Hack: Making Baby Lock snap on presser feet work with a Janome top loading machine

June 30, 2024

Janome, Singer and Brother manufacture sewing machines for other companies. It’s a common practice in the sewing machine industry. I can always spot a machine made by Janome due to the slightly offset presser feet and the distinctive gray plastic needle plate in less expensive top loading machines. Singer and Brother tend to make machines designed for true center-needle presser feet (not offset like Janome).

My Elnita EC30 and Baby Lock’s Joy and Zeal share the same needle plate and presser feet (all made by Janome). Baby Lock markets an accessory set with a “specialty ankle” that allows these Janome made (Anna, Molly, Joy and Zeal) machines to use more of the Baby Lock snap-on feet. Baby Lock makes an awesome Quilt Binding Foot that I’ve been able to make work using a 5mm width Janome shank on my Elnita EC30 and Elna STAR, but this really sparked my curiosity. I just had to see this “specialty ankle”.

It meant I had to buy a 7 piece foot kit, but I’m glad I did. The “specialty ankle” is a standard Baby Lock snap-on shank that’s hollowed out to allow for the offset in the Janome presser bar. If you have a Brother-made Baby Lock machine, you’ll be able to use most of your snap-on feet with your Janome 5 mm width machines with this specialty ankle. I cannot vouch for the 7mm width top loading Janome machines as I do not have one of those models to test.

Pick up one of these 7 piece foot kits for the Baby Lock Anna, Molly, Joy and Zeal:

They are $15-$20 online and $30 at a dealer. This is the only way I’ve found as a sewing machine enthusiast to get the special shank needed to use the Baby Lock Quilt Binding Foot (and others) with my 5mm width Janome machines. Having this shank also opens the doors to potentially more center needle snap-on presser feet (Amazon, MadamSew), which are usually available at a much more reasonable price.

We need someone to come up with a 3D printer file for this screw on presser foot shank. Just sayin’.

Have you discovered hacks to make your sewing machine feet more interchangeable?

Almost to the finish line

June 29, 2024

Today, I received the official approval letter for my teacher retirement benefits to begin.

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

However, we’re not quite done yet. This action merely sets in motion a series of events that will require follow-up on my part over the next several weeks. One thing I’ve learned over the past two years is government entities have their prescribed processes and they shall not be hurried along (no matter how hard I try). Hopefully, everything will be as it should by October 1st.

Meanwhile, I’m diligently working to get the health insurance premiums adjusted to reflect my retiree status. We’ve been paying COBRA rates for close to two years now. I have no desire to pay the high rates any longer than necessary. If I’m retired as of 8/1, then my premiums should be adjusted to reflect that rate. My position is if I have to pay for August coverage in July, then it needs to be at the retiree rate, not the COBRA rate. Hopefully, they resolve it in the next couple of weeks. If not, an HR friend suggested I wait and pay the “retiree” premium amount right before the due date as this is essentially a billing issue and not a coverage issue. I’d rather wait until they show the correct premium due than pay and wait on a refund, which will take up to 3 months to get.

Anyhow, I feel as if a weight has been lifted and there’s indeed light at the end of the tunnel.

Downsizing my paper planner {finally}

June 28, 2024

For years, I’ve used a classic-size Happy Planner to keep track of EVERYTHING from lesson plans to appointments to sewing projects. This system has served me well. Lately though, I’m finding it a bit cumbersome to lug around when all I really need is a datebook and a place to write notes/tuck receipts. I tried to keep everything digitally on my phone, but I’m a pen and paper kind of girl at heart.

Today, I actually found a mini-size Happy Planner at Hobby Lobby in my preferred dashboard layout. It came home with me! I’ve had so much fun setting up my new planner – kind of like the excitement of prepping for a new school year. I’ll keep the existing larger planner for a while longer to make sure the mini-size works for me. If so, I’ll rehome any classic size paper and binder accessories to my sewing kiddos or some teacher friends. Most of the documents I keep are letter size, which is larger than the classic size binder. Truth be told, I probably have a set of BIG (letter size) Happy Planner covers and discs in my stash of teacher supplies in the basement somewhere. Hmmm…

I didn’t chose a word for the year at the beginning of 2024. However, I do believe the word of focus as I enter my next decade of life will be “SIMPLIFY”.

Downsizing my planner is definitely a start.