bearisgray

I have several older machines (my baby was made in the 1980s) - and I have glanced at the instructions now and then.

I recently needed to know something or other and was forced to actually READ most of the books in an attempt to find out the answers to something - which was not in the books, by the way, but I did learn a LOT of other information along the way.

So, painful and "boring" as actually reading the instruction books is - from cover to cover - it actually is worth the effort.

(I am only talking about pre-computer machines.)

I have mixed emotions about my new found knowledge. Happy to have learned a few things. Why did I now know them sooner?

Guess a lot of that was based on "the need (desire) to know".

b.zang

Not too long ago I learned that there was crucial information in the "Warnings" section of the instruction booklet. I usually skip that part.

RedGarnet222

I have had the same name brand of machines through all my years of sewing, except the first one. (a singer) This spans many years of owning bernina's. Six of them. I really "knew" my machines until my last one. It has way more bells and whistles than any of the others. It is hard to learn new ways to use a machine. I read it front to back but, I have to refer over and over to the manual for different tasks. I feel your pain, honestly! I think that I will not get any more technical of a machine. I enjoy sewing not having to use instructions.

aashley333

When assembly is required, the first thing I do is read the instructions. Same with instructional videos. Since I have two new machines, I reference their manuals often.

L'il Chickadee

Stupid story:
My husband bought me a VW Jetta for my summer getaway condo. There are not one but three books that came with the car. Who reads all that? Just get in and drive. Well one day I accidentally hit one of the turn signals on the steering column.
The rear window windshield wiper turned on. Nothing would turn it off. I drove around town for weeks with that wiper going back and forth.

Stitchnripper

I don't know if you still have that car. I had a Jetta til recently, and anything I wanted to know fast there was a YouTube video. Last year the key fob didn't work from dead battery. I found a YouTube that showed me how to get it started enough to get to the battery store or home if I had a battery. Now I have a Subaru Legacy and that has an enormous fat book but I just look for a video and that solves my questions.

L'il Chickadee

Thanks, Stitchnripper.
I still have the car, will look for videos in case we go round and round again. Or read the manuals as a last resort.