#MSBHQAL – Week 05
What a magical day! Mr. Sparkles purchased me a brand, baby-spankin’ new sewing machine, and I finally got to kick that hot mess of an IKEA machine to the curb. (More about that in another post, because I don’t even want to talk about it right now). My new machine is a Juki TL-98P and I purchased it from Capron-Carter. I probably committed the sin of all sewing machine buying sins by not even trying it out first! No, I didn’t test drive it at all. I literally walked into the shop, was greeted with a “How can we help you?” and replied, “I’d like to buy a Juki TL-98P, please.” A few credit card swipes later and I was walking out the door with my new best friend!
Now, I wouldn’t normally be so blasé about dropping nearly $1900 AUD, but I’ve spoken to several owners of this machine, have read lots of blog reviews, and seriously, I knew this was what I wanted. A full review will come, but so far, the unboxing, instruction manual reading, and sewing of a few test strips has been stellar. So again, more about that later.
Right now, we need to talk about some Molli Sparkles Broken Herringbone Quilt Along (#MSBHQAL) movements. This is week five, and we’re supposed to be starting the sashing, sandwiching and basting phase. However, I took a look at the results of the poll I posted last week, and 81% of you need more time! I hope you’ve been outside catching all this beautiful weather we’ve been having and not been block cheating on me!? Because if I find out you’ve been block cheating, I will come set your weave on fire. True story; I’ve done it before and I will do it again! (The Marcelle Medallion Quilt Along #MMQAL over at Penny Poppleton’s house is excluded from this weave burning).
You know who else needs more time? Grandma Sparkles! Yes, she showed up on my doorstep, saw the #MSBHQAL blocks I was making, and said, “Oh, I am making this!”(In my head there was also a z-snap and several dramatic pauses). So we’re doing some serious catchup for her as well. I told y’all at the beginning, we’re all in this together!
Grandma Sparkles has made three blocks so far, but she’s got her eyes all over my stash, so I know more are coming! This week, my gift to you #MSBHQAL-ers is time! Spend this next week catching up on your blocks, getting yourself organised for sashaying (sashing for the non-sparklicious), working on that Marcelle Medallion equilateral triangle border, or simply catching up on Danielle Steele’s latest my-bosom-is-heaving-because-this-corset-is-so-effing-tight page turner!
Before I leave you to go work on your blocks, here are my favourite Flickr posts from the week. Some of you are doing some wild things and I adore them! All that black and white is giving me stormy weather vibes, and look how many of you have started assembling your quilts! Inspiration for the rest of us!
I have also heard about the Juki machine in particular it's speed. I'll be looking forward to read your review.
Enjoy your new "toy". And you go Grandma Sparkles! One question as I get ready to sashay…is there a recommended width for the sashay strips? I was thinking of cutting 2 1/2 inches to finish at 2 inches. This is coming together nicely. Thanks for the gift of time. Gotta get sparkling! Happy Monday!
Welcome to the Juki brotherhood!!
Congrats! Great news about extra time as well 🙂 All the blocks are looking good!
Oh, Molli! Congratulations on your new Juki. I think I'm jealous but I know you are going to do magnificent things with it.
Hanging my head in shame cuz I still haven't completed a block … I tried … messed it up (that red one awhile back) but time and travel have done me in!!!! I won't be able to get back on track until late NEXT week as my machine wll be at the spa, getting refreshed and ready for all this sewing.
Oh the machine jealousy that's gping on over here!! Good thing I look decent in green 😉 In all seriousness, enjoy that gorgeous machine – I can't wait to hear your review of how it works for you!
I've got my 30 blocks done – is the white sashing 1 1/2" like we used in the blocks or different? I might go ahead and work on putting mine together…THANKS and SPARKLE on!
Gramma Sparkles' blocks are sure looking fine! Glad to hear you found your new BFF Juki. Wow that P9290105 is amazing, too!
Yay! Lovely machine! I'm so excited for you! 🙂
I adore my Juki! 1500 stitches per minute — I call her Zippy. Congrats! And lucky you to have Grandma Sparkles to sew with!
