Tag: DIY

Learn to use the sewing machine you have

May 2, 2025

Thirty years ago, a wise old sewing machine repairman shared the following advice with me, “You don’t need a new machine, you need to learn how to use the one you have.” This was in response to me whining I really needed a new machine like the one he had for sale in his shop so I could do certain sewing techniques. My 60’s era Elna SU from the Atlanta Public Schools surplus is long gone; however, Mr. Vinson’s words still ring true in 2025.

Carefully curated social media plays right into our ongoing struggle with bright shiny object syndrome. Do you watch project tutorials from ambassadors of Baby Lock, Bernina and Janome sewing machines? Those machines they are using are the TOL machines. Same goes for all the sewists who whiz through things on their Juki machines. The really well known Juki users seem to be migrating toward industrial versions nowadays. While there is certainly educational content in the project tutorial, it’s also designed to sell you a new sewing machine or companion products.

Remember this: you do not need a fancy machine to make the same project. Look carefully. Most projects use use a straight stitch or zigzag stitch. Sure, fancy stitches might be used on a project, but you can just as easily substitute a different stitch on your machine or add ribbon and trim instead of fancy stitches. If doing applique, use a small zigazag instead of a blanket stitch. If you don’t have the curvy serpentine stitch that’s so popular right now, experiment with a 3-step zigzag stitch. Remember, the purpose of these tutorials showcasing the TOL machines is to SELL machines. Learn how to use the machine you already have.

How can you learn more about your sewing machine?

  • Read your sewing machine manual.
  • Watch instructional videos from the sewing machine company’s website or search YouTube for tutorials on your specific machine. Bet you’ll find more than one.
  • Make a stitch sampler. Stitch out about 6″ of each stitch on a piece of fabric. Adjust the stitch settings to see what you like best. Record them on a sticky note or directly on the stitch sampler.
  • Spend time each week trying out each presser foot that came with your machine. Figure out the best way to consistently topstitch 1/8″ from the edge and how to get a scant 1/4″ seam. Write those settings on a sticky note and put it on the front cover of your sewing machine manual for easy reference.
  • Visit the local dealer or sewing machine company website to see if there’s a hack, new foot or accessory that might make sewing easier or more enjoyable for you.

My helpful hint for those with the $88 Brother mechanical machine from the big box store: buy a walking foot. A number of students brought these machines to my kid’s sewing classes over the years. They are good for basic mending, piecing quilt blocks and sewing craft projects. However, my students struggled with the machine when it came time to sew anything more than two layers of quilting cotton – like a potholder or placemat. Adding a walking foot was an inexpensive solution.

Joann’s future is doubtful

February 23, 2025

The winning bidder of the bankruptcy auction was a partnership of Great American Group and some of the lenders. They bought the assets of Joann with the intent of liquidation rather keeping it as a going concern. The bankruptcy court will approve/disapprove of the sale on February 26th. This means all 800+ stores will most likely close on or before May 31, 2025. FYI, Great American is the same group that liquidated Hancock Fabrics almost 10 years ago.

The Hancock’s closures didn’t bother me as much as the closure of Joann does. I have a personal history with Joann. Cloth World, the fabric store I grew up with, was bought by Joann in 1994. Shortly after, I helped reset one of the Gwinnett Cloth World stores to the new Joann format. As we moved around the country with hubby’s job, finding the local Joann store in our new town was the same priority as finding the nearest library. I am a librarian, after all.

With the closing of Joann, crafters have lost a major option in where to buy supplies. In some areas, Joann is the only fabric/craft store for miles around. Even in markets served by Amazon, Hobby Lobby, Michael’s and Wal-Mart, some crafters refuse to shop any and all of these stores for various reasons. Besides, Joann is open on Sundays and allows Sadie to shop with me. The teacher discount and sales meant this teacher could afford to do craft projects with her students without breaking the bank.

Practical me has been surveying my fabric and notion stash to see if there’s anything I need to stock up on should I find a great price during the closing sales. Honestly, I don’t need a thing at the moment. Should I need more Pellon SF-101 interfacing for a t-shirt quilt currently in the queue, I have other ways to get it. Hobby Lobby usually runs a 40% off fabric promotion every 2-3 weeks. Today, I learned that interfacing by the yard is included in that promotion. Bonus? Hobby Lobby is much closer to home, too!

Fortunately, we still have options to source materials our creative endeavors. It’ll be an adjustment to figure out where’s the best place to get certain things from now on, but I’ll survive. Something will eventually come to the marketplace to fill the void left by the closure of Joann stores.

Photo by Photo By: Kaboompics.com on Pexels.com

Good communication is key

February 20, 2025

Right now, I’m a little miffed, but I’m seeking first to understand instead of automatically blasting the company on social media like so many seem to do nowadays.

We hired a local handyman service to complete some odd jobs around the house. The service has mostly good reviews and is backed by a local consumer watchdog group, so I felt comfortable having them do the job. Work was completed on Monday and I received the bill this afternoon.

I have zero issues with the handyman or quality of his work. The handyman was punctual, personable and did good work. The office manager initially estimated 5 hours of work time. She communicated that this estimate included time to secure materials needed to complete the job and that we would be billed cost + 20% for said materials needed to complete the work. Okay, fine. We have 3 hardware stores within 10 minutes of our house. I already had the garbage disposal, power cord and any screws needed to relocate some door guards in the garage.

The loose tile project became more involved once the handyman discovered the cause of the loose tiles on the curb of the shower. We had a similar experience in our first house, so I knew it could result in 2-3 extra hours of work to fix. The handyman had completed the garbage disposal installation in less than an hour, so I mentally adjusted our estimate for about 6-7 hours of billed labor plus about $125 for supplies.

The final bill was for 8 hours of handyman labor (which included 2.5 hours of shopping time because I tracked the time away from the job) plus materials – which leftover materials the handyman took with him.

Any other contractor has left surplus materials that we’ve paid for when the job was completed. Painters leave paint. Tile folks leave extra tiles, grout, sealer and caulk. Porch repair folks leave extra lumber and screws. Is it different with handyman services?

I’ve asked about being charged for so much shopping time (especially the 2nd trip) and to see itemized receipts for the materials purchased as my recollection of what was purchased doesn’t even come close to what we were billed (even with the 20% markup). We’ll see how the office manager responds.

Don’t worry, the bill will get paid as the work was done.

The question is: will we hire them again in the future? Adjust the bill to what I think is fair? Yes. Explain why the bill stands as is so that I don’t feel like I’ve been taken advantage of? Maybe.

UPDATE: The office manager explained their policies and reviewed the materials purchased to complete our job. An adjustment was made for both time billed and materials charged, which I consider a satisfactory resolution to the matter. I paid the revised bill upon receipt. So yes, I would hire them again.