Godzilla

One thing living in your parents house allows you to do is remember and reconnect with household objects you grew up with but may have forgotten. An item I have a new-found appreciation and love for is this crazy old kitchen knife we grew up with, aptly named "Godzilla." 


As a child or teenager, one typically doesn't give much thought to their parent's cutlery, but since my new contribution to the family (now that we're living here) is cooking our meals, I find myself using this knife many times a day. And I love it. I don't even know where they got it, but it's like a family heirloom. TK thinks it looks like some relic from the Crusades.


Godzilla may look and be old, but it cuts everything like it's slicing butter. I honestly try to think of what could possibly need chopped or diced just so that I can use it. For all I know, knives made these days are better, but not the ones I've encountered. So I'm loving this puppy while I can...and asking for it to be written into the will that I would receive it. We'll see if my siblings object. It could result in an eventual family feud, but I've just got to keep that knife! 

Don't Scare Me Like That!

October can be a scary month filled with jack-o-lanterns, ghosts and goblins. These fools are nothing compared to the fear and dread of your sewing machine (for the first time in your life) not working. Last week, I lowered my feed dogs to work on something and when I went to raise them, they would not come back up. I read my manual and did as it said. I lifted the presser foot, flipped the feed dog lever to its raised position, and turned the handwheel until I was supposed to hear the feed dogs snap into place. The lever didn't engage. The feed dogs didn't snap into place. Nothing was working.

When TK heard my moans of desperation, he came and asked what the problem was. Through my anger and frustration I tried to explain what was going on and that I needed the feed dogs to be in their raised position so that my fabric would be pulled through the machine properly. He proceeded to commandeer the machine's screwdriver and rip apart my baby.

I warned him repeatedly to not mess with the bobbin and that if my thread's tension was off or destroyed at the end of this, we would have serious issues. I have every confidence in my husband's ability with tools and his ability to discover the inner workings and mechanics of most things. I do. But there is a whole industry in sewing machine repair and I didn't want to take any risks, especially with several projects lined up in my sewing queue.

He persisted. And persisted. And persisted. In the end, I had a machine that was working, feed dogs raised, bobbin/tension intact, and a very proud and accomplished husband. Evidently it was a more complicated issue than just what I had thought, but my hero worked it out. Ye of little faith! I breathed a huge sigh of relief and immediately got to work sewing to make up for lost time.

Tool Time! | Grabbit Magnetic Pincushion

For anyone doing sewing of any sort, a pincushion is usually found not too far away. Pincushions are used to store pins or needles with their heads protruding so one can easily take hold of them while working. Typically, they are a small fabric cushion, stuffed tightly with wool or another filling so that pins are held firmly in place. Your mother (or father for that matter) probably had one that looked like a red tomato with a little baby pepper also attached to it. While I don't use pins that often (sometimes it is just easier and faster to line your material up and hold it in place), they are necessary for several aspects of quilting and sewing.

If you are in the market for a pincushion, look no further! I've been a fan of the Grabbit Magnetic Pincushion for years and I'm a firm believer that once you have this pincushion, you will never need another (unless want another, prettier one, which is entirely possible). Using pins while sewing is made simple and hassle-free with this round, magnetic plastic pin "cushion." You'll also never have to worry about dropped pins... you can sweep your sewing area with the magnet and the pins will cling to it for dear life!

Your local craft retailer may stock the Grabbit Magnetic Pincusion, but if not, you can order it online through a variety of dealers. They are priced around $10 or less and there are several color options. Now get out there and start sewing...

Batter Bowl = Better Bowl

A few months ago, before we had unpacked all of our wedding gifts, I was searching through my kitchen high and low for a mixing bowl. I had an old metal one that was small and shallow and just wasn't cutting it anymore. I would literally have to mix half of a recipe in this joker and then mix the rest after transferring the first half into another container. Sound confusing and complicated? It was... and I desperately needed something that worked. We must have gotten a mixing bowl that I just haven't found yet, I thought to my bowl-less self.

