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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Apr 6, 2025 15:37:51 GMT
Seriously those purple 2.5x2.5 squares? There's 120 of them. 😳 It was an endurance test to cut all those at once. 😂 You may want to consider a couple of options to make that process go quicker! I have the Stripology XL Ruler that makes the cutting of multiple strips/blocks much faster. It is pricey so I waited for a good sale before I bought mine, but it has been well worth it. She has a YouTube channel and so many ideas on how to use it. The other thing you could consider is getting an Accuquilt Go! fabric cutter. It has become very popular in my quilt guild and I have seriously considered getting one due to my arthritis. However, it is very pricey (IMO) and I haven't convinced myself I'll use it enough to justify it just yet. |
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DEX
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,438 
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Post by DEX on Apr 6, 2025 16:42:49 GMT
I was just coming to suggest the Stripology XL ruler. I love mine. I have also considered an Accuquilt but the initial cost is $$$ and some of the most used dies are $100 or more. I would absolutely love to have one though.
Love your fabric.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Apr 6, 2025 16:50:08 GMT
**GypsyGirl** I swear it was you who showed me that stripplogy ruler before. It's definitely going on my birthday list.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Apr 6, 2025 18:11:11 GMT
**GypsyGirl** I swear it was you who showed me that stripplogy ruler before. It's definitely going on my birthday list. It probably was!  I do enjoy enabling others! |
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Post by jeremysgirl on Apr 6, 2025 18:38:32 GMT
Well I want to make a confession. Hi, my name is Becki and I am a dumbass.
I started quilting on an old Kenmore machine. It was impossible to get any parts for it. So when I began my second quilt, I bought a 1/4 edger foot off of Amazon. Yes, yes it was kind of a universal one and it definitely is Chinese crap. But I used it and all seemed well.
I bought my new machine a year ago. And I ordered the 1/4" feet specifically made for my Juki. But I had to wait and wait and wait some more. It took months to get them. So I continued on using the cheap Amazon foot.
I got the new feet but I couldn't be bothered to change anything up so I continued on in my laissez-faire way just figuring my quilts had character and that imperfection was just the name of the game.
Until today. Today I am doing that mystery quilt and the designer of the quilt gave a very detailed instruction about how absolutely the seams needed to measure exactly. And she gave every single tip and trick she could think of in her video from cutting to pressing.
And I couldn't get it right. And I was frustrated. And Jeremy is measuring and he's like your seam is just hair over 1/4. So sewing pieces together is leaving me coming up short.
And then...lightbulb. I have another foot. Maybe the seam would be more accurate if I switched it out. So I opened the package and snapped it on. It is a much more fussy and delicate foot than my Chinese one. I have to pay closer attention but it works better with the feed dogs too. Getting a tighter "seal" if you will. And what do you know? It's a 1/4". Perfect.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Apr 6, 2025 20:25:02 GMT
And I made it through clue #1!  |
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Post by cakediva on Apr 6, 2025 21:04:56 GMT
Yay!! And we've all done the dumbass thing - my most recent is with vanilla bean paste. I had heard for years (since I started making my own vanilla through covid) that the Vitamix was THE blender for paste.
I used my Ninja because I'd just gotten it, and it was fine to use. There was some fibre pieces but overall happy with it. Then I recently booked a few $$$ cakes, so I splurged and found a Vitamix on Marketplace for $300.
Made paste that afternoon. AMAZING difference - sad I put if off so long!! No fibre chunks, all completely smooth and thick and blended.
