My Favorite Zucchini Bread Recipe

Well I have been on hiatus from crafting due to health issues. I am happy to be on the mend and just about ready to get busy. I did make a couple of pairs of earrings and a few bars of soap, but that's about it as far as crafting goes. I do have a bumper crop of zucchini, and I will bet some of you do to. Since I don't have any crafty things to share right now I am going to share my favorite zucchini bread recipe. I just love it and it is the best one I have found so far.It has 3 optional ingredients in the end of the recipe; I just use the pineapple. Feel free to experiment with the other optionals to find your favorite version of this bread.

I don't know the origin of this recipe, My husband  brought it home from work 35 years ago.

Zucchini Bread

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Grease and flour 2 8 X 4 bread pans

3 eggs

1 cup of  vegetable oil

2 cups of sugar

2 cups of grated zucchini unpeeled

2 teaspoons of vanilla

3 cups of flour

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of baking soda

2 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon of baking powder

1 cup of well drained pineapple (optional)

1 cup of chopped walnuts (optional)

1 cup of chopped dates (optional)

Beat eggs until light and add oil, sugar, zucchini, and vanilla. Sift flour salt, baking powder, baking soda,and spices - add to to egg mixture and stir to mix well. Then add pineapple, dates, or nuts. Pour into greased and floured 8 X 4 bread pans (2 pans). Bake in preheated oven 325 degrees approximately one hour and let cool 10 minutes before removing. Makes 2 loaves.

Note:  you can also use 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon of allspice.

Enjoy!!

My 40 year History of Using Sewing Machines

I have been an avid sewer for many many years (actually it's 50+ years), and have used several different kinds from treadle to basic computerized. When I was a teen learning to sew, my mother had an old Singer, and I mean REALLY old Singer that just made straight stitches, but I turned out some high quality projects with it, such as, tailored suits, evening gowns and original designs. It was probably one step up from a treadle which I used in 7th grade sewing class. That treadle was frustrating. You had a foot pedal and had to get in a rhythm to keep it going forward and that wasn't easy. It was powered by feet only; no electricity required. Come to think of it, that's a great idea. Maybe they should come up with a modernized, computerized version of that old machine. Those old machines were very reliable. My mom's old Singer NEVER broke down and it never needed a tune up, and that treadle probably didn't either. I don't even recall oiling it, but my memory may be a little faulty on that account. If they can make a new version of a foot powered machine, I hope it can still have all the features of the newest machines on the market. I do not miss making overcast seams and buttonholes by hand which was the norm way back then.

Upon College graduation, my uncle gave me a brand new singer, I think it did zigzag stitches, so no more hand overcasting of fraying seams and it had a buttonhole attachment. Wow! No more hand made buttonholes! What a life! This is all I remember about this one except it was traded in for the next machine about 10 years later

 As a young married woman, I bought a top of the line Bernina that had some embroidery stitches and a blind hemming stitch in addition to zigzag. That machine was my faithful companion for 30 years before it quit while my daughter was in the middle of making an evening dress for a fancy school dance. It lasted through my jaunts of custom dressmaking and doll making. I was so sad when it died, but I really did get my money's worth out of it. I forgot to mention the purchase of a Babylock serger in the 70's when they were a new thing. Can't imagine what seamstresses ever did without one. Think of our great-great grandmothers who did everything by hand!

While I was just sewing away on that Bernina, the computer era came about and sewing machines were changing dramatically. Although I really loved my Bernina, somehow I ended up with a Viking for my next machine which I still have. It's not a top of the line because I am now at an age when I don't want to fool with too many bells and whistles. Just want a machine that sews seams, blind hems and does buttonholes. Meet my Husqvarna Viking Lily that does just that and a little more. It has a little bit of simple computer programming, but nothing that vexes me too much. It doesn't have the speed and toughness (jeans) that the Bernina did, but that problem has been solved. I do love the quilting stitches that simulate hand stitches on this machine. there is a nice blanket stitch and a feather stitch.

