Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Drunkard's Path Hot Pads


These Peas Taste Funny


That's right, it's another Curves Class project.  They're pretty much all I've had time to work on lately, but I'm enjoying them and learning so much so that's okay!


This was my first attempt at precise curves, meaning piecing a concave and convex curve together and allowing for the seam allowance in the cutting.



With the first quarter circle I sewed I pinned it.  Then I got brave and did the rest without pinning.  Of course there was some unpicking and resewing, but it went well for the most part!


The funny thing is the most time consuming and frustrating part of this project was not the curves.  It ended up being the binding!  I am usually a stickler for hand stitching the last step of my binding, but I decided for something like hot pads I could break that rule and try something different.  So I tried to finish it off with a zig zag stitch.  My sewing machine had been acting a little funny, but was still working.  However, when it came to a zig zag stitch it completely rebelled!  My zig zag was coming out as a straight stitch.  




After cleaning out my machine and determining that the problem was more than I could fix I borrowed my mom's back-up machine.  It worked great for the first one.  Then when I went to finish the second one the next day it was having problems!  It wouldn't pull the bobbin thread up and my top thread kept breaking.  I re-thread the needle, I re-thread the bobbin, I turned the machine off and on.  Same result.  After pounding my head on the table a few times I set the project aside and began cutting material for another project.


When I had calmed down (I'm a embarrassed to say I got really frustrated) I went back to the hot pads.  Turns out the bobbin casing wasn't quite in right.  Earlier I noticed the plate was loose so I took it off, took out the bobbin casing and dusted things off a bit before putting it all back together.  Apparently I didn't get it put back together right.




Once that was taken care of I cruised!  I turned it over to admire my work only to realize the zig zag completely missed the binding on the back!!  Oh man.  I left the project for the day at that point.  This morning I woke up refreshed, unpicked again, and zig zagged my heart out.  Finally a finish I could be happy with!


I like them both.  The red and black has a bit of a retro look to me, but I think the black/white, black/yellow/grey combo is my favorite.  What fun additions to my kitchen!  I already have plans to whip up a few of these for gifts.


Remember, the name of my blog is Third Time's a Charm, and there's a reason for that. :)  I ofter learn lessons the hard way. 

Check out Rachel at Stitched in Color.  She's the one teaching the Curves Class.  And check out the other projects I've blogged about from the class!



































11 comments:

  1. Wow, I'm sorry you had such a hard time with your machine and then the zigzag didn't even catch. AAAh. I would have went to bed too.

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  2. Oh, I would have been pretty darn frustrated too! I love these little projects that you've been making in your class. You are learning so much (including patience, ha ha). I'm so glad you shared at our party this week.

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  3. I love the hot pads and your pillow is gorgeous too. I'm following via bloglovin. I host a monthly bloglovin hop and would love it if you joined in. I also host a weekly link party on Wednesdays. You can check it out at www.thenymelrosefamily.blogspot.com/2012/03/whimsy-wednesdays-1.html. I'd love it if you linked up weekly. You have some amazing projects!

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  4. I feel your frustrations! My bobbin case gives me trouble all the time! Thanks for sharing your third-times-a-charm success at Dwell on Friday!

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  5. They look great! Thanks for sharing at Things I've Done Thursday! www.bearrabbitbear.com

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  6. Great finish...looks like you are a pro at those curved seams! I am big DP fan myself. I just got my DP quilt back from the quilters and just love it! Hope your sewing machine stops giving you so much trouble. Smiles~Beth

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  7. Too bad they gave you so much trouble, but they are just beautiful! I've had a similar problem with the zigzag on one of my machines lately. Tried everything to fix it, but I think it's just due for tuneup. lol Glad you had a backup plan!

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  8. Those are so pretty! I love the color! Great job!! Thanks for sharing at Thursday's Temptation.
    Jill

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  9. Oh I hate those frustrating days with the sewing machine! We all have them - glad you got it all sorted in the end, and finished another great project!


    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a fabulous week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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  10. These turned out really well - a great way to use up extra blocks!
    Found you through I Should Be Mopping the Floor - hope you come by for a visit!

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  11. these look fab!!

    thanks for sharing on Serenity Saturday!
    Can't wait to see what you link up later today!

    Natasha xxx

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