Don’t get me wrong, I don’t detest the button-style or bake-lite foot pedals. I just don’t trust them.

Last night, I was sewing my very first applique. The tedium of the cutting and pressing finished, I thought I’d sit down to do some of the stitching. This is slow speed sewing, especially because I’ve never done it before, and satin stitches on my first machine would spark many colorful arguments between myself and the machine.

I made it about half way around the perimeter. Then, speaking of sparks…

I heard them. It was the weirdest thing I’ve ever heard in a sewing room. bzzzzzzt, pop pop…. a weird sound like rushing water, a hum that got louder, and then crackling noises coming from below my sewing table.

This was accompanied by some warm toes

Of course, I immediately unplugged the machine. The sizzling and humming sounds continued for a few seconds more.