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Disaster Extraordinaire

@phoebeprufrock / phoebeprufrock.tumblr.com

She/they. 28. Italy. Stir fry connoisseur and enjoyer of tv by female writers
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Reblogged unpretty
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How Not to Break Your Sewing Machine

I work in a shop where we repair sewing machines (a LOT of sewing machines), and unsurprisingly we see a lot of the same problems over and over again, so I'm here with some advice on how to keep your machine running longer.

  1. When you break a needle, dig around until you have found the broken piece. If you leave it in there, it can end up in the wrong place at the wrong time and break something vital.
  2. SLOW DOWN. The function of your sewing machine depends on the different moving parts ending up in the right place at the right time. Having to go through a lot of/heavy material slows the needle down, but it doesn't slow down the mechanism underneath the needle plate. If you try to go your usual speed, the needle will arrive too late and collide with something it shouldn't, breaking either the needle or the bobbin case. If the material is especially heavy (say you're sewing several layers of denim, or sewing webbing onto canvas), take your foot off the pedal and turn the machine by hand.
  3. Clean out the bobbin area after each project. Really. Your machine comes with a little brush for this purpose. If it doesn't, a little dollar-store paint brush will work just fine. Remember what I said above about things being in the right place at the right time? Everything needs to be able to move freely for this to work. I know it looks like it's just a little dust and fluff, but it will jam up your machine eventually.
  4. If you can, get your timing adjusted by a professional. I know most people don't have a sewing machine repair shop in their neighbourhood, but if you can do this, it's worth it. If the machine's timing is good, then you're more likely to have a little leeway for heavier fabric or a lintier bobbin case. When the timing is just a bit off, it takes less of an obstacle to put the needle in a place it shouldn't be.
  5. If you can, buy a machine built before 1980. If it's still working 50 years after it was made, it's gonna keep working. Those older machines are made with metal gears and therefore weigh a ton, so they're definitely not a good choice if you don't have a permanent setup for your machine, but it means they basically last forever. Newer machines are made with plastic parts, and no matter what you do, they will break.
  6. Don't buy a Singer Heavy Duty. I'm sure those machines have their benefits, but they are absolutely not heavy duty. We repair more Singer Heavy Dutys than any other single model of sewing machine. If you're already stuck with a Heavy Duty, then follow my advice above even more scrupulously, and start shopping around for a replacement if you can. You can get a used sewing machine of better quality for significantly less than a new Heavy Duty.

To keep things working properly, make sure you're:

  • threading your machine properly
  • using the right kind of bobbin
  • adjusting your tension properly
  • and using the right kind of needle for the fabric you're sewing!

(These things are unlikely to break your machine, but they will keep it from sewing properly.)

Other than that, get your hands on your machine's manual and read it carefully. If you can, bring your machine in for a cleaning and adjustment now and then. Your machine will need repairs every once in a while: it's a lot of little moving parts! But these are some basic precautions you can take to avoid some common problems.

#I was literally in the midst of writing a little compendium on how to use a sewing machine for my next workshop#and I happened upon this which is exactly what I teach people#serendipitous!!#also needle and bobbin gif my beloved ❀️#sewing
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Reblogged starlightseraph
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the kicked puppy face house always does when he gets in trouble for medical malpractice is so fucking funny to me

you kidnapped a man to do surgery on him why do you look like that

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Reblogged biblical-love
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microwave popcorn is such a beautiful technology. captures the full range of sensory and emotional experiences. there's even a part where it gets loud and scary. the 1812 overture of cheap snacks

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Reblogged unpretty
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New iPhone Dashboard interface! Much more functional and much prettier.

If you haven’t yet, you can downloadΒ Tumblr for the iPhone for free.Β Enjoy!

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looks great

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the fact that this addition is now older than the post was when it was added is making me feel ill

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Reblogged thunderangels
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My favorite thing about tumblr is that for ten years now periodically it will trend that the site was is shutting down but it never actually happens and people say their goodbyes and post their insta but when it really happens i will be happy like good will hunting when matt damon doesnt answer the door at the end because he finally left the house to get laid and one day we will all be free like matt damon is my point

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Reblogged the-snadger
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still thinking about "decolonising" missionary work.

the way you decolonise missionary work is by not doing missionary work

the way you decolonise missionaries is like this:

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"but it's part of my religion to evangelise"

πŸ†πŸ†πŸ†πŸ†πŸ†πŸ†πŸ†πŸ†πŸ† infinite jaguar attack

"but we need to go to Ethiopia (one of the oldest christian countries in the world) to make them the right kind of christian!"

πŸ†πŸ†πŸ†πŸ†πŸ†πŸ†

jaguars

"but..."

πŸ†πŸ†πŸ†πŸ†πŸ†πŸ†πŸ†πŸ† jaguars

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"but missionaries bring schools and hospitals to poor countries" that's called humanitarian aid and trying to use humanitarian aid to get religious converts is actually SUPER fucked! hope this helps πŸ†πŸ†πŸ†

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