Is this the correct board to ask this question?

I'm just starting back after years of very little sewing and I'm kind of excited about it.

(I got a new sewing machine for my birthday.)

Totally new subject:
What's your birthstone and do you like it?

SF ::)

I used to sew, too. I still have a machine that should get a maintenance if I ever start again, but for now it works for repairs and small projects.

My birthstone is the emerald. Never having owned one, I can't really say I like it in the up-close-and-personal sense, but I'd like the opportunity to try someday.

how i wish i could!!! i wanted to learn how to make my own clothes (especially summer dresses since most commercial ones are too big  >:(  ) or if only i could take in some of my clothes myself cuze it usually costs me as much as the price of the thing itself! my granny used to do that for me but she died.

I grew up sewing my own clothes.  By the time I was 13, I was making my entire wardrobe.  I did lots of sewing right up through the toddler years with my son.  (Tshirts, sweatshirts, sweat pants, jammies and costumes).  My back was so bad by then I could only sit at the machine for a few minutes at a time.  As a result, I don't sew near as much as I used to.  I still do special project stuff - costumes, repairs, bicycle seat covers, etc.  

I bought a machine for my DIL and advised my neighbor on buying a machine for her 2 teenage daughters.  I'm so happy to pass along my experiences to them.  (And now I won't have to do their sewing for them!!)

I'm getting my partners grandmothers sewing machine and want to take classes to refresh those lessons I had when I was younger.  I'd love to make my own curtains and couch covers, and potentially clothes.  

My birthstone is topaz--I don't really care for it.  

I think I suck at sewing, but I like to make costumes.  I've made a few for the Ren Faire and I really feel proud to wear something I've made.  I hope to make some more costumes and give "regular" clothes a try when my mom brings my her babylock machine next month.  The trial and (especially) error has me a bit worried, but if I make it in muslin first and screw it up, it won't be an expensive lesson ;D

My birthstone is Garnet and I do like it.  It's like me, more than meets the eye ;)

I sew but I have never learned to use a machine so I do all my sewing by hand. I mostly do alterations on items that I want to change in some way. I did make some vests and a couple of skirts they came out really nice.

My birthstone is Peridot  :P I don't like it at all.  :(

My birthstone is Opal (though some modern lists now say pink tourmaline for October)...

I LOVE to sew - I've got 5 sewing machines - 2 antique treadle machines (one works wonderfully, the other is HIGHLY tempermental), 2 that are more than 50 years old, and my "modern" one that my mom gave me in highschool (now almost 25 years old).  I made many of my own clothes in highschool - won some sewing contests, made the costumes for our school shows... After my son was born - I spent all my "free time" finding new fabrics and making him clothes.... But my favorite sewing is hand work.  I make quilts.  LOTS of them - well - up until a few years ago, that is.  Now I've become lazy with the premature arthritis in my hands becoming more of a hinderance than an annoyance. (affects my piano playing, too) I can only hand sew for about 25 minutes before my right hand stiffens up - and at that rate, it would take YEARS to finish a quilt.  So, I've decided that after taking 2+ years "off" from sewing regularly - I'll start machine piecing the tops and button-tufting them together.  I've decided that my next quilt will be and "old/worn flannel" quilt.  I saved every pair of flannel overalls, and every flannel shirt of my sons from age 2 till 10.  I also have one of my mom's from the 60's, several of my dad's from my growing up years, and 2 of my own. (I'm always saving odd fabrics)  I'm going to cut them all down into 3 inch squares - and see what I've got!  Then, I have a large jar of antique ivory buttons - different shapes and sizes.... (I pick them up any time I'm in an antique store) and I"ll use them to join the quilt.  Gee.... just talking about it makes me want to go start it today!

nightowl

My mom was a passionate & talented sewer and for a while when us kids were younger worked as a seamstress out of the house, making wedding dresses and such for her clients. She made a lot of clothing for herself, my brother, sister and me, and designed a few dresses (sadly out of fashion now) for which she won awards. My younger sister inherited the sewing gene and enjoys making things like skirts or hats or various small projects. I enjoy sewing but never really had the inclination to pursue it. Cross-stitching is probably as close as I'll ever get, and I like it as much as anything else I do.

My birthstone is topaz. I think it comes in various shades, but I have an orange stone in my class ring, which I like very much. I'd like emerald or sapphire just as much, though.  ::)

Nightowl;
Your flannel quilt sounds wonderful!  I love flannel (it is such a comfort fabric) and using flannel from loved ones clothing will make it a special memory quilt for you.

