Busy few days

Posted on | June 13, 2007 | 3 Comments

The past few days, I’ve been working on my last project for my first Mixed Media for Fabric Artists class on Joggles. I’m really enjoying this class. And I’m learning a LOT about my machine. Of course, I learned the hard way. Now for the story:

Yesterday I was doing some decorative stitching on the journal you see here. It isn’t extremely heavy, but there were several layers of tissue that were fused together with Misty Fuse, and then placed on upholstery fabric. I started adding satin stitching around the cut pieces and then I did some decorative stitching pretty free-form. Well, my needle broke. Not just broke, but broke into five pieces, one of which hit me right above my eye! I was shocked, and so glad that the sound of the needle breaking made me blink, because it hit right on my eyelid. I have a little cut there. I had visions of going to the ER and having to explain that I harmed myself with a sewing machine! I’m fine. And I was not going to let this little “issue” stop me from finishing my project! So, I decided to insert a new needle, change the bobbin, and try again. I did get through all of the decorative stitching without breaking another needle.

And then came the construction of the book. This required me to add another layer to the mix. It’s another upholstry fabric and Pellon Craft Fuse. I didn’t get too far before a SECOND needle broke. Determined, I did change the needle again and finished the sewing. And I’m happy with the result. I went to bed last night thinking, “Do I really need to buy a new sewing machine now?”
Well, no. Apparently I just need to use the right needle! I Googled “sewing machine needle break” and came up with this page. I am using the wrong kind of needle. I need heavy duty needles for this mixed-media stuff. Well, wonders never cease! I’m going to head out this morning and buy some new needles. I am so much more relieved about this! In the meantime, however, I will indeed wear glasses when I sew until I get comfortable with the machine and this mixed media sewing. I’m still a novice sewer, so it’s frightening to think that I could have ended my art career completely because I used the wrong needle and wore contacts instead of glasses.

Moral of the story: make sure you’re using the right needle!

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