View entire thread: sewing fairies/angels
Posted by Pati Cook on Sat Sep 23, 2006 7:36 AM    Post subject: Re: sewing fairies/angels



Kellie, maybe I will have a chance.... You are near Houston right? I am planning on driving over for Market and at
least a bit of the big show. So sometime in there I should be able to find a way to trouble shoot your serger for
you. <G> (What kind is it??) Pati, in Phx Kellie J. Berger wrote: [quote:1657aedeed]you really should listen
to them.... they know when you are messing up... but sometimes when you haven't even been in the sewing room let alone
picked up anything to sew in months, you forget that lesson. Today, I decided to attempt to use my serger for the first
time. Was a pitb getting it threaded to work well. Oh and putting the presserfoot down is a good idea too. practiced
with a few pieces of jeans i had cut up to make a heavy quilt some day. well. got it working finally so i decided to
start on a skirt for DD2... one of those where you cut the legs off of jeans and then pleat some fabric and serge it to
the remaining waist area of the jeans. Spent a LONG time pinning the fabric to the jeans waist working on the pleats,
getting everything even and pinned well. stuck it in the serger. Life is great! for about 2 inches til i forget to
take out a pin soon enough and it glides up to the cutting edge. Stop serger in time. find pliers and get pin out.
decide to baste the pleats with my sewing machine. Get about a quarter of the way round and the phone rings... get off
the phone and start again.. get maybe half way round and the bobbin is empty. Fix it. finish up and whalla this will
look nice ... wait......... NOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo i basted it but it wasn't right sides together.
so the seam was on the outside and the fabric i'm adding was backwards ............... frog stitch, repin the right
way. baste again.... attempt on the serger again and good for about and inch an then get rat's nests... re thread the
serger and nothing. the thread isn't feeding i'm just making holes. One of the threads has come undone again....
so............. I quit for the day. maybe someday when a serger-savy person comes to my home they can give me a
lesson. Today i am going to listen to the sewing fairies and angels and work on something else. maybe my hand
applique will behave tonight. [/quote:1657aedeed]

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View entire thread: sewing fairies/angels
Posted by Kellie J. Berger on Fri Sep 22, 2006 8:55 PM    Post subject: Re: sewing fairies/angels

nope but if you wanna come to the Houston IQF and drop by my house i'll gladly share my chocolate :D Kellie
"TerriLee in WA (state)" <tlbishopcats@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:jiUQg.4678$UG4.2322@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net... [quote:ce7d0a6452]Yikes, I hate when my serger misbehaves!!
Do you live close enough to Seattle for me to come help you with yours? I've been using mine for about 25 yrs now, so
have mostly mastered it. (note: not entirely, just mostly). LOL -- TerriLee in WA (state) remove the cats to reply
http://community.webshots.com/myphotos?action=viewAllPhotos&albumID=548330161 "Kellie J. Berger"
<kjbeanne@yahwho.moc> wrote in message news:qZDQg.14807$4B3.78@tornado.texas.rr.com... you really should listen to
them.... they know when you are messing up... but sometimes when you haven't even been in the sewing room let alone
picked up anything to sew in months, you forget that lesson. Today, I decided to attempt to use my serger for the first
time. Was a pitb getting it threaded to work well. Oh and putting the presserfoot down is a good idea too. practiced
with a few pieces of jeans i had cut up to make a heavy quilt some day. well. got it working finally so i decided to
start on a skirt for DD2... one of those where you cut the legs off of jeans and then pleat some fabric and serge it to
the remaining waist area of the jeans. Spent a LONG time pinning the fabric to the jeans waist working on the pleats,
getting everything even and pinned well. stuck it in the serger. Life is great! for about 2 inches til i forget to
take out a pin soon enough and it glides up to the cutting edge. Stop serger in time. find pliers and get pin out.
decide to baste the pleats with my sewing machine. Get about a quarter of the way round and the phone rings... get off
the phone and start again.. get maybe half way round and the bobbin is empty. Fix it. finish up and whalla this will
look nice ... wait......... NOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo i basted it but it wasn't right sides together.
so the seam was on the outside and the fabric i'm adding was backwards ............... frog stitch, repin the right
way. baste again.... attempt on the serger again and good for about and inch an then get rat's nests... re thread the
serger and nothing. the thread isn't feeding i'm just making holes. One of the threads has come undone again....
so............. I quit for the day. maybe someday when a serger-savy person comes to my home they can give me a
lesson. Today i am going to listen to the sewing fairies and angels and work on something else. maybe my hand
applique will behave tonight. -- Kellie J. Berger www.kjbeanne.com www.kjbeanne.com/kellie.htm Marketing Co-ordinator
Illuminations Arts www.illuminationsarts.org [/quote:ce7d0a6452]

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View entire thread: sewing fairies/angels
Posted by TerriLee in WA (state) on Fri Sep 22, 2006 5:36 PM    Post subject: Re: sewing fairies/angels

Yikes, I hate when my serger misbehaves!! Do you live close enough to Seattle for me to come help you with yours? I've
been using mine for about 25 yrs now, so have mostly mastered it. (note: not entirely, just mostly). LOL -- TerriLee
in WA (state) remove the cats to reply http://community.webshots.com/myphotos?action=viewAllPhotos&albumID=548330161
"Kellie J. Berger" <kjbeanne@yahwho.moc> wrote in message
news:qZDQg.14807$4B3.78@tornado.texas.rr.com... [quote:d79c915c92]you really should listen to them.... they know when
you are messing up... but sometimes when you haven't even been in the sewing room let alone picked up anything to sew in
months, you forget that lesson. Today, I decided to attempt to use my serger for the first time. Was a pitb getting
it threaded to work well. Oh and putting the presserfoot down is a good idea too. practiced with a few pieces of jeans
i had cut up to make a heavy quilt some day. well. got it working finally so i decided to start on a skirt for DD2...
one of those where you cut the legs off of jeans and then pleat some fabric and serge it to the remaining waist area of
the jeans. Spent a LONG time pinning the fabric to the jeans waist working on the pleats, getting everything even and
pinned well. stuck it in the serger. Life is great! for about 2 inches til i forget to take out a pin soon enough
and it glides up to the cutting edge. Stop serger in time. find pliers and get pin out. decide to baste the pleats
with my sewing machine. Get about a quarter of the way round and the phone rings... get off the phone and start again..
get maybe half way round and the bobbin is empty. Fix it. finish up and whalla this will look nice ... wait.........
NOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo i basted it but it wasn't right sides together. so the seam was on the
outside and the fabric i'm adding was backwards ............... frog stitch, repin the right way. baste again....
attempt on the serger again and good for about and inch an then get rat's nests... re thread the serger and nothing.
the thread isn't feeding i'm just making holes. One of the threads has come undone again.... so............. I quit
for the day. maybe someday when a serger-savy person comes to my home they can give me a lesson. Today i am going to
listen to the sewing fairies and angels and work on something else. maybe my hand applique will behave tonight. --
Kellie J. Berger www.kjbeanne.com www.kjbeanne.com/kellie.htm Marketing Co-ordinator Illuminations Arts
www.illuminationsarts.org [/quote:d79c915c92]

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View entire thread: sewing fairies/angels
Posted by IMS on Fri Sep 22, 2006 2:59 AM    Post subject: Re: sewing fairies/angels

Some projects will put up a most noble fight to keep from being finished, no matter what you do! Sounds like this one
was one of them! Think of it as an 'offering' to the sewing Gods....s0 maybe now that little sewing farie will pay you
a visit.... Irene On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 22:01:58 GMT, "Kellie J. Berger" <kjbeanne@yahwho.moc> wrote:
[quote:6048f3cc69]you really should listen to them.... they know when you are messing up... but sometimes when you
haven't even been in the sewing room let alone picked up anything to sew in months, you forget that lesson. Today, I
decided to attempt to use my serger for the first time. Was a pitb getting it threaded to work well. Oh and putting
the presserfoot down is a good idea too. practiced with a few pieces of jeans i had cut up to make a heavy quilt some
day. well. got it working finally so i decided to start on a skirt for DD2... one of those where you cut the legs off
of jeans and then pleat some fabric and serge it to the remaining waist area of the jeans. Spent a LONG time pinning
the fabric to the jeans waist working on the pleats, getting everything even and pinned well. stuck it in the serger.
Life is great! for about 2 inches til i forget to take out a pin soon enough and it glides up to the cutting edge.
Stop serger in time. find pliers and get pin out. decide to baste the pleats with my sewing machine. Get about a
quarter of the way round and the phone rings... get off the phone and start again.. get maybe half way round and the
bobbin is empty. Fix it. finish up and whalla this will look nice ... wait.........
NOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo i basted it but it wasn't right sides together. so the seam was on the
outside and the fabric i'm adding was backwards ............... frog stitch, repin the right way. baste again....
attempt on the serger again and good for about and inch an then get rat's nests... re thread the serger and nothing.
the thread isn't feeding i'm just making holes. One of the threads has come undone again.... so............. I quit
for the day. maybe someday when a serger-savy person comes to my home they can give me a lesson. Today i am going to
listen to the sewing fairies and angels and work on something else. maybe my hand applique will behave tonight.
[/quote:6048f3cc69] -------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. --Mae West
--------------