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sueg
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,140
Location: Munich
Apr 12, 2016 12:51:01 GMT
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Post by sueg on Apr 7, 2025 13:29:39 GMT
I’ve finally made it to the April thread! Loving everyone’s makes so far. jeremysgirl - I love the colors of you quilt! I don’t think I’d be very good at quilting, as being so accurate is very difficult for me. Those Tim Holz fabrics are gorgeous. Do you have a plan for them? Merge and gillyp - your blankets are beautiful. chaosisapony - I love the sound of your soaps. Is it possible the liquid one needs time to settle or blend or similar? As usual, I’ve been knitting. I finished these socks for DDiL and will make some babybooties with the leftover yarn - it is so soft and squishy  Friday I decided to cast on a slipover top for myself. I’ve been avoiding making things for myself due to my recent weight loss, but thought this would be fairly flexible in sizing - it won’t matter if it’s a bit big in fall. So far, I’ve finished the back yoke.  Now I need to make the front shoulders and yoke, then join it all together at the underarm and continue knitting until it is long enough. |
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,086
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Apr 7, 2025 13:59:14 GMT
**GypsyGirl** DEX ~ There is a local place that teachers go to & use the Accucut machines there. For a $5.00 fee, I am able to use their machine & dies + I can bring my own dies to use on their machine. I have to be organised but this has cut down on the cost. jeremysgirl ~ You could have possibly saved time & energy if you would have cut 2 1/2" of length of fabric and sewn the stripes together and then cut into 2 1/2" segments. You wouldn't be starting & stopping every 2 1/2" and then the cuts would be cleaner. I try to do strip sewing as much as possible. Looking good so far. cakediva ~ Investment into your business will pay off in the long run. Great business expense to write off. Have fun using it. sueg ~ Cute socks
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Post by jeremysgirl on Apr 7, 2025 14:00:07 GMT
@jeremsygirl ~ You could have possibly saved time & energy if you would have cut 2 1/2" of length of fabric and sewn the stripes together and then cut into 2 1/2" segments. You wouldn't be starting & stopping every 2 1/2" and then the cuts would be cleaner. I try to do strip sewing as much as possible. Looking good so far. I did do that for what the pieces that could have been done that way. |
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Post by Merge on Apr 7, 2025 14:09:52 GMT
I’ve finally made it to the April thread! Loving everyone’s makes so far. jeremysgirl - I love the colors of you quilt! I don’t think I’d be very good at quilting, as being so accurate is very difficult for me. Those Tim Holz fabrics are gorgeous. Do you have a plan for them? Merge and gillyp - your blankets are beautiful. chaosisapony - I love the sound of your soaps. Is it possible the liquid one needs time to settle or blend or similar? As usual, I’ve been knitting. I finished these socks for DDiL and will make some babybooties with the leftover yarn - it is so soft and squishy Friday I decided to cast on a slipover top for myself. I’ve been avoiding making things for myself due to my recent weight loss, but thought this would be fairly flexible in sizing - it won’t matter if it’s a bit big in fall. So far, I’ve finished the back yoke. Now I need to make the front shoulders and yoke, then join it all together at the underarm and continue knitting until it is long enough. Such cute socks! And I can't believe you knit that much just over the weekend - I don't think I'll ever be that fast! |
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Post by Merge on Apr 7, 2025 14:14:30 GMT
Love to see the quilting - one because it reminds me of my mom and two because my youngest has recently been taking a beginning quilting class. The older ladies at the quilt shop just love her. Haha. All she has is a fairly basic machine I got her for Christmas, nothing fancy, though she did spend some of her money getting a mat and cutting wheel (if that's what you call it). I know nothing about any of this.
I need to ask my sister if she ended up with my mom's quilting stuff, including her nice sewing machine and all the stuff that went with it. I wonder if it would still work after 18 years in storage?
