Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Here's a look at everything that I received for Christmas....  (everything purchased was previously budgeted for - and, all purchases were made with Cash Money).  See Black Friday & MTMMO

All of my Christmas Gifts revolved around Sewing - well, this is SEW ReInvented Audrey!  Really, one thing led to another:

1. New Sewing Machine (And, yes - I love it!): Brother CE8080PRW (purchased on Black Friday, but it was a roll back special at Wal-Mart)
2. 9 New to Me (Out of Print) Vogue Patterns (Black Friday - great deal)
3. New Look 6130 - There are so many reviews of this shirt on PR, I really wanted this pattern
4. FABRIC! and Thread from Fabric.com (Black Friday)
5. Pinking Shears - how did I ever live without these?  My projects are starting to look as nice on the inside as they do on the outside.  So winning!

I still have $25 in the Christmas budget, and I'm trying to decide on what to get.  In retrospect this is so funny, I would spend $25 without blinking.... Now, I've been trying to decide since Black Friday.  There are several sewing related books on my Amazon wish list.  Or, there are some dress maker shears.... Or, the possibilities are endless.

 
Needles Up,
Always Audrey

Feature Friday - Blind Hem Stitch

Brother CE8080PRW - New Sewing Machine

My Favorite Feature - Right Now, Today:

Blind Hem Stitch

When this stitch works... I mean, when the user knows how to use the machine properly to complete this stitch - it is wondrous!  OMG!  I'm able to hand sew using the blind hem stitch, but it takes time to complete it.  And, I mean - a lot of time.

The very first time I attempted to use this function on my new sewing machine.  I got it mostly right - I just needed to adjust the stitch width to get it perfectly right.  Then, everything went down hill from there.  So, I removed the stitches, so that I could re-sew it.

Mental Brake....

That's gotta be what I happened because - after that, I tried about 7 more times to use the blind hem stitch and it was every type of wrong that you could possibly imagine.  There are a lot of things that I can just look at it, try it once and get it.... But, the functions on this machine take a little more thought (and, I need to remember that).  And, the line drawings in the book only leave me confused.  So once again, I turned to you tube and found a great video on the Blind Hem Stitch from whoyoum: Blind Hem Stitch - First Steps with Brother CE8080PRW

Thank God for you tube!  And, thank God for Nadia & whoyoum for posting these great videos that I'm able to watch over and over again.

**I'm so going to get it!**  Now, that I've watched the video about 10 times, I realize that I was (repeatedly) placing the fabric the wrong way under the foot.  Even though, it looks right when I put it under the foot.  I have a busy weekend planned, but hopefully, I'll be able to squeeze in a little time on the machine to get some more practice in..... Actually, since my goal for December is to Finish what I start - I have a few projects that I could practice using this stitch on.  I'll let you know how that goes.

This has got to be the best thing ever! Well, at least until I figure out the next best thing.

Needles Up,
Always Audrey

Finishing What I Start

I have a bad habit (well, depending on your perspective)....
I like to start things. 
Starting things isn't the real problem....
The real problem is that I procrastinate when it comes to finishing what I start.

This weekend, my promise to myself is that I will finish what I've already started before I start anything new.

Namely, I need to finish the following projects before I can start on new projects (and, I have some new projects that I am itching to get to):
* Pink Pants from V8541 - finish the hem on 1 pant leg.  (Really, all that's keeping these pants from being done is one pant leg?)
* Print Dress from V1250 - make a decision on the hem, and move it from the UFO stack to the closet.
* Tweed Skirt - finish the hem on the tweed and the lining
* Purple Jacket - finish the sleeves and the hem
* Pink & White Skirt - re-cut missing piece and finish the skirt

I think I see a trend... Everything is a spring / summer weight (so, there's no immediate gratification) and everything needs to be hemmed.  Surely, this will be motivation for me to figure out how to use the blind hem stitch on the new sewing machine. 

Hopefully, my next post will be a review of something that's completed and hanging (or, soon to be hanging) up in my closet.

** I really need to finish up these projects to make room in the studio, since I received my new fabric (Tuesday - wow, fabric.com that was super fast) and patterns (Friday).

Needles Up,
Always Audrey

Feature Friday - Automatic Threader

Brother CE8080PRW - New Sewing Machine

My Favorite Feature - Right Now, Today:

Automatic Threader

Okay, so it took me about 30 - 40 minutes to get it..... More like the magic threader.  I mean, I would luck up and make the automatic threader work, but I couldn't figure out how.  Until I watched this you tube video posted by whoyoum:  First Steps with Brother CE8080PRW Computerized Sewing Machine

I can wind a fresh bobbin, do the upper threading, and use my automatic threader in about 2 minutes (and, that includes time for my happy dance!).  Now, that's fast!

This has got to be the best thing ever!  Well, until I figure out the next best thing.

Needles Up,
Always Audrey

Dear Button Holes, I'm No Longer Afraid!

I hope you don't get tired of hearing this... Because, I doubt that I'll get tired of saying it.

I LOVE MY NEW SEWING MACHINE!

Here's the 8 Button Holes that I can now make!

This weekend after getting it set up.  I started playing around with the different button holes.  OMG!  There are 8 different button holes.

I used black thread on pink fabric, so that I would be able to see everything clearly. 

Closer view of Button Holes

Needles Up,
Always Audrey

Black Friday & My New Sewing Machine!

I bought a new sewing machine!

I've only had my previous sewing machine for a year (I bought it last year on Black Friday), but, when I purchased it I bought the most basic $50 machine.... I hadn't sewn anything in years (more, like decades).  And, I wasn't sure I would actually use it - BUT, I have.

 

It was hard trying to decide what would be the right machine for me.  I mean, I didn't want to purchase another machine that I would outgrow in a year or so, but I also didn't want to make a major purchase. 

 

Really, I thought I made a decision - but, Wal-mart announced a last minute roll back.  I didn't see the update until late Wednesday night, so I knew - I would be headed out to the stores first thing on Black Friday morning.

 

I ended up with a Brother CE8080PRW (the pictures above are from Brother's website). 

And, I got it for $134.97!  80 built in stitches --> with a total of 8 different automatic button holes.  OMG!  Automatic button holes!

 

All day, I've been planning to get home, so that I could start playing with my new machine.... But, I'm way, way too tired.  Of course, between trying to get the 50% off thread from Fabric.com at 1 this morning (and, they had already sold out of the white Gutterman), and getting to Wal-mart at 6:45, then going to work.... I'm just too tired.  Really, what was I thinking?

 

I did open the box, but I still need to take everything out. 

Once, I get it set up - I'll be sure to post more pictures! 

P.S.  I haven't given him a name yet, but I'm sure I will!  Right now, he's MMII (Magic Maker #2)!

Needles Up,
Always Audrey