(no subject)

[holli]

Aw, crap. The sewing machine seems to have thrown a gear. Which means that I have to take it in tomorrow, hopefully to be repaired, but at this point I'm wondering if it might not be a good idea to get a new one of my own. I mean, I'm gonna have to anyway when I move out for good, right? Also, I have half a dozen projects in various stages of completion that need a working machine to finish, and I can only cut so many pattern pieces before I want to actually sew something.

In other news, there's apparently a carnival in the parking lot at the Regal in Rockville, at which Hootie and the Blowfish is playing. I am kind of saddened by this, as they should be able to do better.

Also, I need to find someone that sells flesh-colored felt, because the quilting cotton I've been using for doll faces and hands is just annoying at this point. It'd be a lot easier to just make all-felt dolls, especially if I'm gonna make enough of them to sell at the children's store in the Village.

Next up: tote bags! I made one for my sister that turned out really well, even though I overthought the construction. This method is much easier. Also, I really want to make a skirt.

Comments

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

What brand is your sewing machine? Because an old Singer Featherweight (for example) is well worth repairing.

I bought a second-hand Bernina and am very, very pleased with it. If you're going to be sewing all your life (and I can't think why not), a sewing machine of your own may be a wise investment. Most dealers will have second-hand machines.

[holli.livejournal.com]

Ours is a twelve-year-old Kenmore, and it tends to act up every few years. Usually I can fix it by changing the bobbin and making sure there aren't any threads caught anywhere, but this time that doesn't seem to be working.

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

Ah. Mine (inherited from my grandmother) was a 20-year-old Kenmore and it WOULD NOT hold tension; a few weeks after it came back from the repair shop, the tension would be out of whack again.

[holli.livejournal.com]

Yeah, ours has trouble with that too, but I tend to just plow ahead regardless. Now, though, it sews three stitches, makes an upsetting "ka-chunk" noise, and seizes up entirely.

[sophiabrooks.livejournal.com]

Strangly, both my Bernina's are doing something very similar, and for my last show I was reduced t0 sewing with a Kenmore with no tension and a $99 White machine that felt both like a toy AND like I could sew faster with a treadle machine..

I think the reason I have trouble with the Berninas is that a lot of student's use them and it is very difficult to teach them to a) not pull on the fabric or b) recognize the sound of 20 million bobbin threads all massing together, which then need to be picked out with tweezers.

I think Berninas a great one owner machines. I am look at a light industrial machine.... 1000 stitches per minute!