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View entire thread: sewing fairies/angels
Posted by Taria on Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:48 PM    Post subject: Re: sewing fairies/angels

Golly Kellie what a frustrating mess. I made my DD a robe one year at Christmas and told her it was a $100 robe. I
knocked the serger out of time and it cost about $100 to get it fixed. I have had my serger for over 10 years and still
go around and around with it some days. Sometimes just walking away is a good thing. If you go back to it you may find
things go better. In the meanwhile read the manual <LOL> One of the local community colleges near here has a
serger class. Might be worth looking in to for you? You are in good company. Most of us have btdt. Taria Kellie J.
Berger wrote: [quote:fee5891cc2]you really should listen to them.... they know when you are messing up... but sometimes
when you haven't even been in the sewing room let alone picked up anything to sew in months, you forget that lesson.
Today, I decided to attempt to use my serger for the first time. Was a pitb getting it threaded to work well. Oh and
putting the presserfoot down is a good idea too. practiced with a few pieces of jeans i had cut up to make a heavy
quilt some day. well. got it working finally so i decided to start on a skirt for DD2... one of those where you cut
the legs off of jeans and then pleat some fabric and serge it to the remaining waist area of the jeans. Spent a LONG
time pinning the fabric to the jeans waist working on the pleats, getting everything even and pinned well. stuck it in
the serger. Life is great! for about 2 inches til i forget to take out a pin soon enough and it glides up to the
cutting edge. Stop serger in time. find pliers and get pin out. decide to baste the pleats with my sewing machine.
Get about a quarter of the way round and the phone rings... get off the phone and start again.. get maybe half way
round and the bobbin is empty. Fix it. finish up and whalla this will look nice ... wait.........
NOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo i basted it but it wasn't right sides together. so the seam was on the
outside and the fabric i'm adding was backwards ............... frog stitch, repin the right way. baste again....
attempt on the serger again and good for about and inch an then get rat's nests... re thread the serger and nothing.
the thread isn't feeding i'm just making holes. One of the threads has come undone again.... so............. I quit
for the day. maybe someday when a serger-savy person comes to my home they can give me a lesson. Today i am going to
listen to the sewing fairies and angels and work on something else. maybe my hand applique will behave tonight.
[/quote:fee5891cc2]

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View entire thread: sewing fairies/angels
Posted by Cats on Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:37 PM    Post subject: Re: sewing fairies/angels

BTDT lol -- Cheryl & the Cats O O O O O O ( > Y < ) ( > Y < )
( > Y < ) U 0 U Enness Boofhead Donut (Boofhead is now well
enough to harrass Donut and so is no longer accorded invalid privileges much to his disgust)
http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest catsatararatATyahooDOTcomDOTau "Kellie J. Berger"
<kjbeanne@yahwho.moc> wrote in message news:qZDQg.14807$4B3.78@tornado.texas.rr.com... : you really should listen
to them.... they know when you are messing up... : but sometimes when you haven't even been in the sewing room let
alone picked : up anything to sew in months, you forget that lesson. : : Today, I decided to attempt to use my serger
for the first time. Was a : pitb getting it threaded to work well. Oh and putting the presserfoot down : is a good
idea too. practiced with a few pieces of jeans i had cut up to : make a heavy quilt some day. : : well. got it
working finally so i decided to start on a skirt for DD2... : one of those where you cut the legs off of jeans and then
pleat some fabric : and serge it to the remaining waist area of the jeans. Spent a LONG time : pinning the fabric to
the jeans waist working on the pleats, getting : everything even and pinned well. : : stuck it in the serger. Life is
great! for about 2 inches til i forget to : take out a pin soon enough and it glides up to the cutting edge. Stop
: serger in time. find pliers and get pin out. decide to baste the pleats : with my sewing machine. : Get about a
quarter of the way round and the phone rings... get off the : phone and start again.. get maybe half way round and the
bobbin is empty. : Fix it. finish up and whalla this will look nice ... wait......... :
NOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo i basted it but it wasn't right : sides together. so the seam was on the
outside and the fabric i'm adding : was backwards ............... frog stitch, repin the right way. baste :
again.... attempt on the serger again and good for about and inch an then : get rat's nests... re thread the serger
and nothing. the thread isn't : feeding i'm just making holes. One of the threads has come undone : again.... : :
so............. I quit for the day. maybe someday when a serger-savy : person comes to my home they can give me a
lesson. Today i am going to : listen to the sewing fairies and angels and work on something else. : : maybe my hand
applique will behave tonight. : : -- : Kellie J. Berger : www.kjbeanne.com : www.kjbeanne.com/kellie.htm : Marketing
Co-ordinator Illuminations Arts : www.illuminationsarts.org : :

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View entire thread: sewing fairies/angels
Posted by Kellie J. Berger on Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:01 PM    Post subject: sewing fairies/angels

you really should listen to them.... they know when you are messing up... but sometimes when you haven't even been in
the sewing room let alone picked up anything to sew in months, you forget that lesson. Today, I decided to attempt to
use my serger for the first time. Was a pitb getting it threaded to work well. Oh and putting the presserfoot down
is a good idea too. practiced with a few pieces of jeans i had cut up to make a heavy quilt some day. well. got it
working finally so i decided to start on a skirt for DD2... one of those where you cut the legs off of jeans and then
pleat some fabric and serge it to the remaining waist area of the jeans. Spent a LONG time pinning the fabric to
the jeans waist working on the pleats, getting everything even and pinned well. stuck it in the serger. Life is
great! for about 2 inches til i forget to take out a pin soon enough and it glides up to the cutting edge. Stop
serger in time. find pliers and get pin out. decide to baste the pleats with my sewing machine. Get about a quarter
of the way round and the phone rings... get off the phone and start again.. get maybe half way round and the bobbin is
empty. Fix it. finish up and whalla this will look nice ... wait......... NOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
i basted it but it wasn't right sides together. so the seam was on the outside and the fabric i'm adding was
backwards ............... frog stitch, repin the right way. baste again.... attempt on the serger again and good
for about and inch an then get rat's nests... re thread the serger and nothing. the thread isn't feeding i'm just
making holes. One of the threads has come undone again.... so............. I quit for the day. maybe someday when
a serger-savy person comes to my home they can give me a lesson. Today i am going to listen to the sewing fairies
and angels and work on something else. maybe my hand applique will behave tonight. -- Kellie J. Berger
www.kjbeanne.com www.kjbeanne.com/kellie.htm Marketing Co-ordinator Illuminations Arts www.illuminationsarts.org

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View entire thread: OT: Brother Serger
Posted by Polly Esther on Tue Jun 27, 2006 4:10 AM    Post subject: Re: Brother Serger

Of course the instruction book is awful. They all are. When you can, try to get a copy of 'The Complete Serger
Handbook' by Chris James. They climb down in the middle of the serger with a magnifying glass and a camera and
explain: what and where. Get out your black pen and mark -> things on your serger so you'll know without having
to search what does what. Mine has written on it (in my own lovely penmanship): tension, release tension, cutting
width, roll foot, foot pressure . . . and I put a tiny dot of green craft paint on that little lever they want me to
pull to thread. (They say "pull it but don't say in the instruction book what it looks like and do you pull it
to the left, right, or forward and if it just might cut off my fingers if you do it wrong.) I bought the Elna 945
2nd hand, no lessons, no help. We are good friends, maybe a little better than an armed truce . . . one day, I hope we
will be grand. Polly

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View entire thread: Preventing linen from fraying
Posted by ellice on Tue Sep 12, 2006 3:50 AM    Post subject: Re: Preventing linen from fraying

On 9/11/06 4:44 AM, "tegan57@gmail.com" <tegan57@gmail.com> wrote: [quote:3ee1d4558c] FSUStitcher
wrote: You might want to try painter's tape (blue from hardware or paint store) or hair tape (pink from drug, discount
or salon supply store). The painter's tape comes in various widths. The hair tape is about 1/2 inch in width and is
more flexible. Both of them leave less of a residue than masking tape. Dear heavens! I grew up with a hairdresser for
a Mom and never even THOUGHT about using pink tape! Most of my fabric these days is already .. uh... what's that word
for stitched with those fancy machines whose name I can't think of? But I just may go raid Mom's "remains"
closet for the fabric that I need to cut down to size. (and lest anyone be offended by remains, I mean her closet of
stuff left over from when she did hair, nothing else. We call it the Remains closet because it's all that remains from
the career.) Tegan Er - are you thinking of "serged" - bound off with an overlock stitch
done[/quote:3ee1d4558c] by a serger? Re: the pink tape - used a lot by np-ers. It's great when you're working a
complicated design and have several threads going at one time. Rather than ending them - just coil up the tail, after
running the line of thread a few inches from where you're working - and then tape it to the surface of the canvas. Just
parking it out of the way, without the needle, is a handy thing. Doesn't get tangled, and saves you from a lot of
ending and starting again. The pink hair tape seems to not leave residue, and is pretty repositionable. I've used it
with metallics, metal, silks, cotton, wool, rayon ... Happy stitchin' ellice

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View entire thread: Preventing linen from fraying
Posted by tegan57@gmail.com on Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:21 AM    Post subject: Re: Preventing linen from fraying

