MY 'NEW TO ME' SEWING MACHINE - A BROTHER PQ1500SL (IT'S A BEAUTY; AND I SOLD MY PFAFF 7530) - Sunday, August 4, 2024

Why did I buy a new sewing machine while I still had my Pfaff 7530 Quilt & Craft Pro Sewing Machine (see below)?

I have been quilting for more than 25+ years and thought I was perfectly happy with the machine I had.  My Pfaff 7530 Quilt & Craft Pro was over 20 years old and was the top of the line when I purchased it.  She had a bunch of built in stitches and IDT (the Integrated Dual Feed system) Pfaff was known for.  She could do a mean button hole and hem jeans through four layers of denim like nobody’s business.

But . . . she didn’t like to Free Motion Quilt and her throat space (the area between the needle and the right side of the machine) wasn't nearly enough. And now my Pfaff was not as faithful as it first was. Whenever I wanted to sew, I would have to set up my machine and wait for anywhere from 4 to 6 hours before the computer screen on the sewing machine would come up. That was very frustrating and I didn't have that much patience -- especially when I just wanted to sew!

So first thing I did was research what type of sewing machine I wanted. I decided that I did not want a computerized sewing machine -- particularly because we live full-time in our RV and it always had to unplugged. 

I started diligently researching other sewing machines over the next few months.  What can I say, I tend to be an over analyzer.  Some of the features I was most interested in were the things my Pfaff was lacking -- a larger throat space, the ability to easily free motion quilt and speed.  My Pfaff was more of a slow and steady kind of girl, but I needed some speed.

And typically where do you go when researching sewing machines -- the internet of course.  I poured over quilting websites and blogs. I knew I didn’t want to invest in another computerized machine due to the troubles I had been having.  I also knew that I wanted a heavy duty, industrial type machine -- a workhorse that had only a few features but would do it’s job really well.  

While continuing to do some research, I also started looking on Facebook at gently used sewing machines listed for sale. I saved some of the listings for several different sewing machines and continued to research and began watching a few You-Tubes about different sewing machines. But what I kept coming back to was the one I had found on Facebook that I thought would be perfect for me -- a Brother PQ1500SL. The lady selling it said she had only used it a short while (as it had been purchased about 1-1/2 years ago -- January 30, 2023). 

So after messaging the lady selling the Brother PQ1500SL sewing machine and negotiating a little on the price, we were able to come to a price we were both ok with. She had originally wanted $800, but I got it down to $680. A brand new machine of this calibur would have cost me between $1,100 and $1,200 -- so I was happy indeed.

So today we drove to Denver to pick up my 'New to Me' Brother PQ1500SL sewing machine (see above). 

Besides the sewing machine, it came with the manual and a lot of extras (see the pictures below).

 

Extras (see above and below) included multiple threads, sewing machine cover, extra light for under machine throat, about 35 different yards of fabric, miscellaneous silky fabric, 2 rotary cutters and replacement blades, five plexi rulers in different sizes, two pin cushions, and more.

And about a week later, I listed my Pfaff 7530 Quilt & Craft Pro sewing machine on Facebook and . . . SOLD IT along with the Sew Steady Table I had made for this sewing machine!

My new Brother PQ1500SL was just what I needed. It is considered an industrial or heavy duty machine, and it is not computerized. It will sew up to 1,500 stitches per minute  -- and that is crazy fast! It also came with an extension table and a larger throat space (8-3/4 inches to be exact). 

I am so THRILLED with my decision!

Shirley & Mel

UPDATE ON CONTAINER HOME AND CRAFTS (DONATIONS FOR BFNA REUNION IN 2025 - WOODEN PLAQUE, WOODEN BANK & QUILT; TRENCHING FOR ELECTRICITY & WATER; MICROWAVE & BATHROOM SINK INSTALLED; DOORS HUNG; MAKING T-SHIRT YARN; AND OUR STACKED WASHER/DRYER IS INSTALLED) - Monday, July 22 - Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Monday, July 22, 2024

While we were in Iowa for my 50th High School Class Reunion, we stopped at Joe Costanzo's house to pick up the two items that he made to donate to the Blaisdell Family National Association Reunion to be held in July 2025. 

He made the above wooden plaque and the wooden bank below to donate. Thanks so much Joe!

And I am making the lap quilt below in the log cabin pattern to donate.

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Today, Mel was at Home Depot to pick up the trencher he had rented at 6:00a.m. in the morning. At 7:30 a.m., as soon as he got back to the ranch, he and Skeeter began to dig two trenches -- one for 50 amp RV electricity and the other one for water to connect to the container home and our RV when we are here in Colorado.

Shown above and below, Skeeter is running the Groundhog trencher.

They were all finished trenching at 11:15 a.m. I then went around and took pictures of the trenches dug by this fantastic piece of machinery -- just like a groundhog digs holes in the ground.

They dug 100 feet of trench for each of the two trenches that they dug today . . .

Around the buildings and the RV, the trenches went . . .

It was truly a process to behold!

At around 11:30 a.m., Mel was cleaning up the rental Groundhog trencher and then had it loaded into the back of the pickup truck and we were on our way to Home Depot to return it.

