#39 Hovering Hawks
Having said that is was an easy block, of course with so many small pieces one's 1/4" seam allowance needs to be very accurate because you can loose or gain (millimeters ) or 1/16" 's very easily.
Because I use my vintage machines to sew with, some of the older models do not have any seam guidance lines on the throat plate which can be a bit tricky! I guess we have become very comfortable about this as most of the machines now have a lot of visual aids to help us get accurate seams. Although not always!! some are rather generous as I have already discovered!!!
With this latest block I decided to use my 1956, 201K, it has no seam guidance lines at all, so what to do?? I really didn't want to use an adhasive tape. I had been looking around and found a nifty little seam guide which adheres (not sticky) to the throat plate and provides a nice little ridge that the fabric can butt up against.
I bought it through OzQuilts in Melbourne. http://www.ozquilts.com.au/index.html
It is an American product and I was particularly interested in it because it does not have a sticky residue on the side that sticks to the bed of the machine as it is vinyl.
I did learn a little trick though, and that is always great,!! you will notice Tip #6.
I had to make just one adjustment to the vinyl position to get a perfect 5" across the finished 3 strips that I sewed together.
As suggested I sewed three 2" wide strips together, (I cut mine at around 5"-6" in length) and was happy when I pressed the seams in one direction that my practice piece ended up exactly at 5" across.
Whoo hoo!!!!!
My block came up exactly at 8 1/2".
Now this is just a new take on something has had been around for some time, which was the original seam guide that Singer produced to get the same result. They are hard to find but I have a few of them and use them on my Featherweight and my old 201K, 1953 treadle (pictured below).
It works really well! But if you are unable to find one for your old Singer, then the modern alternative is a great tool!
This old dear has seen better days and has been well used, her decals are a bit ratty, she has numerous wrinkes, but she sews like a dream and I love treadling with her!!!
So if you really want to check out your machines' 1/4" seam capability, do that little sewing check and see if you get 5" or more or less across, that will give you an idea if you need to adjust the placement of your fabric or get a seam guide of some description to aid your sewing.
With the onset of Spring my gorgeous flowering shrub "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" is in full bloom.
It has a wonderful fragrance and is a joy to see at this time of the year. I don't know its proper botanical name, but it is called that because the flowers come in at three different colours depending on their maturity!!!
Thankyou for dropping by!!! Hope your fingers are happy and busy at your sewing!!
Take it easy,
Merilyn
10 comments:
Lovely block! Thanks for introducing me to a new product. I was told many years ago to use the same machine on a project because the 1/4" can vary between machines. Easy for me since I only have 2! Of course you want to take all your machines out and "play"! What a beautiful shrub!
Beautiful block!! Thanks for the great tips! I also love seeing all your old machines!
Blessings
Great work might I add as usual :) with the blocks Merilyn! The 1/4" is soooo important to piecing, unfortunately something I have not perfected yet :(
Your Hovering Hawk block turned out great. Seam accuracy makes a huge difference. Your vintage machine and you did a wonderful job.
Another great block finish - and on one of the treasured machines! Love your machine collection ;-) and related gadgets - GREAT FUN!
This block would fit perfectly with mine, but I won't ask. However, I might "borrow" your combination of brown and red. Do you have a picture that you could show us of all your blocks. They must look fabulous together.
I am a real sewing blob at the moment and have had limited computer time. Thanks for some well needed inspiration.
Excellent advice. I know I can get lazy with seam accuracy, and I always pay for it in the end! Your vintage machines are very fun, by the way, and your block turned out as pretty as it is precise!
Your post gave me a good laugh. I know when I bought my Featherweight a box of "gadgets" came along with it. I probably have a seam guide in there and didn't know what it was for. Instead for awhile I used mole skin like you would use to stick on a corn or callous on your foot and stick that on my machine at the 1/4" line. Then I found a magnetic quarter inch guide. I love your Civil War block.
I still struggle with the 1/4 inch seam allowance as my machine has metric markings. I can usually get close but on some blocks, close is not good enough. Beautiful block, you did a great job!
I've never seen the shrub, "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" and wonder if it goes by another name too? Looks beautiful!
Hovering Hawks, fabulous block! I love all your sewing machines, where do you keep them? I would want to have them all on display and ready to use. Then I would go from one machine to the next! LOL.
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