Nicola Foreman Quilts
  • BLOG
  • BAGS
  • CUSHIONS
  • QUILTYSTUFF
  • QUILTS
  • TABLERUNNERS
  • WALL HANGINGS
  • CONTACT ME

Beyond Measure - Sewing Machine Mat

21/4/2013

9 Comments

 
Ever since I saw this sewing machine mat on the Bloom blog I've been meaning to make one! I've needed one of these mats for ages to put my sewing machine on so it doesn't mark my dining table. Up until this weekend, I've just used a folded up table cloth - well that's all changed as I spent the day yesterday making this - the pattern is called 'Beyond Measure' Part II and was featured in Homespun magazine in 2010, and is also available to purchase and then download as a PDF file from the Bloom shop. This fabric was from The Dressmaking Collection - Vintage Notions by Amy Barrickman for Red Rooster fabrics, and has been lurking in my stash for simply ages waiting for the perfect project! I think I bought the fabric from Fancy Moon, but it was rather a long time ago! I decided to stray from the pattern again, and quilted this with lots of straight rows 0.5" apart, and used a black Mettler quilting thread. All these pockets are so useful for storing all my quiltystuff essentials, like fabric markers and pins and thread snippers and a chocolate bar or two... 
Picture
Picture
...the top edge of the pocket is piped (thanks to my residential course last year with Philippa Naylor I wasn't fazed at all by piping!!) As you can see, I adapted the pattern to suit this fabric, rather than using all those 2.5" squares. The twill "tape measure" was a purchase a couple of years ago when I went to the Festival of Quilts at Birmingham, and was from Antique Angel. My local quilt shop, Quilters Haven also stocks some similar twill tape, so I'll have to stock up from there, as it looks great as an embellishment on sewing projects! Oh and if you're wondering what those cute little sew-in button magnets are for, then scroll down to the thread catcher. See? This is such a cunning idea! The removable thread catcher clicks into place with a couple of magnets. Roslyn Mirrington  is such a great designer, she really does think of everything! Mr F will be so pleased that I won't have all those loose threads on the floor making the place look untidy when I'm having a sewing-fest. I bought these sew-in button magnets from Sew and So's at Bungay, and they were MUCH cheaper than the ones I bought from the Spring Quilt Festival at Duxford last month...
Picture
Picture
...and it simply clicks into place. See? So no more loose threads and no more trimmed off bits and no more snipped thing-ummy-bobs on the floor. I wish I'd made one of these sets before - my machine looks like such a smarty pants on it's new mat!! Oh and yes, more piping around the top of the thread catcher - Philippa WILL be impressed! I also had a cunning plan for the back of the sewing mat - I used some non-slip matting that I cut to size and slip-stitched into place by hand so that when I'm sewing my Bernina stays put. Note to self - don't try stitching non-slip matting with a sewing machine - it wont move!! Oh and of course it has been embellished with one of my "Quiltystuff" labels too...
Picture
Picture
....although my sewing machine is a lot smaller than this mat (I have the Bernina Activa 230 PE), I decided not to scale the size down, as if ever I'm lucky enough to own a larger Bernina (bit of a hint to poor Mr F - I've got a very very special birthday coming up in a few months and he might want some suggestions for a very very special present!!), then I won't need to buy more fabric to make another mat! So if you see him, tell him how much money I'm saving him hehe!!
Picture
9 Comments
Pia link
21/4/2013 06:38:49 am

This one I realy loved!!!

Reply
Nicola link
21/4/2013 07:14:16 am

Takk Pia :) this was great fun to make!

Reply
Carol
21/4/2013 04:24:38 pm

Very, very smart, a must have for Bernina owners!!

Reply
Nicola link
26/5/2013 01:02:22 am

Thanks Carol - now I "need" to make one for my daughter before she pinches mine!!

Reply
Tia
28/4/2013 05:32:28 am

Hope you get a bigger Bernina for your special Birthday Nicola!

Reply
Nicola link
26/5/2013 01:03:45 am

Thanks Tia - it's on my list along with a horn sewing cabinet..... an ipad.....need I go on?? I think I'm going to be very disappointed!!

Reply
Susie link
25/6/2013 11:45:20 am

This is so very cute with your fabrics! Love how it turned out!

Reply
Bloom link
3/5/2014 11:11:44 pm

Hi Nicola! Somehow amongst everything I have missed commenting on your wonderful sewing mat. You've done a fabulous job. Love your fabric choice. It looks very smart in black and white. You managed the technical detail of my pattern superbly! And I love the idea of the non-slip mat underneath - see I don't think of everything :) Thank you for your praise of my pattern. I am very proud of your version of it. Kind regards, Ros

Reply
Nicola link
4/5/2014 03:29:49 am

Ohhhh thanks Ros!! Your pattern was fantastic... your excellent instructions and diagrams were very simple to follow ...can't wait to try another one!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    About me...

    Hi - welcome to my quilting blog! My passions are my family, my dog, my friends and sewing, not necessarily in that order! 
    ​​I live in Suffolk, near the coast, surrounded by the beautiful countryside.  
    ​If you want to share or pin any of my pictures, please link back to my blog.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Picture

    Blogs I follow

    A Quilt Lady
    A Quilting Life
    Abyquilt
    Anne-Grethe's quiltblog
    Anne Marie Quilt
    Bente Malm Quilte-Design
    Bloom
    Cinderberry Styitches
    Daisy made it
    Dilly Dimple
    Karis Quilterier
    Evas Quilterom
    Erickaeckles
    Fantasia Yarns
    Gail Pan Designs
    Hanne's Quilt Corner
    Halfpenny Home
    I'm a Ginger Monkey
    J-quilts
    Just Jude Designs
    Kviltstina
    Leanne's House
    Liv Aagots Quilteblogg
    Lily's Quilts
    Litamora's Quilt & Design
    Lynette Anderson Designs
    Merete's Quiltestue
    Mona's quiltblog
    Pam's Paradise Stitching
    Pia Si Sia
    Random Ramblings
    Sigrun's blog
    Sølvi's blog
    U-handblog
    ZewNice

     UK shops

    These are the UK shops that I use to purchase my quilting supplies - fabrics and threads etc.
    Bramblepatch
    Buttonberry
    Coast and Country Crafts
    Craft Den
    Cross Patch
    Emma's Fabric Studio
    Fiona's Fabrics
    Glenroy Designs
    Halfpenny Home
    Hulu
    J-quilts
    KIS Quilting
    Patchwork Chicks
    Quilter's Cloth
    Quilters Haven
    Sew and So's
    The Eternal Maker
    The Fat Quarters
    The Quilt Room
    U-handbag

    Australian links

    Cookies and Cream Craft
    Homespun magazine
    Little Quilt Store
    Quilt Fabric Delights
    Under The Mulberry Tree

    Scandinavian links

    Lapp-Elisa Quilts HB
    Lappedesign
    Lappedilla AS
    Myquilt
    Northern Quilts
    Quiltegården
    Quiltekroken
    Quiltemagasinet
    Quiltespecialisten
    Sy-Sammen