The Connecting Threads

Yesterday marked the start of what I hope will be a long relationship with sewing by my granddaughter.

2 weeks ago we ventured to Hobby Lobby where we purchased several fabrics to go along with patterns we had purchased previously.

Little bites when they are this young ( 2 months shy of 6)

One trip to pick out patterns, one trip to pick out fabrics and then another day to actually sew.

Too much at once and they get overwhelmed and lose interest.

She had the most fun picking out and handing me the pearlized pins first picking favorite colors and then making repeating patterns . I taught her that the strawberry was for sharpening the pins, so I now have VERY sharp pins thankyouverymuch!

She sat on my lap as we sewed, her little hand guiding the fabric under the presser foot.

After the first seam was stitched she beamed and said "that's so cool!" (the seed is planted!)

When the top of the dress was completed she giggled.

When it started to look like this, I think she lost heart for a few brief moments, preferring to hand me pins again and collect them back from me as I removed them to sew.

As soon as it was completed she had to try it on and then we went to show everyone.

My daughter said she wore it to school today and I can't wait to hear how it went.

Pattern, fabrics and notions - approx. $20.

2 hour project - 3 1/2 hours

"I love you Nanny" hugs , a memory made and that sense of accomplishment on the precious face you see here- Priceless!

Pretty In Pink

For those of you who may remember this fiasco,  I am just getting around to resolving it today.

Back when it first happened, I thought that the handpiece burned out somehow as I could hear the motor turning but the handpiece did nothing.

So I went online and ordered a new handpiece. And since I HAD to order one, why not get the limited edition pink one?

But then my Dad came to visit and asked if I checked the inner shaft first. The What?

Yeah, it turns out there is this inner shaft with a spring like covering and that is what broke.

Look at that gnarled mess. I guess when the blade jammed it just sent the torque back up the shaft and rung it right off.  The good news is, there is a very friendly instructional video here, that takes the fear out of replacing it. So I ordered the replacement inner shaft along with a tube of the lubricant and set about replacing it today.

All told, i probably have a half hour in the process which included these pictures.

(I skipped the part about draining the lubricant into a trashcan, it was a little thick so i just used my fingers to spread it along the spring.)

I now smell a little like a mechanic but I have a pretty shiny new pink handtool that works like a charm!

Fear conquered.