Oh my...I feel sooo much better! I've done all of the things listed..well, thankfully except for the fray check thing and wringer washer thing...but the last piece of clothing I tried to sew years ago was to cut off the sleeves of one of my DH's dress shirts to make him an everyday shirt (he wore out the elbows first)...I sewed the sleeve together like it was short sheeted on a bed. I quit sewing...put the machine away and didn't touch it for over 20 yrs. I still won't sew any clothing.