Blissful day of crafting ends in tragedy!

Today was the BIG DAY of learning to sew using a pattern, and deciding to Learn Things and Do It Right. Historically I have approached the sewing machine less like a tool for the serious craftsperson and more of a plaything, like fingerpaints. This has resulted in some less-than-elegant alteration and patchworky-type projects that were essentially useless when finished. So today was the day to get real and make something I will want to wear for a long time. (For those of you who don't follow me, this is part of my new obsession - see here.)

So first I had to just gaze lovingly for a long time at the pattern. Patterns are just so beautiful, and delicate and crinkly:

I literally spent HOURS just getting started. I found the pattern to be kind of intimidating at first. I resist instructions as though they are entirely unimportant, and then when I decide to use them I am faced with total intimidation, as though suddenly the pattern is a gizillion times smarter than me. But, it seemed to be going well by several hours later:

And by 10pm this evening, I was at the stage of finishing off the armholes and thinking about the next step, doing the zipper in the back. (Cute, isn't it? Its a wee sleeveless shirt/tunic kind of thing (over the hips, to wear with pants ) and made of a lovely linen.)

When suddenly, My sewing machine just went ahead and BROKE in the middle of stitching a seam!

ARG! Anyone have a Husqvarna Classica 90? After a lovely day of sewing happily away, suddenly the top thread and bobbin thread were getting all caught up underneath the foot and knotting up and freezing the system. I unscrewed some stuff and looked in there (this image was taken after I unscrewed it - you can see the bobbin holder is missing) and found a whole bunch of fiber dust which I removed with a dry paint brush. The I put it all back together, and it was still not working. I hadn't been doing anything different when it started happening either - I was literally in the middle of sewing a seam, just chugging along down the road, and suddenly it all just stopped.

Any ideas, craftistas?

Is it just the universe's way of telling me that 8 hours was enough time to spend sewing a shirt, wickid cool as it may be?

Comments

[Andrew Thornton]

This happened to me as well! Eek! I think it's from years of abuse that this happened to me. I used to sew paper and what not and the dust fibers were the devil. But from what I can tell, which I might be completely wrong, you might have to oil your parts for one and then adjust the tension settings on it as well. Sometimes working with heavier fabrics on a standard machine (not an industrial one) will mess them up. Also consider taking it to your local sewing shop. In many cases they will make your sewing machine run like new for like $15, extending its life and prolonging the crafter's battle. :-) Good luck. I love sewing. My mother and grandmother sew and they made me their quilts and I think that it might have been one of my first exposures to color theory and composition. This was all way before Gee's Bend was made into stamps and traveling shows.

[Cicada Studio]

Cutting the patterns is my least favorite part. It gets so bad for me that once it's all cut, I lose interest in the project completely. From what I can see you are doing a smash up job. I've had the threads jam up machines- it's probably time for a tune up.

[High Desert Diva]

I agree with Cicada....probably needs a tune up.

Your sewing project was looking good...8 hours though...I wouldn't have been able to stick to it that long!

[Amy]

thanks for the advice folks. I am such a sewing amateur I didn't even think of the "tuning up" option.

I'm really excited about this top: I am going to embroider on it when its done. I'll post the results.

[Caroline]

You have the kind of patience I dream of.

Hopefully your machine will work like new after a quick trip to the sewing experts?

[mimi k]

you could try a new needle first...

[sara girlscantell]

omg, amykins. i almost fell off my chair laughing at your flames-coming-out-of-sewing-machine graphic. but it looks wonderful! (and i'd give you my trusty south philly sewing machine repair guy's number, but he up and left for florida to retire last year...)

[Amy]

I fixed it! See the newest post. Thanks to all for your advice and encouragement!!

[sarah]

Your picture really made me laugh out loud, seems to sum up your feelings about the day! Glad you got it sorted :)