What I Did:
I was working 70-hour weeks when I bought my sewing machine, and never took a class on it. Not that it was such a complicated machine - so I figured I could wing it.
After I retired and started quilting more, and teaching kids, I was still using masking tape as a guide for 1/4" seams! I knew my machine had tools for that, but the attachments had disappeared. Did I some throw them out?
So when I had the machine in for maintenance, I bought a walking foot and a 1/4" seam guide. Kinda pricey, I thought, but worth it.
How I Did It:
You know what's coming, right? A month later, totally by accident, I found all the attachments neatly packaged in a ziplock bag.
I got out my manual and started to check out how to use these wondrous tools. What an education: not only could I do all sorts of practical things (and OK, a lot of things I'd never do in a million years), I found out I had been missing an inconspicuous detail in threading the machine.
Tips and Tricks
- Take the class right away.
- Keep all the extra tools in an obvious place, in a special conspicuous container that's labeled.
- Try using the tools right away so you really know what you've got.
- Don't be embarrassed to ask even if you know you should already know something. Somebody will feel good about helping you out.
