PUGCENTRIC PURSUITS
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"Everything Else" projects

I made a place to note projects that aren't knit, crochet or embroidery.  I love papercrafts, sewing, and organizing.  This page is like the Miscellaneous box in the craft room -- you never know what you might find.

Brood V Magicicadas reboot in 2016 

This is not my project.  It's Mother Earth's.  But I was there with a camera to capture the emergence of the Brood V Magicicadas in our corner of PA, way back in 2016.   Here are my notes and some pics. ​

PictureBrood V cicada emerged in southwestern PA 5-20-16
​5-21-16  This is the second Friday when they appeared in mass, all over the hostas, shrubs, honeysuckle, and maple leaves.    Last weekend there was a persistent cold, soaking rain and they seemed to have disappeared.  But then they came up again the following Friday.  It was dry and sunny, so I snapped some pics before the rain came back.  

​It's amazing how they can change their entire form in just a few days.  Last time around, I didn't pay so much attention to them.  This time, I plan to enjoy the whole thing!

We haven't heard them yet.  Can't wait!

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Brood V cicada and husks on hosta leaf in mid-May. Southwestern PA
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Two Brood V husks found on Yellow Twig dogwood bush. 5-20-16 in southwestern PA
5-25-16 magicicada update - lots more coming up.   The new ones seem a lot smaller.  We heard the first song this afternoon.  If it is just one cicada we hear - it should be an interesting June, as this fellow is very loud and attention-getting! Here are more pics.
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This cicada nymph is very red.
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Cicadas clinging to welded wire fencing.
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Brood V cicada on Yellow Twig Dogwood stem.

Fast and easy sewing machine cover

My work horse is a commercial grade Singer that's as basic as you can get--1980s state of the art with reverse, zig-zag, blind stitch, button hole features ...that kind of machine.  And the needle threads front to back, though now I am very used to it.

When I finally decided to make a cover for it, I figured I didn't need a pattern, just a few measurements. ​
sewing machine cover made with repurposed bedspread
 I used a ruler and found that front, top and back measured about 24 inches, with the width coming in at 19 inches.  I also found that the side dimensions were basically 8.5 inches by 11 inches, which is the size of regular paper.  So I took a piece of ruled paper and rounded off the top edges, to get a gentle curve to attach to the main piece that goes over the machine.  See my little schematic below.  It's not astrophysics!
improvised pattern for side of sewing machine cover
pinned sewing machine cover
stitching around repurposed quilted fabric
I cut the three pattern pieces (2 sides and 19"x24" piece) out from quilted fabric I saved from an old coverlet and stitched around each piece before joining, so the top-batting-backing would not shift too much.  Then I stitched the sides to the main piece.  It fit perfectly.  This was a fast project; I didn't even line it.  But I did finish the bottom edge with some craft ribbon.

This was a particularly happy AM project.  

  • Home
  • My Etsy Stores
  • Dollhouse Crochet
    • How I Crochet for the Dollhouse
    • Playing with Scale for Dollhouse Bedspreads
  • Embroidery Projects
  • Knit & Crochet Projects
    • Crochet Projects
    • Ideas for Using Scrap Yarn
    • Fixing a Hole in Knitting
    • Queue
  • "Everything Else" Projects
  • Vintage Yarn Library