I ventured down into the basement where a few boxes still remained, and to my utter delight hit the jackpot. I found this beauty - given to me by one of my very best friends - and since then I have had no need for any other mixing bowl.
First of all, it has an easy to grip handle which I have found very convenient for pouring, mixing, and generally not losing control of the contents within. It is also relatively deep and can hold a decent amount of, well, whatever it is you're mixing. Another bonus would be its pouring spout. Even in smaller recipes, I use my precious batter bowl. I will wash it several times during a making of a meal if it means I get to keep using it throughout the process.

You can search high and low, but I promise you you won't find what you are looking for in a mixing bowl until you buy this one. It's on sale right now at Crate and Barrel for the low price of $9.95. I repeat, $9.95. I'd advise you to get yourself one... or stock up so that you can give anyone you know with a kitchen a present they'll cherish for all time. You may think I'm exaggerating, but I'm being completely honest here. Who knew a mixing bowl could be so exhilarating?

UPDATE (4/17/08) - Crate and Barrel doesn't stock the bowl anymore...fools! You can find it at Bed, Bath, and Beyond here.

Tool Time! | Olfa Rotary Cutter

There used to be a day when quilters had to use good old-fashioned scissors to cut their fabric. Luckily, that day is no more, thanks to the invention of the rotary cutter. Rotary cutting is perhaps the technique that will save you the most time in quilt making, as it eliminates the need for marking and cutting individual fabric pieces and strips. Beyond saving time, rotary cutting improves cutting precision, thus allowing for a more accurate quilt that lines up and who's seams meet in all the right places. As I venture into the wonderful world of sewing clothing as well as quilts, I can see the benefit of rotary cutting when cutting out pattern pieces too.

Rotary cutters function and look a lot like pizza cutters, but their blades slice through multiple layers of fabric. There are several different styles of rotary cutters, as well as different blade sizes, each of value for different types of cutting. I prefer the Olfa Deluxe Rotary Cutter 45 mm. It has both a safety lock and an easy-to-grip handle that lowers the blade when in use.

Generally, rotary blades will allow you to cut more layers of fabric at one time, but cutting too many layers at once can ruin your accuracy, so get plenty of practice before you try to be a hero and pile on loads of fabric. Replacement blades are easily found, so be sure to swap your blade for a new one as soon as it begins to dull.

When rotary cutting you'll also need a self-healing cutting mat (also available from Olfa), unless you want to slice through your fabric into your table/hard surface. Don't forget your clear quilter's rulers (I prefer Omnigrid) in order to make straight cuts and so that you can quickly and easily measure fabric strips. Necessary ruler size will vary depending on your project, but I mainly stick with a 15x15-inch square ruler, a 24x6-inch rectangular ruler, and a 18x2-inch rectangular ruler, which usually get the job done. Omnigrid rulers also have 30, 45, and 60 degree angled lines on them so that you can easily cut fabric at an angle other than square.

Rotary cutters can be found at any and all fabric stores differing in price. The Olfa's are usually between $10 - $40, but can often be found on sale at JoAnn Fabrics. Now, get quilting!

Ode to My Huskystar 224

I've had my sewing machine for 3 years now and it has never once let me down. I bought it with some money I had saved one summer and an extra $100 I made from a garage sale. At this point in my "quilting career" it has all I need. You'd be amazed at some of the machines out there that do some pretty crazy things and cost mucho dinero, but this humble Huskystar 224 (a descendant of the Viking - Husqvarna brand) keeps me happy.

There's a new line of Huskystars now, but I've heard from others that the "older models" are more powerful... plus I think the 224 just plain looks better. Some of my favorite features it boasts are its speed controls, one-step button hole foot, needle-stop up or down option, top loading bobbin, and automatic needle threader. You should hear this baby quietly purr as it stitches along.

Someday I will probably move on from my humble machine, but for now, I am proud of its every stitch!