Yep, serged would be the word! I just couldn't think of what that word was! I guess that was an CRS moment! And btw, I
was telling Mom this evening about this thread and she said good luck! Even when she was still doing hair, and that's
been well over ten years ago, she was beginning to have a hard time finding pink tape. Could have just been her
distributor but apparently because hair styles had changed so much, pink tape was falling out of demand and becoming
scarce (sp?). Makes sense that it would work well and not leave any residue though, since it was designed to hold hair
without removing skin when it was pulled off. And sadly, she didn't have any for me to snitch in the Remains Closet,
either! Ah well.... Tegan ellice wrote: [quote:ce1c1fcd99]On 9/11/06 4:44 AM, "tegan57@gmail.com"
<tegan57@gmail.com> wrote: FSUStitcher wrote: You might want to try painter's tape (blue from hardware or paint
store) or hair tape (pink from drug, discount or salon supply store). The painter's tape comes in various widths. The
hair tape is about 1/2 inch in width and is more flexible. Both of them leave less of a residue than masking tape.
Dear heavens! I grew up with a hairdresser for a Mom and never even THOUGHT about using pink tape! Most of my fabric
these days is already .. uh... what's that word for stitched with those fancy machines whose name I can't think of? But
I just may go raid Mom's "remains" closet for the fabric that I need to cut down to size. (and lest anyone be
offended by remains, I mean her closet of stuff left over from when she did hair, nothing else. We call it the Remains
closet because it's all that remains from the career.) Tegan Er - are you thinking of "serged" - bound off
with an overlock stitch done by a serger? Re: the pink tape - used a lot by np-ers. It's great when you're working a
complicated design and have several threads going at one time. Rather than ending them - just coil up the tail, after
running the line of thread a few inches from where you're working - and then tape it to the surface of the canvas. Just
parking it out of the way, without the needle, is a handy thing. Doesn't get tangled, and saves you from a lot of
ending and starting again. The pink hair tape seems to not leave residue, and is pretty repositionable. I've used it
with metallics, metal, silks, cotton, wool, rayon ... Happy stitchin' ellice[/quote:ce1c1fcd99]

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View entire thread: Preventing linen from fraying
Posted by ellice on Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:45 PM    Post subject: Re: Preventing linen from fraying

On 9/12/06 3:21 AM, "tegan57@gmail.com" <tegan57@gmail.com> wrote: [quote:ca6ead98c3]Yep, serged would
be the word! I just couldn't think of what that word was! I guess that was an CRS moment! And btw, I was telling Mom
this evening about this thread and she said good luck! Even when she was still doing hair, and that's been well over ten
years ago, she was beginning to have a hard time finding pink tape. Could have just been her distributor but apparently
because hair styles had changed so much, pink tape was falling out of demand and becoming scarce (sp?). Makes sense that
it would work well and not leave any residue though, since it was designed to hold hair without removing skin when it
was pulled off. And sadly, she didn't have any for me to snitch in the Remains Closet, either! Ah well.... Tegan
[/quote:ca6ead98c3] Your mom is right - it's not that easy to find. But, IME it can be found at CVS drug stores, and a
lot of beauty supply shops. I've also seen it in the hair stuff aisle at some grocery stores. One dispenser lasts a
long time. If you can't find, and need some, LMK off line - it's an easy thing to stick in an envelope and mail (pun not
intended). ellice [quote:ca6ead98c3]ellice wrote: On 9/11/06 4:44 AM, "tegan57@gmail.com"
<tegan57@gmail.com> wrote: FSUStitcher wrote: You might want to try painter's tape (blue from hardware or paint
store) or hair tape (pink from drug, discount or salon supply store). The painter's tape comes in various widths. The
hair tape is about 1/2 inch in width and is more flexible. Both of them leave less of a residue than masking tape.
Dear heavens! I grew up with a hairdresser for a Mom and never even THOUGHT about using pink tape! Most of my fabric
these days is already .. uh... what's that word for stitched with those fancy machines whose name I can't think of? But
I just may go raid Mom's "remains" closet for the fabric that I need to cut down to size. (and lest anyone be
offended by remains, I mean her closet of stuff left over from when she did hair, nothing else. We call it the Remains
closet because it's all that remains from the career.) Tegan Er - are you thinking of "serged" - bound off
with an overlock stitch done by a serger? Re: the pink tape - used a lot by np-ers. It's great when you're working a
complicated design and have several threads going at one time. Rather than ending them - just coil up the tail, after
running the line of thread a few inches from where you're working - and then tape it to the surface of the canvas. Just
parking it out of the way, without the needle, is a handy thing. Doesn't get tangled, and saves you from a lot of
ending and starting again. The pink hair tape seems to not leave residue, and is pretty repositionable. I've used it
with metallics, metal, silks, cotton, wool, rayon ... Happy stitchin' ellice [/quote:ca6ead98c3]

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View entire thread: Is it too early for a calming tipple?
Posted by Roberta Zollner on Wed Oct 11, 2006 6:22 PM    Post subject: Re: sergers and embellishing

The name "Serger" somehow always makes me think of very temperamental Russian dancers, the sort of people who
might embrace you or shoot you, no telling how they will react. Definitely show biz! Roberta in D "polly
esther" <misterclean@mindspring.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:BhZWg.12411$UG4.3001@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net... [quote:79e20801d5]LOL, Pat. So seldom so you venture in
here with a funny. Truth be told, you probably had a mean critter of a serger and we wish you 'd had a sweetheart of
one. I have a Bernina serger that does exquisite heirloom stitching and an Elna 945 that's extremely easy-going. I
think our Kate D has an entire bouquet of sergers. I don't think you would have much use for one. Speaking of - we saw
a demonstration of the new Embellisher at the quilt show. No thread, it just sort of punches pretty things down into
wool or felt. Quite interesting but we couldn't think of a way we could use one. Polly "Patti"
<Patti@quik.clara.co.uk> wrote in message news:VLblA$T03ALFJA8E@quik.clara.co.uk... I sold mine >gg In message
<invalid-D8A207.12434310102006@news.west.earthlink.net>, Sandy Foster <invalid@invalid.invalid> writes Go
for it, Fay! <G> I've never had a serger, but I've heard horror stories of how difficult some can be to thread. :S
-- Best Regards pat on the hill [/quote:79e20801d5]

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View entire thread: Is it too early for a calming tipple?
Posted by Taria on Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:56 AM    Post subject: Re: Is it too early for a calming tipple?

They aren't all bad. They do lots of really neat stuff if you do clothing construction or home dec kind of things. They
do get fussy once in awhile but not so much I wouldn't want one around. I think once you figure out serger tensions
regular sewing machines are a breeze! Taria Patti wrote: [quote:f1855ede97]I sold mine >gg In message <invalid-
D8A207.12434310102006@news.west.earthlink.net>, Sandy Foster <invalid@invalid.invalid> writes Go for it, Fay!
<G> I've never had a serger, but I've heard horror stories of how difficult some can be to thread. :S
[/quote:f1855ede97]

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View entire thread: Is it too early for a calming tipple?
Posted by Sandy Foster on Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:43 PM    Post subject: Re: Is it too early for a calming tipple?

In article <452b287e$1@dnews.tpgi.com.au>, Fey <unclefay@tpg.com.au> wrote: [quote:879d0d93eb]Just spent a
frustrating 3/4 hour rethreading my D)&@# overlocker (serger). Why is it always the lower looper that needs
rethreading? Thought I'd get on and finish a liene for DH that I've had in the "nearly ready to start on this
one" pile and thought I was powering long nicely till the rotten machine cacked itself. Just teaches me for
ignoring the seductive whispers from that new pattern as it brushed its length along my stash. So a small Pernod at 3pm
could only help? Fay http://community.webshots.com/user/unclefay
--------------------------------------------------------------------- begin:vcard fn:Fay n:;Fay adr:;;;;;;Australia
email;internet:unclefayspamenot@tpg.com.au note:Remove spamenot to reply x-mozilla-html:TRUE version:2.1 end:vcard
[/quote:879d0d93eb] Go for it, Fay! <G> I've never had a serger, but I've heard horror stories of how difficult
some can be to thread. :S -- Sandy in Henderson, near Las Vegas my ISP is earthlink.net -- put sfoster1(at) in front
http://home.earthlink.net/~sfoster1 AKA Dame Sandy, Minister of Education

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View entire thread: Is it too early for a calming tipple?
Posted by Patti on Tue Oct 10, 2006 10:17 PM    Post subject: Re: Is it too early for a calming tipple?

I sold mine >gg< In message <invalid-D8A207.12434310102006@news.west.earthlink.net>, Sandy Foster
<invalid@invalid.invalid> writes [quote:f23330569c]Go for it, Fay! <G> I've never had a serger, but I've
heard horror stories of how difficult some can be to thread. :S [/quote:f23330569c] -- Best Regards pat on the hill

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View entire thread: Is it too early for a calming tipple?
Posted by Sandy Foster on Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:07 AM    Post subject: Re: Is it too early for a calming tipple?