You weren't kidding yesterday when you told us today's post would be more epic than yesterday's. Congrats on the new machine, Mr Sparkles sure is a wonderful soul to have bought that for you.
Loving Grandma Sparkles blocks, I'm betting she'll have loads more churned out before some of us. I've a serious sewing session planned for this week to catch up – all my blocks are cut and half sewn, now all I need is a few rainy days to keep me stuck in front of my machine.
Oi congrats on the new sewing machine … I still remember buying mine in July, enjoy finding out all the tricks – took me about a week to get used to the lever at the back instead of on the side, and threading the threat. I guess your next QAL or swap should be a sewing machine cover – I will leave you to organize it and then just join. … ohh and the weather is miserable here .. gray, cloudy, rainy, cold … well not really cold yet we are still above freezing – waiting for the heating to kick in and there a hundred and one things to do before there will be more catching up on the blocks .. arghh why does everyone want me to show up when I have finally time to do some sewing …
Congrats on your new machine! I love that Grandma Sparkles is sewing with you. : )
I can't even. I know you want to set my weave on fire. I just know it. But trust that I have bought my Kona Black, and I'm going to make it work this weekend! So happy about your sewing machine, and don't you worry, I am up for sashaying!
OH they are all looking so good! I wish I was working away on my blocks. Alas, other deadlines have monopolized my sewing time 🙁 YAY for a new machine!!
Congrats on the new machine! I pretty much did the same thing with mine. I did like 10 stitches and said ok, I want this one! (My Bernina 330. Love her to death.) I am more and more tempted to join your QAL, but I already have my plate full with my Marcelle Medallion.
First of all congrats to your new machine! I bet you will produce incredible blocks on it – right after grandma sparkles catches up on the broken heringbone blocks 😉 wish i could participate in the #MSBHQAL. If only i could find the time… Hopefully i will be able to join next time.
BTW i did some research on google regarding the noreply blog and i think i fixed it?! Enjoy grandma sparkles!
Congratulations with the new addition to your family! 😉
All of herringbone blocks are gorgeous!
Esther
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GS is looking marginally more convinced as the photos go on, might we get a full smile by the last block? :oD
Enjoy the new toy!
Thanks for the one week reprieve- I am sewing my last two blocks tonight – can I get an A.MEN.SISTA!?! I am looking forward to your discussion on sashing – 1 inch unfinished makes me nervous as a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Lots of room for wonkiness there… Also, I'm thinking about trimming all of my blocks down to 12" unfinished just to make sure I don't have craziness when I put it all together. Thoughts? Congrats on the Juki – enjoy playing with it, can't wait to see some fantastic blocks coming our way!
Slightly disappointed that Grandma Sparkles doesn't wear a tiara… perhaps you'd have something she could borrow for her next photo shoot? Although all the blocks look wonderful as always – the test of a great block is one that ends up looking so different depending on the fabric choice and placement.
Woohoo! A proper sewing machine at last, all your very own. Too exciting, I'm very jealous (hope my poor old Janome doesn't hear me!). So seeing Grandma Sparkles is whipping up some glorious blocks (from your limited fabric collection) does this mean she is testing out your new machine for you?
Ah that machine is MAJOR! Loving G.Sparkles blocks 🙂
Great machine and thanks for the week extension! Thanks for the heads up about no-reply, I think it's fixed.
I love Grandma Sparkles! She is such a cutie. I wasn't a follower earlier (shock, I know), so I've not (yet) gotten on the MSBHQAL. It is only a matter of time, I'm sure.
Mr. Sparkles will have to pry your hands off of that new Juki to spend some time with you! Enjoy! You'll love it!
(It's not so much that I'm a "No Reply Blogger" as that I'm a WordPresser and not a blogger at all. I so very much wish Blogger would require an email address with the OpenID optioins – it would solve everything! I try to remember to include my email address, but then mostly think I'm not commenting anything particularly worth responding to and so I end up leaving it out. But this time I'll include it… clumsy.chord(at)gmail.com)
Glad Grandma Sparkles has joined the fun!