Category: sewing machine repair

Retirement: Starting Year 3

January 18, 2025

Can you believe it’s been almost three years since we retired? As I approach the start of year 3, I can honestly say my everyday activities are as I envisioned them to be and they will continue to evolve. It’s been a journey to get to this point. Believe it when the retirement gurus tell you that it’ll take 2-3 years before you finally begin to feel settled in retirement.

People ask if we plan to remain where we currently live long-term. No. Making the decision on whether or not to stay in the same area took some time. In the end, I really want a smaller house in a less populated area, preferably near a body of water. That’s all I know. We don’t have to make a decision today – or anytime soon, for that matter. Eventually, we’ll need a house with fewer stairs and something that’s easier to maintain.

Labradoodle sitting on a quilt.
Sadie waiting on our next R.E.A.D.er.

Meanwhile, the school-based R.E.A.D. program was definitely worth the work and 2-1/2 year wait. I thoroughly enjoy working with the kids to improve their literacy skills. This week, Sadie and I started our 4th week of the program. All the kids came right on time, ready to work. It’s been wonderful! FYI, Big Girl and I made 38 therapy dog visits in 2024 totaling 80 hours of visit time. Wonder what our stats will be at the end of 2025?

Quilting activities ebb and flow. I sew with friends at least one day a week. I’m taking a breather on personal projects after the intense focus on the Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt. Placemats and pillowcases for community service are currently on my worktable. I’m teaching sewing and machine maintenance classes throughout 2025 at the SQTM. I’ll also be a student at guild and regional quilt events, as well. 

Travel is something hubs and I both said we wanted to do more of in 2025.  I’m sure we will. Mind you, retirement travel doesn’t always resemble the glamorous jet-setting round the world often portrayed in retirement ads. As a couple, it’s usually 1-2 trips by plane with some weekend getaways sprinkled throughout the year. We currently have two destinations in mind, with dates TBD.  Other travel involves volunteer work and hobbies. Occasionally, we go together, but it’s usually done solo or with friends. 

Since Hurricane Helene, hubs has become so involved with Team Rubicon that he’s been gone at least two weeks of every month. It’s worthwhile work that I’m happy to support.  Besides, my own volunteer and teaching commitments have me tied to an academic calendar through mid-May. (Spring break will be spent at a quilt retreat!) Road trips are something that I have missed. Having a high-mileage older car with some quirks is fine for local trips, but not long ones. QuiltCon in Raleigh was her last major trip. Test drives of my top 3 new vehicle candidates are next week. Once that’s decided, then it’s a matter of finding/waiting on the specific model/trim level to become available. 

If you’ve worked with a professional to develop a solid retirement plan, money worries should ease significantly by year 3. It did for me. All I can say is follow your plan. Give yourself permission to spend money, especially in the early years of your retirement while you’re able to enjoy it.  This has been a hard mindshift for me, but I’m adjusting! 

Replacing Retractable Sewing Machine Spool Pins

June 11, 2016

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Janome JW5622 from Wal-Mart

My sewing club kids worked the sewing machines over this past school year!

One of the machines, a JW 5622 from Wal-Mart, wound up with broken and bent spool spins. (Well, they are made of plastic, so what else do you expect when a dozen 9 & 10 year olds use the machines over the course of 28 weeks?)  I decided to replace the the plastic pins with metal ones.

Normally, this would mean taking the machine to the repair shop and shelling out $90 for a basic service and less than 2 minutes of time to swap out the spool pins. Not this time. Mechanical machines I can do. I rehabbed a Singer 99K and maintain my Featherweight. Both run perfectly. Parts were available online, so I decided to DIY.

But first, I needed 2 things:  a service manual* and 2 metal retractable spool pins. (* This one was free from Janome and is a basic service manual for several variations of this model available through online retailers and big box stores. Service-Manual.net is a reliable resource for purchased sewing machine service manuals. Most are about $10 and include the parts list.)

Surprisingly, there was no mention in the service manual on how to replace the spool pins. That turned out to be the easy part. Getting the cover off the machine was another matter entirely. The service manual was a huge help with dismantling and reassembling the machine.

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Machine apart with new metal spool pins installed.

Here’s the machine taken apart with the spool pins replaced. (See the red felt?) Loosen the tiny screw between the spool pins just enough to release the tension on the wire, slide in the new spool pins in place and tighten so that the spool pin catches the wire on the indention near the bottom of the spool pin.  FYI – the end with 3 lines is the top of the spool pin. Test the spool pin (move it up & down just like you would normally) and adjust the tension on the wire as necessary. That’s it. Now, reassemble the the machine!

Helpful hints:

  • Enlarge the machine diagram from the service manual on the copier and tape the screws to the page as you remove them.
  • Use a magnetic tip screwdriver.
  • Have a pair of tweezers handy to hold screws in tight places.
  • If the machine disassembly diagram instructs you to loosen the set screw, that’s what they mean!  Do not remove the screw completely. There is a reason for this!
  • On this model, there is electrical wiring that needs to be tucked BEHIND the spool pins and the tab to the left of the spool pins (the white box thingie) before you re-attach the rear cover.

This repair cost me $12.00 for parts and took about an hour to complete. Most of the time was spent figuring out how to disassemble/reassemble the sewing machine.  The sewing machine cost $149.00 when I purchased it and it was worth it to me to attempt the repair myself. Worst case scenario – I would take the machine to the repair shop in pieces and pay the money to have them fix my screw-up.  By DIY, I saved $75 plus gas and the 90 minute round trip to the sewing machine repair shop.