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From: Magot
Date: 01-29-2005, 12:33 PM (1 of 31)
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Tony and I went into Cambridge to buy my birthday pressie and he got me a serger - Elna 868 - 2,3,4 stitch, 2,3 stich rolled hem, diff feed etc - and the lady very kindly gave me a 1/2 hour tutorial on how to thread and go. Readers of my threads will know how, in the other shop in Cambridge that sells machines, I am initimidated by the man in the shop who treats people as though they are rude and stupid. The man himself should look in the mirror - we went to his shop last week and although he got out a Janome 744 for me to look at he obviously wasn't going to demonstrate it to me because I had found out about it on the "bloody internet." and "he wasn't going to waste his time if I was going to buy it out of the back of somebody's garage." Surprisingly, the lady in John Lewis does a lot of custom from his disgusted ex-customers she was trying very hard not to bad mouth him but really his lack of custom is due to his attitude not the internet! Anyhow, although it is not my birthday until Friday I was allowed to thread the machine and see if I could make it work. I am pleased to say with the lady in the shops demonstration it was remarkably easy to thread - I had it threaded with all 4 threads in 6 minutes! Then when I tried to sew - nada - not working - I rethreaded having seen that the lower looper had come out. Sew again - zilch - this time the upper looper had unthreaded. Rethread and GRAB those suckers (that is the threads before starting ) et Voila! I am now a Surging Woman of Great Magnificence! I have a hoody, a pair of cargo trousers, tunic top and shorts/PJs to get me started lined up for some time in the future. At the moment I need to play, play, play and find out what I can do. Tony is very impressed at the machine - he's a techie kind of bloke and it appeals to him.  wheeeeee!
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 01-29-2005, 01:01 PM (2 of 31)
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Wow, ! ! Great idea Tony has of an appropriate birthday gift for a deserving person ! ! Have fun, and serge, serge, serge!!
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: MaryW
Date: 01-29-2005, 02:50 PM (3 of 31)
A Serging Woman of Great Magnificence, very cool Jan. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: Magot
Date: 01-29-2005, 03:25 PM (4 of 31)
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Yeah, well, I done two seams......it's all I'm allowed at the moment
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
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From: Mother in Law
Date: 01-29-2005, 09:24 PM (5 of 31)
Wheeeeee Doggies, Jan are you sure you're not going to cheat and sneak out the bed in the middle of the night and play while that man of yours is zzzzzzzz? I bet you do Singing I don't think I could wait. Especially if it's in my house and I could thread it and know I have things lined up to work on and then I'd have to wait. Oh Brother they'd have to hog tie me up until Friday. I'm not a team player, 
|
User: Mother in Law
Member since: Total posts: |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 01-29-2005, 10:38 PM (6 of 31)
| Jan, I am curious I have not heard of the model 868..I have heard of a 686. I will have to check it out. It sounds like you are going to love your new serger. Let us know. I love my Elna too. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: Magot
Date: 01-30-2005, 02:48 AM (7 of 31)
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That'd be a straight typo Kylnne - it is the 686 - too excited to type straight! Some of us Susie can deal with delayed gratification! I don't have the fabric yet so it is easy to resist! So a little cutting out is in order before I really get going...and I want to practice a few things first. And I have a stomacher and a french hood to sew as well. love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
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From: DorothyL
Date: 01-30-2005, 09:34 AM (8 of 31)
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Wow, Jan, I've had my serger since November and am still not a A Serging Woman of Great Magnificence. But thanks to these boards I am less of A Serging Woman of Great Intimidation. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Magot
Date: 01-30-2005, 11:35 AM (9 of 31)
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Dorothy, this could be pride talking...as I say, I've only sewn 2 seams....but it is fun! Perhaps I should take it as a faith statement..
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
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From: M & M's Mom
Date: 01-30-2005, 12:15 PM (10 of 31)
| I'm with you! Love the name - I too, am less of a "Serging Woman of Great Intimidation" thanks to these boards. I bought six meters of the most beautiful flannelette and a pattern for a simple floor length bathrobe that I am going to try making on my new serger...um...as soon as I get up my courage... |
User: M & M's Mom
Member since: 12-01-2004 Total posts: 102 |
From: Magot
Date: 01-30-2005, 12:19 PM (11 of 31)
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G'wan M and M -give it your best shot! Who's going to tell you off if you get it wrong? You have to learn some way..
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
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From: DorothyL
Date: 01-31-2005, 08:08 AM (12 of 31)
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Well ladies, I now have a beautiful color blocked shirt off peaches and melon colored crepe. I even machine embroidered some squiggly lines in tone on tone. I finished some seams, facings and hems with the serger and it looks good on the inside and great on the outside. I am very pleased with myself. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Magot
Date: 01-31-2005, 11:53 AM (13 of 31)
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Yay - Go You Dorothy! I have bought some baby pink fleece for my hoodie and hope to get it cut out by Friday so I can sew away!
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
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From: Mother in Law
Date: 01-31-2005, 12:52 PM (14 of 31)
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AWWWWWW the baby shower is over with and I started back on a shirt I started a million months ago, since Sept, I think anyway, I have to put in the sleeves and buttons and hem it and it's done. Form fitting with a standup collar, blue with tiny white stars, red collar, red cap sleeves that tie. Very cute shirt and very patriotic . I am going to wear it to my weight watchers meeting tomorrow if I finish it by then. I feel so free not to have to sew on a schedule. I think I'm going to start cleaning, sort of some pre spring cleaning. |
User: Mother in Law
Member since: Total posts: |
From: Magot
Date: 01-31-2005, 01:56 PM (15 of 31)
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You really should update your avatar picture Susie, you don't look like that anymore.
