The quilt room stereo is usually on, often with records to break up the work. The cats can be in there when I am there but not when I am not. Hairballs on your quilt... yuck. Thread for the Tin Lizzy is Sewfine for the bobbin, King Tut usually for the top thread. For the piecing machine (old 830) uses good quality thread, good needles and lots of light. All projects get sewn with a marker of layered fiberglass tape put down 1/4 inch from the needle so all my seams are consistent. And after dinner, a glass of white wine to ease the frustrations of the day. tim in san jose