Off My To-Do List

Today I did some housework and some laundry and then, with the time I had left, I did some things in the sewing room.



blocklotto.com
For one thing, I made my block for this month's Block Lotto.  And there are actually still days left in the month!  I'm terrible about putting these off until the very last minute.  I think this month's block is cute.

You can always find the patterns for the blocks on the Block Lotto website.  This block ends up at 6 1/2 by 9 1/2 inches (unfinished).  It isn't difficult to make, but it is a little tricky.  You just have to pay close attention to the instructions.

With that finished, I made up the last stitchery for my Vintage Miniature Sewing Machines quilt.  This one is the Princess.

Thanks to Quiltzyx and Lethargic Lass for coming up with an actual photograph for this sewing machine.  It's quite unusual.

The sheet that came with it says that it was patented by Max Sandt in 1891 in Germany, and then again in 1892 in England.  It was manufactured by Steinfeldt & Blasberg of Hanover.  It is made of cast iron, painted orange, pink, or blue with a faint blush on the cheeks.  The seat where she sits is holding the spool of thread. An 1894 advertisement stated that it was the "Best present for a girl and a perfect chain stitching machine in miniature, equally as strongly made, and producing as good sewing, as a full size machine".  This machine and the "Clown" also made by the Sandt company are considered the most highly desirable toy sewing machines ever made, and they are both extremely rare.  There are only 10 Princesses and 4 Clowns known to be in existence.  

Here is an image of the Clown:

Even with that explanation, it's still puzzling how this works.  It looks to have a hand crank on the side, but where is the needle?  And how does it sew?  Interesting.  If you would like to learn more about these machines, you can read more about them right here.

If I have time tomorrow, I'm going to start on the next block for my Folk Art Cats quilt.  This is the January block.  I was keeping up until December, but now I'm hopelessly behind.  Oh well.  The remaining blocks aren't as relevant to their respective months as the October, November, and December blocks were, and so I don't suppose it matters much.

And here's what I want to know:  Honestly, is nothing sacred?  When I took the pattern from its plastic packaging, I discovered that it had been severely chewed.  Hm.  I can't even begin to imagine how that happened, but I am suspicious.

You don't suppose this little person had something to do with it, do you?

So now my sewing machine is all packed up in its spiffy new case.  I'm signed up for the 3rd of four classes to learn to use it.  I'm thinking one of these classes is about using the stitch regulator, and I don't need to take that one since I took it when I learned to use my old machine.  

Anyway...I wanted a good case for the machine.  The store where I bought it was recommending the Tutto case, but those are quite expensive.  I've been following along on the Yahoo group for 7 Series owners, and someone recommended this case made by Sullivan at less than half the cost.  I actually like it better.  It is on wheels, and it has hard sides.  The sewing machine sits in a padded "sling" and then all of its cords, foot pedal, extension table and accessories fit around the outside of the sling.  It has a handle like a piece of roller luggage.  I'm very happy with it.  If you are interested, this is a link to the website where I got it.

So that's it from me today.  Time to start dinner.  In fact, it's past time.  Maybe I'll talk the mister into going out this evening.