truth # 7- yes, it is ok that you have more than one sewing machine (and i would even recommend it)

i have no clever quip about the number 7 today, so let's just get to it.  today, i will tell you all about truth #7, yes, it is ok that you have more than one sewing machine (and why i would even recommend it especially if you sew frequently).

i don't think that everybody should have multiple machines, but there are several different reasons to consider having more than one.

reason 1 - when i first started sewing, i knew i was addicted.  to improve my skills, i started taking classes at a couple of area shops.  these classes did have machines for classroom use, but it made more sense for me to really learn how to sew on my machine instead of bouncing back and forth between different models as a new sewing student.  the only machine that i had at the time was large, heavy, and expensive.  not only did i have to deal with those challenges, i had to deal with them while going up and down several flights of stairs.  it was not fun, and my husband agreed that i should look at getting another machine after lugging the big one up and down the stairs for me.  so, i purchased a small, portable machine that i could use for classes.  sure, it didn't solve the issue with bouncing back and forth between machines, but it gave me the consistency of a single portable machine instead of whatever the particular store had to borrow.

reason 2 - ever been in the middle of sewing something and all of it sudden the machine goes kaput?  yeah, it isn't cool.  of course it will happen whenever you're in a time crunch or you're super excited to wrap up your project.  even if everything is running smoothly on your sewing machine, it should probably still have periodic trips to the shop for cleanings and tune-ups (less so in vintage machines that are user serviceable if you are comfortable doing so).  most of the dealers in my area don't have a service department that will work on your machine while you wait, so at very best, my machine is gone for at least a week.  thanks to my purchase that i mentioned in reason 1, i can just use my class machine.  it doesn't have as much piercing power, features, or bells and whistles as my main machine, but i can easily use it for most of the projects that i do.

reason 3 - frequent re-threading and/or needle changes can be annoying and a time suck.  that sounds awfully silly, i know, but if you have a project that uses multiple thread colors in fairly quick succession and you are fussy about thread colors matching like i am, having a second machine can speed up your work.  even if you are a speedy re-threader like i am, it can be a huge waste of thread to constantly re-thread.  i'm not one to harp on saving every scrap of fabric or thread, but it does add up.  i don't have a lot of space to work in, so i don't often leave 2 sewing machines out.  this also works for people that work on different projects at the same time.  not only do you have to change thread, there are also needle changes (size and/or type) that might need to happen.

reason 4 - some machines are better for certain tasks than others.  i'm sure many of you, like me, rely on a modern, electronic sewing machine that is capable of zig zag stitching.  in inherent flaw of zig zag machines is that the straight stitch will usually have a slight slant (although some high end machines have next to no visible slant).  for something hidden in a seam, that might not be a big deal, but for a project with a lot of top stitching, a straight stitch only machine might be the answer.  there is a fairly limited selection of modern straight stitch only machines that are designed for non-commercial use.  they do exist, but there just isn't the variety available as with the zig zag machines.  for me, i turn to my vintage sewing machines.  they are reliable and are capable of a beautiful slant-free stitch.

reason 5 - if you like machine embroidery and own a machine that is capable of both sewing and embroidery, you may find that it will be hours before your design will be complete (seriously).  you can kick off the embroidery on one machine and sew on another at the same time.

reason 6 - you like sewing machines, so you want to collect them.  hey, it happens.  i'm sure most of us have found something that we like to collect at some point in our lives.  maybe you want different variations of the same machine, machines from different eras, different models from a specific manufacturer, or maybe you just see something that catches your eye.  we all have different reasons.

honestly, my biggest reasons for having multiple machines are numbers 1 and 2.  i'm thankful to even have a machine that is a back up to my back up.  late last year, i had my primary machine in for a regular service (no issues with it, just a normal cleaning and tune-up).  while it was at the shop, my class/travel machine had a thread snap in a non-user accessible area.  i could see it, but there was no removing it as it somehow got wrapped up in the mechanics of the take-up lever.  so, off it went to the shop too.  one of my teachers chuckled and commented that it was at good thing that i had backups for my backups.  yeah, i totally agree!

