A Christmas Gift for the Bull Pen

November 19, 2023

Ever wonder what "fabrics" a Benina hates?

What "fabrics" your scissors also hate-

and we won't even discuss arthritic discomfort.

By the time I finished this years

 Holiday gift for my husband- 

I would know exactly how far 

I could push my Bernina 880.

I would have had it in the shop twice!

And I knew-

NEVER again- 

would I applique 

pleather- 

cork- 

and other mixed fabrics 

on a mixed media quilt of this size...

but hopefully- 

he will love it 

and it will have all been worth it.

First,

I hate to create a pattern.

Since his dream garage 

was under construction 

he started collecting things

 and acquired a car shop light up... 

it gave me the whole traceable pattern- 

and I was on my way!

Next, I figured out a way 

to make Lieberman look as similar

 to Lambourgini as I could 

by tracing all similar letters...

Finally I felt I had my pattern and was ready to cut!

I lined it with 2 sided stabilizer so it would be "sticky" and hold in place until fused and stitched.

Alas...

ALL OF IT-

would be cut backwards

And I would need more stabilizer,

textures, and a reboot.

A few days letter, I was back on track.

And then it was time to stitch!

And the battle round was on.

multiple thread breaks until I finally

 came up with a heavy duty enough 

thread to make it through the layers...

Multiple heavy duty Needle breaks.

Machine jams and warnings.

Alerts I have never seen before!

And one crash and burn demanding shop time.

But eventually, I got there!

Then came the shiny logo fabric... 

with totally new issues- 

now my foot was slipping off the applique

 and I am reaching a pure love/hate 

with this gift and 

I just wanted it over!!!

But eventually- I got there!

I decided it weighed too much for batting- 

or any true quilting... 

so I simply added a backing, 

tabs to hang it from

and sewed it closed pillow style 

(instead of adding a binding.)

Once completed... 

And the initial relief passed- 

then came the newest dilemma...

how to actually wrap it.

Box I planned was too small.

I decided I really did not want to risk rolling it.

Sew... eventually,

I glued olds boards from boxes together...

wrapped the "thick cardboard"...

wedged it together to keep flat...

and just tied it with a ribbon.

And now it is slid under my bed.

Hopefully he won't spot it. 

And if he does... 

hopefully he will opt to "ignore it"...

Happy Holidays my Hubby!

***

Merry Christmas!!!