| A new year, a fresh start and that includes the sewing room. It's almost the middle of the month ~~ can you believe it? ~~ so it's time to get it done. Change the blade in your rotary cutter. Your fabric and your board will thank you for it. It's also time to change the needle in your sewing machine. A dull needle doesn't work as well as a brand new one. Give your machine a vacuum while you are at it. It doesn't hurt to clean up your cutting board either. It will appreciate it. If you have a large board like I do you may want to wait until summer when you can lay it flat. Mild soap and water and a good rinse will do the trick. Here's what Olfa has to say about their mats: OLFA Cutting Mats love moisture! It is recommended that you soak your mat from time to time. Your self healing mat loves moisture. To soak it, put your mat in a bathtub or large container (would have to be large so it can lay flat) and soak it for 15-20 in a solution of 1/4 cup white vinegar to every gallon of cool water. Let me repeat, cool water. Do this every so often to help extend its useful life. Then use a squirt of mild dishwashing soap (Ivory) and clean the mat with a mushroom brush (soft is the key word here). The purpose of this gentle scouring is to remove the fibers that get trapped in the cuts marks preventing the cuts from "healing".Keep 'em clean, keep 'em moist, keep 'em flat and NO heat. Your cutting mat is not a coffee cup coaster! I've mentioned it before, but it's worth mentioning again. You can buy an attachment for your household vacuum that will do your machine or your computer for that matter. Nancy's Notions carry them. I'm ready to go on The Collection quilt. I have fabrics selected, the container chosen and I'm all set to work on the first two blocks................by now they could be done. I'm writing this column on the 7th.  Every Monday night after a group of gentlemen in my Town have finished their practicing at their local chapter of barbershop quarteting, they drop into their favourite Tim Horton's, get a coffee, sit down and well you'll just have to watch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0Fpl67p5qk To finish off the week............ Christmas at our House. Our older granddaughter came to help bake too. But you know Taylor.....no picture taking allowed. I must say though, her butter tart filling was really, really good. We plan on making it an annual event.  |
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