Last week, when it was exceptionally cold in my basement sewing room, I decided to set up my Featherweight (purchased at an estate sale in 1998) at the dining room table. I had lots of Roll Roll Cotton Boll piecing to do in Part 5: sewing 600 half-square triangles in red and neutral.
It was toasty warm sitting in a shaft of sunlight coming into the dining room. I happily sewed on and off for several days and managed to accomplish this... cutting and piecing all the parts for making RRCB blocks.
I was progressing swimmingly, anticipating sewing those neutral-colored string blocks (above, on right) together, when this began happening.
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| skipped stitches |
I got out my book Featherweight 221: The Perfect Portable by Nancy Johnson-Srebro, and commenced trying everything it suggested to keep the machine from skipping stitches. I changed needles, trying several different sizes; changed sewing thread; adjusted the pressure on the presser foot; made sure I threaded the machine properly; removed the bobbin case and bobbin case base to check for lint, then oiled and put it together again; and even went so far as to take apart and reassemble the tensioner! After several hours, much frustration, and no success whatsoever, I put the machine back in its case until I can find a Featherweight repair person.
A Featherweight is a nice machine that I'm glad to own, but I like better when it's making lovely stitches.
Bummer! I want a Featherweight someday - my mom has one but I don't think she has ever used it!
ReplyDeleteOh, that's such a shame. I've had good luck with mine so far (knock on wood).
ReplyDeleteOhhhh, bummer! I hate it when that happens!
ReplyDeleteWot a pain! Linda, I do what you did, and take my machine to the sun. My sewing room is on the cold side of the house. I bought myself a portable table which is fabulous. She sells them worldwide. Check this out.
ReplyDeletewww.sewezi.co.nz
Cheers
Sue
How disappointing for you. Congratulations I saw you won an auction and a give away.
ReplyDeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteI am back online. :) Yay! Hmmm -- my first reaction was to chance the needle (in my experience, I had to up the size whenever that happens). But since you have already tried that... I have no advice to offer. Sorry to hear about the hiccup. I know it can be super frustrating.
I love my Featherweight too and when it's acting ugly I have a friend who can usually take care of it - thank goodness! blessings, marlene
ReplyDeleteI have taken the plunge and started on the Roll, roll, cotton boll quilt, but it will be a slow project for me, I fear. Will be working on it as other projects allow. So far I have been stitching some string blocks in between other sewing, that is fun. Have been using light vilene as the base as I didn't fancy using paper and removing it all.
ReplyDeleteOh, too bad. Maybe you can find someone close by to fix it.
ReplyDeleteI know you are in Iowa but not sure where exactly. Quilter's Portable in Mallard, Iowa is the best for featherweight repair. Deb specializes in them. Hope this helps! http://www.quiltersportable.com/
ReplyDelete