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
|
From: Mother in Law
Date: 01-31-2005, 04:42 PM (16 of 31)
That pic was taken of me before I gained all the weight I had to lose. LOL I'm a little younger there and I don't know how to make my pic smaller to post another one so you're stuck with that pic until I can get another one. 
|
User: Mother in Law
Member since: Total posts: |
From: Sailorliz
Date: 02-01-2005, 03:02 PM (17 of 31)
Wow, and I thought waiting for the next quilt block was exciting. You must not be able to sleep at night. You will have to post a pic somewhere of your pink hoody when it is finished. I  my serger. I have had it a year now and I still am learning new things while using it. I've been playing with it for decorative stitches. You can make your seams on the outside of your hoody, with a contrasting thread and a cool cover stitch. I thought that would be fun to try, but too many other sewing projects on the table now for me.Have fun!!!
Happy sewing/quilting/crafting
Liz Visit my photo page http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sailorlizmi/albums |
User: Sailorliz
Member since: 07-20-2004 Total posts: 386 
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From: Sailorliz
Date: 02-04-2005, 07:46 AM (18 of 31)
So did you rise early this morning? I bet we won't even hear from you today, as you are probably sitting in front of that new serger, just sewing away! To You.....................
Happy sewing/quilting/crafting
Liz Visit my photo page http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sailorlizmi/albums |
User: Sailorliz
Member since: 07-20-2004 Total posts: 386
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From: Brenisback
Date: 02-04-2005, 09:08 AM (19 of 31)
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Happy Birthday Jan!!!...Good luck with your new serger... If you don't already half one ...invest in a good serger book... that gave me alot of Idea's ...Have Fun !!!
Brenda
People come into your life ...for a Reason a Season or a Lifetime. |
User: Brenisback
Member since: 09-20-2004 Total posts: 228 |
From: Magot
Date: 02-04-2005, 10:51 AM (20 of 31)
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zzzzzzzmmmmmmmmmm zzzzzzzzzzzmmmmmmmm zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzmmmmmm...........thanks for the birthday wishes guys......... zzzzzzzmmmmmmmmz mmmmmmmmmmzzzzzzzzzzzz must .............keep..................zzzzzzzewingmmm mmmmm Actually I've had to knock off to go and buy some food so I made it to the computer first.. Going together well if you don't count my ususal misreading of the pattern and occasional ripping out of seams.........going to fit the zip when I get back from Tescos. Kitten is beside herself with curiosity. love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
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From: DorothyL
Date: 02-04-2005, 11:17 AM (21 of 31)
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Happy birthday to the Serging Woman of Great Magnificence! Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Mother in Law
Date: 02-04-2005, 11:20 AM (22 of 31)
Doing a little dance for your birthday in your honor. Get off the computer and go serge serge serge. LOL Let us know when you get the first project done and how smart you feel after it's done.  Everything will look so professional when it's finished now. wonderful. I used a top to a small margarine tub to make a pattern for nursing pads. I took some diaper cloth and some batting and made several dozen with my serger and they came out so good. They actually came out looking like the ones you buy. But these were made with love so they are sooooo much better. |
User: Mother in Law
Member since: Total posts: |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 02-04-2005, 01:08 PM (23 of 31)
| Happy Birthday Jan. I hope you have a wonderful day. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 02-04-2005, 07:42 PM (24 of 31)
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Celebrate, Jan!! Hope you have a wonderful birthday! !
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
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From: Magot
Date: 02-05-2005, 06:04 AM (25 of 31)
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Thank you for the kind wishes - I had my last day in my old job on Friday --the girls gave me a HUGE bar of chocolate (which I shall have to share with family to avoid storing on the hips for a rainy day) and a lovely bunch of flowers.I'm still working in the same school so it's not as though I won't see them. Daughter gave me a funky cord handbag with pink and brown flowers on it and DD1 gave me a THUNDERBIRDS VIDEO!!!!!! Wow! the one where the hood puts a bomb on the plane with TinTin in and then there is also the episode with the Sidewinder! How cool is that!!! (Do I have to grow up now?) Tony and I are planning a mass Thunderbird watching moment after Church on Sunday - beer, french bread cheese, pickles and THUNDERBIRDS! Yay! love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
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From: Magot
Date: 02-08-2005, 02:32 PM (26 of 31)
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Wooo-hooo! I am so a SWOGM! The finish makes a lot of difference to my sewing - I know I was only sewing with fleece and so probably didn't need the finish but it looks soooo cooool. One thing though, when only sewing a single layer of fleece to finish the edge , the fleece seemed to shrink away from the stitches ( I was using a four thread safety stitch) leaving me with a loopy edge. My manuel told me that this was because the cutting width was too wide for the sitch width but altering it seemed to do nothing. It didn't have the same effect on double thickness fleece. Is this simply a result of sewing with fleece or was there something else I should have tried?
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
|
From: DorothyL
Date: 02-08-2005, 03:27 PM (27 of 31)
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Jan -- I was having that problem -- with the loops off the edge -- and someone told me to lengthen the stitch. That made it worse so I shortened it and that pretty much solved the problem. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Magot
Date: 02-08-2005, 05:02 PM (28 of 31)
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Thanks Dorothy,I'll remember that.
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
|
From: fronno
Date: 02-08-2005, 05:08 PM (29 of 31)
Happy birthday Jan and welcome to the club of happy sergers 
With kind regards,
François |
User: fronno
Member since: 04-26-2004 Total posts: 79 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 02-08-2005, 06:27 PM (30 of 31)
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Well, Jan, just remember I know close tonothing about serging. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 02-08-2005, 10:13 PM (31 of 31)
| If you get loops over the edge while serging you might want to try adjusting your stitch width. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
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