Sunday, August 18, 2019

Comfort

It appears I have worked myself into a state of exhaustion so I took nearly a week off from work, suffered from flu-like symptoms, visited the doctor twice, and still have intestinal distress. What's a girl to do? I think it's time to pamper myself a bit. Here's some of my favorite things:
  • Visit my grandkids: who doesn't brighten up to see they little faces?
  • Rest and read in the bell tower in my backyard: I'm a librarian, enough said.
  • Relax with some knitting while watching favorite TV shows, preferably something funny.
  • Sewing: either a new project to finish up an old one
  • Sewing machines: fix up an old one, clean up a dirty machine, discover new features
The above list is pretty much in priority order but weather, time of year, commitments, all of this is subject to change. Even though I think I'm on the mend, no one wants to risk catching this and with either rain or bugs on the scene, I'm inside the house working on sewing machines. I know, I suffer so.
Viking 6360
Here is my latest sewing machine model that I fear I will have to put back on a shelf. This Viking series are wonderful when they are working and I have one in perfect condition. I have disposed of several that I thought I could fix in my early days of sewing machine repair and now I'm so much more savvy. There's now another one on my worktable so I guess I'm just not that savvy. Ellie brought it over and my first response was "No way, problem machine for sure" but you know it's quite difficult to just toss a sewing machine without at least looking at it. Dials would not turn, there were faint cracks on the cam gear, poorly replaced take up lever, and the back cover was broken. Time to walk away! So here's how I (almost) fixed this problem sewing machine.

1. Heat and sewing machine oil: this combination got things moving again. The next day I had to start all over again. Who is the stubborn one here?
2. Compare to working model: even when they were not exactly the same, they were similar enough.
Model 2000 in a beautiful green
The cam shifter showed it should be clicking into each selected stitch but mine was swooshing between selection. Without a firm "click" it never actually engaged. Without positive contact it would only stitch in the needle left position and backwards.
Here's the location of the problem but difficult to photograph
3. Heat and oil.

This went on daily for a few weeks (or maybe it only seemed that long) until the stitch selector dial would move but the indicator did not.
Dial stuck on the purple/green choice
 Oh oh, this is bad news. But I persisted, replacing the poor take up lever:
Take up lever with a weld?
Old lever on top, replacement on bottom
and fixing the back plate. When will I quit? I just found the applications for fall craft fairs and realize I have to get sewing again instead of playing with sewing machines. That's still something on my "happy" list so I pack up the Viking 6360 in hopes for either inspiration one day or cleaning out when my good sense reigns again.

Monday, August 12, 2019

Old Friends

To say this has been a busy summer would be an understatement but here we are, partway through August and I'm wondering where the summer went. I never get enough time to sew or work on sewing machines let alone enjoy our marvelous weather in Minnesota during these months. But this year I had a very good reason to be busy because I have been taking care of my aunt in Iowa. The adventure began last spring when a series of events indicated my aunt was having some dementia and making poor decisions. That lead to a visit from a social worker who was an angel with so much help and resources for us to call upon. A doctor's visit, a hospital stay, recuperation and evaluation in a nursing home indicated her dementia was quite advanced. She could no longer live alone at home, the lovely home her husband built for them 58 years ago. She was only in the nursing home for three months when she passed away peacefully.

Gone are the plans to make up last quilt blocks she started for a flower garden quilt into a lap quilt, but I have been going through her craft dresser and found patterns and supplies for some of her favorite contributions to the church craft bazaar. Iron-on transfers for flour sack dishtowels, yarn for plastic canvas coasters and bookmarks, remnants from crewel kits (what do you do with the leftovers when you are done?) as well as neat stacks for fabrics, less than half a drawerful, for future quilts. She was pretty organized but I suspect she had not been able to sew for the last five years due to her dementia. The ability to judge spacial arrangement and distance can be affected and for her that was true. This keeps you from driving, too, since you cannot always tell where you are on the road.

This is a final tribute to my aunt Marcella who taught me that even a quiet life can be meaningful, contain joy in little accomplishments, and it's always right to love your family with a fierce love that doesn't give up.
Karen and Marcella, May 14, 2019