Last weekend I was working away on several projects, merrily sewing away.
I didn't realize that a loose end of a thread had been sucked into my sewing machine's fly wheel, and was busy wrapping itself up nice and tight.
I sewed all last weekend.
I sewed a couple of evenings through the week. I sewed on Friday night.
I didn't discover the problem until Sunday when I went to work on my Tangled Textiles piece, which just happened to be due Monday (today) and I had basically started from scratch on my piece again on Friday.
The machine didn't sound good and seemed really sluggish. It was at that point that I discovered the thread. Not a pretty sight. :(
The machine will be going in for servicing this week. I hope I haven't fried it completely. Normally, this wouldn't be as much of an issue, I'd flip over to my Mega Quilter and just keep going. However, I took that machine in for service last week, and it isn't back yet.
That left me with my little machine that I take to workshops. It's new and while it's great for piecing, I hadn't yet tried any quilting on it. Another not so good discovery. I like to free motion. In all directions. Not happening on this little one. It was okay - not great - going in one direction, very slow and only about 5 inches of throat space, but would not form a stitch if I changed directions! Can we say frustrating? After wasting a ton of time trying to see if I could get it to work, I decided to see if the walking foot would work. Finally - success. I was able to finish the quilting on my Tangled Textiles piece - which has ended up very different from what I imagined, and much simpler, but then that's what happens when you leave things to the last minute!
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| Banish the Blues |
Happy quilting!
Linking up to The Needle and Thread Network
19 comments:
YIKES!!! Well if nothing else, your two machines will be purring like a kitten when you get them back. Oh, BTW I like the fabric of the RTW piece on your design wall.
What a horrible experience!! It looks like your stiff upper lip kept you going even through much adversity. The blue green family of colors is one of my favorites. Three cheers for your perseverance.
Oh no! But you certainly made the best of your situation and soldiered on with your Tangled Textiles challenge!
oh, that sucks! i'm sure it's fixable, even if it was bad timing!
you piece turned out great, even if it wasn't what you'd planned, and i'm intrigued by your Madrona Road pictures!
Not the best time for that to happen. I hope they get fixed quickly. You've done we'll with the little machine though.
Wow, working in a five inch throat space, that's a challenge and you sure beat it; beautiful quilt!
Oh dear - hope all is going to be well! But despite the problems and frustrations, you turned out a beautiful piece!
Oh, but it turned out so terrifically! That is so weird that the machine won't let you FMQ. What kind is it?
Yikes, poor you! I hope they can fix it! Well done on figuring out a workaround, Janet. I love what you did!
Well you did a great job with the walking foot. Hope your other machine is ok.
Oh, no! Makes me wanna run over and look for dangling threads. I hope you have a better week soon!
Oh my gosh! I am not sure where you mean with your flywheel - do you mean around the knob on the right hand side of the machine that you can turn by hand? The thread wrapped around there from somewhere outside your machine? I hope everything will be ok and that the machine doctor can get your machine back in order! Your Madrona Rd. challenge is looking fantastic!!!
Ah, bugger, that doesn't sound fun at all! But all the pictures I see here are more than excellent, so don't be so hard on yourself!! Hope all is repaired and returned soon!
Oh, I hope your babies get home soon, well oiled and ready to get to work. Thanks for reminding us all to keep an eye and ear out for our machines!
Well you sure came out with a finish! ;). More than I can say. Deadlines sure get us going and you did well, nothing got you down. I love your "Banish the Blues."
I really like that piece. Crappy about your machine, seriously I just want to crawl into a dark hole when these things happen. Way to finish what you started.
Total bummer--hope you have both of your machines back soon.
Murphy's law for quilters: the second machine only breaks if the first one is in the shop. You managed beautifully!
Oh no, what a drag. You did a great job - making the best fo a bad situation. Hope all your machines are back to normal soon.
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