I love my Pfaff and Mac & Cheese too
I felt so domestic yesterday! As we sat and drank our coffee and ate our donuts, we watched the Food Network. Rachael Ray was making mac & cheese from scratch and I got it in my head to do the same.
Now when I want to cook or bake something I usually scour my vast cookbook collection, search the internet and then come up with a hybrid recipe. However, yesterday I found a recipe that needed little change -- Fannie Farmer's Classic Baked Macaroni & Cheese. I switched out whole milk for the milk & cream and I omitted the breadcrumbs because I felt lazy. The mac & cheese got a thumbs up from the whole family. (How could it not -- did you see the nutrition info -- yikes!!) The only change I would make is to use a very sharp cheddar next time.
After the mac & cheese was consumed, I decided to take the new sewing machine out for a spin. Working without a pattern, I came up with this nifty little pouch. Look at the tiny little seems I can make with this new machine:
Is that cool, or what? My zippers have never before looked this good! The pouch is fully lined and I even used bias binding to cover the seems inside. Bias binding is my nemesis and I still can't get it to look as perfect as I would like. I'm winning the battle of the zipper though, so I do have some hope that bias tape will eventually yield to my will!
Can anyone recommend some good basic sewing books?
Loving the new bag. But I do love, love, love me a pink purse. Way to go!
Posted by: Sarah | Monday, October 03, 2005 at 10:52 AM
What an amazingly cute little bag. It looks so professional. And I have to say not being a fan of pink, I still love the fabric.
Posted by: Dena Childs | Monday, October 03, 2005 at 10:55 AM
The bag is really stylish! Nice job.
Posted by: caitlyn | Monday, October 03, 2005 at 11:30 AM
Ugh, bias binding sucks! I made a purse from a pattern that called for it and I had no idea what to do with it, so I just sorta made it up. It looks pretty bad. If you find any good sewing books, let us know!
The pouch is cute!!
Posted by: Vicki | Monday, October 03, 2005 at 12:22 PM
We've always done mac-n-cheese with either Cheese Whiz or Velveeta--never with, you know, real cheese! But I gotta say . . . it's one of the few foods that I actually prefer the "fake" version of. Probably because it's the kind I grew up on. I guess there are just some flavors that you can't be too "purist" about. Yours sounds good, though!
Posted by: --Deb | Monday, October 03, 2005 at 12:48 PM
I love that bag, the fabric is so cute. Just adorable. It sounds like you had a great domestic weekend. Sewing and cooking sounds good to me. I haven't tried making homemade mac and cheese before. Someone else was just talking about that the other day. I might have to try it soon.
Posted by: Wanda | Monday, October 03, 2005 at 12:49 PM
Adorable bag! Perfect for, ummm, knitting notions! Perhaps you should sell them (hint hint). I am sewing illiterate, so no sewing book suggestions from me :(
Posted by: jillian | Monday, October 03, 2005 at 02:23 PM
The bag is great, the fabric is so cute - very retro. Those seams are amazing, How in the world did you get them so straight and tiny?
Posted by: Marie | Monday, October 03, 2005 at 02:39 PM
Bravo! Looks like the Pfaff was a good choice!
Posted by: Jan | Monday, October 03, 2005 at 03:17 PM
The bag is awesome!! You are a very good seamstress - I'm impressed!
Posted by: Renee | Monday, October 03, 2005 at 03:20 PM
You make it look way too easy.
Posted by: jessie | Monday, October 03, 2005 at 03:28 PM
I have a pfaff too and I love it very, very much.
Love that bag too, great work !
Posted by: lyn | Monday, October 03, 2005 at 03:46 PM
Great bag! The book most often recommended for comprehensive-ness is the New Complete Guide to Sewing by Reader's Digest. It's got great pictures and covers a huge range of techniques. Enjoy!
Posted by: JulieB | Monday, October 03, 2005 at 04:04 PM
LOVE LOVE LOVE THE DOTS!!
why would you need a basic sewing book anyway??? Looks pretty professional to me...
not to mention"SPOT ON!" ( i cant believe I was the first to get to say it!!)looks great!! just fab!!
Posted by: schnoobie | Monday, October 03, 2005 at 04:27 PM
That's a niffy bag! Cute! Love the fabric, it's pretty.
Posted by: lauray | Monday, October 03, 2005 at 08:46 PM
love the pouch - looks fantastic -
Posted by: kath | Tuesday, October 04, 2005 at 12:41 AM
cute bag :-) now i'm dying for a donut!
Posted by: vanessa | Tuesday, October 04, 2005 at 06:34 AM
What a cute bag! Way to go! your inspiring being so 'domestic' and all :) In the fall I tend to fall that way...it's nice. Sorry I don't have any recommendation for you...
Posted by: PJ | Tuesday, October 04, 2005 at 08:56 AM
[Fade in: Serious cooing over your adorable new bag.] Love your wee pouch! And I want to second JulieB's Reader's Digest sewing book recommendation. I took a sewing class in college and that's the book we used as our text. Nice photos, for sure.
Posted by: Another Julie | Tuesday, October 04, 2005 at 09:39 AM
i wish i could do zippers like that! are you sure you need a sewing book!?
Posted by: erika | Tuesday, October 04, 2005 at 12:02 PM
Oh my! That is one nice machine! Just in time for Halloween costumes!
Posted by: Silvia | Wednesday, October 05, 2005 at 04:30 PM
Would you mind sharing the specs (or at least the model name/number) of your Pfaff? I'm in the market for a new machine, and have been told I could get one for my birthday or Christmas this year (yay!). So I'm trying to find out what are the best ones out there!
Posted by: Natalie | Friday, October 07, 2005 at 10:11 AM
Girl you've got "Skiillls"...lol that pouch is gorgeous!!!
Posted by: esther | Saturday, October 08, 2005 at 03:19 PM
You made this?! I'm in awe!!
Posted by: Heidi | Monday, December 12, 2005 at 03:22 PM