How to Waste Fabric...

I haven't shirred fabric for a very long time so I thought I'd make one of the girls a shirred sun dress....That couldn't be too hard, I was confident my sewing machine would handle the shirring elastic. I had all the measurements, double the chest size...but I forgot the seam allowance and an extra one or two inches. Now I'm sure there is a maths equation for all this (size, plus shirring, and shrinkage).

When ironing the shirring stitches the dress started to look awfully small. Ironing shrinks shirring, why didn't I know this? I then double checked everything else and realized I didn't have the right chest size in the first place. This is what I sewed...a mouse sized sun dress, well not a mouse really, a doll's sized sun dress.

Never mind, the wonderful thing about being a sewer is you can recycle and re-use your mistakes most of the time. I'll finish it some day with thinner straps and give it to the doll!

Help...my shirring SHRUNK!

I was very proud of my shirring too...I
used my old Bernina and she purred away
happily, not a skipped stitch or cotton
tangle in sight...

Raspberry Vodka: The Final Stage

My raspberry/sugar mix is now ready to infuse back into the bottle of vodka. Check out my blog post here for the first stage of making my 'Christmas Raspberry Vodka'.  This is the process I use and I serve it straight from the fridge cold into in a nip glass.

At this stage I haven't tasted it...I've got to drive to the other side of town and our roads here are bad (there are so many roadworks you need to have your wits about you). I'm just hoping the raspberry vodka is okay...The males in my family can taste it next time we have a celebration. They'll know if it's good or not. Though maybe I'll taste it tomorrow and let you all know...

You need a good clean (sterile) piece of
muslin to drain the berry mix through into
a sterile jug. I usually use glass but I
settled for plastic this time. My glass
jug broke in the earthquake..

 Strain through the muslin and squeeze...No that
 cat is not supposed to be there...fur
might get into the vodka. He's a
really naughty cat!

Ready to mix  and infuse the
raspberry mix into the
 neat vodka...

Pour strained raspberry liquid straight into the
vodka bottle...

Magic...it's all ready

You can top the bottle right up with neat
vodka, except I ran out. I keep the
 raspberry vodka in the fridge....

Janome CoverPro: How do I use my Extra Feet?

If you you want to find or need help with using the feet for the Janome CoverPro1000CP. Here is the Elna online site which I have found useful when sewing with my Janome CoverPro. Here you will find information about the Elna 434 coverstitch machine and it's accessories.

Because Elna and Janome are one company under two brand names you will find that this machine is the same as the Janome CoverPro (I apologise in advance if I have this wrong, I did read it somewhere though). I have not tried out this machine so personally cannot compare them. I believe it is not stocked in New Zealand.at this present time. Perhaps someone somewhere might have much more information than me on the comparison of both machines. Please feel to e-mail me with it and also correct me if I am mistaken.

Well enough of my blurb and I will get straight to the point. There is a lot information in form of PDF's that you can print off on the different Elna 434 feet...These are the same feet used for the Janome CoverPro 1000CP.

I bought the 'Centre Guide Foot' foot from the Janome sewing shop and then downloaded the Elna 434 PDF for this foot to refer to. You do get some information on the back of the Janome accessory packet for the Janome foot....But is you are like me I threw all mine away and  then put away the new foot. Having this this print-out is a really great to keep as a reference guide...I don't know why the Janome site doesn't do the same thing.

Janome Centre Guide Foot

Instructions from Elna 434 on how
to use the 'ElnaCentre Guide Foot'

Janome CoverPro 1000CP: Lost Manual?

Have lost your instruction booklet for this machine? Don't worry you can find it online. All you have to do is print it out so you'll have it handy while using your CoverPro machine...Here is the link for the Janome CoverPro 1000CP Manual.

What's in my Cover-pro Accessory Box?

In the Accessory box there is:

* Needles (Schmetz EL X 705), 2X80/12, 3 X90/14

* 1 large Screwdriver

* 1 Screwdriver small

* Tweezers

* Spool holder caps

* Nets

* Lint Brush

* A needle threader

* Attachment screws for other accessories, like a binder

Messy I know, but that's me,
always in a creative mess...

I keep all my extra Janome CoverPro 1000CP feet in the accessory box too. I'm rather guilty of not using the nets or the spool holders and I can't live without the needle clamp screwdriver to get my needles out. The needles I believe come in two sizes per packet (EL 80/12 & EL 90/14). Mine are 90/14 and there is also a sticker on the machine that states to use only these types of needles too...

I wonder why I have only one needle in here?
I bet I have two different ones in the machine.. 

I see 'Organ' do a brand too but I am yet to try them...I hope this all helps those who have not got the accessory box for their Janome CoverPro.

Cover Pro Accessories

A good visual resource on the Jamome CoverPro.