Learning & Shopping

[neadods]

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.

Comments

This is me envying you again

[tchwrtr.livejournal.com]

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...

[pinkribbonwench.livejournal.com]

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.

[jennetj.livejournal.com]

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.