Sunday, June 22, 2014

Hurricane season

The Hurricane Cognoscenti are saying that there will be few, maybe no, hurricanes hitting the Gulf Coast this summer. The El Niño circulation is starting to form in the Pacific Ocean; historically this has meant fewer storms in the Gulf of Mexico, possibly more for the Atlantic Coast. Not that the early predictions are ever 100% correct & not that we are letting our guard down! No, we're checking battery, bottled water & canned goods supplies, starting up the gas generator, planning an evacuation route & destination.

I've also gotten out my hand-crank sewing machine, my Singer 99K, Agatha. I haven't used her since the year I got her, the first year after our last hurricane, Ike. I sought out the machine because of our time without electricity. I decided then that the best thing to keep me sane & happy during & after the next storm would be the ability to do some sewing -- a portable, non-electric machine was the answer.

Lynn, The Little Red Hen, has also gotten out her Singer 99. She plans to enjoy sunny, balmy weather with some outdoor sewing & has invited others to join her for a #crankalong & some #backporchsewing. I won't be sewing outside -- too hot, muggy & buggy here! more like #undertheairconditionerventsewing for me! -- but I have been thinking about a project so I can crank along with Lynn.

The patchwork needs to be quite simple because you are sewing one-handed while the other hand powers the machine. It takes getting used to (I keep looking for the foot-peddle) but it really is very pleasant -- just a few steps away from hand sewing. I chose a spike-y star made with slivers of bright batiks. I'm making them kind of like paper piecing -- I mark the line on the back of the square & sew the batik on from the back. Once I get into the motion of assembly, it will go fast & because the blocks will be large -- 10 inches -- it won't be long before I will have cranked out a quilt top!



6 comments:

barbara woods said...

i will have a treadle when hubby takes the time to put it together

Rachaeldaisy said...

It must be a relief not to worry too much about hurricanes this year. It's great to see that you're getting cranky with Agatha. Your spikey stars are so full of zing!!

O'Quilts said...

Getting cranky with Agatha...that is sooo awesome. I want to get cranky too!! Oh, I guess I am already..minus Agatha(:

Nifty Quilts said...

I love your little hand crank machine. I think we all should have one. Very pretty stars!

Tonya Ricucci said...

you're much better than I am about paying attention to the hurricanes. I know I should be but I probably won't until they start talking about one coming... oh yeah, not gonna catch me outside sewing either. I would probably hand-piece before using a crank machine. cute little blocks!

amy and the bad cats said...

oh this is fun! we were lucky and only lost power for a few hours during ike, but we've still made sure the generator is in working order, and stocked up on LED lamps and water!