i don't think that everybody needs to run out and buy a backup machine.  maybe you have a family member that has an old one tucked away in their garage, basement, or attic. perhaps you might find one at a thrift shop or garage sale too.  whether it is your primary machine, backup, a backup backup, or a even a collectible,  it doesn't have to be fancy or modern, but it should be properly cleaned, oiled (as appropriate), and verified to be mechanically/electrically sound.  with a little TLC, you might find yourself falling head over heels for a machine that weighs more than a boat anchor or is smaller than a bread box.

so, that's that.  you now have 6 reasons to justify/console yourself/explain to others why you need multiple sewing machines.  will they believe you?  maybe.  will they look at you and just shake their head?  probably.  will you feel bad/guilty about it?  quite possibly.  will you go back to having 1 machine again after you've learned the truth?  i know that i won't!

truth #6 - seriously. read the manual for your sewing machine

today is the 20th day of 2014 and 20-14=6, so today i will tell you the truth about #6, RTFM (do an online search if you aren't familiar with the acronym).  if you have to ask why you should read the manual for your sewing machine, you are most likely missing out on some cool features/functions (not to mention irritating people around you at a sewing class).

so, i'm sure we have all been at a class where somebody starts having problems with their machine.  maybe the instructor tells the class to adjust your stitch length, set your machine up to do free motion sewing, or advises you to adjust your top thread tension.  what happens then?  based on my experience, there is ALMOST always somebody that either just sits and stares at their machine trying to will it into compliance or they flat out announce that they don't know how to do it.  most of the classes that i attend give students a supply list that includes, among other things, a sewing machine in good working order with power cord, foot pedal, and manual.  why is it so important to bring the manual?  you shouldn't have the expectation that all instructors will know all machines (especially if the class is at a shop that doesn't sell sewing machines), and it is disrespectful to the other people (including the instructor) that have come prepared.

why does this seem to happen?  sometimes it occurs when a person has a new machine or the person is new to sewing.  these are totally understandable.  i've also been in classes where it happens because the person is borrowing a store machine (also understandable).  even more frequently, i see it happen because the person owns multiple machines and their more portable class machine doesn't see a lot of use (i admit that i am quite guilty of owning multiple machines that don't see a lot of use).  occasionally, i've been in classes where a student uses their sewing machine frequently but still can't figure out some of the basic machine functions such as threading their own machine, winding a bobbin, changing the needle, or changing feet.

i don't want anybody to misunderstand and think that i am advocating memorizing sewing machine manuals (i know i don't have mine committed to memory) or that i think everybody should know how to use every function on their sewing machine (i admit that i don't know everything about mine).  i do think that everybody should know how to read their manual to find the answers.  if you read the manual and still have questions, ask away.  you should get a gold star for at least trying to figure it out (i'm being completely serious).

reading the manual will undoubtedly save you time, frustration, and money because you will likely do less harm if you can properly care for your machine which means fewer repair trips to the dealer.  as an extra special bonus, you will look really smart and knowledgeable to your classmates.

that's about it for #6 - read the manual.  manuals are provided for a reason, and they are there to be used. if you are buying/inheriting a vintage machine without a manual, search the web.  you will likely be able to find a replacement online. if you can't find one, maybe find a sewing machine dealer.  they might have additional resources to locate one for you.

p.s.  if you are like me and don't like/want to carry around a manual, many of the major manufacturers have PDF versions of their manuals available for download which can be viewed on devices such as iPhones/iPads, android phones/tablets, kindles/nooks, and laptops.  the digital manuals can be fantastic because they are often searchable, you can often zoom in to view threading diagrams, and they save the paper manual from getting manhandled and gross.  personally, i have downloaded manuals from singer (both new and vintage machines), brother, pfaff, baby lock, and bernina websites.

