Side Set Table Runner

I have a class card to my LQS that allows me take unlimited classes for 6 months.  I try to go once a month to 'get my money's worth', though sometimes that actually means spending more money.

They recently had a class called "Side Set Table Runner" that sounded promising.  We need a Christmas table runner, so I called, and the kit was only $24, which seemed really reasonable for  fun afternoon and a table runner.

Luckily, when I got there I found beautiful Christmas kits.

What I also found is the quoted kit price didn't include the required ruler!  The Nifty Notions Side Setting Triangle ruler was another $20!!!  Grr, so much for an affordable afternoon.

 This ruler is a monster, which makes the price a litter more palatable, way bigger than I imagined, and it does nice work of taking the math out of side setting triangles, but the thing is, I'm good at math, so eh.  Still, since I now have it, I will probably use it.  I hate the whole 'cut for the cure' thing though (I don't like people using cancer to market products, which is what most of the pink washing is, very little actual benefit to the cause), which is one of the reasons I have never bought rulers from Pine Needles, besides the fact that specialty rulers are really expensive, and generally not necessary.

The very good news is I love the table runner I made.  I did all the piecing of the top at the class, came home and found backing fabric in my stash, quilted it up and bound it (binding was in the kit).  I then spent Thanksgiving adding crystals to it while the rest of the family watched football.

The kit had enough fabric that a good amount of the white and red got cut up to use in the wreath I'll blog about next.

I hope to make more of these runners- 4 squares fits our table really nicely, though maybe I'll do just 3 next time, as we roll up the ends to eat, Kevin likes to sit at the end of the table.

Quick Strip Paper Piecing

I took this class from Craftsy.com and it was fabulous.  It cost about $20, and with it I think there were 5 different block patterns, each with about 3 project variations.

I had never paper pieced before, so I made a block to practice, which I posted earlier, than skipped to a trickier block and made a wall hanging.

This wall hanging is made from the block "Sailor's Delight"- a variation of Mariner's compass.

The strip piecing methods meant it went very fast, but I did make some mistakes- you have to be very careful when cutting the blocks apart from the strip to take notice to where the fabric will cover.  Most of what I did wrong was in the seam allowance though, so it was no big deal.

I love the precision of paper piecing.  Peggy Martin recommends removing the paper from the block before assembling, so some of it isn't as precise, but in the whole quilt, I think I only lost 2 points.  Pretty impressive :)

This is hanging in our entryway right now.  Even if you've paper pieced before, I highly recommend this class.  I just love Craftsy- all the quilting classes have been great.

What a dud...

Class was a dud...I drove up to Cedar Rapids and ended up coming home.

So here's the story. I signed up for a class called Bag Making and Detailing. I try to do a class every month because I get lifetime free classes with my machine (but not really- a year, and then you get another year when you get the machine serviced...) because of the VIP card (which also gets you 20% off Bernina accessories, fabrics, and kits.)

So Pine Needles is really vague about what their classes are. When they put the calendar out, they didn't know what the project was yet, or the kit cost. (How do you have a class without knowing what the project is?) That's okay- so far I've really liked the classes and learned good techniques even when the project isn't my favorite. Plus, I really like bags.

So then I get the supply list and it is not useful. "Fabric according to pattern"- but I don't have the pattern yet. However, I googled to find the pattern and it is a cosmetic sized bag. This is my first UGH- I was thinking purse/tote bag. So already, I'm not too excited.

Then I call to get the kit cost- $31 (minus discount), but they didn't mention this was not including thread or needles (that is usually what makes the discount on kits nice- they don't usually discount thread, so it helps me build my Mettler stock). Thread is usually included in class kits. The pattern ($10) calls for 2 fat quarters and a zipper. I figure I could bring the supplies, but then I feel bad about it because they won't make any money, and if stores don't make money, they don't stay open. So $31 for a class that will teach me pintucks and demo Bernina's super expensive really cool ruffler sounds fair.

Today I drive up there and it turns out the kit is $39.95 (minus discount). That is just too much. I ask if I can buy the pattern separately, but it turns out they won't sell it outside the kit- so bringing your own supplies isn't even an option for this class. If you wanted to do that, they said, you'd also have to find your own copy of the pattern. WTF? I politely tell the teacher that this was more than I budgeted for, so I wouldn't be staying. She trys to tell me the kit is a better value than 2 fat quarters, a pattern and a zipper, because it is home dec weight fabric, not quilting weight. UM-$10 pattern, $2 zipper- how expensive is your home dec weight??? And besides, if the supply list told me I needed 1/2 yard of home dec weight, I could have brought that myself. But even still, you wouldn't sell me the pattern.

I'm annoyed I drove up there. But in my free afternoon, I did make three more headbands.

Humbug bag

I traveled up to Pine Needles Sewing Center for my first Mastery class on my Bernina Aurora 430. MOST of what was covered I had already figured out- but it was WELL worth the drive. I learned a few things that were really incredible. The course was project based- we made a Humbug Bag. The bag is okay, but not my favorite. It has a lining in it, but exposed seams, as the lining is just overlocked to the edge of the outer fabric to hide the "quilting" (basically we tried tons of decorative stitches, used the twin needle, and did some couching)- I also don't care for how the zipper sticks up. But it is SUPER easy to make, so a good little gift, I think I would do it with a proper turned lining though (to be fair, we barely referenced the pattern, so maybe it calls for one and we just didn't do it?)

Although the class was "free" ($75 if you didn't buy your machine there! Do this enough times and I'll earn my money on that purchase, haha), I thought the kit was kind of expensive. It was probably a fair cost for what was in it (2 mettler threads, 1 YLI variagated- though mine you couldn't even tell it was variagated, I was disappointed, a twin needle, a jeans needle pack, 2 Fat quarter, one backed with interfacing, some cording, and a zipper), but it still seemed expensive. I think I was mostly annoyed my variagated thread was goldenrod and sunshine- if you looked closely at the spool you could tell there were 2 yellows, but you can't tell at all on the sewing.

#1 The reason the threader is so freaking hard to use is that I was doing it totally wrong. Doing it right makes it way easier. The right way is very different from my Kenmore. It is exactly like the video the Bernina sight has, I just didn't process what happened in the video.

#2 The reason my bobbin case kept falling out was user error (I figured it was). I put it in, and it clicks. I figured that was right. It really has to CLICK. I mean seriously CLICK. Then, it doesn't fall out.

#3 The reason there is a screw on the back of all the feet is for the seam guide. You can use it on any foot, not just a walking foot. Seriously awesome.

#4 I don't think I really need a 1/4" foot. The straight stitch foot seems good enough for me, for now.

#5 I totally need a free motion couching foot. Before this class, I didn't really even know what free motion couching was (although I had seen it in a video, and just though "neat") now that I've done it- amazing. See the cord in the bottom left corner of the bag? That's done with free motion couching. SO COOL.

#6 Heel Tap really is difficult. They actually should rename it heel stomp. I'm still not sure why I would want that.

#7 Knee Lift isn't that useful for most sewing. I never used it today, despite them telling us "you won't be able to live without it". Still, I'm very glad I have it. I like it for freemotion quilting, and it is good for pivoting on garments.

#8 Bernina Bobbins are expensive. But I bought a tube of them. I'm done for now.