Thanks so much everyone, a lot of good ideas for me to mull over! I'm off now for a week of camping with DH today so I will report back in a week or so on how I got on. haha, I feel so enthused about the project now I wonder what DH would say if I ever so sweetly asked that we postpone the camping trip for a few days???? Yikes...don't think that would be a wise thing to do...no, not at all....and afterall he has agreed to stop in to the local large haby chain store here on the "way out" so I can pick up some more machine needles that are on sale at present! Can't resist a sale!!!