2/19/14

Repairs

I’m not the only one around here that’s handy.  Right now, there are three ice makers spread out on Rob’s worktable as he tries to solve the problem of why we are having to use old fashioned plastic ice trays to make ice.  “"(What? Is it the stone ages again or something?)

Anyway, he has been diligently working on it since Saturday and I think he’s just about got it licked.  He has to go pick up a part this afternoon.  I think he’s been stressed about it.  But, I haven’t. 

And, I’ve been working on sewing machines.  I’m still working on the two spool foot.  This foot was all bent to heck and back when I got the machine.  I straightened it and made it like my other griest feet and suddenly, the needle wouldn’t go through it anymore.  It had been bent on purpose.  Holy pliers, batman. 

Anyway, I’ve bent and twisted and turned and hammered and ground metal away with the Dremel and have finally ended up with a foot that I think will work.

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I don’t mind cleaning and polishing the metal (see how shiny it all is?).  But, we don’t have the equipment for metal shaping.

The new darning feet came in for my short shank machines. 

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Old and often repaired foot on the left, new foot on the right.  When I bought the first one, these feet cost about $30 each.  Believe me, I used it long enough to get my money’s worth.  It’s been repaired at least three times. 

I’ll pull out the Dremel and open up the new foot like the old one is.  It makes it easier to follow lines.  The new foot was $6.15.  Quite a difference in price since I shopped last.  But, it seems to be the same quality, so I’m looking for years of service out of the new ones.  Because of the price of the feet and the shipping, I bought two.

I’m also advocating different needles for quilting.  I was taught to use Universal needles because they would go between the threads of the fabric and not pierce the threads of the fabric.  But, in my class with Barbara Shapel, she suggested sharps or denim needles.  I had a few sharps in my needle collection and started using them.  I’m very happy.  They don’t get dull as fast and are less likely to bend.  So, I took advantage of a half off notions wall and stocked up.

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That should last me a little while.  That half off notions price was a coupon.  It was from JoAnn’s.  It was called a “multiscan” coupon.  Please note that a multi-scan coupon must be scanned once for every notions item.  If they just scan it once, you only get half off once.  The coupon had been out two days and I was the first one that brought this to their attention while they were re-working my receipt to charge me correctly.  It’s a real buyer beware world out there, y’all.  I read my JoAnn’s receipt on the way out the door every time and that’s how I caught it. 

Have a good one.  Lane

5 comments:

Rebecca Grace said...

Have you seen the Schmetz needle chart that came out recently? http://www.schmetzneedles.com/learning/pdf/schmetz-needle-chart.pdf

They claim that their quilting needle is designed for both piecing and machine quilting. The point is "tapered," whatever that means. Looking at the zoom photos of each type of needle, the Quilting needle seems to be in between a universal and a Microtex/sharp.

I've been machine quilting mostly with the Microtex sharps recently, though, with lighter weight threads, because that's what was recommended to me by others I admire (like Diane Gaudynski and Harriet Hargrove, in their books). I had never heart to use a Universal for quilting. I guess if one needle is working well for you, there's no need to change. No need to change TYPES, that is -- I'm not advocating reusing the same needle for 10 years to save money!

Anonymous said...

I didn't know about the JoAnn coupon that needed scanned for each purchase. Thanks for giving the 'head's up' on that. And thanks for all your sharing.
cindy

Cari said...

I've always used sharp needles for wovens. I was taught when I learned to sew many years ago that universal needles are universally good for nothing. Topstitch needles are also great for quilting.

Susan Entwistle said...

Can you send Rob over? I just bought plastic ice trays after constantly forgetting to buy ice when I was at the store. The darn fridge is only a year and a half old, and of course, it's out of warranty :(

Elizabeth said...

I read somewhere that Universal needles are ball-points, which are designed for knits. So what's the point in calling it "universal" if it really isn't that great for quilting? I still haven't switched over because I tend to stock up on things that are on sale too. I have about 20 each of size 10 and 12. Maybe I'll start changing my needles with every new project (like you're supposed to) and start a new project every day ;).

The darning (free-motion) foot for my machine is plastic. It is sort of oval shaped and is really hard to see through. So, I took some wire cutters to it and snipped out a gap in the front like you did to your old one. I can see much better.

xo -E