Metal Shank Walking Foot with Guide Bar

Image from Google Search Engine

This one included inside the free gift for my Bunny. You can buy this foot from Bernina dealer or online suppliers at the range of US$24-26. (I will update if I found local supplier with RM$).

The shank on this walking foot is made of metal. Most walking feet have a plastic shank.
Often people will tighten the screw too tight when attaching causing the plastic shank to break. Since this walking foot has a metal shank, this will no longer be a concern.

Great for keeping quilt layers from shifting when sewing and keeping stripes and checks matched. Fabrics lie between an upper and lower feed dog, preventing them from slipping.

The walking foot has a feeding system that works with your machines feeding system. As the lower feeding system feeds the fabric through, the walking foots feeding system feeds the fabric from the top at the same rate as the bottom feeding system.

The walking foot is great for quilting because you have several layers of fabric and the layers
can slip around. The walking foot is often called an even feed foot.

New, with instructions. Comes with guide bar. The guide bar slides into either side of this walking foot or it can be used with other types of presser feet where there is a need to sew multiple rows of stitching.

I found a picture with instruction here.

(will update my work with this feet later)

Clear Plastic All-Purpose Foot

Image from Google Search Engine

This one included inside the free gift for my Bunny. You can buy this foot from Bernina supplier or online store at the range of US$12-14. (I will update if I found local supplier and RM$).

The foot also called as the satin foot or the applique foot. It is very ideal for precision embroidery, applique, cutwork and monogramming. Nothing stands in the way of our creative vision. The cut out on the underside of the foot accommodates satin stitching and the clear plastic ensures greater visibility while sewing.

The bottom of the foot has a wedge shaped indentation, which allows even satin stitching to glide under the foot without dragging. The angle in the indentation makes it possible to turn curves easily. 

The toes of the foot are shorter, compared to a regular zigzag foot, for greater maneuverability while sewing (we can turn the fabric more easily for smoother stitching lines, an important asset when embellishing fabric).

Worth to have this kind of foot because it is great for all of the following:

• Heirloom hemstitching
• Hemstitched squares, heirloom sewing
• Hemstitched applique, heirloom sewing
• 3-D applique 
• Blanket stitch applique 
• Decorative stitch applique 
• Blind applique
• Madeira applique 
• Mola applique 
• Reverse applique 
• Satin stitch applique 
• Shadow applique 
• Stained glass applique 
• Chain stitch 
• Couching sequins 
• Fringe 
• Shadow hems 
• Lace-making 
• Crazy patch quilting 
• Stipple quilting 
• Corded scallops 
• Off-the-edge scallops 
• Smocking

I found a video guide in using this foot for applique and decorative stitching here.

Here is a sewing instructions for applique:

1. Cut out a desired shape and fused to the right side of a cotton
2. Place stabilizer under the cotton piece
3. Select zig-zag stitch (refer your machine manual)
4. Set to medium stitch length and narrow stitch width
5. Sew around the shape's edge
6. Repeat the previous process with a closer stitch length and wider stitch width to ensure that all of the shape's raw edges is covered by stitching

Good luck on yours!

Bunny : Test drive

Straight line

This is my 1st time driving my Bunny and I am just finished reading the manual for the 3rd time :) gheee! Moving to the next step, let's heat it up!

I decided to make a pin cushion. Here we go! Sew a straight line ;) I have no issue with the thread tension yet. (that was what I am so scared of! Phew!)

Finished result

A pin cushion

Made with Bernina!

So it is true that this machine is easy to handle and sewing is fun! I guess sewing is a great therapy too! I just need to adjust my schedule so that I could enjoy more!

Great tips!
Sewing a straight line

My sewing machine is here!

Finally, my dream came true yesterday! I own a sewing machine and it's a Bernina! Yay! I am totally zero about sewing machine but I believe I will be operating the machine very soon! From zero-to-hero! Follow my journey ^_^

Hey, I was thinking about to name her... emmm... I want to call her "Bunny". Yes she is my Bunny!

