So that's what it's for!

IT HAD BEEN LYING SULKING, tucked away from view in my sewing machine tool box since 1995, waiting to be discovered. You know the sort of thing I'm talking about - it looks useful and you always mean to check it out, but life throws up much more important things and it remains in its hidey hole.

Well, I was reading one of my favourite blogs, Flossie Teacakes, the other day (http://flossieteacakes.blogspot.com/) and there, under the heading of Gadgety Goodness, was the twin of my much neglected gadget. "Aha! So that's what it's for!" I said aloud. I can't begin to tell you what a difference it has made to my life. Prior to this, I had been measuring hems of hundreds of garments using my trusty old tape measure, continuously muttering under my breath, "Two and a half inches and a bit", or whatever obscure measurement I needed. Now, my mind is freed from the numbers mantra as I whiz around the bottom of garments with Super Gauge, which once set at a particular measurement, never lets me down.

And then the eureka moment came. I could also use it on buttonholes. My automatic buttonhole foot had a habit of dying and was revived by the sewing machine mechanic so many times that in the end I gave up. I had been using the manual buttonhole foot, but it was a minefield getting the exact same measurement on multiple buttonholes. Now all that is in the past. I set the gauge, line it up on the fabric to mark with a couple of pins, and away I go. Of course, you are probably well aware of the joys of Super Gauge, but to me it's almost as good as eating a cupcake with my morning coffee. Almost.

Flossy Teacakes also raved about the wonders of the quarter inch foot. At least I knew all about this little beauty, as I have used it for years making quilts. In fact, it is almost permanently attached to the machine and has earned its keep many times over.

Now if only I knew what this is for:

Perhaps I should look it up in the manual. I know it's lying around somewhere ...


I had sold a few dresses over the last couple of weeks, so it was time to get cracking on some new stock. I completed the first one using the Anna Maria Horner fabric which was crying out for attention. I decided it would look pretty as a sundress and made it in a size 4.






Next to grab my attention was the stash of Sandi Henderson's fabrics which I had recently purchased, and so I cut out two dresses. One is completed - size 5 ....




... and the other will have to wait a day or two.

I'm putting the left-over scraps into the challenge quilt which I have to complete by the end of the month. Well, I've made two blocks - but they're big blocks!