KiKi Lives!!!!! & NL 6463

Peace.

Clearly I was premature with the death report. So many of y'all were so kind during my bereavement. I took her to 2 different repair people and called a bunch more. No one wanted to touch her. Said she was too old. I have been making plans to get another machine. I was even ready to move on one of these new-fangled sewing/embroidery machines. I had a conversation with an older woman who I knew sewed and lived in the city. I was Building with her because I knew she had multiple machines and I was wanting her to give me one. I'm not proud, but I was desperate. Or at least sell me one. What she did give me was some advice and a phone number. I called this man and he said that he could fix KiKi. Really?

So I took KiKi over to http://www.atlantasewing.net/. I had seen that place before. It's near a thrift shop I frequent. But it also sells and services vacuum cleaners. That's why I never thought to take her there. I was told if I got her there early enough, I could get her back the same day. I took off work to do this. The repair man took 1 look at the machine and told me what was wrong with it. And he was right. I have mixed feelings about this... On one hand, I am super excited to have my baby back working just like she did before. On the other hand it cost $80. I could have bought a new machine for $80. See my conundrum? And it's not like anything was broken or repaired. He said it was "gunked up." That $80 bucks caused me to be overdrawn in my checking account AND I got a ticket (for an out brake light, that requires me to go to court) behind the repair. I feel some type of way.

Well.... I got some sewing done on Saturday. I made 4 garments in 8 hours. I had a lot of pent up mojo inside. These garments came out quick too. I finished the patriotic dress, I made 2 skirts and a top. They weren't really that hard. Most were patterns I have made before. The only pattern I hadn't sewn before is NL6463. Let me tell you something... That is a very easy pattern. So easy I'm ashamed to review it.

I used the rest of a Wal-Mart fabric from which I made a blouse. I had always planned to make a skirt to match. Everything went together so easily that I was finished with this skirt in 40 minutes from cut to hem. Seriously. I wanted a skirt with some flounce at the bottom. This fabric is supper bold. I wasn't sure if I wanted it all over so that's why I chose to make separates. the skirt was super easy I mean SUPER easy. I added 3" to it... and that is where the drama begins...

The finished waist dimension for this skirt say that for the size 18, which is the largest size, it should be 34". Well my waist is 43". Don't judge me.... Seems like I should have added 9" to the skirt right? Right? had I been a newbie sewist I would have. But since I have a bit of wear under the hood, I measured the pattern directly. I only needed to add 3" vs the 9" the pattern would have had me add. That is a pisser right there. This is why newbies quit sewing. But other than that it was a very easy and satisfying pattern to whip up.



So back to this machine thing..... I have always serviced my own machine. I'm a continue to do so. $80 is a lot of money. Think about this... I could have bought a brand new machine for $90! And since I have been handling my business for all these years, I'm going to continue to do my own maintenance. I'm still getting more machines. Definitely a cheap back up for when KiKi has to go to the doctor. Let's face it. She is 30. There will be more problems. I probably need a new bobbin case. I want to get into embroidery. The issue is do I get a combo embroidery/sewing machine or an embroidery only machine and a sewing only machine? Either way, I'm still getting a cheap basic machine; but it will need to be brand spanking new. So many issues......



Peace