Monday, July 12, 2010

My sewing machine is under service.

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My Bernina virtuosa153 has been away for nearly a week, because it was something wrong with electrical connection at the plug socket (of the machine).

At first I thought there was a disconnection in the cable and it would be OK if I bought a new cable, but it was not the case. I didn't expect that I was going to leave my machine in the shop for fixing right then, at all, but I had no choice. Suddenly I had to become a machineless lady (if you have a such word). Although I was trying not to let them know my feeling, I think they sensed that I was greatly upset and sad. And they kindly offered this miserable woman a spare Bernina 130 that she could borrow as long as she wanted, for free. I thought it was very very kind of them. I thought I could sew as usual too.

However, the funny part of the story is that the machine from the sewing machine shop is THE ONE that REALLY needs a maintenance.

I can get a line of nice stitches with the machine occasionally, but most of the time, I need to unpick the whole stitches because they look odd and often skipped. The machine is not broken (I assume), but it seems abandoned too much for too long. I found so much dust and dirt, but no trace of oil in it. What I am doing right now with most of my spare time is cleaning this machine. Ha-ha-ha. They install a new plug in my machine and I clean their machine. I'm pretty amused by this stupid situation, though I don't think they have let me borrow the machine to make me clean it for saving me from boredom. I know they offered me this out of great kindness.

So, I am compensating my feeling by jersey sewing using my other machine, a BabyLock serger, when I get bored with cleaning the sewing machine shop's Bernina. I still need to do some straight stitches on jersey occasionally and I am using this funny cleaning-unfinished one with a big struggle every time, and it makes me laugh loudly. It is almost amusing how a proper nice sewing machine from a reliable sewing machine shop is this low.... maintained. I hope they will clean it in a professional way and find a new owner who loves sewing. I need my beloved machine back ASAP too. My husband must be thinking that I went insane lately because of my weird sudden laughing into the outer space.

Anyways.
What I got here is a T shirt. It has a lovely pair of ruffles on the shoulders. The fabric is a soft and thin jersey from Liberty. The pattern is 7Frair from anneeduex* and a PDF download (I've changed the shape of the ruffles slightly). I think 7Frair is a brilliant top pattern which has a very right fit with a hint of elegance.

I have nothing spectacular to tell you today. Terribly sorry, everybody. I hope all of you and your equipments are doing well and healthy!


Love, love,
yoshimi

9 comments:

  1. I am without my regular machine, too. I also got a loaner from the dealer - an Activa 210. Luckily my loaner is working well, but I can't wait to get my own machine back. If I could get the Activa for under $400, I might buy it as a second machine.

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  2. I too have virtuosa 153. I cannot begin to imagine what you must be suffering. I hope the dust bunnies in the loan machine keep you laughing into outer space for long enough, till you get your machine back.

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  3. Yoshimi,

    Good luck with your maintenance!! I love your posts, as I'm always going on in my comments:) That's too funny re: the sewing machine shop loaner machine. How ironic.

    Being an American, I would let them know (after thanking them profusely) - that their machine could be fine tuned a bit more! Well, I think I would anyway (it's a delicate subject). It does make me wonder if that would be against your cultural norms in Japan. For example, I taught a class in Japan and got the best critiques I've ever received (but I think they are just being polite).

    I love your knit top - it is making me even more obsessed to find some Liberty fabric!! I can't believe I can't find any (and I live in Los Angeles!).

    P.

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  4. Sorry about the sewing machine situation...not fun! I love the T-shirt, very cute with the ruffles!
    (By the way, I just started reading your blog a few weeks back so this is my first comment, but I'm really enjoying reading about your sewing projects!)

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  5. Cute, cute, cute Tee! Sorry your baby's out for repair. I'm sure you'll be happy when the two of you are reunited. In the meantime, make a few more tee's---they're really great on you:)

    ~Victoria
    tenthousandsewinghours.blogspot.com

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  6. Your T-shirt is beautiful! Such pretty fabric...
    I'm sorry about your sewing machine, and sympathise. I would go spare without my machine too. Once my machine needed some work, and the lady at the shop could see how anxious I was (I was halfway through a dress for an Important Occasion), and wrote "urgent, please give top priority" on my order, and rang me two days later to let me know it was finished! I was thrilled at how kind and understanding they were!

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  7. I just found your blog recently and really like all your sewing projects. This blouse is so pretty and the sleeves add something special. About the loaner machine, try using a new needle. When I have skipped stitches it is usually because the needle is dull.

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  8. Thank you for your kind comments!
    I'm not sure if I will discuss the condition of the loaner with them... I am not a such type of polite person (I am rude yesyesyes) but I'm assuming that they don't care of its condition anyway. If I have to know the machine is to be abandoned for good, it will make me sad. I know it sounds stupid though. I even start to think if I could ask them to hand(sell) it to me now.... oh I am rude, stupid and crazy now. Thank you everybody, again.
    >Lucette, you are absolutely right about the needle. Thank you for your kind words but I've tried new needles of many types as well as re-threading, re-assembling of rotating hooks, dusting, cleaning etc etc. I think it needs a professional removal of metal staining in the rotating compartment. I don't want to break it, so I am doing practically nothing but wiping it at the moment.

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  9. This is a lovely top! I adore Liberty prints.

    Garnet

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Thank you for your comments!!