Craft Corner

So cute @Former-Member 😊 Thanks for sharing.

Here's one I pinned and meant to share with you. She looks so fun, helpful and warm and kind of reminded me of someone 😉

Pattern here ❤ If I had a desk or table to sit at to craft, I'd almost certainly be making a crafter granny to put on it!

Hope you're enjoying your show @Bunniekins ☺

@CheerBear OMG! CheerBear you are so clever. She is adorable and yes she reminds me of our own SunShower! 😄

@CheerBear You never know CheerBear

Oh, goodness gracious me! @CheerBear @Bunniekins she is totally adorable .... and ... if you only knew how sorta like me she is!

I carry all that stuff on me ...used to often be seen with pencils, or crochet hook pinning up my hair, pins in my lapels, cos you never know when you'll need them (yourself or to help someone else).

I have a tape measure on my key ring and in my handbag, buttons and threads and needles too, oh, and folding scissors since I can no longer carry my Swiss army pocket thing! Blades too long = concealed weapon *sigh*

Thank you so much for sharing, she is so utterly sweet, I think I may have to make her somehow. I might be able to make her from fabric, but the effect won't be the same. Can't stop smiling looking at her. Will put her on my desktop for now.

@Catcakes I do hope you feel better soon. Head colds are no fun at all.

I too am a sucker for the Brit tv murder and mayhem series! Have you seen/ are you watching Shetland? -- me tooo @Former-Member, @CheerBear, @Bunniekins

@Shaz51 Hi Shaz51 yes I have seen Shetland and really enjoyed it :D. There is something about how the Brits do their crime shows .... they just know how to do them well.

@Bunniekins @CheerBear @Appleblossom @ anyone else following the sewing machine suggestion stuff

This is the list I came up with after much consideration, GreenPea. I will endeavour to find some links to sewing machines for comparisons too if you would like that. I'm sure I will have missed something, I have left out some minimal things like the onboard thread cutter that I find quite useless, however I recognise that others might find it important.

Please let me know if anything needs more explanation or if you, or anyone else has questions, or more input.

Important in a sewing machine:
* foot control included (yep, some make y'haveta' buy 'em separate)
* sewing light built in
* Winds bobbin on top of machine NOT through the NEEDLE - you do not want it winding through the needle, slow, damages thread. You'll end up buying a Sidewinder to wind the bobbins and spend more $ than needed.
* I now prefer mechanical (ie NON-computerised machines) as the computer parts can break too easily and too often.
* A machine that takes Universal type feet ie Janome take universal feet, Bernina not so much. Feet can be very expensive and depending on what type of sewing you progress to doing, you may need different feet from what comes with the machine.
* Stitch variable speed control
* A good spread of types of feet plus extra bobbins should come WITH the machine on purchase.
* Easy to remove bobbin and bobbin casement (where the bobbin sits and rotates or oscillates) for ease of cleaning out caught threads (top loading is rotating - front loading oscilates and tends to give a better stitch)
* Semi- Auto button hole capability with a button-hole foot is a must.
* Stretch straight stitch
* Stretch zig zag
* Straight stitch/ zig zag in multiple types and width capability/
* Stitch length and width adjustment
* adjustable needle position (right /middle /left)
* Hard machine cover, not soft plastic nonsense
* Instruction Manual so you don't have to pay heaps to download one online
* Easy to fit feet
* able to sew without fabric underneath without catching and clogging bobbin ie: don't have to hold the threads when starting to sew (some Elna's used to have this need)
* proper length electical cord (some o/seas machines are being made with 30cm ish length cords)
* reverse stitching
* free arm/ flatbed convertible (must have imo) - free arm which is removing the larger flat area, means you can sew smaller openings easily. I rarely have the flat bed on.

Good options but not deal breakers:
* built in needle threader

Things to be mindful of:
*weight if you're going to be lifting and carrying it places.