Treadling the day away

One of the perks of having a shop on Main Street is that every time there is a parade in town, I have a front row seat.  This morning, the students at Washington & Lee put on a parade as part of their Mock Convention.  I arrived early, moved some merchandise out of the window, and pulled a seat up to my treadle machine to sew while I watched.

See the needle felted angels watching over me while I sew?

The parade was fun, but entirely too short.  When it was over, I didn't feel like doing shopkeeper things like pricing new yarn and placing orders, so I declared it a "sew day" and continued working on my Fading Charms quilt that I am making completely on my treadle from 2" squares.

I may just make one of these with all my different sized pre-cut squares.  I certainly have enough.

Tomorrow, I should really work while at work, but we'll see - I may be in the window treadling away the day again.

Window Quilting

I spent most of my day making a dozen crayon rolls, waiting on customers, and helping two of the guys I recruited to Washington and Lee University sew nylon drawstring backpacks to take to the gym.

They brought these kits with them and I helped them assemble.

But every chance I got, I went to the window to work on my first treadle quilt.  I am using the Fading Charms quilt as inspiration, but of course, true to form, I am modifying it a bit.  Here's what's hanging in the window for the weekend.  It was hard to walk away at closing time today; I could have stayed there sewing until dark!  I am loving treadle sewing!!!

It is hard taking a photo of something in a window.  What's the trick?

My first quilt on a treadle machine!

I bought a Franklin treadle machine at an auction years ago, and it has just been hanging out at my house waiting for a new belt, some oil and some TLC.  I brought it into the shop on Wednesday, and on Thursday, one of my instructors said, "Hey, want me to get that going for you?"

Well, YEAH!!

She reconnected the existing belt, showed me where to oil it, how the vibrating shuttle operates, and got me going.  I also have a 1929 Singer treadle here that she got going, too.  AWESOME!!!

Here I am playing with it yesterday:

Then, today, I put it up in my display window and started making a scrap quilt with it.  Genius!  I get to sew with wonderful natural light, PLUS I can see all the comings and goings on Main Street.  And you should have seen the people stopping to watch on the sidewalk (and then coming in to ask questions and shop)!  This is going to be FUN, FUN, FUN!  It is so mesmerizing to use, and the stitch is beautiful!  I'm telling myself that it also counts as exercise.  :)