Lookie What I Got!!!

**Dirk Skene** · 13th June 07, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by Alan H

..... I am *SO* looking forward to this. ..........

I really hope you know what you’re doin'

She knows absolutely nothing about sewing, but she is willing to learn. She is pumped about the machine

& has me looking for tartan material.

You have made her happy. Thanks

**turpin** · 13th June 07, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by way2fractious

Two words for that sharp, pointy thingie - your friend

w2f

AKA, SEAMus the RIPPER.

(oh, sometimes I just can't stand myself)

**Alan H** · 13th June 07, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by Dirk Skene

I really hope you know what you’re doin'

She knows absolutely nothing about sewing, but she is willing to learn. She is pumped about the machine

& has me looking for tartan material.

You have made her happy. Thanks

I'm am glad she's excited! Trying new things is...well, look. I just had my 50th birthday, yesterday. I'm not the handsome (ha!) young buck I was when I was 25....not that I was ever all that handsome, but let's proceed anyway. This year, I am trying something new. I am trying to throw a caber, and toss 28 and 42 and 56 pound weights for distance at Highland Games. I am playing in a Klezmer Band. Two years ago, at age 48 I decided to try wearing, and then making...kilts.

I hope I'm never too old to try something new and learn something. If Dirka is excited about learning something new, then that warms my heart and I'm ALL for it. You GO, girl!

Step One is learning how to use the machine. For that, I have to say that the very best thing to do is to find someone who knows how to use one, and get them over for an evening of lessons. If I lived in Memphis, I'd come over and do it, myself, but...well...darn! But you guys must know SOMEBODY that sews. Ask around work, check with your friends and their wives and girlfriends. SOMEONE will know the basics.

Dirka needs to learn this to get started.

1. How to thread the needle
2. Where the spool of thread goes, on top of the machine (there's a little pop-up pin that the spool goes over.)
3. How to wind a bobbin (make her go buy some more bobbins)
4. How to replace bobbins in the bobbin-holder inside the machine. There are little levers to flip and stuff, under there.
5. How to run the thread round this part and over that bit of the machine, and then down to where it goes through the needle. That has to be right or everything will be a disaster.
6. How to adjust the stitch length (it's on the front of the machine)
7. How to adjust the zig-zag width (it's on the front of the machine)

HINT: It will be easier to thread the needle on that machine if you get a white piece of paper and put it behind the needle. She'll be able to see the hole more easily. Without that white paper for contrast, the metal of the needle is sort of invisible against the metal of the foot holder.

All of the above is one evenings work with an experienced sewer, who has spent some time with a couple of different sewing machines. Pay her tutor in whisky, pizza and chocolate!

NOTE:...My experience (about 90 minutes, total) with this machine suggests to never make the stitch length (that twist-dial on the right, in front) less than about 1.5. Dirka should do most of her sewing with the setting between 2 and 4. She can use the presser foot that's on there for all her basic straight-stitch and zig-zag sewing.

She needs to get some cheap cloth....anything will do as long as it's heavier than a handkerchief and lighter than denim, and just practice doing stitches, like I did on that piece of grey tartan that I tossed in the box. I got the machine to sew like it came out on that tartan...if I can do it, then Dirka can do it.