In article <VLblA$T03ALFJA8E@quik.clara.co.uk>, Patti <Patti@quik.clara.co.uk> wrote: [quote:90c6177790]I
sold mine >gg In message <invalid-D8A207.12434310102006@news.west.earthlink.net>, Sandy Foster
<invalid@invalid.invalid> writes Go for it, Fay! <G> I've never had a serger, but I've heard horror stories
of how difficult some can be to thread. :S [/quote:90c6177790] LOL! Exactly what I'd do if I had an uncooperative
monster like that. ;) -- Sandy in Henderson, near Las Vegas my ISP is earthlink.net -- put sfoster1(at) in front
http://home.earthlink.net/~sfoster1 AKA Dame Sandy, Minister of Education

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View entire thread: Is it too early for a calming tipple?
Posted by polly esther on Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:11 AM    Post subject: Re: sergers and embellishing

LOL, Pat. So seldom so you venture in here with a funny. Truth be told, you probably had a mean critter of a serger
and we wish you 'd had a sweetheart of one. I have a Bernina serger that does exquisite heirloom stitching and an
Elna 945 that's extremely easy-going. I think our Kate D has an entire bouquet of sergers. I don't think you would
have much use for one. Speaking of - we saw a demonstration of the new Embellisher at the quilt show. No thread, it
just sort of punches pretty things down into wool or felt. Quite interesting but we couldn't think of a way we could
use one. Polly "Patti" <Patti@quik.clara.co.uk> wrote in message
news:VLblA$T03ALFJA8E@quik.clara.co.uk... [quote:27f83c4392]I sold mine >gg In message <invalid-
D8A207.12434310102006@news.west.earthlink.net>, Sandy Foster <invalid@invalid.invalid> writes Go for it, Fay!
<G> I've never had a serger, but I've heard horror stories of how difficult some can be to thread. :S -- Best
Regards pat on the hill[/quote:27f83c4392]

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View entire thread: Is it too early for a calming tipple?
Posted by Kate Dicey on Wed Oct 11, 2006 8:16 AM    Post subject: Re: sergers and embellishing

polly esther wrote: [quote:e6c08fc843]LOL, Pat. So seldom so you venture in here with a funny. Truth be told, you
probably had a mean critter of a serger and we wish you 'd had a sweetheart of one. I have a Bernina serger that does
exquisite heirloom stitching and an Elna 945 that's extremely easy-going. I think our Kate D has an entire bouquet of
sergers. I don't think you would have much use for one. Speaking of - we saw a demonstration of the new Embellisher at
the quilt show. No thread, it just sort of punches pretty things down into wool or felt. Quite interesting but we
couldn't think of a way we could use one. Polly [/quote:e6c08fc843] I've had five over the years! All have been
excellent, but some are a tad more picky than others. I've never had a problem threading them: once you do it a few
times, it's dead easy. You just have to remember to do the threads in the right order. The two I have right now (a
Brother 1034D and a Bernina 1150MDA) are both easy to thread and sew like a dream, so long as I tell them to do the
right thing! I want to play with one of those embellishers, but I don't think I'll ever have enough use for one to
make it a permanent fixture. I think and embroidery machine would have to come first. -- Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q
Madame Chef des Trolls Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons http://www.katedicey.co.uk Click on
Kate's Pages and explore!

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View entire thread: machine needles for quilting
Posted by jennellh on Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:35 AM    Post subject: Re: machine needles for quilting

Atlanta Thread & Supply sells Schmetz needles for $28 per 100 regular ball-point modified - I used them for years
with no problems. More recently I have stocked up on Organ brand from Allstitch which is the recommended needle for my
Brother 1500 and the Pfaff 2144. I still have a good supply of all types of Schmetz needles as well as the generic ones
sold by AT&S ($15.00) which I discovered were the old Singer type of needle and have been perfect for use in my
serger. AT&S also sells 'the perfect cone thread for piecing' - 6000yds - for $10 approx - Coats Dual Duty which is
60weight cotton wrapped polyester core thread - jennellh (change the mail to news) polly esther wrote:
[quote:f2da88adfd]Yes. That's the one. It has been just so nice to be ready to change needles everytime I need to with
nary a thought about did I need to put them on a shopping list. (Not that I mind shopping, but here, going to a store
is an all day production.) Polly "C & S" <sawdust-nospam@primelink1.net> wrote in message
news:ei5jv705h5@news1.newsguy.com... Is this the site you may be looking for: http://www.kapres.com/index.html I
obtained this site from Cats in Oz. I've ordered from them and all went well. Hope this was what you were looking
for.[/quote:f2da88adfd]

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View entire thread: OT: sort of....I want to hear about sewing machines
Posted by polly esther on Sat Sep 16, 2006 1:26 PM    Post subject: Re: sort of....I want to hear about sewing machines

Please don't take my 'Mickey and friends' as a put-down. It's just that I confess to having a few tools that once
learned were never picked up again. Right now, my very fine serger is sulking because I only use it for seams and
hems. Polly "Don/Gen" <Donovanhenderson@msn.com> wrote in message
news:ovKOg.364$1f1.2655@eagle.america.net... [quote:208af011d2]Oh Polly--I've had an embroidery machine for years and
never put Mickey and friends on anything--never done caps either. I've made a lot of lace baskets, quilt blocks
,jacket backs, purses, table runners and place mats, embroidered on fleece blankets, Christmas ornaments--the list goes
on and on. Yes, you need different thread and stabilizers, but all hobbies are expensive. You just need to decide what
you want to spend your money on. I fully plan to play with the new machines at the Novi Expo--just hope I don't think I
need another one! Gen "polly esther" <misterclean@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:ydKOg.12793$xQ1.1020@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net... If you go with either an embroidery machine or a SM that
has the embroidery abilities, you'll still have to consider the costs of special threads and stabilizers (nothing to
sneeze at). And just how many tee-shirts and baseball caps with Mickey Mouse motifs do you want to make?
[/quote:208af011d2]

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View entire thread: Threads
Posted by Pati Cook on Wed Sep 06, 2006 11:09 PM    Post subject: Re: Threads

nel, Try to find the invisible (nylon) thread from SewArt International. It is a matte finish thread and recommended
by Harriet Hargrave. Comes in both the dark and "clear" and I love it. Really is invisible. Brenda, the
answers to your question will be/are many and varied. Use what works for you. <G> I use Aurifil a lot, almost
always for piecing. For actual quilting I may use SewArt invisible, Aurifil, Sulky (rayon, metallic or lamé or
hologram) or any of the other threads I have. But usually Aurifil or good quality 2-ply serger thread in the bobbin.
For hand work I like to use Mettler 50 wt. silk finish. And one of the "glacé" finish hand quilting threads
for hand quilting. <G> Pati, in Phx Sartorresartus wrote: [quote:87603b6bd4]I like YLI for hand quilting and
their silk for applique. I use Mettler for everything else. If I have to use fishing line (nylon thread) I use
Mettler. But I still don't like it much, it is too shiny, it catches the light, so showing up more than a cotton thread
would. Kinda defeats the object imho. I also use Thread Heaven for hand quilting, it gets rid of any knotty problems.
Nel (Gadget Queen) Dixie Sugar wrote: What is the best kind of thread to use for quilting? Brenda
[/quote:87603b6bd4]

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View entire thread: need some more help
Posted by Jacqueline on Sun Aug 13, 2006 3:52 PM    Post subject: Re: need some more help

I have to be honest I don't even know what a Joanne's is. Must be a chain store of some type. In my previous email to
Roberta, this same thread, you will see I live close to nothing, except beautiful mountains. :) I can probably find
this stuff on line somewhere. Thanks for the info. Jacqueline On Sun, 13 Aug 2006 09:34:18 -0400, Witchy Stitcher
<noone@nowhere.com> wrote: [quote:a46b35cb9d]If you have a Joanne's near you, you can buy a set with the cutter
ruler and mat, either olfa or fiskers. Either is fine, I prefer the Olfa. Use a 40% off coupon. If you don't have one,
post, and someone will send you one. I agree that this is an indespensible tool. Although you can cut many blocks at a
time, don't try more than 4. For fabric - stock yourself first before you quish people. I order a lot from Fabrics.com
closeout pages. Because if they have what you want, their prices are very good. They have nice assortments also. Juse
click on Stephen's assortments. Don't skimp on thread either. Some people say it's a no-no, but I will often use serger
thread for piecing. A good brand though - like maxilock. I once tried to use Joanne's brand and when I ironed with a
very hot iron, it became brittle and fell apart - not something you want to happen after you piece your quilt. I would
recommend that for a beginner. Linda PATCHogue, NY On Sun, 13 Aug 2006 02:20:39 -0400, Jacqueline
<coldiron46@yahoo.com wrote: I am at wits end again. I know that even though I have bought precut blocks etc, that
I will have to do some cutting some time. And even if I don't have to I want to try it and see if I can. Now here is
what I need to know. I need to get me a mat, rotary cutter, and rulers, do you all recommend any one in particular. I
have a rotary cutter but the best I remember it won't cut butter, the thing has always been dull so I bet I bought
cheap. What other supplies to I need, since I will have to buy it all on line, may as well get what I need in one order
if possible to save on shipping. Also when you all do buy fabric, how much do you usually buy at a time? I want to
participate in this group as much as possible so I know I need to get some different colors and things to mail for
squissies, I think is what it was called. I guess I need someone to just lay out to me just what all I need to pick up
like basic thread, batting, the edging, which I can't remember what it is called. Border is what I would call it. I
hope you all don't mind but everyone of you have become my new best friends :) I hope the feeling is mutual and I have
not aggravated the crap out of you. I plan on spending the day reading about quilts and reacquainting myself with my
sewing machine tomorrow, well that is after church if I will give up the ghost and go to bed that is. :) I am so
excited that I thought I first thought I would wait until about Oct. to begin this project but I really do not think I
can wait that long. Love you all, Jacqueline Jacqueline http://www.mountain-breeze.com Recipes and other fun things
[/quote:a46b35cb9d] Jacqueline http://www.mountain-breeze.com Recipes and other fun things

