Machine Needles

I don't know who needs to hear this. But if you were waiting for some kind of sign, this is it. Change your sewing machine needle. Heck, buy a stack of them so you can change it regularly. My favorite needles are these titanium coated topstitch needles from Superior Threads. The larger eye is perfect for embroidery, and suitable for everyday sewing. Seriously, treat yourself.

My favorite tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle Fiskars Rotary Cutter

Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler

Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion

Dritz Craft Pins, 1-3/4-Inch (250-Count)

Electric Quilt

Project box: IRIS 12" x 12" Portable Plastic Storage Cases with Built-in Handle, Clear (storage)

Letter Openers

Fiskars Rotating Cutting Mat 14 inch x 14 inch

Creative Grids Stripology XL Ruler

Creative Grids Triangle ruler

Titanium-coated topstich needles

Needle Felting Adventure

As a crafter, have you ever gotten an idea and been unable to let go of it? No matter how hard you tried? Well, this needle felting adventure is one of those ideas. I don't know why, but I had the idea to make some wool dryer balls. Can I buy wool dryer balls? Absolutely (link at the bottom of the post). But where is the fun in that?

Because I wanted to make dryer balls, I grabbed a box of roving. I estimated I could make several with this box.

I wanted some colors so I added in this box of 24 colors. Each of these isn't enough to make a ball, but it should be enough to color a dryer ball. I haven't tried that, yet. 

I didn't want it all to be work, so I also added this kit to make weird and wonderful cacti. If you just want to give needle felting a try, there are so many small kits available. this one just seemed fun to me. 

I wanted the dryer balls to be dense, so I grabbed some 100% wool I had and wound it into balls. I felted in the end and then wrapped the ball with the roving, felting along the way. If you're curious, just poke around YouTube looking for needle felting.

I made four felted balls. These are ready for the dryer! My felting journey isn't done, yet. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Wool Felting Needles

100% Natural Wool Roving

Woolbuddy Felting Wool

Woolbuddy Needle Felting Kit

Just want to give wool dryer balls a try but don't want a new craft? Check out these options. They come in so many colors and designs!

Dotted Rays Finish

I estimate the bind-off for this shawl was 450+ stitches. It wasn't quick but it is always satisfying to finish a knit project. 

Here it is before blocking. 

I love wet blocking to open up lace and create a little drama. 

See how those double-yarn-overs open up!

I love this shawl for its simplicity while knitting and the impact it makes as a finished object. 

My guess is this is about 250 grams and a good size. 

Now I all I need is some cooler weather so I can wear it. Details, including the pattern and yarn source can be found in my Dotted Rays Update post from July 2020.

Tools and Supplies (affiliate links):
Needles: Knit Picks Options Wood Interchangeable Knitting Needle Set - US 4-11 (Sunstruck)
Blocking mats: Balance From Puzzle Exercise Mat with EVA Foam Interlocking Tiles
Blocking wires: Knit Picks Lace Blocking Wires & T-Pins
Knit blockers: Knitter's Pride Knit Blockers & Pin Kit

Stitch markers: CLOVER Lock Ring Markers 20/pkg

Dotted Rays Progress

Just a quick update on my most recent Dotted Rays. I added the second ball of yarn from Yarn Hero. Shifting blues in a colorway called Video Game. I'm changing colors in an attempt to blend them with bold stripes and using more stripes of the contrast color to create more blocks of color. I'm loving how it is working up. The next wedge should really show this effect.

I shifted to the 60" cable for this photo. This is likely the last time it doesn't look like a lumpy mess when I take a picture. I am so happy with how this is turning out.

Tools and Supplies (affiliate links):
Needles: Knit Picks Options Wood Interchangeable Knitting Needle Set - US 4-11 (Sunstruck)
Blocking mats: Balance From Puzzle Exercise Mat with EVA Foam Interlocking Tiles
Blocking wires: Knit Picks Lace Blocking Wires & T-Pins
Knit blockers: Knitter's Pride Knit Blockers & Pin Kit

Stitch markers: CLOVER Lock Ring Markers 20/pkg

Dotted Rays

I have hoarded this great yarn from past year's Maryland Sheep and Wool Festivals long enough. It was time to cast on another Dotted Rays and get knitting. 

This yarn is by Hobbledehoy Yarn + Fibers. I saw it at the festival and had to have it. 

The pink/purple/blend is an amazing yarn by Yarn Hero. I love yarns like this.

The constantly changing colors just make me happy! I love knitting this shawl.

