How do I love thee...

Let me count the ways ... For this post I'm going to talk about the features that I love on my Janome 6600. The Janome is my 'off the frame' sewing machine. I use it for piecing, binding and all the sewing tasks I do off the machine quilting frame. This machine is a pure joy to use, so today I'm going to rave about it.

First of all it has a layered fabric feeding system. This means that it will pull multiple layers of fabric evenly through the sewing machine. This is great for accurate piecing and super for machine quilting off a frame.

Second, it's got a longer arm giving 2 inches more space for maneuvering  fabric around.

Third, it has a great set of handy buttons giving you fingertip control for start/stop, reverse, needle up or down and a thread cutter. My son just loved these. When he was little he sat on my lap and pushed the necessary buttons while I pushed the foot pedal and guided the fabric. It was a great way to do a mother/son quilt.

Fourth, there are 2 lights so you can really see what you're doing.

Fifth, there are diagrams on the machine to show you how to thread it and on the bobbin plate to remind you which way the thread should be coming off the bobbin. Being directionally challenged, I love this.

 

Sixth, it has an extendable thread guide so I can use the larger top-wound cones ideal for machine quilting. These larger cones are much more economical than the smaller spools, giving you more thread for your money.

Seventh, it also takes pre-wound bobbins. I really like this too, because I hate having to stop what I'm doing to wind a bobbin.            

 

 Finally, I love how simple it is to use the special features like writing letters and using the special stitches. It's so easy that even the kids can do it. Here are Rosie and Pete showing their projects.  

The Janome 6600 has lots of other great features, but these are my favourites. To see the others, follow this link:  http://www.couling-sewingmachines.com/machinequilt6600p/marthamilne6600p.htm

End Notes

Did you know that selvage can be spelled two ways? Since I started following Karen Griska's selvage blog I've been saving selvages. When we decided to have a Space themed party to celebrate Pete's 10th Birthday, I wanted to make a table runner. I had some great fabric that would be fun to work with. I also had a pile of selvedges that I'd been saving. I've been wanting to use them but wasn't sure how.

Then I got an idea. Peter was turning 10. I thought that I could use the color dots on the selvedges that went up to 10. And , of course, count downs from 10 went well with the space theme.

While I was counting dots I started finding some fun words and it occurred to me that I could piece them together to make a message. Martha is such an unusual name, I couldn't believe my luck when I came across it on the edge of some Rowan fabric.

Just 4 Fun

This year, just for fun, we decided to have a Space themed party to celebrate Pete's 10th birthday. The space theme left us wide open to include include everything in any space film from the last 30 years; from Luke Skywalker to Mikey from Monsters Inc.

We dressed up and gave out glow in the dark wands.

We decorated monster cupcakes and made kiwi aliens.

The kids had a blast.

For decorations we were able to use some space/time themed quilts that the kids had made years ago for a Festival of Quilts children's competition. And with the left over fabric, stashed away all those years I decided to make a space themed table runner. I'll write more about the table runner tomorrow.