Great Tips for Making the Most of your Machine

In this episode, The Opinionated Quilter gives you tips on keeping your machine working properly and using the correct accessories for the task at hand. In addition, she shares her tip on making the most of your fabric when making striped fabric for the Easy Striped Table Runner.
Make Your Own Stripe Fabric | Episode 27: • Make Your Own Stripe F...

[@shawnaleewhitney6630]

Great suggestions all around, Maureen! I'd add two items to the list: 1) check your connections to be sure everything is fully plugged in and making connections and 2) find a reliable shop or person for regular maintenance. Many areas have lost seeing machine shops and skilled repair folk. If you live in a "sewing machine shop desert," talk to others quilters/sewists or check in with a local or regional quilt shop and ask them where folks are taking their machine for maintenance and repairs. You can Google that, too, of course. Love the quilt behind you! 😊

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Really good points, thanks.

[@annelumsden5775]

Great episode, thankyou. After 38 years of sewing with my basic 12 stitch brother machine I upgraded to a brother computerised 250 stitch brother machine. Lots of fun things to learn, thankgoodness for Google and youtube (I pour over the manual but get some more info online) Last week via KZbin I learned about manx quilting from the Isle of Man" near the UK, earliest piece found in the 1600's. Manx quilt blocks are faster to sew by hand than machine, all running stitch. I love the history of manx quilting.

[@theopinionatedquilter]

glad you liked the episode. Thanks for watching.

[@C123abc]

This is such an important episode. It makes me sad to read in my machine's online group, when someone says "my machine won't..." and they blame the machine for what is clearly a mistake that they've made threading or some of the other things you mentioned. It's difficult to love your machine and love sewing when you think there's something wrong with your machine. Best to wonder what you're doing wrong and figure out how to fix it. And you're so right about the manual. I've seen people say that they don't even know where it is! Keep up the great work and thank you so much!

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Thank you for watching.

[@helenpeddycord2241]

So TRUE!

[@debraswofford3156]

You run a useful channel. You have the voice of a professional- you know your craft. You are also fun and your hair looks great. A non secretor but notable. 😊

[@theopinionatedquilter]

I really appreciate your kind words. Thanks for watching.

[@wandawalker4191]

Great tips for new sewers, and great reminders for those of us who have been sewing for a long time.

[@conniesnyder9463]

Great video….the info on presser foot up to get tension disk open is a great tip. I sometimes forget that step.

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rosehixon2790]

Love your haircut! And such a beautiful smile starting your video today

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Thank you so much 😀

[@judyfargo8162]

I always learn something from you. Thanks!

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Glad to hear it!

[@priscillalancaster3234]

Very useful information, thanks.😊

[@helenpeddycord2241]

Excellent Maureen! TY💕🧵

[@charlottesenno389]

Please comment on bobbin case tension. It’s been about a year since I learned about it. I check it every time I change my bobbin.

[@charmainekirk1512]

I love your quilt that is in the background!

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Thank you. All scraps except the border.

[@bettypolasik7137]

Great episode!

[@carolcocking3039]

Good reminders.

[@colettesorrells9015]

❤❤❤

[@leahholland6272]

Clean your machine based on useage! The studio I teach in doesnt clean the machines as often as they should..... i get frustrated when i have to clean the machine for the students (I teach kids)

[@dcwatashi]

When she says she uses sharp needles, does she mean microtex

[@theopinionatedquilter]

Yes, the package from Schmetz reads "Microtex (Sharp) needles"