Myth buster - needles!!

Dare I say that I feel the paperwork is finally under control? That is so untrue, but I can breathe a bit, except for a few events that need rescheduling. There is still so much to take care of, and more writing looms on the horizon, but the pile looks neater and smaller!

I had more presentations yesterday—that is the story of my life these days. I love presenting, so it all works for me. 

However, I also feel like I'm a myth-buster these days. Some of the questions I get sort of blow my socks off. So when I saw this question in the Zoom chat room, I had to keep myself under control. 

The person referred to themselves as old-school and cheap. Why couldn't they use a needle until it broke? 

GASP - CHOKE! 

Here's the thing - this was a myth, and she's absolutely right that this is old school. I know this person is not alone in their thoughts. I've seen it in almost every class I've taught for 20+ years that people do not know about needles. 

Rather than stealing a photo from the internet, check out this link to see a picture of a needle past its prime. That is not FAKE -- that is what happens after continued use. Think about the METAL knives in your kitchen. They get dull and are hard to work with. That's the same thing for a sewing machine needle. 

And as for the cost? Needles are not cheap, but they are not expensive, considering other expenses associated with your project. And if you find you're using the same type and size of needle regularly, they can be purchased in packs of 100 to save money. In the SVP World, bulk needles can be bought for Universal 12 and 14 and Embroidery 12 and 14. Ask your sewing machine dealer how to get bulk packs of needles. 

This week, I've been focusing on free motion quilting, which requires that people practice. That means taking some batting scraps, as well as scraps of fabric, and doing some stitching. No one asked me this week, but I've heard this in the past. They do NOT want to waste fabric by making a sample or for practicing. They could NOT just make a sample - everything this person made had to have a purpose. 

Seriously? What a mindset. So, I ask people to reflect on their children's education. Did they send their kids to university? How much does one year of tuition cost? How much does one textbook cost? 

Now think about how much a meter of muslin costs, scraps of batting, and a new needle? Significantly less than a textbook. And most people have all those supplies in their house!

Practicing anything is education; practicing free-motion quilting is the only way to improve. I'm the only teacher encouraging people to practice stitching straight lines in free-motion quilting. I've never seen it anywhere, but it makes so much sense and will give people confidence. There are loads of reasons for that. 

So, I encourage people who can't waste anything to make small practice pieces, serge the edges, and donate the pieces to animal shelters. Shelters always need small mats for cats and larger ones for dogs. You know how our pets are attracted to quilts. They certainly don't care if the stitching looks wonky—they just love a quilt!

Here's something else to consider. People worry about the cost of needles, but I bet they have zero problems going into a store and buying a couple of meters of fabric. So the next time you are in a shop and nothing interesting peaks your interest (as if!), consider adding to your needle stash. Having extras means you'll never cheap out on the needles. 

I keep all my personal use needles in a metal tin, along with a screwdriver to change the needle and a smaller container to dispose of the dead needles. Cause they are DEAD! 

I'm sorry, but I don't have pictures of my needle tin. As I scrounged for something to write about this morning, this topic popped into my head. 

Here's another way to think about needles. If your husband is into woodworking - would he dare cut something with a dull saw blade? 

Unfortunately, many quilters think they are saving money by going to the dollar store to buy cheap tools or supplies rather than the proper ones. They think they can get away without that tool, without changing it, or using something even if it doesn't work properly. One person asked if they could use paper instead of a stabilizer for machine embroidery. NO—just NO! 

This is your hobby—you want to enjoy it—but sometimes, having a hobby means "wasting" a bit of stuff and time to get better. If you're a runner, you train to be faster; if you're a chef, you try new recipes to be successful. It's the same for quilting! Practicing, failing, and finding a new way are part of the journey!! And instead of always spending your money on fabric, buy good supplies!

And that's all I'm going to say about that! I managed to get the outer border on one block for Chatsworth. I have TEN more blocks to finish. 

One Chatsworth block

I got this far on the next one but ran out of time. I was going to finish it once I finished my last call of the day, but by then, it was "late" in the evening, I hadn't finished my dinner, and I was done! I shut everything off and went to read! 

Working on another block for Chatsworth

I returned to the audiobook and listened to the part I was confused about. OK - so all is good on that point. As for The Plot? The plot thickens. Who is the antagonist? I won't finish either today, but I'm making good progress. OH CRAP -- I just checked the internet as there is a sequel to The Plot, and well, I know who the antagonist is, and it's who I thought it was. Well, that's OK. I had figured that out but didn't think it would be that obvious. 

Here's the next installment of 50 Wayt to Keep a Quilter Happy While on Vacation. Enjoy! Numbers 30 - 29- 28 - 27

Well, I'm off to spin class, so I'd better organize myself. Today is all about more sewing, paperwork, a meeting, and presentations—another typical day in March. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!