truth #5 - you don't have to like the same things as everybody else

another moment of truth has arrived, and this time it is #5 - you don't have to like the same things as everybody else.  seriously, it's ok.  

i can't imagine that anybody has had a moment where they didn't feel like they caved into peer pressure.  i know i have (especially as it pertains to sewing), and it has been more than i'd like to admit.  

let me jump into this by telling you a story...  one of the first times i felt very pressured with sewing was back in mid-2012.  i felt very pressured into buying batik fabric for a quilt because i was pushed that direction by people that like batiks, and i'm not a fan.  in the several years that i've been sewing, they haven't grown on me.  i have tried different colors, and i have tried using them in both quilts and bags until one day.  i went with a group of ladies from one of my local sewing shops down to the portland area, and i actually found a couple of batiks that i did like.  i bought a couple of half yard cuts.  i have since used 4 of the 10 (2 half yard cuts of 5 different prints) that i purchased.  2 of them went into a bag for me, and 2 went into a nearly identical bag for my mother.  why did i like them?  what made them different from other batiks?  they had very defined prints.  they didn't have that watery feeling that i get from most batiks.  have i found any other batiks since then?  nope.  do i feel like i'm missing out by not really liking them?  nope.  there are literally thousands and thousands of other choices.  

did my story sound at all familiar?  i bet you have one that is similar to it.  of course, feeling pressured to like something goes far beyond types of fabrics.  in the world of sewing, you will inevitably come across techniques that work for you and some that don't and styles that you just don't like (clothing trends, color trends, traditional vs modern in the quilting realm, applique, embroidery, etc).  i am giving you permission (hey, sometimes it helps to have somebody say that it is ok because you really don't need my permission) to not like something.  personally, i think there SHOULD be things that you don't like, and you should be free to say so as long as it is not illegal to do so.  in the end, there isn't anything that is preventing you from changing your mind later.

even if you don't like something, it is possible to find something redeeming in the work so that if somebody asks you what you think,  you can give an honest answer without rudeness.  if it isn't your style, you can still appreciate the time and effort that went into it.  if the dreaded question arises, you can simply state that it isn't your style, but wow, that person obviously spent a lot of time and effort on it.  

if the issue is that you aren't in love with a specific technique (embroidery, applique, quilting, garments, hand sewing, etc), have you thought about taking a class on how to do it?  maybe you just say that don't like it because you are embarrassed to say that you don't know how to do it, or maybe you really just don't like it. 

another story for you... i am not a fan of applique.  i generally understood principles of how to do machine applique, but i decided that i should take a class so that i could really learn how to do it.  the instructor was fabulous, the project we worked on was interesting, and i unexpectedly got to reconnect with a person i had met months earlier at another class.  after spending several hours doing applique, i still don't like it, but i know how to do it.  it is another skill/technique that i can add to my mental toolbox to be potentially utilized at a later time.  

so here's the truth of it all, i like what i like.  you don't have to like everything i do (to be entirely truthful, i'd actually prefer if you didn't).  if you don't like that i don't like them, that's your issue.

truth #4 - yes, you might need another ruler after all

and so i return to the blog after a bit of a holiday break with truth #4 which helps to answer the question about whether or not you really need another ruler.

the short answer is maybe you do, maybe you don't.  you probably do though.  clear as mud?  good.  my work here is done.  

it seems that i have a bit of a problem when it comes to rulers because i just keep buying more and more of them.  when i get a supply list for a new class that i've registered for, of course it will require a new ruler.  in some cases, 2 or more!  i have heard people question the need for more rulers (including myself upon occasion), so i wanted to share a bit of truth with you.  i am going to split this into 2 categories - specialty rulers and "regular" rulers

specialty rulers

i have bought rulers just because they looked cool and because i might want to use that type of specialty ruler someday.  have i used most of those?  eh. a few of them.  i also have bought rulers because they were recommended to accompany a pattern that i was preparing to make.  have i used those rulers?  yes, and i can't tell you enough times how glad i am that i did so.

