I did a quick check of what I still needed for my RSC blocks for this month, and found that I hadn't made any of my wee ships for my Rainbow Regatta.
Quickly remedied!
And I held my breath while I brought out the kaleidoscope ruler and made a couple of purple 'tame' kaleidoscopes. In my enthusiasm for my more riotous blocks, I'd overlooked making any of these last month.
For once, I managed to make exactly what I wanted to make and then put the ruler away again, without ending up with a huge stack of blocks and a big chunk of time missing out of my life.
But then trouble started. My Old Faithful sewing machine, which has never given me a speck of trouble in 45 years, started acting up. It may have been resentful of my using that Young Hussy of a 1987 machine as my Main Squeeze for years, relegating Old Faithful to backup position until Young Hussy's recent feed-dog failure. Or maybe she didn't want to come out of a peaceful semi-retirement as a bag-stitching machine. (Oh, oops - I just realized I didn't write about my adventures making some Sew Together bags. I made them! They're fun! I'll make more!)
Whatever her motivation, she started skipping stitches. Just here and there at first, like a mild case of the hiccups, nothing to worry about, really, just keep going, la la la...
Then it got worse, skipping longer stretches. I stopped, took her apart, and cleaned and oiled her. (She's a 20th century machine - it's possible to take them apart and put them back together. It's a big advantage of mechanicals as opposed to electronics.) Once she was back together, I changed the needle (again) and she worked well again.
For a bit. Then the same skipping, plus the occasional choking on thread.
I went even deeper with the taking apart and cleaning and oiling.
So far, so good. But I'm holding my breath.
After all, I've got piglets cut out and ready to sew.
Can't stop now...
I'm linking with So Scrappy for ScrapHappy Saturday - come see all the rainbow fun!
Skipping is good exercise, but not for a sewing machine. I have a mechanical that has gotten hiccups and now I think I will follow your lead and give her a spa treatment. Sailboats are a nice way to greet next month's color.
ReplyDeleteSorry Old Faithful is causing problems. At least you have a backup. Cute ships. Never thought I'd need more than one machine, now I have 5! But I'm still not an obsessive collector -- yet...
ReplyDeleteThose machines do seem to get jealous when ignored. Hope you two are buddies again!
ReplyDeleteHope the poor old piglets get sewn together without any more hassles with the machine and I do like your wee sailboats.
ReplyDeleteThese wee ships are so darn cute! :) Hope your machine troubles work out.
ReplyDeleteVery cute ships! Hope your machine responds well to the TLC you've given it this week.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the piglets! The boats are charming. Perhaps speaking sternly will convince the machine you mean business, no mucking about! I was told that when there's a problem with a sewing machine (including skipping stitches) check the TNT (Thread, Needle, Tension) in that order. But you've probably done all that!
ReplyDeleteThose ships are ready to sail into May! Hope the piggies get sewn and the machine behaves. Sounds like it just wanted some TLC.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't sound like fun to have machine troubles. Hope they are solved now! Your orange boats make me smile!
ReplyDeleteOh my! Even our most trusty mechanicals need TLC or a bit of medical care now and then. WIth my machine, skipped stitches means a too-small needle size, but the pampering is always a good idea too! Love your sailboats and the name Rainbow Regatta. Can't wait to see how it comes together.
ReplyDeleteA colourful regatta it will be. And you soon have to build a shed for all your pigs. Or you may send them out on a regatta. Have a nice weekend, waiting for the next colour.
ReplyDeleteLove those sailboats! It's going to be a very happy, festive quilt. Good luck with your machine issues!
ReplyDeleteoh no. Sewing machine problems. I surfed the web last night looking for turquoise ones, but what I need is a big new one for real. Good luck with it. The boats are saaaaweeeeeet!
ReplyDeleteSorry about the sewing machine problems, hope you can find what is causing this and solve it. The pretty orange boats are ready for the regatta! Have a wonderful week
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job with the blocks you did. Hope your machine problems can be worked out soon and without too much cost (more for fabric, right?)
ReplyDeleteAh sewing machines - can't live without them! I too had problems late last year, I (very reluctantly) sent my machine in for a service. A couple of weeks later, and a bit of TLC, all running well ever since!
ReplyDeleteNothing is more frustrating than being ready to sew with a misbehaving machine. Hope the deep cleaning does the trick.
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