Sunday, September 16, 2012

Pat and I were out the door before nine this morning. Registration for the Terry Fox Run/Walk started at 8:30 and we wanted to get started before the official kick-off at ten. This is the first time we have done the walk in Powell River. The route is one we are familiar with from driving, but we’ve never walked it. All of the walk is along roadways, but some of them weren’t busy at all. Pat kept commenting on how quiet it was. I saw lots of quilters out walking. As we walked I kept waiting for the crowd of bikers and runners to overtake us. We were passed by both, but never in great groups. I guess they don’t get the same numbers here. I’m sure the Hometown Run gets lots of people from outside the Port Coquitlam area.

I spent a good part of the afternoon rearranging my studio. I had the sewing table set up, but everything else was pretty much scattered throughout the room. I have a nice spot under my desk to hide my project boxes so the room looks quite tidy. I will admit though that the room across the hall gained a few items that will need to be put away another day!

I was anxious to start some real sewing. I managed to sit down with Ruby and get started late this afternoon. I had a problem threading my lighter thread (#50) the first day, but I was able to thread it with the #40-weight thread. Now that I’m more familiar with the threading, I was able to get the piecing thread loaded. I checked out my quarter-inch foot and, provided I keep my fabric in the guide, it seems to be making a perfect seam. Once that was checked out I dug out the pillowcase that I had pre-cut and stitched it together. The pillowcase uses a French Seam so I switched feet and tried the cloth guide on the needle plate. The three-eighths stitch seems to be fine too.

I’m enjoying the needle-up and needle-down feature, as well as the Auto Stop/Start. I adjusted the speed and I’m sewing at close to the slowest rate. I’ll probably be able to boost that a bit once I’m more comfortable with what I’m doing. I used the knee lever to raise and lower the presser foot, although I think that will be more useful when I’m piecing. I really like all the spots that have built in thread cutters!

I planned to see Margaret this evening but when I called the hospital they said she is no longer an in-patient. I’m assuming she was evacuated to Vancouver sometime today. I’m hoping all goes well for her – or if the procedure is finished that all went well.