Comes together with my Bunny is a FREE portable extension table! Before the package arrived I was thinking it was a table that I can put my Bunny on it. No I was totally wrong HAHA...

Lucky that my mentor was with me (via online chat) when I try to put them together. So this how they are supposed to look like -->

I love the table. It is made by acrylic material, very thick and clear plastic. Read more about acrylic here. It is going to be useful when I am sewing larger quilt. I will start sewing baju kurung for my little princess before I go quilting. And perhaps some simple pants for the boys.

--

I got FREE walking foot and quilting foot too! Offer valid until 16 September 2009! Check at my mentor's shop for more details!

And last but not least, I bought at a special price for this full set of extra foot set in a smart-storage! Check with my mentor if you are interested!

View all pictures of my sewer here.



p.s. thank you so much Kak Zila!

A liltle organizing

I purposely bought this Danish biscuit because I want the round-tin to store my threads.



This is also biscuit's storage that I intentionally bought for my sewing storage.



When I bought jam in a bottle, I always collect it and reuse as a storage for some spices and recently to store my sewing items too.

Keep organized!

Sunday Stash #4

Today is linen day. This is my very first collection of linens which I bought from local online store. And it is advised by the shop to pre-soak all the linen before cutting. Here we go, dry-up...



Linen looks rough but after pre-wash (by washer) it frays out a lot. Perhaps no one pre-wash linen? I thought pre-soak and pre-wash is one same procedure ^_^ any way the pre-wash do not harm those linens.

I love to touch linen surface. Let's find out more about these linens...

Pure Linen

• fabric type: pure linen, fine grain yarn dyed
• width: 150 cm / 60 inches
• weight: medium and drapey, suitable for shirt, dress
• base color: oatmeal
• pattern: stripes and checks woven in grey yarn within the same width; 30 inches width of stripe patttern and 30 inces width of checks pattern
• surface: smooth
• fabric care recommendation: hand wash possible, pre-soak fabric before cutting

Linen Twill

• fabric type: 100% linen twill
• width: 140cm / 55 inches
• weight: medium to heavy, suitable for pants, pants suit, dress, skirt
• base color: off white
• pattern: twill weave
• surface: slightly textured
• fabric care recommendation: pre-soak before cutting

Linen Chambray

• fabric type: Linen 100%
• width: 114cm / 45 inches
• weight: medium, suitable for pants, skirt or full suit
• base color: grey
• pattern: chambray
• surface: fine texture
• washing & ironning instructions: pre-soak before cutting. Hand or machine wash in light detergent and gentle cycle. Drip dry under shade. Dampen before ironning with high heat on the wrong side

I bought those linens from online local store, eFabric. What I like most about the shop, they provide those fabric information ;-)


Happy sewing!


p.s. credit to eFabric for the fabric info.

Shipping day #1 - updates

I shipped out 3 parcels recently (read here) and I've received alert from all 3 recipients that they got the packages safe and sound.

• Karen received package on July 7th and blogged here & left comment;
  

  "Hi Erin,
  Your package arrived safe and sound here;) I want to thank you so much for all of the work that went into making the pincushions for me and for all of the other goodies that you also included;) I have put pictures up on my blog for all to see;) Please keep in touch;) "

  I am so happy that the parcel reached her safely. The package approximately travels 8587.4 miles (Kota Bharu to Orem, calculated here). Karen is my secret swappee (swap partner) for Pincushion Summer Swap '09. Find out more about this swap here, here and here.
• Sara received package on July 10th and sent email;
  

  "Erin,
  The fabric is gorgeous!!! I can't wait to make a skirt for myself. And thank you for the pincushion. I love it!
  Thank you, thank you, thank you!
  Regards,
  Sara"

  Sara is one of my giveaway lucky winner (read here). I am glad that Sara loves the fabric and also the pincushion (read here). The package approximately travels 8569.7 miles (Kota Bharu to Orem, calculated here).
• Amanda received package on July 13th and left comment;
  

  "Hi Erin! Great pick for stash sharing.
  
