I have got nothing done in the last two weeks.
Let me rephrase that…I have done laundry, made dinners,
wrapped Mother’s Day presents, and taken showers. Quilt-wise though? Nothing.
Why? Because I have been
ill. It all started with a runny nose
and a cough. When over-the-counter stuff
wasn’t touching the mucus in my soul, I gave up and went to the doctor. She was very nice and said I had “that
respiratory virus that was going around.”
So one breathing treatment and seven prescriptions
later, I’m at home in the recliner with Sam (my cat), moaning pitifully and
feeling awful. This was a couple of
Thursdays ago. By the next week, I was
feeling better. Then this past Sunday
evening found me back in the recliner, moaning pitifully, and wondering when
all this hacking and sneezing was going to stop. I felt so badly yesterday I went back to the
doctor.
I now have a sinus infection. She took me off one of the prescriptions and
added two more to take its place – one of which is an antibiotic.
I feel better today.
And if everyone says out of my office, after a conference call at 10
a.m., I’m going home to get quilt stuff done.
So there are no pictures of what I have done, because….I
haven’t gotten a thing done.
Instead I would like to discuss that most important tool
– the sewing machine.
I am assuming, unless you are just a die-hard handwork
person, you own at least one sewing machine.
Most quilters I know own at least two.
I own two sewing machines (“Big Red” – my Janome 7700 and a Juki that I
take back and forth to classes), a mid-arm, and a serger that I probably
haven’t used since 1998. The Janome is my primary machine and it has
hundreds of stitches.
But if you’re just starting to quilt, or maybe are just
entertaining the idea…don’t let the number of machines that I or anyone else has, or
the number of stitches a machine can do intimidate you from starting on your
stitching journey.
Honestly, all you really need is a machine that can do a
straight stitch and a zig-zag stitch. The
straight stitch is used to piece and the zig-zag is used for machine applique.
There are some guidelines that I recommend to anyone who is searching for that
first, wonderful sewing machine.
First, plan to spend a reasonable amount of money. Sewing machines are like shoes – you get what
you pay for. Buy a cheap pair of shoes
and no matter how cute they may be, you will probably end up with shoes that
will not wear comfortably and leave blisters on your toes. Sewing machines are kind of like that. Buy a cheap machine and chances are you’re
constantly going to be dealing with tension issues, skipped stitches, and a
thousand other things that can go wrong with a cheap machine with plastic,
cheaply made parts inside of it. But don’t
break the bank either. Plan on spending
anywhere from $100 - $300 on that first machine – depending the name-brand,
number of stitches, and size of the harp (the room between the needle and the
right side of the machine).
Second, I wouldn’t buy it over the internet or at a big
box store. Primary reason is if you do,
no matter how wonderful of a deal it is, you will end up paying more for
service. Sewing machines, like cars,
need to at least be serviced and at times have to go in for a major
overhaul. If you have to send the
machine back to the dealer you purchased it from on the internet, there’s the
hassle of packing it up and mailing it off.
Then you spend days biting your nails and praying that it arrives safely
and where it needed to go. If you buy your machine from a big box store coughwalmartcough
and need it serviced, you can’t take it back there. They will also tell you to mail it to the
dealer that the warranty is issued through or find a local repair person.
However, if the machine is purchased from a local dealer
– then that can be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. That shop will either have a repair person on
site or has someone that comes in and works on the machine, which means you
often get your sewing machine back in a couple of weeks and they usually more
than honor the warranty. Often times
there are classes or tutorials that come with machine at no extra cost and when
you’re ready to trade up, that local dealership wants to keep your
business. They will often give you the
best buy-back on your old machine and a good deal on the new one. You have questions on the machine? You don’t call the 1-800 number in the
manual, you call the shop and speak to a person in a matter of seconds instead
of spending an hour on hold.
Third, do your research before purchasing a machine. Look up the brands on the consumer websites
and read the reviews. And please,
please, please talk to other quilters about their machines. Find out which ones they like and the ones
they wouldn’t buy again. Find out how
much they spent. Find out where they
bought it from and would they buy from that dealer again. Then go test-drive a few machines for
yourself. Never, ever buy a machine
without having the opportunity to sit down and sew with it for a while – another
reason to buy from a local dealer.
When you have your lovely, new machine home, please keep
the following in mind:
1. Use the sewing machine needles that are called
for in the manual. Yes, often times you
can switch between brands and do fine (I find there is no difference between
Organ and Schmetz needles), but be careful.
I have found that the titanium coated needles are wonderful and do last
about double the lifespan of a regular needle, but they will shatter instead of
breaking. That is something to keep in
mind if you’re sewing over a lot of bulky seams. And remember to change the needle after eight
hours of sewing time (16 hours with a titanium) or if it has even the slightest
bend in it.
2. Extra
bobbins are a good buy. Your machine
will come with a few bobbins, but those extra ones are great when you’re
quilting. You can fill them before
starting and when one bobbin empties you can simply pop another one in instead
of stopping and winding another bobbin.
3. Clean
your machine after you complete every project.
The machine will come with a brush or two to help you with this. I have also found that a toothpick,
soft-bristle tooth brush, and a Q-tip are wonderful things to help you clean
your machine. DO. NOT. USE. CANNED.
AIR. This forces the dust and lint down
into the crevices and that will hurt the machine.
4. Oil
your machine with the kind of oil and the frequency noted in the manual. And oil it where it’s stated to be
oiled. Not all machines are alike. On my Janome I oil in one place. On my Juki,
it’s several places.
5. Have
your machine serviced regularly. Just
like your tires need to be rotated and the oil changed in your car, about every
12-18 months take your sewing machine in to be cleaned by a professional. The tech will clean your machine in places
you’re not supposed to be able to reach and oil parts that you can’t get
to. This extends the life of your
machine, prevents problems before they become issues, and your machine will sew
so much better after it’s serviced!
Conference call is over…so
I’m heading home to sew!
Love and Stitches…
Sherri
