Well, my 4th of July at Granny’s sew-along did not get off to a good start. I managed to get the flying geese units cut out and was in the process of making them when my bobbin ran out. As always, I took the stitch plate off and dusted everything out, oiled the machine, changed the needle, and filled three more bobbins. (I do this procedure on my Bernina 740 every three bobbins used). When it came time to start the machine up again, the needle had moved over to the right, and nothing I did would move it back into the center position. The machine is overdue to be serviced and the thread cutter has stopped working, so I admitted defeat and packed it up to go for repairs.
I am lucky to have a great backup machine, a Bernina 440 Quilter’s Edition. I got that set up, but it has a funny little fluke in that if it’s been turned off for months, it takes about 45 minutes to turn back on again. So I waited, and sure enough, it finally regained consciousness and whirred back to life. My gosh, that machine is quiet. I think if it had a thread cutter and an automatic pressure foot down feature, I would be happy with it as my main machine.
In week one, we are supposed to make 8 blocks, but I ran out of time with all the machine drama. With this first block, you make an easy 6 1/2″ sawtooth star block, then add four corners to it, then trim down to 8 1/2″. I have a Cute Cuts trim tool in the 8 1/2″ size, so I was good to go with the trimming. I sure do love those Cute Cuts trim rulers. They are pricey, but so handy to have in a variety of sizes.
Once I started in on the trimming, something made me super nervous. Do you see how the seam allowance is completely cut off at the four corners of the 6 1/2″ block? I thought I had messed up due to my poor vision, but I checked and double-checked the pattern, and even watched Heather’s trimming tutorial video, and that is what you are supposed to do. These blocks will be set on point in the quilt, so maybe it doesn’t matter? Anybody else doing this sew-along and thought it was odd?
I got four of the eight blocks done and will finish the others today. Looking at the blocks above, I can see how it won’t matter about the seam allowance of the 6 1/2″ blocks when the blocks are set on the diagonal. They will “float” due to the four corner triangles. Still, it made me twitchy.
I was able to see fairly well to cut out and sew the blocks. I have to be super careful to arrange my background fabric right-side up after I cut it out because I can’t tell for love or money which side is right and which is wrong. I also couldn’t see my star points when I was sewing, but thank goodness for an accurate quarter-inch foot, because they came out pretty well. I only had to ask Dennis to come upstairs twice because I couldn’t see something when setting up the backup machine.
18 Responses
They are beautiful— the red print you chose with the white is just stunning. What’s not to love about a floating star? I am so over matching points right now, the next thing I have my eye on is like your block. Glad you can do some sewing this week. Xox
I had some lovely Minick and Simpson red fabrics I had been saving. This is a perfect way to use them.
I would have thought exactly the same about the seam allowance. Luckily you saw the bigger picture! Such a nuisance when machines start playing up. I have backups but you can’t exactly take treadles anywhere! LOL! Loving those little stars with the red background.
It’s a vintage Minick and Simpson fabric I have been hanging on to. I am so lucky to have a good back up machine so my sewing doesn’t come to a halt while repairs are being made.
Oh my! I thought they were white dots! I was referring to your big white star on red! Even more delightful!
Well you can sew better with two injured eyes than I can with two fully functioning eyes haha! Beautiful as usual, Nicole! And I hope that your eyes are better today. Take care.
There may be some slight improvement, but I guess it will take a while. Hope the vision comes back close to what it was.
My little 440 has been happily purring along since 2000. The $65 light bulb above the needle went out and repair would necessitate two 3-hour trips two weeks apart to have the dealer repair it. I ordered a bulb and spent a fair amount of time taking the entire back off and replacing the bulb. It still does not work, so I fear this is the beginning of electronics failures for a great machine. She is headed to the dealer later this week. Fingers crossed!
I had an older Bernina that had the light go out. It was such a nuisance. They also told me that repairs would be expensive and take some time to locate the parts, so I just bought a small light that stuck onto the side of the machine. It worked ok at the time, but now I need bright lights all around when I sew, so it wouldn’t be a solution. Luckily the lights on my 740 and 440 are working great!
Not the most fun way to start a day of sewing, but as always you persevered through until a happy resolution! And yes, I would be scared at first, seeing that seam allowance cut off.
I am going to tackle the remaining four blocks today. It will probably go a lot faster!
I understand your frustration with the ‘big’ machine acting up. My machine drama happened a few weeks ago & required a trip to the Bernina shop 2 hours away. Coincidentally, it overlapped with a visit for my husband’s macular degeneration eye shot, so at least we were going anyhow. In the meantime my trusty Bernina 155 QE stepped up to the task. It, like Juls E’s machine, hasn’t had a working light for 10 years but it still purrs right along! Love that red fabric!
I think we are living parallel lives Jan. My closest repair shop is two hours away and we will drop it off next time I go in for my eye injection!
Those Berninas really are the best. I’ve owned three of them in my life and all have been wonderful. This 440 QE sews like a dream and is so quiet. If only it had a couple more features I have come to love!
The star blocks are perfect! I would have thought the same about the no seam allowance. As hard as we all work to have a perfect 1/4” seam allowance, this definitely would seem wrong. Glad you found that it’s the correct way to assemble this block.
Sorry about the machine drama, so frustrating. ☹️ Thank goodness for back up machines! Hoping your vision improves every day. 🤞🏻
Thanks Sandra. I was confused at first, but relieved when I saw that it was supposed to be done that way. I think my presser foot with its accurate 1/4″ seam guide really did all the heavy lifting for me when I sewed these blocks!
the 440 is my main machine. my poor 20 yr old Pfaff hasn’t seen daylight in years.
like everyone else….I love that red. coupled with the white it is gorgeous!
My main machine is the Bernina 440 QE and my secondary machine is my Pfaff (I bought in 1996) and I love them both. So glad to have a backup.
Hi Nicole,
Good thing you have a backup machine. I have a 740 as well. Have you checked Bernina Jeff? He is online if you haven’t seen his videos. His store is in Grand Junction Colorado. He has lot of good ideas on working with Bernina and other brands too. I usually check his website before I take my machines in for repair. As for the needle position I have no idea how to fix that, sorry.
Kathy