Island Paradise & Singer 15-91

Island Paradise

I don't live in a tropical area but I certainly love tropical flowers. This large hibiscus fabric is bright and cheerful, so I chose complimentary prints in colors to match. Luscious melon, bright lemon and fuchsia, soothing green and black are bracketed with cream.

I laid out the design in EQ8, moving colors around for balance. I repeated the layout on my design board, sewing the squares, rectangles and quarter square units into strips. After I finished all the strips, I sewed them together for the center section. I added a green 1” border, then featured the large print as a wide border, plus backing/binding.

I quilted the center on our newly restored Singer 15-91, and boy does he sew a pretty straight stitch. I followed a ruler to space long rows 1½” apart, using pale gray thread. On the borders I switched back to Janome to ruler quilt a braided design. Island Paradise finished out at 60” square.

Dies used: 

Blue Wren 6015 1½” strips
Accuquilt
55160 Rectangle 4½” x 8½”
55018 Square 4½”
55047 Quarter Square Triangles 4½”
55488 Strip 6”


NOW, the Singer: I found him on Facebook Marketplace for $50, in a basic cabinet. We already had a 15, but needed parts, so off to Kentucky we went. Turns out this one was in better shape, so Jerold tackled it first. The cabinet lid hinge was broken off, likely because the swing-arm support didn't work. While waiting for new hinge, he took apart the motor, cleaned, lubed, oiled everything. No other adjustments needed, timing was perfect.

Check out the shine! 

Born in November 1948, this Singer has lovely trefoil decals. The few dings and scratches give him character. We cleaned, polished and waxed machine and cabinet, added an LED light and fixed swing-arm. We named him Woodrow, after Captain Call in Lonesome Dove.