Wait just a minute here!

My featherweights are supposed to sew perfectly, all the time, right?  Well, Judy, my FW that I use all the time here in the UP, just wasn't acting right after I got her home from the retreats.  In fact, she was acting horrible.  I set her up just like she was before I left and I started to sew.  Well, I tried to sew.  She started skipping stitches and not just a little bit. 

Wait just a minute.  I took the tension off and cleaned everything at retreat and I took the bobbin assembly all apart and cleaned that, too.  I knew I had put everything back together correctly.  So what's the problem?  I did all the steps that I tell people to do when they have skipped stitches.

1- take the thread off and re-thread everything.

2- Check that the finger is in the valley of the throat plate.

3- Check to see that the flat side of the needle is on the left.

4- Check to see that the needle is threaded from right to left.

Okay, all that checked out.  I knew it would.  But, still stitches were horrible.  Okay, when did I last change my needle?  I couldn't remember so I changed it.  Still, nothing different.  Urgh!!

So all the usual reasons for skipped stitches were fine.  I guess I needed to check the needle timing at this point.  I watched the stitch being made and could see pretty quickly that the needle and the hook weren't linking up like they should.  And, when I checked out the needle bar timing I found out that the needle bar was set too far down.  So, I fixed that.

Wow!  Judy is stitching okay again.  Wait.  she's stitching when I am sewing two pieces of fabric together but when I go over a seam, she's skipping again.  Okay, I needed to check the hook/needle line up once again.  And there was the problem.

At some point someone had adjusted the needle bar timing to match up with the incorrectly set main shaft timing.  So, it worked before but when everything was taken apart, cleaned, and put back together, the incorrect setting took over and Judy didn't like it even a little bit.

She's all fixed now.  Both the main shaft timing and the needle bar timing are correct and Judy is sewing up a storm.

When you all tell me your machine was working better before cleaning, I guess I understand now.  There is probably something that was 'off' before and now your machine is letting you know there's something 'off'.  You probably wouldn't know exactly what to check.  Sometimes I know quickly and other times I have to think about things and check out issues one at a time.  Sometimes I even have to call the techs at the Featherweight shop.  But, it gets figured out in the end.

Aren't you glad you have a sewing machine that can be fixed so easily?  I'm glad that I know how to fix them. 

The Later August 2019 Retreat/Workshop

Okay, did you notice that I've added the word Workshop to the retreat's name?  That's because we don't just have a retreat.  We have a learning, working, sewing, having fun kind of retreat that's really a retreat/workshop combination.

Here's something that I should do at every retreat.  Someone suggested it this time so we made sure to get this picture before anyone left on Sunday.  It's all the gals in this later retreat.  Okay, we probably look a little tired after 3 days of working and having fun, but we did have a blast with all the stuff we did and all the good food we ate.  If you come to one of the future retreat/workshops, be sure and remind me to get a picture of the group.  I love this picture.  It documents who came to learn.

So, while I'm thinking about it, I should mention this.  Annette G, one of the gals that's not missed any of my retreats, is putting together a Featherweight Club recipe book from all the good recipes that were fixed at the 4 retreats we've had so far.  So, if you came to one of the retreats and haven't sent in your recipe, get that to me ASAP so I can pass it along.  We'll give more information about the book when the FW Club meetings start in November.

Okay, it looks like everyone was working so intently and not having fun.  But we WERE having fun the whole time while we were working, making great quilt tops and cleaning the machines. Again, I heard how the machines were sounding so nice the whole time.  I love hearing that.

There were quite a few quilt tops finished.  This one was in process but isn't it a beauty?

And, I heard another story about some sewing machine repair person charging a lot of money to clean and oil a machine.  We discovered that the cleaning and/or oiling just didn't happen.  Do I have you convinced that learning to clean your machine  yourself is the best way to go?  I hope so.

The BLAST we had will not be forgotten soon. So many cute little gifts were given and accepted.  The drawing table was full of great things to pick from and I thank you all for making this such a wonderful 4 days.  You all are the BEST!

There is only one spot open for one of next year's 4 retreat/workshops.  You should go to that tab and check them out.  Get your name on the waiting list if the one you want to come to is already full.  We do get people drop out when something comes up that they didn't know about when they signed up. 

I will try to post again soon and not wait too long.  The weather is cooling down here in the UP.  It feels like fall already.  That means that it will soon be time for me to pack up and move again, back to the winter house and back to teaching FW maintenance and Club classes.  I've already gotten ideas in mind for the things we'll do each month.  I have those dates listed in the Class Schedule tab. Check that out.  And, if you have any FW questions, don't hesitate to ask.