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View entire thread: need some more help
Posted by Witchy Stitcher on Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:34 PM    Post subject: Re: need some more help

If you have a Joanne's near you, you can buy a set with the cutter ruler and mat, either olfa or fiskers. Either is
fine, I prefer the Olfa. Use a 40% off coupon. If you don't have one, post, and someone will send you one. I agree that
this is an indespensible tool. Although you can cut many blocks at a time, don't try more than 4. For fabric - stock
yourself first before you quish people. I order a lot from Fabrics.com closeout pages. Because if they have what you
want, their prices are very good. They have nice assortments also. Juse click on Stephen's assortments. Don't skimp on
thread either. Some people say it's a no-no, but I will often use serger thread for piecing. A good brand though - like
maxilock. I once tried to use Joanne's brand and when I ironed with a very hot iron, it became brittle and fell apart -
not something you want to happen after you piece your quilt. I would recommend that for a beginner. Linda PATCHogue, NY
On Sun, 13 Aug 2006 02:20:39 -0400, Jacqueline <coldiron46@yahoo.com> wrote: [quote:46e960cbae]I am at wits end
again. I know that even though I have bought precut blocks etc, that I will have to do some cutting some time. And
even if I don't have to I want to try it and see if I can. Now here is what I need to know. I need to get me a mat,
rotary cutter, and rulers, do you all recommend any one in particular. I have a rotary cutter but the best I remember
it won't cut butter, the thing has always been dull so I bet I bought cheap. What other supplies to I need, since I
will have to buy it all on line, may as well get what I need in one order if possible to save on shipping. Also when
you all do buy fabric, how much do you usually buy at a time? I want to participate in this group as much as possible
so I know I need to get some different colors and things to mail for squissies, I think is what it was called. I guess
I need someone to just lay out to me just what all I need to pick up like basic thread, batting, the edging, which I
can't remember what it is called. Border is what I would call it. I hope you all don't mind but everyone of you have
become my new best friends :) I hope the feeling is mutual and I have not aggravated the crap out of you. I plan on
spending the day reading about quilts and reacquainting myself with my sewing machine tomorrow, well that is after
church if I will give up the ghost and go to bed that is. :) I am so excited that I thought I first thought I would
wait until about Oct. to begin this project but I really do not think I can wait that long. Love you all, Jacqueline
Jacqueline http://www.mountain-breeze.com Recipes and other fun things[/quote:46e960cbae]

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View entire thread: Bargain Fabric & Thread
Posted by Anonymous on Fri Jul 07, 2006 3:20 AM    Post subject: Re: Bargain Fabric & Thread

Pat in Virginia wrote: [quote:22de778048]Here's a new topic! I'd like to hear about your fabric and thread bargains ...
let's limit this to the current year, 2006. Last month I lucked out at a DAV Thrift Store. I purchased a lovely one
yard piece of fabric (David Textiles) for only $.25! It is medium bronze with dark <snip Can you beat that? Grins,
PAT in VA/USA ---[/quote:22de778048] Yup. Dollar-a-bag day. Found some lovely cotton skirts (2 to 2&1/2 yards
each), some great print shirts, other goodies. Fabric isn't necessarily fabric, ya know. Sometimes you have to turn it's
clock back, so to speak. Skirt prints can be fabulous. Jean skirts can yield some lovely striations in color when they
are disassembled. I'm still working on the random quilt in blues. Cut some big squares of newsprint, then stitch
blue scraps onto the paper, turn, press, stitch another blue scrap over the raw edge, turn, press, and so on. I really
like unpredictable random acts of quilting. Although I think it would go together fast if I devoted more than a few
desultory moments to it per month. Cea ooooh, bought a box of serger
thread for $5.00 at a yard sale. Over 35 spools. BIG score!!! Of course, the seller _would_ have to tell me "Ya
shoulda been here earlier---the box was FULL!!"

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View entire thread: a first quilted project
Posted by klh on Tue Jul 04, 2006 3:42 AM    Post subject: a first quilted project

I took a class of 'fine sewing with serger' last week at the Husqvarna Viking shop in Seven Corners, (Fairfax) VA. The
result was a quilted arm-chair sewing bag with pockets for scissors or such and a handle that can also double as a pin-
cushion. We started by sewing together three pieces of fabric about 2"x45 with a 3 thread narrow overlock. And
then we folded a piece over at a right angle, then rotated the left edge some more and then proceeded to sew that edge
down the right side. When it was done, I had a tube and when cut vertically then I had a piece about 11"w and all
my strips were now a bias pattern. All magic. After that I attached batting and backing to make the pockets. I used
another section of fabric to be a backing for lace decoration for the handle. all was put together with lace around
the border with the serger and then straight stitching on the top. At one point I saw a women passing by the Viking
shop in Joannes who had stopped and was just staring at me. Absolutely a dead stop just focused on me. when I looked
at her stare, I asked if she were surprised that there was this one guy in the sewing effort and all the rest were
women? With that she quickly turned and headed off. I did finish my arm-chair piece in the allotted time (10 am to 4
pm) with only one minor serger crisis (needle narrow not wide and it just didn't do trying a flat stitch to pull
ribbon through with the needle too narrow). so I'll offer a picture to the community collection if someone tells me
to mail. klh in VA

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View entire thread: a first quilted project
Posted by Sandy Ellison on Tue Jul 04, 2006 6:12 PM    Post subject: Re: a first quilted project

Howdy! Sounds like you had a good time w/ your first q.p.. As for the staring stranger, what's with that? I grew up
around guys who sew(ed), many of our local guilds have men who attend regularly, and all of the quilt shows I attend
feature men who sew &/or quilt. K, what was on the shirt you were wearing? Some clever slogan or death's head
representation? Got your hair punked or mohawked? Any interesting piercings that could have attracted her attention
from across the room? Prominently displayed tats? hmmmm... maybe it wasn't seeing a man in the sewing room that caught
her eye... ? Maybe it was the man him(your)self. <VBG> Now that you've dabbled your toe in the quilting pool,
what's next? Ragmop/Sandy On 7/3/06 9:42 PM, in article 8Akqg.11808$5i3.4165@trnddc01, "klh"
<v70xc_1998REMOVETHIS@verizon.net> wrote: [quote:0f6c7452f6] I took a class of 'fine sewing with serger' last
week at the Husqvarna Viking shop in Seven Corners, (Fairfax) VA. The result was a quilted arm-chair sewing bag with
pockets for scissors or such and a handle that can also double as a pin-cushion. We started by sewing together three
pieces of fabric about 2"x45 with a 3 thread narrow overlock. And then we folded a piece over at a right angle,
then rotated the left edge some more and then proceeded to sew that edge down the right side. When it was done, I had a
tube and when cut vertically then I had a piece about 11"w and all my strips were now a bias pattern. All magic.
After that I attached batting and backing to make the pockets. I used another section of fabric to be a backing for lace
decoration for the handle. all was put together with lace around the border with the serger and then straight stitching
on the top. At one point I saw a women passing by the Viking shop in Joannes who had stopped and was just staring at
me. Absolutely a dead stop just focused on me. when I looked at her stare, I asked if she were surprised that there was
this one guy in the sewing effort and all the rest were women? With that she quickly turned and headed off. I did
finish my arm-chair piece in the allotted time (10 am to 4 pm) with only one minor serger crisis (needle narrow not wide
and it just didn't do trying a flat stitch to pull ribbon through with the needle too narrow). so I'll offer a picture
to the community collection if someone tells me to mail. klh in VA[/quote:0f6c7452f6]

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View entire thread: a first quilted project
Posted by Jessamy on Tue Jul 04, 2006 8:53 AM    Post subject: Re: a first quilted project

WOOO HOOO well done on getting it done I for one would love to see the result! -- Jessamy In The Netherlands Take out:
so much quilting to reply. Time to accept, time to grow, time to take things slow www.geocities.com/jess_ayad
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jessamy_thompson/my_photos ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I took a
class of 'fine sewing with serger' last week at the Husqvarna Viking shop in Seven Corners, (Fairfax) VA. The result
was a quilted arm-chair sewing bag with pockets for scissors or such and a handle that can also double as a pin-cushion.
We started by sewing together three pieces of fabric about 2"x45 with a 3 thread narrow overlock. And then we
folded a piece over at a right angle, then rotated the left edge some more and then proceeded to sew that edge down the
right side. When it was done, I had a tube and when cut vertically then I had a piece about 11"w and all my strips
were now a bias pattern. All magic. After that I attached batting and backing to make the pockets. I used another
section of fabric to be a backing for lace decoration for the handle. all was put together with lace around the border
with the serger and then straight stitching on the top. At one point I saw a women passing by the Viking shop in
Joannes who had stopped and was just staring at me. Absolutely a dead stop just focused on me. when I looked at her
stare, I asked if she were surprised that there was this one guy in the sewing effort and all the rest were women? With
that she quickly turned and headed off. I did finish my arm-chair piece in the allotted time (10 am to 4 pm) with only
one minor serger crisis (needle narrow not wide and it just didn't do trying a flat stitch to pull ribbon through with
the needle too narrow). so I'll offer a picture to the community collection if someone tells me to mail. klh in VA