lots of the quilt patterns that i have in my pattern stash instruct you to either trace the template included (usually onto template plastic) with the pattern or to use a specified ruler.  i always buy the optional ruler, and here is my reasoning:  

• i suck at cutting out things with scissors.  i blame being left handed and learning to cut with right handed scissors for most of my life.  buying true (blades reversed) left handed scissors has made a world of difference, but i have to undo 30+ years of bad cutting habits.
• i suck at tracing things.  i don't have a steady enough hand to get a perfect line and then we're back to the scissor issue anyway.
• i don't keep a bunch of template plastic laying around.  it's clear (or translucent), flimsy, and a pain to store as seemingly every flat surface in my house has other stuff on it.
• i would have to rely on a ruler for use with my rotary cutter anyway so i don't ruin my poorly traced and poorly cut template that will have to be re-made shortly.

with all of the previously mentioned reasons, why not just cut out all of the other stuff and just get down to the business of cutting up my beautiful fabrics.  i'm sure we've all heard the expression that time is money, and i know that my time is better spent if i can jump right into the project.  

to provide a recent example of why i am pro-specialty rulers:  i just finished a quilt that required me to cut 210 triangles and 210 half hexagons to a specific size.  that is a pretty good amount of pieces that would need to be cut with templates (especially for a lap size quilt).  by using the recommended ruler, one made by the pattern designer for use with a number of her patterns, i know that i saved myself a lot of time, energy, money (bad templates mean that i screw up cuts which means i have to buy more fabric which costs me far more than the ruler in the end), and frustration.  so, that ruler is worth every single penny that i paid.  my absolute favorite ruler (it's more of a template than a traditional ruler) is one that helps me get a perfect join for the ends of my quilt binding.  once i figured out the secret to using it, i wouldn't want to be without mine.  speaking of which, i should buy a spare... just in case...

to provide a recent example of why i am anti-specialty rulers:  i watched a video of how to make a dresden plate quilt, so of course i needed the rulers (yes, 2 of them).  have i made one yet?  nope.  don't buy it if you aren't going to use it (or unless it is at a crazy good price).

on the garment sewing side, i love my small curve ruler.  it has been perfect for re-drafting armscyes and necklines.  i don't think i would use one of the giant size ones though.

"regular" rulers

i would categorize a ruler that either square or rectangular, isn't designed for a specific pattern, and has only standard markings (1/8", 1/4", 45 degree line, etc). i have quite a few of these little darlings in varying sizes and brands.  

why buy so many?  different brands have different qualities which may include different colored lines or a non-slip surface.  these qualities can make a ton of difference depending on the fabric (type and/or color/pattern) that you are trying to cut.  i would guess that i make the greatest use of my 6" x 24" ruler because i cut a lot of strips and it is wide enough to span the width of the fabric when folded like it came off of the bolt.  the problem with the ruler is that it tends to be a little unwieldy, especially when i am cutting something that is less than half of that length.  in those times, i turn to my trusty 6" x 12" or 4" x 14" rulers.  even my 1" x 6" is invaluable.  

i do admit that i don't use my square rulers with the same frequency as their rectangular friends, but they do have their place.  it has been a huge time saver to pull out my 6.5" square ruler when i need to trim a block down to that size.  no real measuring required.  i just center the ruler on my fabric and cut around all 4 edges.  no shifting the ruler around and having to start measuring each side from the very beginning each time.  do you still have to pay attention?  yes, you want to make sure the ruler hasn't shifted but not having to fuss about so much makes it a good buy in my mind.

so, that's that.  do you want to buy rulers just for the sake of buying them?  probably not.  is it really worth it to buy a ruler for a certain project?  for me, absolutely.  can you live without them?  yes, you can certainly use templates and/or make do with your regular rulers.  buy them or don't.  it's up to you, but now you can say that you know the truth about all of those rulers.