Oh have you opened the box yet Imi, looking forward to hearing all your exploits with this wonderful new machine. I well remember on getting mine back home as soon as it was plugged in there was this high pitched whine, I wondered what on earth had I done as it was not like this before. So switched it off and on again and it still had this dreadful noise. The bobbin winder mechanism had been knocked into position and this was what was causing the whine – apparently it has happened before, glad the answer was so simple. Then one day I found a strange piece of very delicate metal on the floor near my feet, I call this filigree metal as it has parts cut away and it shivers in the hand. It was so lucky that I had not run my chair over this, but was puzzled as to where it had come from and this actually lies in the bottom of my bobbin case, so now I am always extremely careful when removing the bobbin case from my machine. Of course there is nothing about these sorts of things in the instruction manual.
Oh how helpful Morgan has been – and yes thank you Morgan from me too, as I am still in awe of my machine, and I too will go looking at the link you have put up on getting started. I am very aware that there is an awful lot that can go wrong with these fabulous embroidery machines, so there is no harm in just slowing down and trying to go through the instructions slowly and methodically.
You should see the trouble I get in with my buttonholes, I just loved the thought of stitching repeat buttonholes over and over again with each one identical to the first, but that did not happen to me, instead I got all sorts of odd looking buttonholes, the first bead would stitch fine, but the second bead would not sometimes only going halfway down, others overshooting the top altogether, I was almost pulling my hair out with frustration – then I was told by a Machine Dealer that it was possible that my sensor in the machine was a bit dusty with debris thrown up from stitching – and yes it was as simple as that. So nowadays I still start off with a couple of trial buttonholes to make sure that I have closed the stitch length up enough to cover the cord I use (corded buttonholes) and then I also make sure that I have dusted over the two lots of sensors – one on the side of the foot and one up in the machine near the needle (this is a Bernina combined sewing and embroidery machine). Just simple little things but what a difference this makes.
So go and have lots of fun exploring your new toy and all its extras, will be following your adventures and shall look forward to seeing what you are embroidering. You never know you might well inspire me to delve more into my own machine.
What got me interested in a machine that could sew and embroider was seeing an article in a back copy of Sewing World, and this was the most delicious rose buds – so delicate and looking just like a rosebud would look in real life. Now just a few weeks ago I was notified that Sue Box embroideries from Australia was offering a fantastic discount on her Golden Classic Collection disc, and of course on this was this gorgeous rosebud, so this was a very late birthday present (last January) from my husband. So I do urge you to go looking at her website suebox.com and as I mentioned the other day you can get these designs in many different formats, just make sure you specify what format your machine will take. The actual CD came airmail just as it was in a special airmail postpak – no paperwork at all included and NO CUSTOMS DUTY AT ALL, however Peter Cheney who is the Managing Director for Sue Box asked if I wanted the paperwork etc. sent as a PDF, and this is how it came. So whilst I have not even tried stitching anything from this, I must say I am very impressed as to how this company works, and I certainly will look into buying more designs from them in due course.
I had for Christmas last year a book that took my fancy and is by Elizabeth Keegan called The Complete Machine Embroidery Manual published by Search Press – I bought this from Book Depository and it was under the £12.99 quoted on the back cover, so perhaps something else for you to put on your ‘Wish List’.
Have a wonderful time getting to know the ins and outs of your new machine, I am sure Mr. Imi will be delighted to help you out should you get stuck, you never know he will be the best dressed Coastal Skipper proudly wearing all those T shirts that can be embroidered for him.
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