So.....It's Come To This
 

I can't begin to tell you how many times in the last couple of years I have sewn with the wrong settings on my machine. It starts up with settings that I need to change. I forget so often. Well, a few days ago, I had to take an 8 1/2 x 11 paper and write a large note that I leave on the machine just under the needle. This will work well for me until I forget to put the note on the machine. :)

63 and falling apart.

I'm 58 and doing the same thing at times. don't worry, you're in good company

Right there with you, sticky notes save me--if I remember to use them...

My machine always turned on with the needle all the way to the left. ?Makes no sense whatsoever? Thanks to a poster here I learned how to reset it so the needle is always in the center position when it turns on. I have a Brother but so far has worked on every machine that has programmable settings.

I often pin, tape (whatever it takes) notes to my machine and projects so I don't forget what to do next, where I'm at, machine settings, etc. You are not alone. I'm 67 now but I used to do this when I still worked and was much younger. It helped me to start the day right.

I write notes for EVERYTHING and put them where I WILL see them. I do that for my machine, too. (I take a photo of my settings if there's one I must not lose--in addition to writing it on paper-because I've lost sticky notes.) And I'm barely past 50.

You are in good company. Sigh.

52, and I visit your world often. I also try to re-set my machine immediately following a change up. Otherwise, rip, rip, rip.

Cut yourself lots of slack because you deserve it!

What did we do before sticky notes?? The paper probably fell on the floor, and never seen again. Hmmmmm.

Sandra,
Before we had Sticky Notes, we also didn't have all these AI (artificial intelligence!) machines either! We were lucky to have 10 different stitches on our basic machines, and virtually anyone who owned one could make basic maintenance on them. Sometimes I wonder if we've actually done ourselves any favors with all this 'new fangled' stuff. I quit using my first computerized machine, New Home's Memorycraft 7500 - early 1990s, because I ruined so many needles by forgetting to reset each time I started sewing....when I was in my late 40s! I love, love, love my vintage Bernina 1031 because it does what I want it to, when I want it to. Anyone want a used New Home? :D

Jan in VA

I sew on one of two straight stitch only machines. Needle is only where it should be, it doesn't move. They make me look smart because there is nothing to remember or program.

I always wondered why my neighbor had these words taped to her machines; "Ready? Set?" It lets her know to check her settings. I have it taped to mine also.

I haven't resorted to putting notes on my machine yet - but I should! How many times have I merrily started stitching only to realize it's not at the 1/4" setting??? Too many to count. Sigh.

I had to put a post-it note on my machine for the exact same reason!

Yep, notes save the day for me, too!

Boston1954, you are not alone. Now, what was it you were saying? Lost somewhere in Norwell but happy in my quilting space.

I would love it if you'd share how to reset this! My Brother does it as well. Can't tell you how many times I've forgotten to move that danged needle! This is my backup machine and I always forget to move it when I turn it on!

The setting info is on youtube. Super easy to do. I set every guild member's machines that has the memory feature. You can set for the machine to remember where you want the needle to be when you turn on the machine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfq-GW88DsA Thank you Bobby! (a poster here) Watch all his videos, he knows his stuff.

I have sticky notes too. and I always leave the machine needle-down in a leader ender block, If I have to lift the presser foot to start then I remember to check the settings.

I put sticky notes on my bathroom mirror. Sometimes in the middle of the night I will think of something else that I need to remember & up it goes on the mirror. I've been known to have 3 or 4 plastered up there at one time. :) I've been putting notes under my machine pressure foot for years now. The bathroom & sewing machine are the two places I frequent all day long...oh, and my computer. I used to put sticky notes on my monitor screen until I discovered the "sticky notes" app on the computer. It was already on my computer when I bought it about 3 years ago....love it!

All I can say is "thank goodness for post it notes". Every time I turn off my sewing machine I lose my settings that I was previously sewing with. I am with all of you ladies!