  I wanted to let you know that I received your package. Thank you so much! Now I just have to decide whether to keep it as a skirt, or make something out of it. hmmmm...
  Thank you also for the pincushion! Believe it or not, it is my one and only. I haven't been able to justify buying one, since I can make it. And I haven't made one, because I'm too busy! lol I also enjoyed your creative stationary! Creative gal you are! Blessings to you!"

  Amanda is another lucky winner for my giveaway (read here). I hope she enjoys the fabric. And the best part is my surpirse gift, the pincushion (read here) is so useful for her sewing activities. The package approximately travels 9268.0 miles (Kota Bharu to Orem, calculated here). I guess the distance tells why it took extra days of journey to reach her place.
  

Thank you most to all the postal service officers who have been directly nor indirectly involved in this journey.

Happy day to all!

Apron and giveaway!

At least once a week I must read TheFabricShopper and I cannot say NO to her giveaway!

Here is a sneak peak of the prizes for this week! Pretty ditty huh! No one would ignore this one.

Read more here. Hurry up, the giveaway ends Sunday, July 17 at midnight CDT.

GOOD LUCK!

WIP#July-1 : Done!

All sewn up and halfly cut the rag-area... I hope I am doing the right thing coz I can't find any details instruction on cutting this (cross-fingers).

All set..

Washing time!

Done! YAY!

WIP#July-1 : 9 quilted patches

The pictures tell about my progress clearly... I am over due now! Ouch!

Sunday Stash #3

Wow! I've been missing so many Sunday huh... but not this Sunday! Here is my selected stash to share with.



It's a 100% cotton broadcloth and has geometric printed design on 42" width. The design is Japan/oriental geometrical and floral woodblock print in shades of brown. It is light and i was thinking about making some purse/bag from it.


I bought this fabric from online local store, eFabric. It comes with two base color, dark brown and navy blue. Through out this month the store is giving out discount for entire collections! Add some stash sewers!


Happy sewing!

WIP#July-1 : First 3 blocks

Last two days I cut baby napkin (used) for my rag-quilt batting. Each batting size 3" x 6" then fold to get a size of 3" x 3". Tonight I quilted the first 3-block.



This is my very first quilt (but not yet with the real batting material) and I use quilting thread which is excellent and very smooth. Believe me not even a single knot. I highly recommended this thread to every one. Worth buying them!



The above pictures show the result of my first block. Ends with uneven surface (not sure how to put it in words but I guess the pictures tell).

So for the second block, I make center thread-basting. Since the thread blend well with my backing fabric, I just draw the X for the top.


I have nice-flat block but the top & backing not inline. But I guess that would be alright since for rag-quilt we reserve 1" of seam allowance. (I am lazy to rip them off and re-quilt huh..)

As for my third block, I quilt from the center point to each corner. It took half hour for me to hand quilted this block (last one for tonight). But it turns out almost perfect! The following pictures explain the result...


I hope I can finish this rag-quilt this weekend!

My pincushion has arrived safely

"Peep peep!" I knew it's going to be my mystery pincushion! The postman asked if I were the right recipient because the address is not correct. OMG! What have i done?!

When i recheck my email to Sandra, yes it was my typo error. My house number should be 1699 but I sent her 1966. So many thanks to the nice-postman, if not I must be waiting for the mystery parcel forever 8-)


My secret partner is Cindy! from Clara City, Minnesota. I never heard of that place, so I google-map and found this satellite image of Cindy's place!


Wow, must be a peaceful city and no traffic jam. She told me in her notes that only 1200 population in the city. (This swap introduce to Clara City!)

Now let's open the box and see my pincushion!

How sweet! And I never came across this kind of pincushion before. The teapot is made of wool-felt and Cindy create a lot of these and she is working on its pattern. Read her blog for more info on the pincushion!

"Cindy, you are so generous!" Look what do I get here!

The golden vintage item is so stunning! I am sure only Cindy would describe best about it. Let's hear from her about the golden vintage item.

Thank you very much Cindy! Thank you very much Sandra for hosting this GREAT swap!