Sunday, January 29, 2012

I picked up my sewing machine this morning. Some of my quilting problems were me-related, but some were problems with the machine. It didn’t cost me too much to have the repairs done and I’m confident it will work better when I get back to my quilting. I’m not sure what to do about the “me” part of the problem.

How could I have taken a quilting class and still be using the wrong thread? My notes definitely say #50 thread for quilting, but today Shawn said I should be using something heavier. That is a good thing though because I have lots of colors in the type of thread I should be using, and very little of the “wrong” kind. And actually the “wrong” kind of thread is still good for piecing. So complicated.

Based on what I thought I learned in the free-motion class I purchased a gadget to hold my straight-wound thread. Well apparently, even with this new gadget, the thread is coming off the spool wrong – it is unwinding, but the spool isn’t turning. That is a bad thing and can lead to broken thread (but maybe now that I’m going to use a heavier thread that won’t be such a problem). This is sounding more and more like sewing.

There were some issues with my machine. There was some sort of a burr on my bobbin hook that was probably causing the needles to break. Cam sanded that down, fixed the timing (whatever that is), replaced a bulb and did a general clean and oil job. That sounds like a car repair!

When Shawn tested the machine she said she replaced the cardboard that I had covering my feed dogs. She laughed at my solution (newer and fancier machines have a button that automatically lowers the feed dogs), but I told her that the piece that came with my machine didn’t stay attached. When she and Cam looked at it they decided that there was a flaw in the design between the plate and the feed dog cover. The feed dog cover fits perfectly and stays in place if the faceplate is off the machine. When the faceplate is on the machine, the screw that holds it in position interferes with the feed dog cover. A bit of sanding here and there got things working the way they should. Will it make any difference in my quilting?

When I got home I didn’t even set the machine up. I know I should have given it a try, but until I figure out this thread-winding issue I’m not sure I want to move forward. On the other hand I managed before I knew this was an issue so I shouldn’t let it stop me. I cut out some paper templates for the quilting design I plan to use. I’ll have to get some heavy plastic to make templates that I can use over and over. We have a plastic cover that we use when we heat things in the microwave – I think if I can find another one of those it would work fine.

For the rest of the day I took comfort in some crochet work. I’m discouraged, but I haven’t given up!