Wednesday, April 08, 2015

Wait Five Minutes

A lot can happen in a few days.  Even in a few hours.

After my April 4 post, I went into the studio to spend the morning quilting my piece for the SAQA 2015 Benefit Auction.  Several samples and three attempts later -- accompanied by weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth -- I realized I was down.  Not out.  Just down.

For months I've been dealing with ignoring the fact that my sewing machine (a Husqvarna Lily 555) has been skipping stitches, especially when I try to quilt free-motion.  It's happened some with straight quilting too (walking foot) -- and even with piecing, when I 'put the pedal to the metal'.  But mainly when I do free motion.  Going through the hoops (cleaning the bobbin area, new needle, right thread combo etc., etc. wasn't helping.  Saturday, I realized I couldn't put it off any longer.  The **!!@@ machine needed a look-see.

Blessedly, I was going to Red Deer in the afternoon anyway, for the Central Alberta Quilt Guild's Annual Show -- so on the way, I took the machine in to the Red Deer Sewing Centre. Rolly, their Main Man when it comes to machines, will clean and tweak and check the timing, which is what we (the RDSC staff and I) think is the problem.  Estimated pick-up date: April 22...

A mere 6 days (two of which I have to spend at my 'day job') before I leave for the SAQA Conference in Portland, when said auction piece is supposed to be finished and in my carry-on for delivery to the Powers That Be for all things 2015 Auction related.

Not to mention that I have to turn in my quilt for the April EBMC class before I leave...

Sigh.  

What to do?

Well... a few months back a friend gave me a mechanical Pfaff 1222-E, which her husband had brought up to speed, but which she neither needed nor wanted.  Containing sturdy metal parts, it weighs a ton, but will long outlast even the most expensive sewing machines on the market today, which are full of computerized gizmos and plastic parts, sensitive and flimsy.

I figured I'd better dig it out and see if I can use it -- and lo, and behold!  It has a FMQ foot!

Stay tuned for the adventure!*

*P.S.  I've done a bit of Internet snooping, and think I'll keep this review of the 1222E (which is about the same age as my daughter, born in 1981)...with the manual.  ;-)

7 comments:

elle said...

oooh, a cliff hanger but... ya can't keep a good sewer down! ;^)

Linda said...

I know how you feel. My favourite machine is in the shop with some serious problems and it happened in the middle of fmqing on a gift quilts. Good luck!

Kathie Briggs said...

and the adventure begins...

Linda A. Miller said...

Have fun with the new machine... at least until yours returns!

Maggi said...

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you getting it done in time. I must admit that you caused me a moment's panic by saying it had to be ready by the conference so I had to go and check the deadline dates!

rtquilter said...

I sure hope you get your machine fixed Margaret! Mind you, those oldies ARE goodies so I hope you get your free motion work done in time for the auction. Good luck!

rtquilter said...

Good luck Margaret! That old machine could be a life saver! Hope so:-)