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Apr 7, 2025 17:19:38 GMT
Love to see the quilting - one because it reminds me of my mom and two because my youngest has recently been taking a beginning quilting class. The older ladies at the quilt shop just love her. Haha. All she has is a fairly basic machine I got her for Christmas, nothing fancy, though she did spend some of her money getting a mat and cutting wheel (if that's what you call it). I know nothing about any of this. I need to ask my sister if she ended up with my mom's quilting stuff, including her nice sewing machine and all the stuff that went with it. I wonder if it would still work after 18 years in storage? Curious where she is taking her classes! I think it's great that she is learning though! If she gets into it have her check out the Houston Modern Quilt guild. It's the best guild I've found locally for diversity and age range and she might enjoy getting to know other quilters. She can check out their Instagram page as well as their website. As for the sewing machine, if it has been kept in a climate controlled space it will probably work fine. I'd just have the machine serviced by a technician to make sure it is running well. **GypsyGirl** DEX ~ There is a local place that teachers go to & use the Accucut machines there. For a $5.00 fee, I am able to use their machine & dies + I can bring my own dies to use on their machine. I have to be organised but this has cut down on the cost. Unfortunately there are no LQS that offer this service. I'd be all over it if they did! |
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,086
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Apr 7, 2025 20:18:52 GMT
Unfortunately there are no LQS that offer this service. I'd be all over it if they did! It's not a LQS, it is a resource center for teachers and pre-school/early education teachers. They also offer book-binding, laminating and other things that teachers/educators/crafter may need to use. $5. per session. When I moved into my condo, I didn't have the room for multi-alphabets for my old-school Accucut machine. I donated dies to them (quite a bit) and I received a year long pass into the Center. |
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,086
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Apr 7, 2025 20:20:27 GMT
I need to ask my sister if she ended up with my mom's quilting stuff, including her nice sewing machine and all the stuff that went with it. I wonder if it would still work after 18 years in storage? If the machine was kept in a cool, dry storage place without moisture, a good cleaning and it should be good to go. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 8, 2025 19:17:49 GMT
Checking in here, my project isn’t nearly as fun or colorful as all the wonderful creations you have all been posting! Anyway, I have a pair of jeans that every time I put them on I’m so annoyed by the dinky stupid shallow pockets. I put them on the other day and was annoyed yet again, BUT FOR THE VERY LAST TIME because I decided there had to be a way to make them functional. A few YouTube videos later and I had them inside out and on my project table, cutting open the bottom of the front pockets! 😱😱😱 Not gonna lie, it was a little bit scary. But I did it and then following the tutorial online measured and sewed new pocket bags to the open ends of the existing pockets. 20 minutes later, and my jeans have actual front pockets that WILL FIT MY PHONE! YEAH!  Nothing bugs me more than things are designed from the outset to not work. I also have been watching this girl’s sewing channel on Insta and Facebook called Madi Mac Fashions. She takes thrifted clothing (mainly sweatshirts, graphic t-shirts and long sleeve flannels but sometimes she refashions other thrifted finds too) and makes them over into really fun clothes. My point with mentioning this is that after I purged my closet I have a pile of fun graphic shirts that I was thinking I would donate most of because they don’t fit well anymore, some had holes, etc. It was seriously causing me some stress because for some of them I really liked the designs and I really don’t want to get rid of them but I won’t wear them as they are now. BUT!!! If I could cut the designs off of the shirts I love but don’t wear and combine them into something I would wear? Well now you’re talking. I have to go through the pile again and see which ones should be pulled out to repurpose. 😆 It looks like a fairly easy process. |
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gina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,461
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Post by gina on Apr 8, 2025 22:33:40 GMT
I just realized I never shared my end-of-March temperature blanket update!  Video of Jan-Feb-March together if you swipe thru this post: HEREI also crocheted this little Dachshund puppy because, why do actual work at your desk when you can do this?!   |
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gina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,461
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Post by gina on Apr 8, 2025 22:37:05 GMT
i preface my post by saying that i am a complete and utter AMATEUR at crocheting. i recently got back into it and started working on xmas stockings. i don't know what i will do with the finished products but i enjoyed learning new stitches.   I am obsessed with these! They are crocheted? They look knitted but I can't make the pic bigger. They're all so cute! |
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gina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,461
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Post by gina on Apr 8, 2025 22:37:47 GMT
i preface my post by saying that i am a complete and utter AMATEUR at crocheting. i recently got back into it and started working on xmas stockings. i don't know what i will do with the finished products but i enjoyed learning new stitches. I am obsessed with these! They are crocheted? They look knitted but I can't make the pic bigger. They're all so cute! Although (now I am quoting myself lol) the reddish-pink one does look like a crocheted waffle stitch.  |
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gina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,461
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Post by gina on Apr 8, 2025 22:39:37 GMT
Oh! And I nearly forgot, a few bandanas I sewed for my dogs. I have a 3rd dog. He just doesn't wear my sample size. lol  |
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Post by scrapmaven on Apr 8, 2025 23:59:07 GMT
I've been knitting. I'm going to make my first pair of socks. I'm searching for a good sock knitting tutorial and pattern for beginners. I really want to be able to post a photo here, but right now I still have a long way to go.