Tools and Supplies (affiliate links):
Needles: Knit Picks Options Wood Interchangeable Knitting Needle Set - US 4-11 (Sunstruck)
Blocking mats: Balance From Puzzle Exercise Mat with EVA Foam Interlocking Tiles
Blocking wires: Knit Picks Lace Blocking Wires & T-Pins
Knit blockers: Knitter's Pride Knit Blockers & Pin Kit

Stitch markers: CLOVER Lock Ring Markers 20/pkg

Knitting Update

As usual, I have more knitting projects in progress than any sane person should. This is one of those easy to carry projects. Only a few balls of yarn and big needles to make a simple scarf or small shawl.

I've been working on this fun shawl from Stephen West's latest shawl book. It might be the smallest shawl in the book, but it isn't the quickest.

I picked up this fun sock yarn by Into the Whirled at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. 

Yesterday I finally wound it into a cake so I can make it into some amazing socks. The colorway is called Captain Tightpants. I have a pair of socks made with their colorway Wibbly Wobbly, Timey Wimey, and they are one of my favorites.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Knit Picks Options Wood Interchangeable Knitting Needles Set
Addi Turbo Interchangeable Knitting Needles
Stanwood ball winder

Odds and Ends

I have been in a sort of creative slump. I'm having difficulty getting motivated to embark on some new sewing adventure. That doesn't mean I'm not creating, I don't think that is possible. I just haven't found a new project I'm really excited about. 

I did finish my Helix Hat. It isn't shaped like the pattern because I wasn't paying attention when I read the pattern. It was a good project, though, and I will likely make another.

Sometimes I think my motivational block is caused by some of the clutter in my creative space. There is only so much room. Take this pile of... stuff, that has been growing over the last year or so. It was pretty deep and not serving anyone. I decided it was time to sort through it and make room for new ideas. Some things were thrown away, some sorted and put into bins, others recycled. 

In the end, this is what I was left with. A single sheet of bag instructions, one notebook, and some wipes for machine oil. Not bad. Too bad I haven't managed to do the same to any other piles in the studio. Maybe next week. I've got to pace myself. 

I've had this yarn waiting to become something for a long time. I finally wound it into cakes and started another shawl. 

This is a simple boomerang shaped shawl. Increase every row, decrease every other, and get a fun shape that works well with a limited amount of yarn.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Knit Picks Options Wood Interchangeable Knitting Needles Set
Addi Turbo Interchangeable Knitting Needles
Weekly & Monthly Planner

Another Dotted Rays

I started another Dotted Rays early in the year. I've been working on it during those times while I'm waiting, or riding in the car. These little bits of time are rarely wasted.

This one is pretty small as it uses less than 150 grams of sport and DK weight yarn. More of a shawlette than a shawl. The solid is a DK from Knit Picks. The multi is a Knit Picks sport weight yarn I dyed last June.

As usual, I decided a nice wet-blocking would open it up and give it some character.

See, it just fits around my form's shoulders.

Blocking really opens up the details.

An understated shawl but a perfect scarf.

Tools and Supplies (affiliate links):
Needles: Knitter's Pride 6/4 mm Dreamz Fixed Circular Needles, 32"
Blocking mats: Balance From Puzzle Exercise Mat with EVA Foam Interlocking Tiles
Blocking wires: Knit Picks Lace Blocking Wires & T-Pins
Knit blockers: Knitter's Pride Knit Blockers & Pin Kit

Close to You Shawl

This is not my first go at the Close to You shawl. I made one last year, too.

I've been working on this shawl for what seems like forever. I decided I wanted to repeat the edge as the bind-off, so it has been slow going. I miscalculated the amount of yarn I would need to finish the edging, so I had to add in another yarn to finish it up. I even ended up playing yarn chicken a second time. I had about two yards of the black leftover, so I was cutting it pretty close.

Bound off and ready for blocking.

Wet blocking is slow when winter comes because it just isn't as warm in my studio. Letting it sit for about 24 hours got it done, though.

Look at the lacy edging opened up!

Pattern: Close To You, free pattern available on Ravelry

Details about the red yarn can be found in this post from earlier in the year. The yarn is from Tempting Ewe.
Details about the black yarn can be found in this post from last year. The yarn is from Dancing Leaf Farm.

Tools (affiliate links):
Needles: Knitter's Pride 4/3.5mm Dreamz Fixed Circular Needles, 32"
Blocking mats: Balance From Puzzle Exercise Mat with EVA Foam Interlocking Tiles
Blocking wires: Knit Picks Lace Blocking Wires & T-Pins
Knit blockers: Knitter's Pride Knit Blockers & Pin Kit

Snap Tab Crazy

I've been stitching up more than a few snap tab designs. This fun little floppy disk design is from Designs by Little Bee. See those little curved craft scissors? I bought those to make applique easier and I'm so glad I did. Each of those little labels is a piece of felt appliqued onto the tab. I am really pleased with the finish.

