I like making things: I did get to play!

Monday, December 28, 2015

I did get to play!

I did find some time yesterday to play with my new Big Shot machine. I have realised that things like this and my sewing and knitting machines are actually my toys and using them is my playtime.

I know they are functional and make useful things but the truth of the matter is I really enjoy using them. Sometimes, when I only have a few moments I will get some scrap fabric and sew, trying out the different stitches. Using my machines is pure enjoyment for me. So, that's why I have deemed them to be toys. I guess I am still a kid at heart even though when I look in the mirror I see otherwise!

So yesterday, I tried doing embossing and cutting out.

I have some Christmas cards that I will never send so they were perfect to try the embossing on and make cut outs from.

I even progressed to felt and cut out my first gingerbread man ready to sew.

When I first tried it I misunderstood the instructions, I thought that you placed the 'sandwich' in between the flaps. So I placed it on the third section then folded the flaps back over. Needless to say it wouldn't go through the roller. A quick search on Youtube pointed out the error of my ways. The big dies do not go on the removable platform either. I sussed it eventually.

I opted for the plain white one as when we purchased it, it was on sale. I really liked the pretty ones but this one apparently is the latest model.

Embossing, my husband and I both agreed that the snowmen looked better from the back.

The gingerbread man came with a Merry Christmas cut out as a bonus!

My felt gingerbread man

The machine in all it's glory

I have a couple of other dies I haven't tried yet, a snowman and a Santa head. One step at a time.

Now I am on the look out for some dies for shapes like squares and circles. Will wait for them to come on sale, I have plenty to be working on right now.

I really love this machine.

Merry Christmas to me!

2 comments:

Dotty's DaughterDecember 28, 2015 at 10:57 AM
Dear Maureen, oh I smiled and remembered the fun of using this wonderful bit of kit...way to go girl, you will hit the ground running and have such fun honey... Don't forget to post though because I will be patiently waiting to see what you have been up to...xxx Maria. Oh and have a wonderful New Year .xxx
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As in the words of Thumper: If you can't say 'nuffin nice don't say 'nuffin at all.

Glad you stopped by

I started this blog in 2011: Ever since my Mum taught me to knit at the age of about six or seven I have made things. Back then it was doll clothes. I was also inspired by Mrs Levitt an elderly lady who had a sewing room in a conservatory type room on the back of her house. I would sit and watch her in awe as she sewed.

When I was a child living in England the school system was such that you started at 5 years, did two years in Infant School, then four years in Primary School then five to seven years in Secondary School, depending on whether you chose to stay on after fifth form to get qualifications to go to University. I can't remember much of the Infant school other than making the standard square doily thingy from fabric that had holes in it so you could embroider patterns into it. A bit like the modern day cross stitch fabric but with bigger holes and spaces to make it easy for small hands to use. I also remember with great joy getting a toy sewing machine one Christmas which sewed only chain stitch but I did make doll clothes on it and that was before I started Primary school. I do have very vivid recollections of Primary school and having sewing and knitting lessons. In Primary school I knitted gloves and made a dress from scratch hand sewing it all.

Secondary school continued on with sewing by which time I had progressed to using full sized sewing machines and was making more intricate skirts and dresses. My parents bought me a proper sewing machine when I was thirteen. I used that same machine right up until I emigrated to Canada at age forty six years.

I have always had a fascination for sewing machines and knitting machines. I bought my first knitting machine at around age twenty one from an ad in a newspaper for twelve pounds. I had absolutely no idea what one was just that I wanted one. I trundled on the bus to the address in the advert and handed over my twelve pounds having absolutely no idea what I had really bought. Fortunately it came with a manual. It was an aged Knitmaster, very basic and I loved it. I wore it out. Next was a Brother push button one which I didn't keep because it was at a time in my life when things were difficult. Later on in my life, around forty, when things were better I bought a brand new Brother punchard machine with a ribber attachment. I loved it and made many things. Life took a different turn, I moved countries twice and along the way, regrettably I sold it.

Now, through the universe's blessing I now have another machine. It is a vintage one because they stopped making them early 90's but works perfectly and I love it. So I decided to make this blog to document my knitting progress and include sewing projects.

In 2013: we embarked on a new hobby, leather-work. My husband got started with it and it drew me in. It is something we can do together. We have a workshop so have plenty of room to work. We added another workbench for me to work on in 2013. We already had one but we were tripping over each other both trying to work at it. We only make things we want to make. It is strictly a hobby. We made some things for our good neighbours who help us out a lot. I am also working on Christmas presents. So this blog now incorporates the leather-work. Knitting and sewing will always be my first love though.

Fast forward to 2023 and now age almost 75 years. I have seven sewing machines, four knitting machines, several ribber attachments and a garter carriage for one of the machines. I am blessed beyond words, but I know that I have more than enough machines to keep me going in my lifetime so I don’t think I will be adding to my collection any time soon……….unless a nice embroidery machine manifests itself very cheaply.

I am a Brit living in the USA, sometimes I spell like a Brit and sometimes like an American. Sometimes I use slang and even make grammatical errors. I blog for the pleasure of it and to record my endeavours in the event that my memory fades, as I am sure it will with more age. I will be able to look back and remind myself of the things I have made along the way. So please forgive my mistakes when reading about my life making things here in the hinterlands and I hope you get as much enjoyment from my blog as I do from reading the blogs I follow.

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Monday, December 28, 2015

I did get to play!

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