neadods: (Default)
neadods ([personal profile] neadods) wrote2005-09-30 08:07 am

Learning & Shopping

Had the day off yesterday for the Sewing and Quilting Expo, which was, according to the promo information, in "Washington DC" and was, in reality, in Chantilly. I know Virginia is doubtless fighting for this kind of income, but I'm getting really tired of driving for an hour plus for "local" events.

That bitching aside, it was supremely cool. Learning and shopping - my two favorite pastimes, under one roof! Whee! Nothing but machine embroidery and quilting stuff as far as the eye can see, along with the occasional sewing machine emporium and a garnish of knitting and crochet. I took three classes relating to machine embroidery (bearing in mind the resolution to learn how to make my own patterns) but didn't pick up the extremely overpriced DVDs on the same subject. Got a flyer, though.

Learned:
Some basics of digitizing artwork for machine embroidery
How to do applique on an embroidery machine
How to machine-embroider leather without leaving hoop marks
How to make "solvy soup" (for paint-on, wash-out-able stiffening)
How to make a teflon needle (for sewing through gunky interfacing)
The types of interfacing that don't gunk up a sewing needle
The type of metallic thread that isn't supposed to break in any machine (Sulky's "holoshimmer")
The embroidery patterns that are supposed to work on any fabric (Cactus Punch)
How to wash off the dissolvable interfacing from machine lace without ruining the lace
What to expect when I buy a CD of machine embroidery patterns
That memory cards (such as Poohcifer uses) have a half-life and how to extend it

Bought:
Two CDs of machine embroidery patterns; one cutwork, one "heritage quilt tudor rose" patterns
"Crochet for the Cure" kit; learn to crochet a pink scarf, proceeds from kit go to breast cancer research (I'm probably going to take a look at the directions, but donate this to Team Wench)
Thread snips configured to make it easy to trim machine embroidery
Lunch bag (well... it was a nice one, and my old one doesn't quite do the job...)
Pattern for Jacobean Jacket
Fabric foundations for:
- 7 Sisters quilt (queen size)
- New York Beauty quilt (queen size)

...to tell the truth, I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to do with that latter; it seemed like a good idea at the time, but a couple of meals and some sleep later and I'm thinking "Oh, that wasn't your brightest move, you don't really like that pattern!" I've been meaning to do a 7 Sisters for a while; the NYB just seemed like a good handiwork project. For *whom,* I'm not sure. Although now that I think about it, I could always make a few lap quilts instead of one queen quilt - I've been promising TW a quilt to raffle for ages.

Considering how much walking I did, it was pretty considerate of my sliced foot to wait to ache until I got home.

This is me envying you again

[identity profile] tchwrtr.livejournal.com 2005-09-30 01:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Not that I have time to do anything sewing-wise, but I still envy you.

I need to get a chemise finished, and a skirt made, then there's my Dad's Christmas present, and other things stacking up on the sewing table itself, and a shirt that needs its sleeves from three years ago, and a dress that's half-finished and older than my writing career...

Re: This is me envying you again

[identity profile] neadods.livejournal.com 2005-09-30 01:37 pm (UTC)(link)
*snort* You've seen my huge to-sew list on the resolutions. Note that it just got bigger, not smaller...

Re: This is me envying you again

[identity profile] neadods.livejournal.com 2005-09-30 01:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, and PS - I am fully intending to host a couple of S&Bs at Holly House come 2006. It's about time that tradition got dusted off and returned.

Re: This is me envying you again

[identity profile] tchwrtr.livejournal.com 2005-09-30 05:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Woo! :happydance:

PPS

[identity profile] neadods.livejournal.com 2005-09-30 02:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I can't believe I forgot to say this to you - the expo IS NOT OVER! Not sure what your plans were, but the exhibit hall is open 10-6 today (Fri) and 10-5 tomorrow. Rather a long trip with a little baby, but not impossible.

Re: PPS

[identity profile] tchwrtr.livejournal.com 2005-09-30 05:52 pm (UTC)(link)
No can do--today was lunch with the hubby, tomorrow, the world!

Well, really it's a shower, but you get the point.

[identity profile] pinkribbonwench.livejournal.com 2005-09-30 02:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Gah - I never seem to hear about that Expo until after the fact. I'll have to mark it on my calendar to keep my ears open next year, especially since I'm thinking about dipping my toes into the embroidery machine waters.

[identity profile] neadods.livejournal.com 2005-09-30 02:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Bookmark www.sewingexpo.com or just write "end of September - Expo" in your calendar because it's always the last weekend in Sept. Classes are available for signup in Julyish.

There's also the MidAtlantic Quilt festival (look back through my LJ to the end of Feb) with info at www.quiltfest.com - some embroidery stuff there as well.

I got Poohcifer off ebay and am more or less happy with it... until I go to things like this and find out that there are brighter, shinier machines out there. Like ones that take USB drives instead of limited-life memory cards.

You haven't missed it!

[identity profile] neadods.livejournal.com 2005-09-30 02:45 pm (UTC)(link)
I so blithely whip off an answer about embroidery machines and forget the REAL information - you haven't missed it yet!! The Expo started yesterday and runs through Saturday. It's probably too late for a class, but if you can get to the Dulles Expo & Conference Center, it's about $10 just to go to the exhibit hall. Many of the exhibitors have little hands-on projects; for instance, the embroidery machine applique was done at one of the booths. Hall hours are 10am-6pm today; 10-5pm tomorrow.

www.sewingexpo.com

[identity profile] jennetj.livejournal.com 2005-09-30 02:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Roomie is heading off to this next week--on Wednesday she's taking a class on copying a favorite jacket, and then I'll probably head out to the expo hall over the weekend.

Did I tell you I bought a quilt-square makings kit at The Quilt exhibit in Stratford and will do up a square to send to them for their master quilt? I'm thinking I'm going to do a Hawaiian square, as I've got that lovely Dover pattern book.

[identity profile] neadods.livejournal.com 2005-09-30 04:16 pm (UTC)(link)
I saw that it was heading to your neck of the woods next. It's a complete blast, you'll both love it. (And if anyone takes the "1 pattern, dozens of looks" class, PLEASE tell me all! I didn't want to take a second day off work.)

Did I tell you I bought a quilt-square makings kit at The Quilt exhibit in Stratford

No, how cool!

I've twiddled with Hawaiian quilting once (one of the many projects I started, said I enjoyed, and then never completed). v. relaxing, but turning the corners for the fiddly bits can be... fiddly.