I recently learned another method for securing the start and end of a seam on a treadle sewing machine with no reverse. With this method, you make a few stitches, lift the foot, move the material to the beginning, and stitch over the first stitches.
Photo description: sewing machine foot moved back to the beginning of a seam after a few stitchesPhoto description: seam sewn on a Singer model 66 treadle machine using the lift and restitch method to secure the start of the seam
This trick joins my bag with two other methods. There is the turn-the-whole-fabric way, where you turn the fabric 180 degrees around the needle in the down position, put the foot down, sew a few stitches, then plant the needle, lift the foot and turn the fabric back to the original position, lower the foot and keep sewing. Also there is the tiny stitch method, where the stitch length is set to near zero to start and end a seam, but lengthened in the middle. All three methods work well to make it harder for the stitches to pull out.
On more modern machines there is a reverse button that allows the sewing machine to stitch backwards. Treadling an antique machine backwards will at best break the thread, or worse, make a tangled mess of your bobbin.
I repurposed the hanging chick feeder I made in 2019 to feed the wild birds. I do not plan on raising chicks again, and I do enjoy watching the birds come visit.
Photo description: Many things reused as bird and squirrel feeders: mason jar chicken feeder in a custom macrame hanger, old small tire tied up sideways to hold squirrel feed, parrot ladder leading to a mesh colander that now holds bird seed
I stole this idea from… somewhere? It seems everything has a similar scrolling format, so I’m not sure if I was in Pinterest or YouTube or what. Anyway, it is a great idea and works well to use Command strip hooks inside the cupboard to hang attachments for a stand mixer. They drive me crazy rattling around in the drawer and getting stuck.
Photo description: stand mixer paddle and whisk hanging from small white Command hooks (3 pound capacity) on the inside surface of an upper cupboard door
When you don’t have a bow for a present, but do have the plastic bag from the store and some fast food napkins, you can make a bow.
Photo description: bow made on the go from a Lowe’s bag and twine made from paper napkinsPhoto description: green plastic bag, unbleached fast food napkins, scissors
I usually have some napkin twine in my car as an emergency craft project. I prefer the unbleached napkins because the resulting twine is more aesthetically pleasing, not strong, but artful. I tear about 1/2” strips from the napkin, fold it in two, twist the single strand away from me, and twist the two strands together toward me.
Photo description: half inch strip torn from a paper napkinPhoto description: adding in a new strip of paper at the middle, between the existing strandsPhoto description: a small section of paper napkin twine, knotted at the end
To make the bow, I smoothed out a plastic shopping bag, the kind with handles, and cut it into four equal width sections, two long, two short.
Photo description: plastic bag cut vertically into four sections
I start with the long sections and fold the ends to the middle with about a half inch overlap.
Photo description: plastic bag section folded with the ends to the middle and overlapping
I repeat the fold for all four bag sections, then stack the four pieces with the longest on the bottom. Often, cutting the bag results in mis-cuts, sections of bag that don’t go from end to end. I pull these out as added decorative elements.
Photo description: all four sections of plastic bag folded and stacked, with some off cuts pulled out as “ribbons”
Using my paper napkin twine, I scrunch together the center of the plastic bag stack and tie the twine around using a square knot on the long side (back of the bow).
Photo description: plastic bag sections tied together with paper twine
Then comes the fiddly bits (for me). Each loop of plastic from the stack gets opened up and pulled away from its partner(s). This fluffs the bow and gives it volume. I work from the back forward, and one side at a time.
Photo description: back two loops of bag separated, pulled gently 90 degrees apart, and roundedPhoto description: finished emergency bow made from a shopping sack and paper napkin twine
I’ve been collecting visible mending pins on Pinterest, so when my eldest tore her jeans, I sent her to my Pinterest board to pick a pin.
Photo description: preparing to mend the hole in the knee of a pair of jeans with a scrape of knit denim colored fabric, white thread, needle, and scissorsPhoto description: back side of the sewn patch after trimming shown next to a white cereal bowl that I used as a sewing supportPhoto description: front side of the jeans with five stitched spirals holding the patch
I quite like visible mending, it is a chance to add a little flair and do good.
Critters and Craft 