Sewing Machine stored in garage

[Beth A.]

I had a funny experience last week at JoAnn's where I teach the basic sewing classes. I had a student show up with a fairly new Singer that had mistakenly been stored in the garage without any case or cover what-so-ever. She thought she could use it! It was unbelievably grimy and dusty and I even pulled a leaf out of it. I attempted to dust it off and out with a paint brush that I found in the classroom, but when I couldn't even get the thread to pull through the tension disks, I told her it would need servicing or she might damage it further. She chose not to stay and use one of our machines saying she wants to learn on HER machine.

I hope she learns her lesson with an expensive repair bill! Immagine storing your precious baby in the garage among the dust and exhaust!!! She needs to have respect for her machine and treat it accordingly. She had already paid for the class, so I'll likely see her in a future class. I'll update you on the bill.

Nancy in Western NY

[Annette R.]

My "babies" are so important that this year I convinced dh that I needed to take both of them in the motorhome when we traveled this summer. That took some convincing because he says I pack too much and everything weighs too much but when I reminded him of the dishwasher that needs to be repaired almost every fall because it drys up over the summer and the bread machine that died when it was neglected for a whole summer, he capitulated with grace. Now he explains to everyone why we carry two machines, like it was his idea. LOL isn't that just like a guy!!!!!

Obviously your student didn't sew or quilt much if the machine was in that condition so who knows if you will ever see her again.

I am just thankful I am not like pknord with numerous machines that I felt obligated to take with me in the summer or I would have to drive a second motor home for the machines. And that would be a disaster believe me. Thankfully my collections are small. (Pat I envy your sewing machine collection and your dedication to using them so this is truly not an insult, Hugs)

Any way everybody take care of your machine and it will take care of you.

Hugs to all, Ann

[Annette R.]

Good luck to that lady finding someone to service her Singer. There are very few people in our area that will work on Singers anymore.

Maggie in E. Central Illinois

[Annette R.]

I do all my own repair and maintenance on my collection of machines. I will work on a FW for some of my quilting friends, but I won't even look at newer machines. My training was all on the vintage machines, 1960 on back, the all-metal machines that will still be sewing 100 years from now. The new machines are truly amazing, but just too complicated for me. When I bought my Janome DC 3050 last spring at our local quilt shop, I made sure that the owners would be able to work on it if it needed any work. I bought that machine just so I would have one that will do a double blanket stitch, since none of the old mechanical machines were able to do that stitch.

Ann, I'm glad you're taking good care of your sewing machine babies, LOL.

Pat in Rockport, TX

[Judy M.]

The thought of my machines being mistreated just makes me ill!!!

[Judy M.]

What I can't understand is why she went home, having paid for the course rather than at least using a machine on offer for that day. She would still have been able to use her own machine when she got home (after having it serviced of course). Perhaps someone who would treat a machine that way does not really want to learn how to use it anyway.

[Judy M.]

I have three machines and they're like my other kids. In my mind I refer to them as "the girls". I can't imagine just leaving them out like that. I just put a picture of them in my profile. Love 'em!
Sherry

[Cheryl K.]

While we sort of shudder about our machines being in the garage, any newbie to quilting or sewing might not have a clue that this would be out of line. I taught beginning quilting for many years and one has to be really specific about the supply list and time. Your student probably could tell that she was holding up class time, that she was behind, and that others seemed miles ahead of her by comparison and just wanted to escape an uncomfortable situation. You probably didn't do anything to create this but one can tell if they are a "fish out of water".

Depending on how flexible you can be with the store policy on classes, you might be able to call her and see if she is willing to rejoin you for the beginner class next time you teach it. Stress to her that her machine needs to be serviced and, if she is unfamiliar with threading and winding a bobbin, she needs to come in 30 minutes early in order to be shown how to do that so your teaching time is spent teaching the class not fixing the equipment.

Sometimes teaching beginners is stressful but it can be extremely rewarding when you see them really take off and fly with the energy that come from learning something new.

[Hannelore N.]

Well............. I better admit to something here:

My late mother gave me a sewing machine as an extra wedding present. I was not interested and it lived in its box (unopened) under the stairs. I was then busy bringing uop my family, and the machine stayed where it was...... for 25 years. I then decided to make a quilt (long story), booked a place in a beginners class and turned up with my machine (Frister and Rossman Cub 4) still in its unopened box. Full marks to the teacher who was not phased, but unpacked the box with me, had a good look at the machine, and then taught me how to construct quilt blocks. That was in 2oo2. I still love my little machine. But I must admit that these days it gets services regularly, like a pampered pooch, and is much loved.

Nancy (putting tongue firmly into cheek), may I humbly suggest that you sent your 'Singer Lady' and her poorly machine to Pat.

Lorchen

[Hannelore N.]

Sorry, but I only work on machines that are at least 48 years old. My cutoff date is 1960. Her machine is just too new for me, LOL.

Pat in Rockport, TX

[Hannelore N.]

I'm pretty sure she just had to sign up to switch to a later class after her machine is serviced. Hopefully, they were able to clean it all out and she'll be excited to learn and begin her sewing (and maybe quilting) journey. It wasn't that old of a machine either; since I noticed it had a built-in needle threader. I wonder where she got it? Hopefully, after spending money to have it fixed and cleaned, she'll think more about where to store it! Nancy