truth #8 - the problem really just might be you

we're down to #8, and it is great.  ever wonder why you can't get something to turn out how somebody showed you or how it looks in a pattern/picture?  maybe it is time to consider the possibility that it is a problem with you and not your sewing machine. am i saying that 100% of problems are user related?  nope, but i do think most issues can be traced back to the human operating the machine/rotary cutter/scissors.

some problems can be solved quickly, easily, and without any cost to you by cracking open your manual (see truth #6).  other problems might be resolved by using any of the thousands of different sewing notions/tools/machine accessories available in the general marketplace.  there are also problems that just require repetition to conquer (i'd like to point out that i did not say time.  somebody that performs the same task 10 times in a single day may acquire the skills and experience faster than somebody that does the same thing once a week for 10 weeks).  you'll also find problems that might even require a work-around using a different technique or simple avoidance of the task altogether.

so, let's put this into a real situation:

OH NO!  my quilt blocks/bag pieces/garment pieces aren't finishing the right size!  ok, don't panic quite yet.  this can happen for a variety of reasons.  did you mis-cut something?  is there an error in the pattern?  did you not properly press your fabric?  did you just not read the instructions, or did you not understand them?  did you not sew a consistent seam?  did you make any adjustments to a pattern that would cause an issue with the finished size?  could it maybe be that the piece is actually correct and you're reading your ruler inaccurately?  do you have the piece turned the correct direction?

notice how many of those things have nothing to do with sewing machine errors?  even things like seam accuracy can't be entirely blamed on the machine.  maybe you are used to sewing garments with a 5/8" seam (commonly found in many patterns from the big 4 pattern companies) and you assume that the new pattern you picked up will be the same?  i haven't made a ton of garments, but i have had seams that vary from 1/4"-5/8".  you have to stop and read the pattern to find out.  for quilting, the vast majority of piecing, in my experience, is done with a 1/4" seam.  there are lots of ways to go about getting a quarter inch seam.  maybe you move your needle position to a different spot, use a 1/4" foot with or without a guide, follow a line on your stitch plate, or use something like a post-it note to give yourself a good visual marking on your machine.  even a 1/4" foot doesn't guarantee perfection.  check your foot and make sure your foot is actually stitching 1/4" away from the edge.  if it isn't measuring out to the proper width, make adjustments so that it is (try a different foot, move the needle, use a different landmark for your measuring, etc).

if you seem to be encountering the same issue over and over, maybe have somebody else look at the pattern or have your dealer evaluate your machine for issues.

contrary to what we've been told, practice doesn't always make perfect and no matter how much money you spend on a machine or tools, the problems you are experiencing might still exist. if you still find that you are having issues, it might be time to realize that the problem might just be you.  this doesn't mean that it can't be fixed.  you might need to break an old habit or re-learn a skill to do so, but all hope is not lost.  don't give up (at least not yet), accept the truth (that yes, the problem is you), figure out how to correct it, and commit to making the effort to actually apply that correction.

so, this is the end of truth #8 - the problem really just might be you.  you have learned the truth, now get out there and get some sewing done!