[katybellabug]

I have nearly finished a skirt for L from a Japanese sewing book. I was hoping this would be my last project for KCW as I work Sundays. Looks like someone was listening as uh oh…. my machine has just broken! I am about 2″ away from finishing the hem and I need to fit the elastic in the waistband casing. Heartbroken is not the word.

I got that horrible jarring noise you get when a bent needle hits your throat plate, only the needle was fine. I changed it anyway and tried again. This time the machine jammed up and the needle was stuck down through my work and into the machine. I tried turning the wheel but it was locked up. Finally I figured out that the hook that moves up and down which is holding your thread (for the moment the correct term escapes me) was scraping against the inside of the plastic casing. I only managed to free my needle (and my work) by putting my screwdriver into the casing and pushing the hook clear.

Somehow, this has gone out of allignment and I dread to think what this means for my machine. I won’t be able to get it to the repair shop until next Saturday so I am currently trying not to cry.

I had better sort through my stash of knit fabrics to see if they will keep me going. It’s the overlocker or I go crazy!

[Nicole]

Oh no Katy. I think it is a good idea to get it looked at.

Make some nighties and tees, you can even hem them without a machine if you fold and stitch. Do you know that method?

I would be in tears. I keep a spare as I don’t think I could cope without a machine.

[katybellabug]

Thanks Nicole, I have only just got the overlocker and I haven’t tried hemming on it. I will look for a tutorial.

I am so upset. I would rather the oven broke.

[Nicole]

I am sure you will find something on line.

You sort of fold and press the hem up and then fold that hem to the body and stitch around the bottom and then press it down.

I am not explaining it very well.

[BananaPants]

Last night and this morning I sewed my girls’ Easter dresses (New Look 6254, in sizes 1/2 and 4) – all that’s left is to insert the zippers. I need to look for a tutorial as these are my first invisible zippers.

I decided to try my first Oliver + S patterns this afternoon since my serger and sewing machine were still out! So I sewed two pairs of Playtime leggings (6-12m and 4) and two Lazy Days skirts. I made the skirt for our 10 month old a bit more narrow rather than selvedge-to-selvedge, but overall they were really easy and quick projects. This was my first time sewing knits and the serger made the leggings so fast!

[Nicole]

I have some photos here http://fiveandcounting-motherof5.blogspot.com.au/2011/07/wren-wonderment-part-two.html if that is any help?

[cybele727]

Oh Katy, I am right there with you. I too feel like crying.

I made a beautiful, if I do say so myself, color blocked Family Reunion dress for Easter. On Friday, I blocked out one hour to make 6 button holes and sew on the buttons. I do a test button hole on scrap, fine. I do the real thing, and the button hole process just… won’t. It either does the bar tack and gives me an error message or it goes so far and stops moving the fabric, but sews a big knot.

So today, I took it to my dealer, because it is always “user error.” And guess what… “well, an electronic sewing machine is designed to prevent the user from abusing it, so if it senses that the fabric feed isn’t just right, it won’t sew it.” In this case, “isn’t just right” is that the button hole is perpendicular to two seams and the button hole foot hits the seam and refuses to move the fabric forward, even though it isn’t that thick.

Basically, b/c I have color blocks I have lots of seams and bulk in the button placket. Since I don’t have time to replicate the color block seam and placket to try out on my old mechanical/no computer machine (that is less “sensitive” and will push through anything), I am sewing the buttons on the dress, and sewing in snaps. I hope when she sits, she doesn’t pop all the snaps.

I could cry. It isn’t broken, but it is resulting in a less than ideal outcome for the dress.

While I like the features on my “computerized” sewing machine, I am not a fan of its touchiness and sensitivity.

[Nicole]

Jenny, you may have a issue with ‘poppage’. I made a silk Lisette Traveller dress and did the same, poppers in lieu of buttons and button holes and it constantly come undone, even when there was the tiniest pressure on them.

Could you do a few button holes?

[Nicole]

Or do vertical button hole?

[cybele727]

We tried vertical, horizontal. A Pfaff machine, my Janome. I spent 2 hours with the lady, who told me that the solution was to grade my seams (too late) and not have so many layers. It was not fun, having some one pick apart my construction. Especially considering it was an unwarranted criticism. Frankly, the “bulk” issue isn’t too bulky. This I know because the other time I had a hard time with my buttons it was on the Family Reunion and I didn’t have it interlined nor color-blocked with extra seams. It just doesn’t like the button placket on the Family Reunion. My feeling is that it shouldn’t make a difference, and the darn thing should just sew! 🙁

I bought size these large 2 snaps and I am hoping that will be enough at least for Easter. If not, I will just cry. I am hoping that because I made this too big, that the extra ease with the A line will keep it from popping.

[PreemieMomma]

cybele727, I have the same issues with buttonholes on my juki computerized machine. It makes beautiful buttonholes but any variation in the fabric and my machine makes the assumption that something is amiss even though it is not. I hand sewed my buttonholes on the last project that called for them because I was so frustrated trying to get a perfect buttonhole on my machine. It’s too bad too, b/c this is a feature that was important to me when I bought my machine and in every single test run, the button holes are superb…but place that garment in the machine and the machine gives me issues.

I’m currently sewing another fairy tale dress – I added sleeves using the jump rope pattern and then cut the wrist at an angle to make a point. I lengthened the skirt and will do 2 layers of tulle. It’s done in aqua and gold to be a Merida (brave) inspired dress. It’s turning out lovely, but since it’s a costume for dress up, I just went with cheap fabric and now I’m regretting it. It looks lovely but I don’t foresee it standing up to much wear and tear. I just put in the zipper this afternoon. I still have to do the lining and I’m making a separate sash that will be more like a long belt than a sash.

[with love Heidi]

I hear you about button holes! That’s one reason I still keep my old Elna Sp around. It will make buttonholes on anything! So far my new Bernina has been great, but I don’t make many as I usually put in snaps with my snap press. But the Viking Emerald I had before that pretty much refused to do buttonholes to save its life! I would always get the Elna out and work around its problems rather than argue with that Viking!

[katybellabug]

Buttonholes are very hit and miss on my machine too. I have a Music Box Jumper with a very screwed up buttonhole at the top neckline because it plain refused to do anything but the mother of all lockstitches and leave a huge lump in my work. If non-computerized is the way to go I might be wise to purchase a basic model which I can then use in emergencies. Like when your regular machine breaks. Grrrr…..

[Nicole]

Jenny, I was chatting to my husband about your dress and how frustrating that you could not do the buttons holes and that you were going to use poppers.

He reminded me about this dress https://www.flickr.com/photos/motherof5/4873373713/in/set-72157625137941181 that I made for Liddy.

And it didn’t come undone!

[Tamara]

Katy I had issues with buttonholes on my previous machine. But I have had this current one since its release and (touch wood) so far have had no problems except that it is fussy about bulk!

Sorry your machine had a meltdown on you. You poor thing. You can cry on my virtual shoulder. Hopefully it can be fixed in good time and it would be some really simple thing that we’d all go “aha” over and you will then be able to do buttonholes perfectly – in a perfect world hey?!

I have oodles of Liesl and co patterns ready and waiting for me to use. Very excited. I have to alter them (except for the t shirt one) and then cut some rather fabulous fabrics out and hopefully get to the point of being able to just sew buttons of do whatever hand stitching is required next week as there is buck lees chance of me sewing until at least Thursday afternoon next week – that’s what happens when the studio needs to be given up for (gasp!) the parents. I just hope mum doesn’t go shopping in my stash!