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Post by chaosisapony on Apr 10, 2025 4:16:54 GMT
Ok, the liquid soap is finally done and I have tested it. I love how moisturizing it is! My hands feel clean without feeling like they have been stripped of oils. I still need to tweak adding a scent because I don't care for having my hands smell like olive oil after washing them. I added some watermelon scent but I guess I need to add a lot more. This soap came out quite a bit thinner than I expected so I think I'll try it again and aim to make it a little thicker. I prefer foaming soap which does have to be thin and this batch is perfect for foaming. Here's my soap! I wish it wasn't so yellow in color but I'm actually pretty proud of myself lol.  |
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,366
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Apr 10, 2025 5:16:49 GMT
Hi my crafty friends! ❤️ I love everyone’s projects! These are a few of my recent projects. I’m waiting on my new K2 4 color 3D printer for my classroom. I don’t remember if I shared the lasered coat hangers my students and I made for the seniors at school.    A friend of mines DD is running for asparagus queen and asked me to make a shirt.   Another friend of mine DD is a rodeo queen and she needed a shirt for first responders day so I made this one for her.  My 13 yo DD asked me to make her a Tyler the Creator shirt.  Made myself a baseball shirt.  I lasered keychains for my DS (9) and his baseball team.  |
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Post by gillyp on Apr 10, 2025 8:38:56 GMT
chaosisapony that yellow color wouldn’t put me off using it! seaexplore that is a mountain of stuff and so creative!
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Post by cakediva on Apr 10, 2025 11:47:13 GMT
Ahh! The end is in site - I want to do nothing else but crochet right now lol.
I've got 4 more rows to finish the 6th repeat round, then the first 3 rows you have to do of a repeat before switching to the border. But of course, each row takes way longer as the afghan gets bigger, so it is slow going. I'm on a round of triple crochet clusters which is quicker than the popcorn row, but still slow going.
But no crochet today - I have to buzz to the city for a supply run, fill cake layers for my sample boxes & a wedding cake, and then get DS's birthday dinner ready. He's requested mac & cheese (I'm attempting the famous Tini's mac & cheese from TikTok) ribs & cornbread. SO healthy!
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Post by papersilly on Apr 10, 2025 17:03:18 GMT
i preface my post by saying that i am a complete and utter AMATEUR at crocheting. i recently got back into it and started working on xmas stockings. i don't know what i will do with the finished products but i enjoyed learning new stitches. I am obsessed with these! They are crocheted? They look knitted but I can't make the pic bigger. They're all so cute! thank you. yes they are crocheted. |
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,366
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Apr 10, 2025 23:19:27 GMT
Scrolling quick the colors in the socks by @suegmatch the color in the quilt started by jeremysgirlI happen to LOVE those colors! 😂 I use my sizzix big shot with dies to cut my quilting pieces all the time. I’ve got triangles, tumblers, HST, squares, rectangles, circles. |
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Post by lainey on Apr 11, 2025 8:17:58 GMT
I've been knitting. I'm going to make my first pair of socks. I'm searching for a good sock knitting tutorial and pattern for beginners. I really want to be able to post a photo here, but right now I still have a long way to go. The Winwick Mum sockalong tutorial is excellent also Earth Tones Girl on YouTube. Winwick Mum Sockalong |
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camcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,414
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Post by camcas on Apr 11, 2025 9:34:41 GMT
I took a little break from my Canalboat blanket in March, but I’ve picked it up again and am determined to finish. Just getting to the end of the 4th set of stripes. Those of us using the merino yarn do 5 sets of stripes and then the border, so I can see some light at the end of the tunnel. Now that baseball is back on, I should make faster progress.  I have the exact pack but I’m waiting for winter to finally hit- still too hot in Australia to crochet a wool blanket |
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sueg
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,140
Location: Munich
Apr 12, 2016 12:51:01 GMT
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Post by sueg on Apr 19, 2025 8:42:10 GMT
I haven’t been doing much in the way of personal craft projects this past week, as I’ve been busy with a school vacation program. Lots of Easter craft, just with kids! I picked up my knitting for the first time in a week yesterday and now I just need to keep going. The tricky bits are done and it’s just round and round for another 25cm!  I also decided to splurge on myself Thursday. I found out I was being paid much more for the vacation program than I expected (€10/hour more than expected, so €240 more in total) just before I received an email about yarn packages for an online knitting course I am signed up for on October. One just called my name - both the project and the yarn color, so I ordered it.  I won’t get it until September, but I am looking forward to knitting with it. |
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Nothing bugs me more than things are designed from the outset to not work. 
