Actually, not just today... yesterday afternoon was part of the problem.
I was ready to load a new quilt top onto Mo'e and was getting pretty excited about this top in particular. I cleaned the rails, put oil in the top of Mo'e ( not sure what it's for or what it's called... just a hole with red ring around it) and in the bobbin case. Since I can't remember when I changed the needle last and I've quilted at least five with it, I thought it would be a good idea to change the needle while I was doing everything else. That's when problems began... I DROPPED the screw that holds the needle in and could not find where it dropped.
I got down on my hands and knees (not an easy task but easier than trying to get back up) with a flashlight and a magnetic wand... and running my hands over the carpeting, too... trying anything - everything - I could think of. No screw :(.
It was about 4 pm and I called the dealership in Lansing to see if they had a screw for my machine... nope, BUT did take one off from a handiquilter and tested it on a Janome sit down and it fit. Ok, I'll be there in a few minutes ( just in time for evening traffic - YUCK). Got there, got the screw, got back home and then fixed dinner ( a pre mixed salad from Walmart)... too tired/stressed from the situation to do anything more.
Got up this morning and after breakfast, I decided to go install the screw and finish getting ready to load the quilt... the first needle - got it in, but couldn't thread it... I don't see a hole???.... got another needle out... stuck it in as far up as I could, tightened the screw... and stuck some scrap fabric/batting under the needle to test. Down went the needle - and there it stayed. I thought, well, I must not have had it in correctly after all. Tried it again... same result. Called the dealership and let Mike know... Jason won't be in until tomorrow, but he'll tell Jason that I need some screws so he can order some... they won't be here for at least a week ( holiday weekend).
So hubby decides he's going to get down on the floor and see if he can find the screw.... his getting down and back up is even worse than my attempts, but he was insisting. He finally admitted he couldn't find it either and wanted to know where the holes in the frame where I was thinking it MIGHT have fallen in. I went to move Moe's 'head' and carriage when hubby says STOP.. what's that? I thought it was a spot of grease.... but NOPE, it was the screw!!!
Then, as I'm trying to reinstall the needle and screw, the darned screw fell AGAIN.... right in the same exact spot! At least I knew where to find it this time.
Ok, now, I'm loading the backing onto the frame... it's too long... I tear off about 3 or 4" from one end, re-center and start again... STILL a little too long on one side, but perfect on the other... ripppp another couple of inches off the too long side.
It's on the frame now and I'm rolling it back and forth spritzing with water to get the creases out... there's no way I could iron them out on my ironing board. So, while the current spot was drying, I decided to go look for black batting scraps in hopes that I'd find enough to add to the roll I have that's 90 x 108"... the quilt top is 97" x 97".... sigh. I found one scrap.. it's about 3" wide and 6" long. Well, that won't work. So I open the second package of black batting and proceed to trim 10" off one side of it - which I THOUGHT was the 108" long side........... NOPE! I've laid it out along the backing on the frame and then measured it... 97".
Tomorrow, I'm scheduled for a chemical stress test.... good thing it's not today because I'm really super stressed and I'd probably 'fail' it. Hubby has already helped me fold and roll up the batting I cut into - and I don't want to mess with it again right now. I think I will put the uncut roll of batting onto the backing fabric and then add the second one as I get closer to the end when I'm quilting - I certainly don't want it all puddled on the floor when cats and/or dog will take it as an invitation to nap on it. I can hand baste it when it comes to that point and then cut off what I don't need.
It's 4:30 now so I guess I won't be doing much more tonight... and I seriously doubt I'll feel like doing anything tomorrow... maybe Thursday will be a better day for me :).
Wish me luck tomorrow ( and Thursday)
ttyl........
take care.......
Don't you know that extra batting is FOR the cats? I mean, you've seen Emma and maybe even, years ago, Tucker doing that! I hope tomorrow goes better for you, including the stress test!
ReplyDelete