Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Ever wonder what your machine looks like from the inside, while it's running?



Well take a peek! Last nite I had the thread jams of all thread jams. It was soo bad that my only option was to remove the top cover pieces and carefully remove the thread. While I had the cover off I took this video of my embroidery machine while it was running/stitching out a design! If you look closely you can see the blue thread that I was using, pass through the tension disks. #waycool

NOTE - I do not recommend taking the covers off your machines at home. I have no idea if this will void your warranty or not..and there are lot of computerized elements that could easily be damaged. The particular machine that I was using is older and out of warranty.






What caused the major thread breakage/jam you ask? Well I'll tell you. With the cover off I was able to watch the thread closely as it was guided into the machine. Turns out..the thread on this particular spool was jumping off the spool at an advanced rate. Yes jumping. Every time this enthusiastic thread 'jumped' the thread wound itself around one of the guides until finally it knotted itself. No wonder why my thread kept breaking all nite.
  
To solve this, I passed the thread through an additional thread guide (the one normally used for winding bobbins) and that fixed it. (I also tried putting the thread down on the table behind my machine but that caused too much drag).  

So the lesson in all this is if you keep having thread breaks...try swapping spools of thread. Or changing the location of the spool itself, because sometimes thread just has a mind of its' own.

Happy sewing!
 -Kat  
 
PS. Before I figured out that it was the actual spool of thread causing the problem. I also changed my needle and my bobbin. And cleaned out my bobbin casing area. Always try these steps too if you are having problems with thread breakage. Sometimes the needle can be bent just slightly, or the bobbin has accidentally been placed in upside down or is has a tiny thread caught in it...or dust caught in it. Just ask me how I know  ;)

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Who doesn't love donuts?!

 Recently, I got to spend 12 hours in Portland, OR.
 Where, I finally got to go to Voodoo Doughnut!!!!!

VooDoo Doughnut, Portland, OR
We waited in line for about 30 minutes or so, and once inside the ordering process goes really fast. You have to know exactly what you want when you walk up to the counter; which was not a problem for me, as I had been dreaming about this day for months.

VooDoo Doughnut, Portland, OR
Sooo Yummy!

VooDoo Doughnut, Portland, OR
(note..this box contains donuts for myself and 4 other people, I didn't eat them all by myself.)

These were by far the best tasting donuts I've ever had.
VooDoo Doughnut, Portland, OR

Why does VooDoo Doughnuts have to be soooo far away?!? I want to eat another one right now! Sooo Yummmy.

If you ever stop by Portland, it's soo worth the wait in line..trust me on this one!

- Kat  :)

Monday, August 5, 2013

100 blocks of summer...not for this girl.

In celebration of Tula Pink's newest book, my LQS is running a event called '100 Blocks of Summer'.

If you make all 100 blocks from Tula's book by the end of the summer you get all sorts of goddies. There's even going to be an award ceremony. The least amount of blocks you can make and still get a prize is 20.

So that's where I set my sights.... 20 blocks. I know, I know..it's not much of a challenge...but I've been soo busy digitizing up a storm, getting ready to launch my website of machine embroidery designs (it's coming soon I swear!), that I haven't had a lot of time left over for sewing.

Luckily, the blocks go together fast and easily. I took me about one week to get all 20 blocks done, and I made duplicates of some of them.

Annnnnd in no particular order, here they are!!!  The 20 blocks that I made.













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I love all things crafty! Visit my website www.calicocali.com for tutorials, longarm quilting, svg designs, embroidery designs, nail decals, notions and more. Let’s Be Friends! Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/calicocalidesigns/ Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/calicocalidesigns/ Subscribe to our Youtube channel so that you don’t miss out on any of our fun tutorials! I hope you love our designs as much as I enjoy creating them. Happy Sewing Everyone!!! – Kat 🙂