Thumbelina

Hi and welcome to the board from NE Ohio, glad to have you join us.

Jim's Gem

Welcome to the board from Southern California!!!!

MacThayer

Hi Rose! Silverado Ranch is just down the road from me. I live over by The District, just off S. Green Valley Parkway. I would be happy to "PM" you, if you would tell me what "PM" means! I'd love to get together. I believe there are a number of people in this area who are on this blog. It would be fun to get to know each other.

I didn't know my first "straight stitch" was now considered "vintage", but that makes sense since my nieces and nephews consider me to be vintage! I'd almost like it back (it was a very sturdy Singer) but it didn't do buttonholes. Anyway, one of my nieces has it now, and it's still going strong, and she's still using it. It's many decades old, but they sure knew how to build them back then. I'm having fun with my new stitches. Still don't know what I'm going to do with them all, but it will be fun trying them out.

Thanks for writing! MacThayer

crafty_linda_b

Hello Mac & welcome to the board. crafty_linda_b sittin' & quiltin' on the Cal-Ore border

MacThayer

Hi Lynn! Thanks for writing! I haven't checked out Quiltique yet, but it's on my 'hit list'. I even have the printed out directions and map. So many things to do, so little time! I will be sure to get there, especially after your ringing endorsement!

MacThayer

I wish I did still have my one stitch. It's now decades old, and while it's been cleaned and oiled from time to time, it has only been repaired once. I did that. I remember the bill too. It cost me a whole $16. But then, I'm dating myself, aren't I? That's back when gas was 39 cents a gallon, and I thought $16 was outrageous! But it hasn't been in the shop since, except for routine maintenance. When I started working full time and going to school evenings, I pretty much stopped sewing, along with just about everything else except eating and sleeping. My older sister asked if she could have my one stitch machine for her daughter to learn on. Jill still has that machine (a sturdy Singer), is still using it regularly, makes and repairs most of her own and her kids clothes, and because she's divorced now, considers it a godsend because it saves her so much money. So I would never ask for it back. She wouldn't give it to me anyway! It's been her's since she was 9!

I was absolutely gobsmacked when I walked into the sewing machine store and saw all of the new machines with all of the stitches. I had no idea it had come to this, honestly. A computerized sewing machine? It never occurred to me. I was going to go for a machine with far fewer stitches, but my husband is a computer techie, and he was with me, and was absolutely enthralled with the fancy machines. He kept pushing me toward the fancier machines. That's how I ended up with one with so many stitches. He kept saying: "If you don't get one now, you'll start sewing and wish you had more variety in your stitches." He's probably right, I don't know. Am just getting started "playing" with the stitches. It sure is fun!

MacThayer

Oh, just as a PS, it came with a very thick manual that covers everything, including every stitch in detail, and how you can change that stitch by changing width or length of stitch. It's really wonderful, and almost a sewing manual in itself. You're absolutely right: it's invaluable. I don't know what I'd do without it. Right now I'm just getting comfortable with what the stitches can do, and trying out adjusting the upper and lower tension when switching fabrics. (I went to Goodwill and loaded up on a pile of clothes, towels, sheets, etc. of varying kinds of fabric -- spent $20 on this big pile -- and I can practice all I want on this fabric and not care when I throw it away. On the other hand, I could make a quilt out of stuff from Goodwill if I spent more time and care looking through things, I'm sure of it.)

MacThayer

Hi Vicki, Would love to meet and share tales. As of yet, I don't have anything to "show". I've just finally got my sewing machine set up, and have been playing with the stitches. The manual tells me how to alter each stitch, if possible, through changing the width and/or length of the stitch. So I'm slowly working my way through the stitches, trying to get used to them and what they look like, and think about what they may be useful for. I went to Goodwill and bought a huge pile of clothing, towels, mismatched sheets, curtains --- all for $20. I am trying out each stitch on several different fabrics, seeing if I have to alter the upper or lower tension when I switch fabrics. and seeing how the stitch looks and acts on the fabric. I'd like to make all of my mistakes on fabric that I can throw away with a clear conscience! So I guess you could say I'm picking my way through. Of course, I'm reading everything I can about quilting and sewing, collecting some good books, slowly building up my stock of notions so I'm have what I need to work with, and even buying some fabrics for when it's time to do something serious. But I need to get used to this new machine first, and since I've only been really working on it for just over a week now, I'm not really comfortable with it yet. I'm so looking forward to getting back to the kind of sewing I did as a teenager and into my 20's. I made quilts, almost all of my own clothes, and I used to sell formal dresses for proms, balls and weddings (but not wedding dresses). That's how I made extra money in college. And all I had then was a vintage one stitch!

I'm probably boring you by now! I do tend to get carried away when talking about sewing/quilting. Let's do meet. I have to go out of town next week, so perhaps when I get back, so say early August?

MacThayer

I didn't know one stitch machines were in high demand! I knew people were interested in them again. Yes, I did give my away. When I became busy working full time and going to school, pretty much everything else in my life fell by the wayside, including sewing. My older sister asked if she could have the sewing machine (which had been our mother's, who had passed away). She wanted it for her 9-year-old daughter who was dying to learn to sew. So I gave it to her, or rather to Jill, the 9-year-old. I'm happy to report that Jill still has it, is using it frequently, and in fact as a divorced Mom of two, is making most of her own clothes as well as the clothes of her two kids, plus other things, and she still loves the machine. I can hardly ask for it back at this point in time! But if she ever wanted to get rid of it. . .

MacThayer

Hi Sandy. I think that's a great idea! Count me in!
Sherrill