EXTENSION TABLE FOR TOYOTA

A few days ago I mentioned I had phoned Toyota about an extension table. Well, it arrived yesterday.

This shows the machine I've used for the last 10 years or so and the area I've worked on - it measures about 9 1/2" x 7". For years I'd used a cone of thread with a cotton reel stuffed in the underside so that it would fit onto the 'spike' then discovered I could get a cone holder (I think it is called)- what bliss! My daughter-in-Holland's partner also bought me one so now I have one for bobbin cotton, too. You can just see them like twin masts behind the centre of the machine. I've used magnetic pincushions for years and the little tin is an idea I got from Kath in which I collect threads and small offcutty bits which then all go into the bin rather than on the (carpeted) floor.

And here's the machine with the extension table attached. What luxury!! This sewing space measures about 20" x 11 1/2" so I should be able to improve my machine quilting non-skills...

When I moved here the room had been a baby's nursery and I was in such a rush to get everything sorted that I didn't bother with decorating, hence the frieze. I did find time to glue sheets of polystyrene to one wall and then staple an old flannelette sheet to it for my design wall and it's served me very well.

Ah, the joys of living on your own when you can do what you like to your house, though it would be useful to have a man to, say, put up shelves or shift heavy furniture. It takes a lot of reminding to get my son to come and do something I can't manage, but to be fair, he has an awful lot on his plate.

I went into a charity shop yesterday and bought two mens' shirts to recycle, one purple with tiny white lines in both directions and a black one with lines slightly wider apart plus a boy's shirt in blue plaid. They're flapping on the line at the moment, then a cutting up session...

TRIAL RUN AT MACHINE QUILTING

A couple of weeks ago I thought I'd have a go at machine quilting and this was the result of a very short time's work. The scribble on the right is me drawing out a route using a scribble stencil which I've used for hand quilting previously and realised that when I did the top left section I tried to make the turns too close so must learn to expand the 'wriggles'. Underneath was a try at a heart - OK on one half, not exactly a match on the other side (!) and I'd watched a video of someone making bubbles/pebbles but that's not as easy as it looks.

I must have another try soon as I have treated myself to a pair of Machingers and can't wait too long before I use them, can I? One thing I'm not looking forward to is having to fiddle about getting the tiny screw which holds on the different feet into the locating hole, a real trial. Any hints to make life easier?

I was talking to - someone - about there not being much room on an ordinary sewing machine to support a 'large' piece of material so emailed Toyota and found they do an extension table for my model, cost £22 plus p & p. Phoned to place an order and - their Spares dept is open from 10-12.30 and 1.30-2.30..... At least their Help Line was available to tell me as it wasn't mentioned in the email I received from them.!

Tomorrow, then.