The First of Three



The first of three December birthday parties is upon me. Jackson is having his birthday party on Saturday. We talked about different crafts and foods. We decided that we would do another "decorate a stocking" craft and make-you-own mini pizza.

I cut out the stockings on Saturday night. I started to sew them last night. I bought some craft felt at the store on Saturday for $1.99 a yard. I used white baby rickrack for the hanger, like last year.

I decided to be fancy and use a decorative stitch. I regretted it shortly thereafter as they were taking about five minutes each to stitch. I finished eight. When I started on #9, I had machine problems. My new machine. The bobbin stitching was bunchy. I cleaned the shuttle numerous times. Rethreaded the bobbin and the top thread many times. Nothing seemed to help. I was so sleepy from the night before, but I was persistent and wanted to fix my machine before I went to bed. I didn't fix it. Then I heard more spooky noises. I heard a knock or something and then a voice. I packed it up immediately and went to bed, scared out of my wits and mad that I forced myself to stay up and sew when I should have been sleeping.

I still have several more stockings to sew. If my machine will cooperate. Is there anything else I should try to get rid of the bunchy bobbin threads? I unplugged my machine all night, hoping it is just a glitch and will work perfectly today.

Comments

Karyn said…
I love the "decorate a stocking" idea! I'm sure the kids will love it!

Hmmmmm...I have NO useful suggestions for your machine. Hopefully it was just tired and it works fine today.
9:13 AM EST
Sarah and Jack said…
I see you cleaned and rethreaded, but did you mess with the thread tension?

Maybe unwind and then rewind the bobbin?

I would be drop kicking that thing out my patio door by now, what a pain!
9:54 AM EST
Anonymous said…
that really is a cute idea - why *not* do it again?

so sorry about the spookiness. that's the worst!
10:43 AM EST
nikko said…
Other than checking your tension or trying a different bobbin, I have no ideas. Hopefully it works better today!
11:37 AM EST
Anonymous said…
I would have peed my pants then called my husband. Cause you know, he's so much better at fighting off ghosts than I am?
11:55 AM EST
Berber said…
Oh no, machine problems are so awful! I hope it has mysteriously sorted itself today!
12:12 PM EST
Anonymous said…
what's with the spooky noises over there? a knock and a voice? and your kids don't sleep talk? scarey!

i'm no help with anything mechanical. i can't even pretend to help you with your bobbin woes.
2:18 PM EST
FinnyKnits said…
I'm not sure how your particular machine works, but when I have that problem with my supah fancy $100 Kenmore machine (yes, very glam) it's usually the case that the thread has come off of the thread take-up lever and is then throwing the whole machine out of whack.

But that just might be me and my clunker machine.

If all else fails, a lot of swears and a few days off usually cures it.
3:13 PM EST
Mary Sarah said…
The stockings are adorable! What a great idea for a birthday party. This is what I know about sewing machines. Change the needle. If you've rethreaded the machine and checked the bobbin, change the needle. I hope that helps. Good luck!
7:43 PM EST
Brandy said…
Cute stockings! I think that would be a lot of fun. Hope your sewing machine problems are cleared by now. Ewww and I would be majorly creeped out by the noises. You must be braver than me!
9:01 PM EST
diana said…
very cute idea!!

when i have that problem i do all that you did except i change my needle. that seems to make a difference for me.
good luck!!
9:03 PM EST
Amanda Jean said…
the decorate a stocking idea is great! I love the little ric rac hangers, too.
10:38 PM EST
christy said…
it's usually a tension problem. the machine could not be getting the thread through the tension disk. i know it threads it automatically. is there any way to do it manually?
3:58 AM EST
Little Munchkins said…
Gosh, I have goosebumps reading about the spooky noises. I think I would have been a bad mum and grabbed one of the kids to bed with me.

Can't think of anything to help the machine. Sometimes with mine I just turn it off and on again, then it fixes itself.
5:37 AM EST
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