The Early August 2019 retreat

Where do I start?  The early August 2019 retreat was a blast, as always.  The house was full with 16 beautiful ladies working on more than 16 beautiful featherweights. I think I'll start calling these retreats workshops because we do so much more than sew. We take things apart.  We clean parts and replace things that need replacing.  We put things back together the way they should be and yes, we sew.  If I heard, "my machine sounds so much better" once, I heard it a dozen times.  No, I heard it more than a dozen times.  It was more fun that a barrel of monkeys.

And, what beautiful machines we saw.  Look at this one.  Isn't she a beauty?  And, she sewed like a workhorse all weekend. 

Several ladies worked on the FW dust cover.  They are really cute and so practical to cover up the machine when it's not in use.  I use mine in the UP all the time because my machine up here sits in a cabinet.  I needed a cover for her.

The jewelry cleaner was used so much cleaning parts on the machines, it got hot.  And, I don't know how many times we changed the water.  The tensions and bobbin assemblies were squeaky clean when we went home, Yeah!

In fact, I should tell everyone that when they come to a FW Club retreat/workshop, they shouldn't pay a machine repair person a ton of money to 'clean the machine' before attending.  I always hear stories of gals getting charged around $100 for a machine to be cleaned and then, we find goop and grime  that should have been cleaned out for that price, but wasn't.  I heard stories like that at both retreats this time.  People getting gouged by machine repair people makes me so MAD!

We do have FUN at our retreats, too.  Yup, the Bailey's gals had a very good time!

So, I'll post more about the Late August 2019 retreat yet this week.  I'm still recovering from the whole two weeks.  Check it out when you can.  The 2020 retreat/workshop dates are already set and some are already full.

Next stop... August!

The summer does fly by doesn't it?  Next week will be August already and that means, RETREATS!!  I'm almost ready.  I can't show you the favors I've been making so I'll show you the applique blocks I've been working on.  But, about the retreat, I sent out the final retreat update info last night.  If you are a retreater and you have questions, please send me an email:  jdquilts123@yahoo.com.

There is 1, possibly 2 spaces available for the August 15-18 retreat so if you'd like to join in there is still time.  If you can't join us, you'll just miss a lot of fun.  I will be sure to post some of the ladies and the things we do during the two retreats once I get back home.

Other than scrappy quilts and retreat favors, I've been working on an old UFO this summer as well.  I started this quilt 5 years ago knowing that it would take me a long time to finish it.  But, I didn't realize at the time that I'd start teaching all the FW classes or that I'd start hosting the FW retreats.  Anyway, I haven't worked on this one for a couple of years.  But, if I ever get it done, I have to work on it so this summer I'm getting back to it.  I hand stitch every night while the Big Guy and I watch the Detroit Tigers lose another game or we find a good mystery movie to watch. And here are 4 blocks that I've gotten finished so far.

The quilt, The Little Brown Bird, has 40 of these blocks and I'm done with 23 of them.  It also has appliqued corner triangles.  I'm done with those.  And, the borders are full of applique, too.  I'm more than half done with the borders.  I'm looking forward to starting to put these all together to make this quilt.  No, it won't be done this year.  But I'm hoping it will be a lot closer to done.

So, you all go have a good sewing day doing whatever is on your pile of things to do.  I'll finish up my retreat stuff and keep working on the LBB.  I'll come back soon and give you yet another update on what's going on at the Dalton gang's  hideout.

Coming Soon - The Middle of Summer

Welcome to the UP, home of the monster mosquitoes and black flies that take a chunk of your hide if they get the chance.  They have been brutal this summer.  The Indian will still welcome you but he seems to remain unscathed through the whole ordeal of bugs, rain, and more bugs.  That's me and my dear great granddaughter giving you the Indian welcome sign at the top of the driveway as you get to our cabin.  Do you see those mosquito repellent contraptions hooked on our clothes?  They did help a little.  My sweet great granddaughter was here for a few days during my birthday week.  They came as a surprise and I sure was..... SURPRISED!  We were headed off to the Porcupines State Park on the morning this picture was taken.  We had to check out my favorite waterfalls.

I haven't taught any classes up here this summer but that's okay.  I've had a bit more time to work in my little flower garden and I've gotten some sewing done.  I'm working on using a bunch of scraps to make Preemie Pals baby quilts for donation and I've been doing some applique on my Little Brown Bird quilt that I've been working on for years and years.  Here's a couple of the baby quilt tops that I've gotten done so far.  I'm hoping to get more made but I'm in RETREAT mode at the moment.

Retreat time is sneaking up on us quickly.  I'm busy getting favors made and putting kits together for the FW dust covers.  There will be a few of those made at the retreats along with everything else that people do while we're together.  I do plan on checking a few things out on everyone's machines that I learned at the FW shop during my class.  These are things that you'll only get if you come to a retreat.  One item can only be done when it's dark.... okay, I bet you're all curious about that one now, right?