I made a couple more large hand sanitizer holders with the baseball design. I like how this one finishes up. The one with the teal outline is what happens when you trust your embroidery machine to do its own thing. I guess I'll have to give that one away with a hearty "I'm sorry it sucks."

After the floppy disks, a friend commented that people under 30 years old wouldn't know what those were so I made some Pokeball snap tabs. Many of those young people grew up watching Pokemon and playing Pokemon on Nintendo systems.

Skulls! Everyone loves skulls.

The downside is that my space ends up looking like a disaster area. So many things and ideas and so little time. It's great fun making that mess, though.

Tools (affiliate links):
Magna-Glide bobbins
Fiskars Curved Craft Scissors

The Best Tools: Brother 10-Needle

A fellow member of the Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild wanted to sell her Brother 10-Needle embroidery machine. I've wanted a multi-needle embroidery machine since I started using my Pfaff Creative Performance more often. A single needle machine is fine if you do designs with few colors, but if you want to make more than one of a thing, or designs with several colors, changing threads can be a full-time job. There are tricks you can use when creating, or combining designs, but you still have to change the thread for every color change. This was a deal I couldn't pass up.

Gettng this monster home was no easy task. This machine weighs in around 90+ pounds. Definitely a two-peep carry. Thankfully, I brought along my darling husband to be the second peep. We went back and forth on where to put the darn thing, because while the footprint isn't huge, it is larger than the desktop I was using for the Pfaff Creative Performance. I had this IKEA table I had intended to use for standing and sewing. That standing and sewing didn't seem to materialize, though it did collect more than a few things on and around it. We moved all the collected stuff and moved it into the next room where I could plug it into a protected outlet on my conditioner/UPS. I use the same one to protect my desktop computer and my long arm.

There isn't much space between the long arm frame and that table but the machine fits and I can get my behind between the two.

Because I couldn't think about anything else, I made a mess of my workspace and got to stitching. This was pretty much the state of my cutting table for about a week.

I made this fun hand-sanitizer holder that looks sort of like a baseball (design from Designs by Little Bee). That may not seem like much of an accomplishment, but telling the machine which of those 10 needles you want it to use for each step isn't as simple as one would think. I learned so much making this. I'll be making more, and learning more.

I will get around to putting a couple things in my Etsy shop at some point. Right now it is a somewhat lonely place with a couple dice bags just hanging out waiting for someone to want them.

The Best Tools: Juki

I've been looking at a few of the straight stitch only machines for a while now. There are a couple that were very similar and I thought I might like for piecing and bag making. One was the Brother 1500 (series). The other was the Juki TL-2010Q.

In the end it came down to which one popped up on social media with a good sale. Another maker in a group on social media shared a Massdrop link to the Juki. It was a good price (about $120 less than Amazon) so I decided to go for it.

There was some suspense while waiting for it to be delivered. UPS challenged my calm the entire way. It came a couple days later than expected but came in one glorious piece. If you are someone that moves around a great deal, and has the room to store such things, you might want to hold onto the packing materials.

Here is the Juki unboxed. This is not a cheap, plastic machine. I was pleasantly surprised by the weight of this machine. I might discuss the features in more detail in another post, but I can cover the features that sold me on this model.

• It stitches up to 1500 stitches per minute (my Pfaff can't do that).
• It has needle up/needle down
• It has thread cutter, and I'm not talking about the little cutter on the side of the machine. It has a thread cut button and if you rock back on the speed controller it will cut the thread.
• Speed control from turtle to rabbit
• Knee lift
• Includes (not shown) an extension table to support your work.
• Accommodates a cone of thread, which means I don't need my thread stand any more 

I put it in place of my Pfaff machine. That doesn't mean I won't use the Pfaff anymore, just that I will be using this machine as my everyday piecing machine. It includes a walking foot, two free-motion feet, and five bobbins (which isn't nearly enough in my opinion). 

To test it out, I stitched up a charity quilt for Annapolis Quilts for Kids. I was very pleased with the performance of the machine. It never missed a beat.

It did set up some vibrations on my table, which made one of my project boards fall and spill its contents. Those tiny pieces will become something, I promise. Now, if you will excuse me, I have things to sew.

Juki TL-2010Q