever think of getting a fabric that you like, just as it is, and making that the window covering? No cutting squares, no sewing together, etc.

-- Anonymous, February 23, 2003

Yea I know And I'm on the hunt for a better machine. Good idea about pracice on straight lines Joy. Yhe way I learn is to just try something and then adjust all my mistakes. A lot of adjusting this time!!! I'm not sure even my cat will lay on this quilt! Ha! Anyway I thought this might be a nice productive hobby during those winter months if I can figure it out....Kirk

-- Anonymous, February 24, 2003

Good for you Kirk! Hang in there you'll figure it out.

I was thinking of making window quilts myself. I'm going to get the fabric that already has the batting sown to it. I'll just sew two of these back to back and there is the basic window quilt. Then I thought I'd sew two lengths of ribbon to the top for rolling the shade up(same principle as rolling and tying a sleeping bag)and then put velcro on the quilt top as well as the top of the window frame. Just rip them off and throw them in the wash!

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2003

Kirk, if you follow Debra's plan, be sure to pre-wash (wash before construction) your fabric. In fact, that's something you should always do -- and I forgot to mention it earlier!

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2003

Thanks for the reminder Joy, I forgot about that.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2003

Oops I didn't pre wash the kitty quilt fabric. Oh well I will learn. Thanks guys.......kirk

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2003

(nodding sagely)

That's how I sew too. Well, I can sew a straight line, and do so to make horse blankets...

That's why I cook, or garden mostly instead tho.

You know, my grandfather used to knit his own socks back on the old family homestead in Sweden. He said that all the boys carried around balls of yarn and knitting needles and would work on them when they weren't busy.

Those Swedes sure had a different take on things! Come to that, they still do.

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2003