Necessity Drives a lot of Changes
 

A couple of weeks ago My neighbour saved my bacon with a missing screw driver needed to get into my machine to clean out the lint from the feed dogs. Since then, the Janome has been sulking and it's hit or miss whether the feet dogs will respond. My next plan is the can of compressed air.
But I do have another machine, a Juki that FM beautifully. So 2 machines? One dedicated to sewing and satin stitching (Janome) and one for the free motion work (Juki)?
SPACE. I have none left. One last idea was to increase the size of my sewing table, slightly and place a machine at either end. I had been using my son's IKEA school desk we bought in the 90's but its dimensions were only 55" x 24". That's a little tight for two machines. A quick trip to the nearest thrift store and I found a maple IKEA 55"x 32" That 8 inches made a big difference and now both machines are out and set up. It now remains to be seen whether this is a good thing or whether it will drive me batty.
MaryKatherine

I didn't think about sewing machines at either end...duh..thank you for the idea. I'm moving in the next 5 months so will have a different sewing room...and I'm looking for ideas. Thank you.

Great solution! If only I had the room. And speaking of room - I'm now off to clean it!

I think you've come up with a great solution. And should you need more space for a given project, you could move one machine aside and have all that table space to work on.

I was just about to ask you about the walls as they look pretty, kind of like a marbled fabric... Then I realized that it might be insulation with plastic tacked over? If it is - well, lol, I still like how it looks!

Do hope you are able to get that Janome to behave all of the time instead of only when it's feeling cooperative. Darned sulky machines!

Yeah Its still the insulation. I've done half the basement in drywall, But I can't wrestle a sheet on my own. I want to finish it this summer as the drywall is sitting in the garage, But I A) need someone to help me in TIMELY manner ie when I want and not when they want and B) I'll have to move stuff to get at the walls again. Sigh! Maybe this summer.
MK

I looked at your picture and freaked out, thinking there was a giant BUG in the middle of your table! Until I realized it was just a binder clip. LOL... I am a constant source of entertainment for my own self. :)

P.S. Your idea is genius! Love the machines at each end of the table.

If I lived closer I would come and help. However I am wondering what I see in the mirror??
Do you also wind your own yarn?? I feel like a slacker.:D

[QUOTE=DonnaC;6612156]I looked at your picture and freaked out, thinking there was a giant BUG in the middle of your table!
If I found a bug that large in my basement I don't think I could go down there again!! Ever!!
MK

Well yes. A few years ago my husband found free on Kijijii, a 60 inch LeClarc loom. I weave, sometimes. Not my favourite pastime. Too hard on my shoulders. As if I don't have enough to do??
!
MK

Don't use the compressed air!! It just blows the thread and lint further into your machine where you can't get at it. Then it can cause your machine to lock -up and only the sewing machine repair person can get it out. Get into the habit of cleaning out the bobbin area with each bobbin change or after 3 or 4 hours of sewing.

Your probably right. However that necessitates several screws etc. What a pain. Never had to worry about this when I learned to sew on my old handcrank singer.
MaryKatherine

Try using the miniature tools for vacuuming. I have a set and they reach further into the machine and suck out the lint. is it possible there's a piece of thread hindering the movement? Maybe as you keep cleaning and trying to run it the thread might break eventually.

That's a nice set up for your machines. Wish I had the room. I'm moving this year maybe I can do the same in my new place.

Well Mary,

If 4 of my 5 boys lived closer, you could have had that basement dry-walled in a few hours. :)
The 5th son isn't old enough to drywall.

You would most likely have to wear a referee shirt and a whistle. To keep their minds on the job and not mess with each other. :)

MaryKatherine I use a pipe cleaner to get at the tight places under the feed dogs! I take the machines down to the bobbin holder and stick that pipe cleaner whereever I can get it in. It really gets a lot of lint out! I have 2 machines set up at all times. One for machine quilting and one for piecing! I love being able to just sit and sew or quilt as the mood hits me!

The table is awesome. The only thing I would do different is turn the table (if you have room) long ways sticking out & put the machines on each side in opposite corners. That way you would have an area on the left side of each machine to hold your project & not have to worry about it hanging down.

That is a clever idea.

I hadn't thought of that. DUH. Thanks I'll try it!
MK

Great idea..thanks for sharing..

Lol I guess I am an extremist. I have four set up at all times. Two are embroidery, my trusty featherweight for quick fixes and piecing and my brother for quilting. At times they may be another fw or two set up also.

Please don't use pressed air on the machine. It can drive the lint and dust deeper into the machine and also it can do damage because after a while it gets really cold. I use a small vacum on mine. I got the attachments at Julia's Needles Designs for about $10. Just don't use pressed air.

Having two machines is a good idea for the avid sewer/quilter. If one goes down and has to spend time in the shop the other one allows you to keep working on your project. Having one with light thread and the other with dark thread is an excellent idea. I noticed all the space under your table. Have you tried placing some of those plastic storage drawers under the table, perhaps in the center, for things you need to use while using your machines. I have the small drawers that I keep machine needles, pressure feet, scissors, bobbins, etc. in. Now I don't have to leave my machine to access these. Sewing time is precious and having things at my finger tips allows me to change bobbins, needles pressure feet in just a few seconds.