#juki

SeamSTRESSED? Here is a tip for stress free sewing.

Before starting any sewing project, I make sure that everything I could possibly need is within arms reach. I am fortunate to have studio space that allows me to store things directly behind my sewing area. This makes it incredibly easy to grab tools when I need them, and put them away when I’m finished. As a result, I am able to focus on my sewing rather than hunting around the house for a seam ripper.

If you don’t have room for big storage shelves, consider organizing your sewing essentials (scissors, seam ripper, marking tools, rulers, extra bobbins, etc…) together in a way that is easy to grab when you are ready to sew.

One Piece — "I'm going up to take out Kaido!!"

I have been quite ill of late and I can't remember what I have shared about what I've been up to creatively.

My trusty Janome MOD30 (great machine, would still highly recommend!) started having some intermittent issues with recognizing that it had a foot pedal controller last year, which became less and less intermittent over time. Around Thanksgiving it fully stopped speaking to the foot controller and went into the shop and they were able to get it going again. But then it happened again. The shop tried again (and did not charge me), but felt that if their attempt to repair it failed again it may not be a fixable issue.

So I rallied my finances and did some research and ordered my new machine. I ordered the Juki HZL F300. The primary features I was looking for in a machine were a good range of stitches (I am not someone who can only have a straight stitch machine), speed control on the machine as well as the pedal, good buttonholes, foot pressure controls, and larger throat space.

It ended up having some delays getting to me so I was without a working machine for the better part of a month. The customer service at the shop was great during this time, and it wasn't their fault at all. I suspect having the machine be in transit from manufacturer to warehouse when I ordered in the midst of the initial 2025 tariffs confusion is mostly at fault.

I was at the height of my illness when the machine came in but still managed to put it through its paces and I have to say it is incredible. Its very solid and stable, with nearly 2" more throat space than my previous machine and a nice wide bed. It is quiet and moves smoothly. Literally my only quibble so far has been the placement of the imperial measurement markings being far back on the bed and hard for my middle ages eyes to see.

The first Island Batik Ambassador Challenge for 2024 is a Blog Hop, where we were challenged to create a log cabin quilt.  This is an old favorite patter, and we could use whatever layout we wanted, while using whatever technique we wanted.  I’ve created a few small Log Cabin blocks, but never a full-size quilt. We were given a line of the new Fall 2023 fabric bundles to create this quilt.  The…