The past two years I have made dozens of polar fleece tied blankets.  No sewing is involved, and I could use our ping pong table to lay out the fabric to do the cutting and tieing.  I have save all of the corners that were cut out and plan to piece them together to make a quilt for me.  It will remind me of the fun I had picking out the colors and patterns for everyone's blankets and the fun I had making and giving them away.  I was going to just use yarn to tack the quilt to the backing, but I like your idea of buttons.  I have quite a button collection that I'm sure I could find enough to put this quilt together.  Thanks for the idea!

You gave me a great idea, too!

I could use polar fleece instead of quilt batting inside my two layers of flannel!!!   ::)

I bought a solid neutral flannel for the backing, and with my worn, comfy flannel topper - stuffed with 2 layers of polar fleece - I think it would be sure to be EVERYONE's first choice for a cozy blanket to curl up with and watch tv!

My sister has a new polar fleece passion - she has been making polar fleece tied pillows - large couch lounging ones and even larger dog and kitty beds.  She also ties the edges.  The one she gave my kitten for christmas is his ONLY place to sleep - no matter where we put the pillow - that's where we'll find him   ;D

I have been working on all kinds of needlework this year.  Practicing cross-stitching and embroidery, finishing a knitted sweater, and doing some crocheting.  I've always liked doing those things but don't make the time.  I'd like to do some more machine sewing, but don't have a place to set the machine up more or less permanently - setting up and taking down on the dining room table (no kitchen table, so it's used several times daily) is a real drag :P

Yes!!! Unfortunately I don't use a machine. I sew everything by hand. I'll edit this post later with a photo of my latest project. If I forget, BUG ME! LOL ;D ;D
Birthstone... hm.. I believe it's garnet. And I lurrrve it.

ETA: photos!

Current project, a purse, roughly 6" x 8". Looks a little pale in this shot.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/AnaisSatin/purse01.jpg

stitching detail, closer to real color:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/AnaisSatin/purse02.jpg

more stitching detail, purse under lamp light:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/AnaisSatin/purse03.jpg

Great handbag!  It takes a lot of patience to do that by hand.

When I get bored, or when I get the urge, I'll sew things.  I've been doing it for awhile so I kind-of know what I'm doing now (sewed a beautiful summer dress one time that had about a 22" waist because I thought you had to add a 5/8" seam allowance to darts..haha).  

My favorite project was a pink floral quilt I made a few years ago.  It's made of 4 different fabrics and depending on how you look at it, you can see a number of different patterns.  The backing is fleece and it has two layers of stuffing inside.  The whole quilt is like 3" thick, and it's enormous, I love it.  ;D ;D ;D  So does my cat...lol.

My birthstone (May) is Emerald.  I do like Emerald and it matches my auburn hair, but still I prefer Saphire and Ruby.  I'd say diamond but honestly I'd rather save the hundreds/thousands of dollars and buy a $10 CZ ring that looks nicer anyway!  

Good luck with your sewing projects. :)

I sew well enough to wear the things out in public without being laughed off the street.   :o  But I sure could use some practice.  My problem is, with working a full time job, when I have the energy I don't have the time, and when I have the time I don't have the energy!  So I'm kind of putting off big sewing projects until I retire which will, hopefully, be in 7-10 years.  Maybe at that time, I'll also be able to afford a really good machine.  

My birthstone is garnet.  I used to not like the colour when I was younger but now I do.  I seem to have more ruby stoned jewelry than garnet tho.  

*beams* Every woman in my family sews...  my grandma taught me how to thread a needle before I hit pre-school.  My aunt does Gorgeous quilts for shows and things, and my mom's done some of the best historical costuming I've ever seen.  

Me, I'm a passable dressmaker, but my strength is more in weaving and spinning these days.  Be that as it may, I'm halfway through a log-cabin quilt.  Might have pics when/ if it's done.  And I can't live without my Bernina sewing machine *grins*  I worked at Jo-Ann's Fabrics for a while... it was like putting a gambling addict in a casino, spent most of the check on fabric.  ;D

Oh and Garnet.  And I ADORE it!  Rich Red's a lovely color, almost as pretty as my favorite road-paint yellow.  A good half my jewelry is garnet, come to think of it...

Weaving and spinning!  I love fibers, but have not tried my hand at spinning.  I love the feel of different types of fibers. I'm reclaiming some alpaca yarn to make into mittens and hats - I love how soft it is.

What do you make with your yarn?

depends, really...  it makes a good wheft sometimes if it's thin-spun, or the thick stuff makes good small projects, like scarves and things.  

My long-term goal is to spin, weave, and sew a linen 8th century tunic for my finacee.  We do medieval recreation with the Society for Creative Anachronism, thus all the picky-picky fiber arts stuff :)

I'd love to see your creations!  The SCA events can be such an inspiration for accurate reproductions.