Great tips and suggestions so far. I wouldn't have ever thought to keep a notebook on details. Great idea. Thanks for letting me know about the needle setting when machine is turned on also. As for the local lessons and such, all of the fabric stores and dealers that used to be here are gone. I think the only place in town to buy fabric is our local WalMart, who are slowly bring back the fabrics, even FQ, jelly rolls and layer cakes. Keep it going.....now I'm off to my own closet for 'fabric' and maybe even my mother's closet...Hmmm...