Speaking of the retreats, there are still 2 spots open for the August 15-18 retreat so if you were thinking you'd like to come or invite a friend and come, send me an email and I can probably still fit you in.  Those spots will be filled on a first come, first served basis so don't hesitate too long.

Are you ready to learn something new about your FW?  This is something I learned at the FW shop class and it's really a good thing to know.

We are always wanting to try and get the best looking finish on our FWs and we've talked about using the zymol cleaner and then the zymol wax to bring back the shine.  The black FWs are the only ones that have the shellac protective coat over the decals.  The white machines don't have a shellac finish.  They don't have any decals to protect.  Shellac is dissolved by so many things, like rubbing alcohol, fingernail polish, many soaps and cleaners.  So what do you use to clean off the black machines?  The FW shop told me that you should only use the zymol cleaner one time.  It takes all the wax off and cleans any scratches and such.  That's why those scratches will show up more after a zymol cleaning.  While the scratches were once full of whatever dust, dirt or gunk got collected in them, once that is cleaned off, scratches will show up more than before.  You HAVE to put a few coats of wax on your finish to shine things up and fill in those scratches after you've cleaned with zymol cleaner.

If you have a lot of scratches or even a few scratches, it's possible for things to work their way under the shellac and cause a bubble of cloudy finish.  So having that protective layer of wax or a few protective layers is really important.  Once you get those cloudy bubbles or cracks in the surface there's really not much that can be done to fix that.  A costly paint job is the only solution and you really have to be careful who you have do a paint job.  That's another story!

After you have the protective wax on the machine it's only a matter of wiping dust off with a dry cloth or perhaps a cloth with a bit of oil on it.  You'll want to wipe off any excess oil with a dry cloth but the shine will come back and last for a few days.  It would also be a good thing to cover your sweet FW when you're not using it.  Put a towel over it or make one of the FW dust covers.  Okay, I plugged the FW dust cover.  Those were fun to make.

Before I forget, the FW maintenance and Club classes have been scheduled for this fall now.  You can go over to the Class Schedule page and find that information.  Get those Club dates on your calendar so you don't forget.  I'm already thinking about what to do at our fall classes.  And, if you know someone that's been wanting to take a maintenance class or you want a refresher class, those dates are set and you can call the Quilt Patch and sign up.

Okay, the day is calling.  I need to get back to some sewing and maybe go out and catch a fish for supper.  Hope you all are having a grand summer.  Do shout out and say, hi!  I miss ya' all.

Our trip to the FW Shop and other stuff, too.

Here we are, the last week of June (and, my birthday week) so it's time for our FWs SPA day.  You can pick any day this week but lets get those precious machines all oiled, greased and lubed for the next six months of use.  Well, you need to oil them more often, every 8-10 hours of sewing to be exact, but the SPA day will help them work at their optimum. 

And what a great trip I have to tell you about.  Kathy and I drove to Idaho from the UP and I took the advanced FW sewing machine maintenance class at the FW Shop.  I have so many things to tell you all about that.  I'll have lots to post about for weeks and weeks.

I learned about motors and gears, special finish techniques and how to repair those handles.  Latch repair was covered as was special info about products to use and so much more.  There will be some fabulous new products coming soon for your sweet machines.  I'll keep you posted about those items as they become available.  At the end of the two days I got a certificate that says, I completed the class so now I really feel official.  That's Christian on the far left, then Carmon, me, and Burl, the head technician for the FW Shop.

And, the trip there and back was gorgeous.  I have to admit that driving over 3000 miles is a bit crazy but I wanted to see the countryside and experience everything along the way. Having airline personnel throw my FW cases into a cargo area was not an option. That last 3 hours before arriving at Kooskia was so beautiful.  US-12 runs along the river winding around mountains with rapids and steep curves in the road.  The Bed and Breakfast owner where we stayed told us how dangerous that road can be and while we were there an older couple drove off the road into the river in a camper and nearly died.  Beautiful and dangerous are the only words to describe that road. Needless to say, we were careful.

We were right in the middle of the Nez Perse Indian reservation so we stopped at that National Park before we returned home.  We didn't get as far as the River of No Return but we were very close.  We were surrounded by beauty and history that clearly spoke to us.  I can highly recommend a trip to see Idaho's panahndle.

Coming back, we stopped at the Teddy Roosevelt National Park and it's another beautiful area to see.  We watched prairie dogs in their little villages and Bison across the way.  You just can't see that stuff from a plane.  The rock formations in that area are so unique. Yes, I love rock formations, too.

And, we shopped at quilt shops and antique stores as well.  You really can't go on this kind of outing and not do a bit of shop hopping. Neither one of us broke the bank shopping but we did find a few things that we couldn't leave behind.

All in all, it was a great trip and, like I said, I have a lot to tell you all for weeks to come.