So I am at the sewing machine, happily stitching zig-zags around more 4x4 bandage pads. I had just switched an empty spool of thread for a full one, when the stitches went all wonky. I fiddled with the dials, trying to adjust the tension to straighten out the stitches. Didn't work.
So then I went in search of the instruction manual, tearing apart the book case where I thought it was. Finally found it, buried under a stack of quilting books. By that time there were books and magazines scattered all over the floor.
Read the instructions. Tried all the fixes for stitches. The zig-zags were still wonky.
Frustration is building. I dug out my other sewing machine, only to find that the spindle that holds the thread was broken off. Why do they make these things out of breakable plastic? Better buy some super glue soon.
Gave up and fixed a sandwich for lunch. Back at the machine, I took a long hard look and discovered I had threaded it with quilting thread by mistake. Quilting thread is stiffer and thicker than regular sewing thread. No wonder the stitches had gone all wonky.
Threaded the machine with regular sewing thread. Worked like a charm.
By the time I figured out what was wrong and cleaned up the mess I made looking for the manual and packed up the second machine and put it away, my morning was shot.
Those who don't sew will likely not understand how frustrating these machines can be sometimes. And those who do sew will get how something as simple as using the wrong thread can really mess things up.
Yep. Dunderhead.
So then I took a nap, which seemed like the most reasonable thing to do at the time. :)
This and That
5 hours ago
shouldn't be called sewing as it is a lot more than sitting at the machine, including prep and clean up. takes hours if you don't have a dedicated sewing room.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, deb...There is much more to it than just the sewing part. I do have a table in my living room where I can keep my machine set up, but cutting, etc. is all done at the kitchen table. Makes a mess, that's for sure. :)
DeleteMy wife quilts. She has two machines, which compared to the machine my mother had, are technological wonders, with computers, fancy attachments, and things that break.
ReplyDeleteA part broke on her favorite machine a few months ago. It was remarkably small, had a little piece of spring steel, and the spring steel lost its spring. Seventy six dollars later, it was like brand new.
It was an interesting experience. I was amazed at the intricacies of modern sewing machines, and completely resolved to never make the mistake of trying to repair one. I'll leave that to professionals, which gives us an opportunity to take the one hour trip to her favorite quilt store.
Jess...I have never been lucky enough to own a computerized sewing machine, but I hear they are wonderful. Mine are just the garden variety standard machines, but they do the job I need them to do. Even so, I would never have the nerve to try to fix one of them, with the possible exception of super gluing the thread spindle back on one of them. I have removed the outer cover to clean out lint and to oil if needed, but that's as brave as I get.
DeleteLike your wife, I would be perfectly happy to drive an hour to visit a favorite quilt shop. I have lost untold hours in fabric stores. So much fabric - so little time. :)
Yep, been there, done that. Threaded the machine wrong, more than once in a row I hate to say. Quit that session and discovered it the next time. A nap sounds like a good choice to me!
ReplyDeleteFern
Fern...I think anyone who sews has done something similar at one time or another. I kept thinking something was wrong with the machine, but it was only operator error! After all that fuss and bother, a nap worked wonders. :)
DeleteVicki, I have a motorcycle. I've ridden it for many years. I hadn't ridden it in a couple of months when I got on it, started it, and found it to be running terribly. The only way I could get the engine to smooth out was to put the choke on all the way. I did everything; I cleaned the carburetors, cleaned the air filter, changed the sparkplugs; you name it. I finally admitted defeat, and rode it popping and sputtering about twenty miles to the nearest motorcycle mechanic. I showed the guy what was going on and he said "Dude, your choke is on..." You know; what I thought was on was off, and off was on. I rode back home feeling very, very old... Again; this is the motorcycle I've ridden for years...
ReplyDelete...At least the mechanic called me "dude" instead of "old fart..."
...You're not alone in "the gray area..."
Pete...I feel so much better now! The sad part is that I have been doing things like that my whole life. Luckily, I mostly am able to figure out what went wrong before it cost me a tub of money.
DeleteYour motorcycle story is hilarious! It reminded me of a time I went to drive one of my Dad's old cars. This was back when cars had a knob to pull out for the choke. I started the car and it sputtered and groaned and backfired. I yelled at my Dad, telling him something was wrong with his car. Never one to get too excited about anything, he sauntered over, looked in the window and said, "It runs better if you push in the choke."
I wish I could just blame it all on the "gray area, but alas, I can't. Something about my DNA, I think. :)
Since you know what a dunderhead is, you're STILL ahead of the game. Most folks under 50 have probably never heard the term. - lol
ReplyDeleteI think you are right, Gorges...And I am old enough to know other words like 'idjit' and 'numbskull' and 'knothead.' And a couple of others my older cousins taught me when I was small that I'm not allowed to say in polite company. :)
ReplyDeleteSee what happens when you don't eat lunch first??
ReplyDeleteBy the way, your a human, plus super mom, and grandma. The dunderheads are in St. Paul, that building with the round upper part, like the one in D.C.
Thanks, Rob...Stuff like this usually happens if I haven't had my coffee :) Totally agree about the dunderheads in both capitals!!
DeleteMy wife sews, so I know how exacting it can be. When our kids were little, she made all their clothes. She doesn't sew much anymore, but she still has her sewing room. It's there if she wants it.
ReplyDeleteHarry...My mother taught me to sew when I was about 12 years old and I made lots of my kids clothes as well. I'm guessing your wife's mother may have done the same. It is a skill that once was handed down from mother to daughter. Sadly, my girls showed no interest in learning. This skill is being lost as are so many others.
DeleteSewing is exacting, but it sure helps if a person pays attention and doesn't do dumb stuff like trying to run the wrong kind of thread through the machine. :)
Vicki, you had me "in stitches" laughing while reading this post about sewing and the frustrations it can sometimes cause. Honestly, I too have been there and done that myself. That's the reason I don't do much sewing anymore. Pete's comment also had me laughing out loud. I am so happy to know that we can still laugh at ourselves now and then. We will truly be done for if we lose our senses of humor. I also think that most problems can be solved by taking a break for some food or a nap. Enjoy what's left of the weekend...CW
ReplyDeleteCW...Sometimes all a person can do is laugh at the silliness of it all. I don't sew clothing like I used to, but think maybe I should. I have some denim in my stash that begs to be made into pants or a jacket. Anyway, most of the time when something goes wrong while I am sewing, it is operator error!
DeleteI honestly don't know how people get through life without a working sense of humor. I come from a long line of people who knew how to laugh. And I seem to have passed it on. Youngest son called me today, telling me about all he had on his to-do list for the weekend. I told him to do what made him happy. He said if he did that, he would be on a plane to the Bahamas. :)
"In stitches".....good one!!
oh my goodness! have me in stitches.... hugs
ReplyDeleteTypical day in the life of a chubby granny, Mary...I guess if we can't laugh at the silly things we do, well, it's all over. :)
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