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View entire thread: Machine Dealer Rant - long
Posted by Mika on Thu Jul 06, 2006 6:15 PM    Post subject: Re: Machine Dealer Rant - long

Linda, are you talking about the one on Hwy. 112? I love some of the fabrics they carry but I won't go there because of
the snootiness. I plan to get a Brother Embroidery machine soon and will go back to Pocono Sew and Vac in Stroudsburg,
PA. It's a bit of a drive but for the customer service and selection of machines, notions and everything else, it's
worth the drive. I bought my Viking MegaQuilter and frame there and would have gotten the embroidery machine too but at
the last minute DH decided he didn't want me to finance anything. But the guy was very patient, answered all our
questions and was just great to deal with. Everyone there was great. NAAYY but they have my business over 112 anytime.
In fact, DH stopped in there one day and picked up some bobbins for me and they were very friendly to him then. You
might want to check them out. Mika "witchystitcher" <noone@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:bcdja21to6030ft9huifkrt5mfm7qk79pm@4ax.com... [quote:761dd88dd7]Bought a Brother Serger on Ebay from a dealer who
had closed up shop. One of these fancy, schmancy, do everything jobbies. I usually have no problems using sewing
machines and have owned sergers before. BUT, the directions were just awful on this one and I could not, for the life of
me, figure out how to thread the lower looper. So I called my local Brother dealer and said, I just bought a new, but
second-hand Brother 2100 serger. Could I come in and pay for lessons in how to thread it. Sure, they said - $100. A
little steep, since I just needed someone to show me how to do the threading, but figured, OK, maybe I'll learn
something else while I'm there. Bring the serger in, which is STILL the TOL Brother serger on their website, and they
had never seen it before and didn't know how to use it. Now, I did mention the model number when I called. I'm sitting
with a store employee and explaining to her where I couldn't follow the directions in the book, when the owner comes in
and looks at it and proclaims it a piece of junk. Says that's why she doesn't carry it. Now, she is a Brother dealer,
and this is their TOL serger. Still, they are the only Brother dealer around and the employee offered that if I left
the machine, she would figure it out and call me, so I did (my DH says I shouldn't have). On the way out, I stopped to
look at the Innovis 4000D, which is the TOL, do-everything embroidery machine. I am working this summer, which initially
I wasn't going to, and will make just about enough to afford the machine. I then asked about trade-ins. I have a Brother
8200 with an 8500 update. The owner came out and started telling me that the machine had no value and then started
berating me because I didn't buy it from her. She actually said, "I can't believe you expect to trade in a machine
you bought from the internet." I never did tell her where I got it from. Now, I love my Brother machine, and
although the Disney designs doen't do anything for me, I like the stitch designer in the Brother, but at this point, I
will be much more likely to get the machine, if I do get it, from a Babylock dealer. But, at least today, they did
figure out how to thread the serger and a 20 minute session ended up costing $100. Then, I find out from the store
mechanic, that Viking sells the same made by Brother serger, so I could have checked out a Viking dealer instead. Oh
Well, Linda[/quote:761dd88dd7]

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View entire thread: Machine Dealer Rant - long
Posted by Bonnie NJ on Tue Jul 04, 2006 3:56 PM    Post subject: Re: Machine Dealer Rant - long

My Babylock is sooo easy to thread and then they give you a video to demonstrate "how to". Mine is just a 4
thread but it serves me well. -- Bonnie NJ "Kate Dicey" <kate@diceyhome.free-online.co.uk> wrote in
message news:44aa7bc4$0$69365$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader01.plus.net... [quote:f427db3b39]witchystitcher wrote: Bought a
Brother Serger on Ebay from a dealer who had closed up shop. One of these fancy, schmancy, do everything jobbies. I
usually have no problems using sewing machines and have owned sergers before. BUT, the directions were just awful on
this one and I could not, for the life of me, figure out how to thread the lower looper. So I called my local Brother
dealer and said, I just bought a new, but second-hand Brother 2100 serger. Could I come in and pay for lessons in how to
thread it. Sure, they said - $100. A little steep, since I just needed someone to show me how to do the threading, but
figured, OK, maybe I'll learn something else while I'm there. Bring the serger in, which is STILL the TOL Brother
serger on their website, and they had never seen it before and didn't know how to use it. Now, I did mention the model
number when I called. I'm sitting with a store employee and explaining to her where I couldn't follow the directions in
the book, when the owner comes in and looks at it and proclaims it a piece of junk. Says that's why she doesn't carry
it. Now, she is a Brother dealer, and this is their TOL serger. Still, they are the only Brother dealer around and the
employee offered that if I left the machine, she would figure it out and call me, so I did (my DH says I shouldn't
have). On the way out, I stopped to look at the Innovis 4000D, which is the TOL, do-everything embroidery machine. I am
working this summer, which initially I wasn't going to, and will make just about enough to afford the machine. I then
asked about trade-ins. I have a Brother 8200 with an 8500 update. The owner came out and started telling me that the
machine had no value and then started berating me because I didn't buy it from her. She actually said, "I can't
believe you expect to trade in a machine you bought from the internet." I never did tell her where I got it from.
Now, I love my Brother machine, and although the Disney designs doen't do anything for me, I like the stitch designer in
the Brother, but at this point, I will be much more likely to get the machine, if I do get it, from a Babylock dealer.
But, at least today, they did figure out how to thread the serger and a 20 minute session ended up costing $100. Then,
I find out from the store mechanic, that Viking sells the same made by Brother serger, so I could have checked out a
Viking dealer instead. Oh Well, Linda Bad retailer! UGH! Brother UK are giving EXCELLENT after sales service at the
moment, but Husqvarna Viking are not... So my next new serger with a free arm may be the Brother rather than a new
Huskylock! Which model have you got? Oh, the Brother 2100. No - can't find a threading diagram on-line for that...
But I'll keep looking! Generally, serger thread paths are colour coded: look at the UPPER looper and see what colour
code the thread path has: follow that thread path with that thread, and do thread UPPER looper first, then lower, then
right and finally left needle. -- Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the
Chocolate Buttons http://www.katedicey.co.uk Click on Kate's Pages and explore![/quote:f427db3b39]

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View entire thread: Machine Dealer Rant - long
Posted by Kate Dicey on Tue Jul 04, 2006 3:36 PM    Post subject: Re: Machine Dealer Rant - long

witchystitcher wrote: [quote:5fca66c945]Bought a Brother Serger on Ebay from a dealer who had closed up shop. One of
these fancy, schmancy, do everything jobbies. I usually have no problems using sewing machines and have owned sergers
before. BUT, the directions were just awful on this one and I could not, for the life of me, figure out how to thread
the lower looper. So I called my local Brother dealer and said, I just bought a new, but second-hand Brother 2100
serger. Could I come in and pay for lessons in how to thread it. Sure, they said - $100. A little steep, since I just
needed someone to show me how to do the threading, but figured, OK, maybe I'll learn something else while I'm there.
Bring the serger in, which is STILL the TOL Brother serger on their website, and they had never seen it before and
didn't know how to use it. Now, I did mention the model number when I called. I'm sitting with a store employee and
explaining to her where I couldn't follow the directions in the book, when the owner comes in and looks at it and
proclaims it a piece of junk. Says that's why she doesn't carry it. Now, she is a Brother dealer, and this is their TOL
serger. Still, they are the only Brother dealer around and the employee offered that if I left the machine, she would
figure it out and call me, so I did (my DH says I shouldn't have). On the way out, I stopped to look at the Innovis
4000D, which is the TOL, do-everything embroidery machine. I am working this summer, which initially I wasn't going to,
and will make just about enough to afford the machine. I then asked about trade-ins. I have a Brother 8200 with an 8500
update. The owner came out and started telling me that the machine had no value and then started berating me because I
didn't buy it from her. She actually said, "I can't believe you expect to trade in a machine you bought from the
internet." I never did tell her where I got it from. Now, I love my Brother machine, and although the Disney
designs doen't do anything for me, I like the stitch designer in the Brother, but at this point, I will be much more
likely to get the machine, if I do get it, from a Babylock dealer. But, at least today, they did figure out how to
thread the serger and a 20 minute session ended up costing $100. Then, I find out from the store mechanic, that Viking
sells the same made by Brother serger, so I could have checked out a Viking dealer instead. Oh Well, Linda Bad
retailer! UGH![/quote:5fca66c945] Brother UK are giving EXCELLENT after sales service at the moment, but Husqvarna
Viking are not... So my next new serger with a free arm may be the Brother rather than a new Huskylock! Which model
have you got? Oh, the Brother 2100. No - can't find a threading diagram on-line for that... But I'll keep looking!
Generally, serger thread paths are colour coded: look at the UPPER looper and see what colour code the thread path has:
follow that thread path with that thread, and do thread UPPER looper first, then lower, then right and finally left
needle. -- Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