A few years ago when I was deep into production doll making, I bought an old Brother industrial machine. This one will sew through multiple layers of denim with ease and, it sews 4000 stitches per minute. The purchase price was a mere $700.00 (it's old). All it does is sew forward and backward, but for ME, that is all that's needed. If you are doing production sewing and don't have a spare $10,000 to spend on a new one, this is the way to go. There are several feet available for narrow hems, piping. binding and such for more variety. It's not a machine you will be moving a lot, it is HEAVY. Took 3 strong people to get it in my house and down to the sewing room (I was too cheap to pay for delivery).

To complete my trio of machines is the latest purchase, the Bernina 1150 MDA serger. I love this machine but felt like I needed a degree in fine tuning because all of the adjusting you have to do for each fabric. My old Babylock required very little adjusting. Just thread it up and go. What makes this one worthwhile to me though is the super stretch stitch. It works so well with lycra fabrics.Your seams will stretch from here to eternity and not break. Love it!!! It has many other features that I haven't tried out yet and when I do, I will share.

That's my sewing machine history, maybe others will share theirs so we can all become experts - Huh? For more sewing and crafts news and fun visit me on facebook by clicking link at the top of this page.

I Made Kwik Sew 2303 - A Pair of Very Nice Leggings

Actually I have made this pattern twice and will probably make it again. What I really like about Kwik Sew Patterns in general is that many of them are classic styles that you can get away with wearing for many years as other more trendy styles come and go. They also have lots of patterns for knit fabrics.

I first bought this particular pattern so long ago I forgot which decade it was purchased in. I threw it out and then bought it again a few years ago when leggings became popular again. Some leggings you buy in the store are so thin you can read a book through them in good light. I wanted some for winter with a little bit of warmth. Luckily I had some fabric in my stash that was perfect for this. It is smooth on one side and fleece on the other. The smooth side being the outside. It is a 4 way stretch - very stretchy but not flimsy fabric. I don't know if they carry it in stores anymore, but I saw a polar fleece power stretch fabric in a couple of online stores that may work.

Like most Qwik sew patterns, it has the full range of sizes in one envelope; in this one that includes xs - hip size 32 1/2 - 34, to xl - hip size 45 -47. You trace off the size you want on to pattern making paper or sew in non woven interfacing.

I have a Viking Lilly sewing machine that has some nice stretch stitches, but my new Bernina serger has a power stretch stitch that seams and finishes the edges very nicely at the same time so I used it for this project.

This pattern has no side seams so I dare say you can probably complete them in an hour if you are a fast sewer. I love my new leggings and have worn them more times than I should mention.

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I made Vogue 8696 - A sewing tale of woe

Hello fellow sewers and welcome to the first post on my blog. Isn't it  strange that I chose a tale of woe instead of a successful project to brag about, but I feel you can learn just as much or more from mistakes as successes
 I have collected a large amount of jacket patterns for some strange reason, but this very easy Vogue was calling my name as the one that I should make first. There was a series of bad choices made by myself to make this garment, and with 50+ years of sewing under my belt, I knew better. Suggested fabrics to make it with are wool double knit and fleece. I decided to do fleece for a casual, easy care version. Now you see there are 3 views and they all have a lovely flowing drapey front. On the top view C shown in white is the one that should be made in fleece. It is one layer, with no facings. I chose to do view A in which the front is completely faced and the back is lined with a regular woven lining. 

Fleece is a bit stiff and should not be made into anything flowing especially with 2 layers. As you see here this doesn't look much like the pictures on the pattern. When I first put it on, I was so disappointed. I looked 30 lbs heavier and there was no draping going on at all. The collar points stuck out like missiles so I cut them off. It still wasn't right so I decided to take the facings off, but this is one sided flleece and the wrong side is very obviously different than the right side. On this pattern, the wrong side is going to show on the collar when there are no facings. So I decided to give it away to Goodwill. I am so sad! I love the idea of this stylish jacket. Maybe I will do it in another fabric someday.


My advice is, if you want to make this pattern use a light weight, drapey wool knit, or a double sided fleece, and do not make the facings on the fleece version.

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