And then at 2:00 p.m., we were in the checkout line of Home Depot with a smaller load -- some pex (which is a flexible plastic used for plumbing as an alternative to copper and galvanized steel pipes in water supply lines), some conduit and a few pieces of trim (see above and below).

When we got back home, Mel began working on stretching the waterpipe and putting the conduit into the newly trenched holes. He would finish that up in the next day or two.

Saturday, July 27, 2024

The microwave convection oven had arrived, so today Mel installed it in the container home (see below). It was just like the one we had replaced in our RV. It's crazy, but now they can also be run by bluetooth technology. Go figure!

Mel also did other little jobs like putting the bathroom pocket door on (see above) and putting the bathroom sink top and faucet on (see below).

And then Mel hung the barn door in our bedroom in the container home (see above and below).

Sunday, July 28, 2024

Today, I decided to try my hand at making yarn from old t-shirts. I have been told that it is a way to make some super cool and colorful yarn. And all you need is some of your old t-shirts and a really sharp pair of fabric scissors or a rotary cutter and mat.

How to Make the Yarn

1. Grab a t-shirt and the first thing you want to do is cut off the bottom hem. Next, you need to cut the shirt straight across from armpit to armpit, making sure you cut through both layers. This leaves you with a rectangular shaped, double layer of fabric (see below).

2. Next, you need to cut your fabric into strips. Decide how wide you want your t-shirt yarn to be. Obviously, the wider the strips, the heavier and bulkier your yarn will be. I cut my strips about 1 inch wide. Beginning at one edge your fabric, cut a 1 inch strip, straight line from the bottom to about 1 or 2″ from the top fold. Make sure you don’t cut all the way to the end. Repeat until you have cut strips all across the t-shirt. Try to maintain the same width across all of your strips but again, it is okay if they are not perfect (see below).

3. Gather the t-shirt where the strips are still connected at the top. From now on, you will cut in diagonals. To begin, diagonally cut from the outside edge to the point where you ended cutting the first strip. This will be the beginning of your yarn. The second strip will be cut from the cut end on the bottom to the cut end at the top of the next strip. Continue cutting all across until you reach the end (see below).

Don’t be alarmed if you have some wonky, zig-zaggy pieces (see below). Once you stretch out the yarn in the next step, you’ll never even be able to tell.

4. Notice how the yarn lays flat? You can leave it that way or you can stretch it out which makes it curl and closer resemble traditional yarn. It also makes the strip longer. If you wish to curl your yarn, all you have to do is pick up a length of the yarn and stretch it or pull it between your hands. 

Just start at one end and pull the t-shirt piece to stretch it. As you do that, it magically curls up onto itself (see above), thins out, and becomes yarn! How cool is that? Do this all along the t-shirt strand, roll it into a ball, and you’re done!

Shown below are some strips of t-shirts that I cut to make yarn.

Shown below is after I have stretched the strips of t-shirt material to make the yarn.

I then wound it into a ball (see below).

Below is some of the balls of t-shirt yarn I have made as well as a few strips that I need to wind into balls.

I have several rugs I plan to make with the t-shirt yarn including the one in the picture below of a rectangle rug.

I am planning to make at least a couple of rectangle rugs (shown above) using the t-shirt yarn I am making. Mel has already put in a request for two rugs for our container home -- 20 inches by 30 inches so this pattern should work great!

If I decide to make a kitchen runner rug for in front of the sink area -- it may be like the one in the picture below. This runner would measure about 75 inches long and 21 inches wide.  

Here are the modifications to the original pattern to get a runner like this:

1. Chain 153 for the foundation or base chain.

2. Use standard single-crochet.

And I may try my hand at an oval rug as well (see picture below). Who knows?

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Today is our son Ben's 37th birthday! Happy Birthday Ben!!!

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Today, at around 1:15 p.m., our stacked washer and dryer for the container home arrived. Yipee!!!

The white truck backed up to the container home and prepared to unload it.

The two men wheeled the washer/dryer over on a dolly.

Then the two men put on the 2-Person Lifting Strap and Moving System Shoulder Belt and easily lifted the washer/dryer. 

Once they got the box with the washer/dryer up on the deck, they readjusted their straps and prepared to take it inside the container home.

Before taking the washer/dryer inside, they had to cut off the box (see below).

And then work to lift off the box.

Above, Mel looks over and inspects the washer/dryer.

They are now working to get the styrofoam off the bottom, and prepare to take the washer/dryer inside the container home.

With shoulder lift straps in place, they lift it toward the patio door.

And as you can see below, it barely fits with not a lot of clearance through the patio door.

With Mel's direction, they get the washer/dryer back to where it is to go.

And then finally, the washer/dryer gets jockeyed into place.

 And then by 1:30 p.m. they are loading the empty box back in the truck (see below) and are on their way. 

Mel continues to get it all set up and ready for a test load of laundry.

And around 5:00 p.m., Mel has started the first load of laundry.

The stacked washer and dryer are so quiet, and they work great! What a blessing they are. As Mel and I sit outside on the deck and listen to the quiet hum of the washer and dryer, we sigh in relief that we can now do our own laundry within the container home and still enjoy the beautiful bounty and nature within our surroundings that God has provided us! 

Shirley & Mel