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View entire thread: Machine Dealer Rant - long
Posted by Polly Esther on Tue Jul 04, 2006 5:01 AM    Post subject: Re: Machine Dealer Rant - long

I got into the same stupid mess with my Elna 945 serger. Bought it on ebay, needed help, the closest dealer is a jerk.
I told them I would be happy to pay for lessons. She said I could by appointment at her convenience. I said I'd call
when I had my calendar in hand. Before I left, I inspected her work on the display models. Hummmpf. Not as good as
mine. There's an Elna serger group on Yahoo that's very nice and I learn from them, but don't imagine that they
would know much about yours - but (!) our Kate Dicey is a serging expert (if you don't count that she goes so fast
that she had her serger land in her lap one time). I'll bet she would be glad to help you with your questions.
Meanwhile, back to the Elna jerk - she could have made good money from me but her arrogance cost her dearly. Polly
"witchystitcher" wrote > Bought a Brother Serger on Ebay from a dealer who had closed up shop.
[quote:f652e7479d]One of these fancy, schmancy, do everything jobbies. I usually have no problems using sewing machines
and have owned sergers before. BUT, the directions were just awful on this one and I could not, for the life of me,
figure out how to thread the lower looper. So I called my local Brother dealer and said, I just bought a new, but
second-hand Brother 2100 serger. Could I come in and pay for lessons in how to thread it. Sure, they said - $100. A
little steep, since I just needed someone to show me how to do the threading, but figured, OK, maybe I'll learn
something else while I'm there. Bring the serger in, which is STILL the TOL Brother serger on their website, and they
had never seen it before and didn't know how to use it. Now, I did mention the model number when I called. I'm sitting
with a store employee and explaining to her where I couldn't follow the directions in the book, when the owner comes in
and looks at it and proclaims it a piece of junk. Says that's why she doesn't carry it. Now, she is a Brother dealer,
and this is their TOL serger. Still, they are the only Brother dealer around and the employee offered that if I left
the machine, she would figure it out and call me, so I did (my DH says I shouldn't have). On the way out, I stopped to
look at the Innovis 4000D, which is the TOL, do-everything embroidery machine. I am working this summer, which initially
I wasn't going to, and will make just about enough to afford the machine. I then asked about trade-ins. I have a Brother
8200 with an 8500 update. The owner came out and started telling me that the machine had no value and then started
berating me because I didn't buy it from her. She actually said, "I can't believe you expect to trade in a machine
you bought from the internet." I never did tell her where I got it from. Now, I love my Brother machine, and
although the Disney designs doen't do anything for me, I like the stitch designer in the Brother, but at this point, I
will be much more likely to get the machine, if I do get it, from a Babylock dealer. But, at least today, they did
figure out how to thread the serger and a 20 minute session ended up costing $100. Then, I find out from the store
mechanic, that Viking sells the same made by Brother serger, so I could have checked out a Viking dealer instead. Oh
Well, Linda[/quote:f652e7479d]

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View entire thread: Machine Dealer Rant - long
Posted by witchystitcher on Tue Jul 04, 2006 1:39 AM    Post subject: Machine Dealer Rant - long

Bought a Brother Serger on Ebay from a dealer who had closed up shop. One of these fancy, schmancy, do everything
jobbies. I usually have no problems using sewing machines and have owned sergers before. BUT, the directions were just
awful on this one and I could not, for the life of me, figure out how to thread the lower looper. So I called my local
Brother dealer and said, I just bought a new, but second-hand Brother 2100 serger. Could I come in and pay for lessons
in how to thread it. Sure, they said - $100. A little steep, since I just needed someone to show me how to do the
threading, but figured, OK, maybe I'll learn something else while I'm there. Bring the serger in, which is STILL the
TOL Brother serger on their website, and they had never seen it before and didn't know how to use it. Now, I did mention
the model number when I called. I'm sitting with a store employee and explaining to her where I couldn't follow the
directions in the book, when the owner comes in and looks at it and proclaims it a piece of junk. Says that's why she
doesn't carry it. Now, she is a Brother dealer, and this is their TOL serger. Still, they are the only Brother dealer
around and the employee offered that if I left the machine, she would figure it out and call me, so I did (my DH says I
shouldn't have). On the way out, I stopped to look at the Innovis 4000D, which is the TOL, do-everything embroidery
machine. I am working this summer, which initially I wasn't going to, and will make just about enough to afford the
machine. I then asked about trade-ins. I have a Brother 8200 with an 8500 update. The owner came out and started telling
me that the machine had no value and then started berating me because I didn't buy it from her. She actually said,
"I can't believe you expect to trade in a machine you bought from the internet." I never did tell her where I
got it from. Now, I love my Brother machine, and although the Disney designs doen't do anything for me, I like the
stitch designer in the Brother, but at this point, I will be much more likely to get the machine, if I do get it, from a
Babylock dealer. But, at least today, they did figure out how to thread the serger and a 20 minute session ended up
costing $100. Then, I find out from the store mechanic, that Viking sells the same made by Brother serger, so I could
have checked out a Viking dealer instead. Oh Well, Linda

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View entire thread: Machine Dealer Rant - long
Posted by witchystitcher on Tue Jul 04, 2006 4:19 PM    Post subject: Re: Machine Dealer Rant - long

I got the threading order, but what I couldn't understand was the diagram for the threading of the lower looper just
before it goes into the eye. The diagrams they give in the book are awful. The serger person at the dealer did figure it
out and I can now use it, so I guess it was worth the $100. What she figured out did not look anything like the diagram.
But for that price, they did not figure out how to thread it for the other stitches - the coverlock or the chain stitch.
Now that the mystery of the lower looper is solved, maybe I can get that by myself. Linda [quote:0fb3e96bdb]
Generally, serger thread paths are colour coded: look at the UPPER looper and see what colour code the thread path has:
follow that thread path with that thread, and do thread UPPER looper first, then lower, then right and finally left
needle.[/quote:0fb3e96bdb]

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View entire thread: Machine Dealer Rant - long
Posted by Pat in Virginia on Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:35 PM    Post subject: Re: Machine Dealer Rant - long

I have a Singer Serger that I bought before I moved to Virginia, but had never used. I took it to my LQS which is
also a dealer for both Pfaff and Berninna. (I've introduced several RCTQ folk to this LQS, Nancy's Calico Patch.
NAYY) I got a private lesson in Serger Basics (threading, etc) for about 45 minutes (the dealer left me to play every
now and then, but was ALWAYS there to answer questions) price: $15; goodwill: priceless. PAT in VA/USa witchystitcher
wrote: [quote:8c6915b698]Bought a Brother Serger on Ebay So I called my local Brother dealer and said, I just bought a
new, but second-hand Brother 2100 serger. Could I come in and pay for lessons in how to thread it. Sure, they said -
$100. [/quote:8c6915b698] ....cut...

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View entire thread: Machine Dealer Rant - long
Posted by Hanne Gottliebsen on Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:42 PM    Post subject: Re: Machine Dealer Rant - long

I bought my machine here in the UK, but if I had stayed in the US, Nancy would have gotten my business too. As it is,
they still get more than half my fabric/threads/books money, even though I live 5 timezone away. I love this store!
Hanne in London Pat in Virginia wrote: [quote:ff8fd9d367]I have a Singer Serger that I bought before I moved to
Virginia, but had never used. I took it to my LQS which is also a dealer for both Pfaff and Berninna. (I've introduced
several RCTQ folk to this LQS, Nancy's Calico Patch. NAYY) I got a private lesson in Serger Basics (threading, etc) for
about 45 minutes (the dealer left me to play every now and then, but was ALWAYS there to answer questions) price: $15;
goodwill: priceless. PAT in VA/USa witchystitcher wrote: Bought a Brother Serger on Ebay So I called my local Brother
dealer and said, I just bought a new, but second-hand Brother 2100 serger. Could I come in and pay for lessons in how to
thread it. Sure, they said - $100. ...cut...[/quote:ff8fd9d367]

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View entire thread: OT - Clothes question
Posted by Cindy Schmidt on Wed Jun 21, 2006 7:25 PM    Post subject: Re: OT - Clothes question

