Hi All, I hope your New Year is off to a great start! I’m really excited about my sewing plans for this year but I thought I’d start with a simple but fun project for my newly created sewing space. As part of that reorginastion, I also cleaned and oiled both my machines. Undoubtedly they’re both running smoother but the racket my overlocker still produced when working at full pedal continued to jangle my nerves. I figured quilted mats were the answer!
I had one metre of this fab tape measure print cotton poplin and I wanted to see how much I could make from it. I ended up with two machine mats – one for each machine – a cushion cover and enough scraps left over to perhaps make a matching pin cushion too! The difference the mat makes to the running of the overlocker can’t be overstated… it’s like a new machine! If you haven’t got one for yours I highly recommend making your own; I’d never quilted a thing in my life prior to embarking on this and, at least with a project this size, it’s a simple yet fun thing to do! And I got to bust out the ‘quilting guide arm thingy’ that came with my walking foot and has been languishing in a drawer ever since!
I made the above red set as part of a sponsored post for Minerva. I recently re-did my sewing room decor and re-did the machine mats and cushion cover to match! You can see the updated versions – together with a full tutorial HERE.
Hope to meet you back here soon – I’ve got a really busy week or so coming up including making a couple of Review garments from the new Wendy Ward book, a pattern test and my first magazine article being published; not exactly a bad stitchy start to the New Year eh!
Until then, happy New Year stitching to you too!
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sewsarahsmith.com 
Brilliant, She. I hope you have fun x
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Love them Sarah, I might just have to have a go..xx
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😂😂😂
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Nope, when I had the Brother, it was like a tractor :).
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You k ow you want to make one Linda! 😉😆😘
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So much prettier than an old towel!
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Ah your mach8nes will thank you for it. And your eyeballs! Xx
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A stable table will help. Try a towel under your machine to give you an idea of how much it will help. Xx
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Thank you Sonja – they help brighten up the grey winter days xx
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Cheers Helen. You too lovely xxx
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Nooooo you’re not allowed to deviate from your plans Maxine!!! I shall not be held accountable 😂🤣😘
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Thank you Sylvia x
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It’s gobsmacking the difference it makes…mind you, it might just be that my overlocker is an overly noisy jumpy thing! Or is that me!?
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Ah cheers Lynne love!! Not as brilliant as your latest skirt and top but I’ll take the compliment!! Xx
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Ah then you’re all set Jo!! When does your new job start? This would be a nice little evening project xxx
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Thank you darling! I love your blog so that’s a huge compliment!! Xx
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Thanks darling! I’m so excited about all my plans and stuff I’ve practically got palpitations! I need to breathe and slow down and enjoy them all! Xx
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Is your sewing room all set up yet Monika? It’s a fun easy project to ease you back in xxxx
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so pretty, I’m feeling mega inspired! xxx
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The mats are such a great idea, and a fun way to try quilting. I didn´t even realise the army thingy was a guide!!! What a lot of great things you are up to and we can look forward to. xxx
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LOVE!!!!!
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Great job and a nice way to have a go at quilting too! You’ve inspired/shamed me into making my own – I bought a muffling mat for my overlocker when I moved into our current flat cos I was scared that the neighbours would complain, but I’ve never done anything for my sewing machine. I *do* have some leftover batting from my massive quilt too…
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These are brilliant!!!
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These are so cool! I love the bright red accents on it and the fabric is just perfect for sewing room. I also find that I do my machine tuning and oiling when I am either reorganizing or doing a big clean up. I wish I did it more often! Also I didn’t even think that a mat under the machine would make it sound better, but it makes so much sense. Great job!
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What a good idea, Sarah! To follow!
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Great idea, now I’m going to have to make these for myself and diversify from my plans! Exciting sewing week you have planned, good luck!
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Lots of exciting things for 2018! I love your colour theme too. Have a fab start to the year!
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Great looking cushions and the fabric is awesome.
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I had never thought of making these (or even that they’d help!!) I have a fold out table that isn’t a stable as it should be and my overlocker bounces when I use it, thank you for the inspiration 😘
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Love that fabric! Right now I have towels under my machines – guess I should make some mats! 😁👍 great idea!
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