Hey, I do the same thing and I'm in my early 40's. I stuck a nice looking "chalkboard" sticker to my machine, and I use a chalk pen to write whatever notes I need to leave for myself on that. It's bold and hard to miss, and easily rubs off with my thumb.

I've always had a terrible memory though; it's not an age thing for me, it's just how I'm put together. I've ALWAYS been forgetful.

I rather have the setting changed and not have to worry about remembering. I had all my Brothers default settings changed. Seems only the computerized ones have the crazy default setting that no one uses for piecing.

Yep, 75 and can relate!! Luckily my Pfaff comes up with the needle right on my stitch line! I would loathe having to move it every time I want to sew!!

Reminds me of myself when my kids were young...I had a very stressful job & was always ripping and running from one thing to the next, dropping them off at school, ballet, picking them up, errands, trying to keep things balanced and everyone here knows that drill.
Anyway, at one point, I must not have been getting enough sleep or had extra pressure because I began to forget to close my front door when I left! This happened 2 or 3 times in the space of a week. I worked in a different city miles away and was mortified to keep returning home with kids to see my front door standing wide open. LUCKILY nothing was ever amiss and a "safe" area. So - I wrote a post-it to stick onto my steering wheel that said "Close the door" - except how embarrassing to be such a simpleton - so I wrote it in French "Fermez la porte". LOL. Clear sign one is overwhelmed...

When I finish sewing for the day, and before I put the note on the machine, I have to also make sure that the needle is up. When I turn on my machine the next day, the needle does a funny little sideways thing, as though it's thinking about what it wants to do. I cannot leave it in the down position because of this. I may take a look at my owner's manual tomorrow to see what I might be able to change.

Just wait till you start putting the feet on backwards. I did this on the overlocker foot. Even after I rememberd to change out the single hole plate. Wow, didn't see that coming. Scared me to death.

I had this problem, too. Sticky notes work great...and think of it as a "pre-flight" checkist. :-)

Ha,Ha! I have trouble remembering to bump my needle over a bit to get the correct 1/4" seam allowance--not embarrassed by that at all---but about 1 out of every 5 times I use my built-in walking foot on my Elna Quilt Pro Queen, I forget to pop the presser feet arm into the walking foot and takes med a while to figure out why the darn thing just won't "go"!

"Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most" Have this little sign framed in my sewing room, used to be in my office.
68 and so can relate to all of you. Sewnoma, I do like the chalkboard sticker idea for machine. I like to note what size needle is in the machine and I change often so date is important too. They say the size is on the needle, but my eyes say "is not".

Love sticky notes - we often said as teachers we didn't know how we ever taught before them. Of course, many of today's present teachers have always had them! Anyway, I have found so many uses for them, especially with my quilting!

Love the brightly colored ones - really help me keep organized and love being able to put notes on my sewing machine.

I turned 70 last year. Talk about falling apart!! The one that is most happy to see me is the doctor who does the colonoscopy.

This is the reason I put my new machine aside and went back to using my vintage machines. I hate having to reset my machine every time I turn it on.

I hardly ever forget the settings for the 1/4 seam.....since I took apart the entire baby quilt!!! The picture is a good idea. I will try that next time I need to remember "just where was that stitch anyway".

Notes are a good thing. I use them often.

My brain is connected to my hand writing. Without writing things down I am dead in the water. I taught at a university and getting the concept of writing things down was hard for many of my students to accept. After missing deadlines because they forgot and not having any "do-overs" like they must have had in high school they began to see the merit of this method.

How do you reset it? I have a Brother that does the same thing. With my straight stitch foot on it breaks the needle if I forget to change it.

I'm right there with you too.

Ditto..I have Brother machines..I can choose a stitch and needle setting...and save it to memory. However, I the machine still turns on w/ left needle position, and I have to push the memory button to take me to the saved setting. If I could get the center position all the time, I'd be so happy. Don't know how I am missing that option?