Well I was in a hurry and used a regular #2 pencil. Went to TSWLTH, Hancocks AND Wally World and they were all out of
the white quilting marking pencil and could I find mine where it's supposed to be - NOOOOOOOOO. Should have started
this when I first got the fabric but my SIL was going to show me how to do it on the serger (which I hated) so I was
behind big time. I am in the process of making colorguard flags for my daughter and had to make a cardboard template
and that was the only thing that I had to mark with at the time. DH helped me mark them and decided on the first 3 1/2
yards that we needed to turn the template the other way, so he just flipped the fabric over. That's why I need to get
the pencil marks out. grrrrrr. They need to be done tomorrow night. We were up really late last night serging them.
Wasn't a good night as the thread kept breaking. Took that spool back and bought 2 more. Must of been cut when they
open the box cause the new spools did it too. Thanks for the help. Cindy from MO "Audrey"
<missymay@gwtc.net> wrote in message news:TfOdnTemgvI67ATZnZ2dnUVZ_oudnZ2d@rapidnet.com... [quote:8ecbf2a387]The
Blue water marker works fine as along as your lining is washable. test first The Purple that disappears with time would
work also. But as always test on a corner first. Audrey "off kilter quilter"
<spamfree@somewherequiet.net> wrote in message news:092dnSNxsdUsoQTZnZ2dnUVZ_t-dnZ2d@adelphia.com... Cindy Schmidt
wrote: This is for any of you who have made clothes in the past. I have some of the fabric that you line suits with -
was wondering - does pencil marks come out of that very easily? Figured I would try here first before I frustrate
myself trying to get them out if there is no way to do so. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cindy from MO I wouldn't use pencil
unless you are specifically talking about marking pencils, which are made for this. Also, if you use marking pencils,
don't press overly hard...just what I have learned in my experience Larisa [/quote:8ecbf2a387]

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View entire thread: sergers and seams
Posted by Susan Torrens on Fri Jun 16, 2006 4:09 PM    Post subject: Re: sergers and seams

I had 5 of the ladies in my Florida group approach me about running a serger class. They had all bought one, and
several hadn't even taken them out of the box! None had plugged them in! They all wanted to know if they could be used
for quilting. Next winter we are having a serger day - just to acquaint them with their machines. I hope everyone can
find their instruction book! -- Susan in Kingston ON sewing table complete, now back to quilting!
http://community.webshots.com/user/sbtinkingston "pami" <pdefraia@hvc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:kD3kg.8783$%h.898@news-wrt-01.rdc-nyc.rr.com... [quote:bcc1410806]Guilty...I bought one in 2004 and I haven't used
it...I wished I'd bought it locally and took a class. I still might take a class when I get better. Mine is supposed
to self thread. I have a box of threads ...big spools my neighbor gave me...and not sure if you can put different colors
together and they blend. Somebody told me to call a tailor and ask them. Pami [/quote:bcc1410806]

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View entire thread: sergers and seams
Posted by Trish Brown on Thu Jun 15, 2006 6:44 AM    Post subject: Re: sergers and seams

pami wrote: [quote:50baee08aa]Guilty...I bought one in 2004 and I haven't used it...I wished I'd bought it locally and
took a class. I still might take a class when I get better. Mine is supposed to self thread. I have a box of threads
...big spools my neighbor gave me...and not sure if you can put different colors together and they blend. Somebody told
me to call a tailor and ask them. Pami Technically, the first quilt I ever made (I guess I have to count it
as[/quote:50baee08aa] a quilt, although I was thinking more in the way of 'stuffed toy' at the time) was a baby puff-
quilt done on my overlocker (serger). The recipe said you had to cut squares of calico/muslin for backing and then
other squares of coloured fabric an inch larger. As you put the rows together (with the serger), you had to pleat the
edges of the top square so they would fit against the calico/muslin square. As each row was completed, you stuffed
each 'square' with a handful of polyfill and pinned the pleated edge down, ready to be joined to the next completed
row. I had the option of batting and tying the top or of simply backing it with toning fabric. Since I wasn't a real
quilter then, and my daughter was born in spring, I just backed the puff-top and added a pretty frill with lace. I
immediately sat down and made a matching, small-scale version of this for a pram cover. *Everyone* who saw that asked
me where I got it from! LOL! I was too polite to say 'I made it from scraps'. These two 'quilts' took a few hours one
Saturday arvo and I must say, they were *beautiful*! I made mine in plain mint green, cream and green/cream striped
fabrics. (My kids have red hair, so green was a no-brainer for a boy or girl). -- Trish {|:-} Newcastle, NSW,
Australia

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View entire thread: Is your Sewing Space "put together"?
Posted by Kate G. on Sun Oct 29, 2006 2:23 AM    Post subject: Re: Is your Sewing Space "put together"?

I've thought about the wire shelves... do you have any problem with stuff falling through? I don't buy that many large
cuts of fabic... mostly 1 yards and FQ's. I have more small/medium bins than anything else! Kate in MI
http://community.webshots.com/user/K_Groves -- "Kathy Applebaum" <KathyA@KayneyNOSPAMQuilting.com>
wrote in message news:PpS0h.916$wX.201@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com... [quote:3b642a3fda]Going counter-clockwise from the
door, my sewing room has a wall that is all closet, a wall with a large (but not floor-to-ceiling) window, a plain
narrow wall, and an angled wall that comes back to the entry door. I took the doors off the closet, installed wire
shelves, and it's now fabric and supply storage. The window wall has my treadle and cutting table -- when I need my
e-machine or serger, it goes onto the cutting table. (Both are stored on the floor right next to the cutting table, and
the e-machine stays plugged in for use at a moment's notice). The short wall has a design wall with the ironing board
right in front of it. That design wall is mostly used for small stuff, like a block I'm actively assembling. The angled
wall is all design wall. My thread is in a couple of the Sulky boxes
(http://www.sulky.com/slimline/index_slimline.php). (I keep the cones at work, on custom made racks.) Other supplies are
in boxes below the wire shelves or below my cutting table, depending on how often I use them. The work flow is great as
long as I keep the room neat. (Quite a task for me! LOL) -- Kathy A. (Woodland, CA) Queen of Fabric Tramps
mailto:KathyA@KayneyNOSPAMQuilting.com http://fabrictramp.typepad.com/fabric_tramping/ remove the obvious to reply
"Kate G." <grovesfam@NOcomcastSPAM.net> wrote in message
news:NridnSCGCqU6Tt7YnZ2dnUVZ_rCdnZ2d@comcast.com... Mine isn't... but I want it to be! So let's share! I'd love to
see pictures of your sewing spaces... so please attach a link. Or tell me what works? My room isn't particularly
large (12 x 13 thereabouts) with really only 2 walls. The other two are: Closet and room entry door; floor to ceiling
windows (which I love but make furniture arrangement strange as this looks right out the front of the house). One wall
is about 2/3 used by my design wall. So how do I maximize the rest? Cabinets? with doors or without? shelves? Wire
or solid? Solid drawers or wire drawers? How do you store your thread? With a new (new to me... used machine)
embroidery machine -- my thread supply will likely grow pretty quickly. If you have two machines that you actively use
(I plan to use one for piecing... while the other is stitching embroidery) -- how do you arrange them? Is there a rule
of thumb like the kitchen triangle? HELP! Kate in MI (eager to see pics of your spaces!)
http://community.webshots.com/user/K_Groves -- [/quote:3b642a3fda]

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View entire thread: Is your Sewing Space "put together"?
Posted by Kathy Applebaum on Sun Oct 29, 2006 1:16 AM    Post subject: Re: Is your Sewing Space "put together"?

Going counter-clockwise from the door, my sewing room has a wall that is all closet, a wall with a large (but not
floor-to-ceiling) window, a plain narrow wall, and an angled wall that comes back to the entry door. I took the doors
off the closet, installed wire shelves, and it's now fabric and supply storage. The window wall has my treadle and
cutting table -- when I need my e-machine or serger, it goes onto the cutting table. (Both are stored on the floor
right next to the cutting table, and the e-machine stays plugged in for use at a moment's notice). The short wall has a
design wall with the ironing board right in front of it. That design wall is mostly used for small stuff, like a block
I'm actively assembling. The angled wall is all design wall. My thread is in a couple of the Sulky boxes
(http://www.sulky.com/slimline/index_slimline.php). (I keep the cones at work, on custom made racks.) Other supplies
are in boxes below the wire shelves or below my cutting table, depending on how often I use them. The work flow is
great as long as I keep the room neat. (Quite a task for me! LOL) -- Kathy A. (Woodland, CA) Queen of Fabric Tramps
mailto:KathyA@KayneyNOSPAMQuilting.com http://fabrictramp.typepad.com/fabric_tramping/ remove the obvious to reply
"Kate G." <grovesfam@NOcomcastSPAM.net> wrote in message
news:NridnSCGCqU6Tt7YnZ2dnUVZ_rCdnZ2d@comcast.com... [quote:3b9cb743b7]Mine isn't... but I want it to be! So let's
share! I'd love to see pictures of your sewing spaces... so please attach a link. Or tell me what works? My room
isn't particularly large (12 x 13 thereabouts) with really only 2 walls. The other two are: Closet and room entry
door; floor to ceiling windows (which I love but make furniture arrangement strange as this looks right out the front of
the house). One wall is about 2/3 used by my design wall. So how do I maximize the rest? Cabinets? with doors or
without? shelves? Wire or solid? Solid drawers or wire drawers? How do you store your thread? With a new (new to
me... used machine) embroidery machine -- my thread supply will likely grow pretty quickly. If you have two machines
that you actively use (I plan to use one for piecing... while the other is stitching embroidery) -- how do you arrange
them? Is there a rule of thumb like the kitchen triangle? HELP! Kate in MI (eager to see pics of your spaces!)
http://community.webshots.com/user/K_Groves -- [/quote:3b9cb743b7]

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