Tuesday, June 24, 2008

In Transition

It has taken me a while to post about my trip to Clarinda, Iowa. I ended up putting fake blogging dates on those posts so that they wouldn't all appear to be on the same day.

While I was in Clarinda I would optimistically drive down to the Super 8 every night to take advantage of the super slow wireless, only to have my laptop thoroughly misbehave. Some nights I couldn't even get online. The misbehavior of my laptop continued after I came home, and then it took a really long time to transfer things over to my new laptop. I'm not really much of a computer person so all of the chores that I'm having to do just to get the new one up and running are kind of making me want to run in the other direction. The new computer keeps asking me questions that I don't know how to answer! It is a very tedious process.

In a similar vein, I had decided shortly before the computer issues started happening that it was finally time for me to become acquainted with my fancy new sewing machine that I haven't used once in the nearly two years that have passed since I bought it. I lost 2 sewing machines and I especially miss my favorite sewing machine of all time - the Singer 404 because it was so basic and sturdy and easy to use. I eventually got another machine that did some fancier stitches but I always felt like I was cheating. I didn't really enjoy using it and I didn't much care for the fact that it was made out of plastic. So after the fire took both of these machines from me I decided to combine their value and get one super-duper sewing machine. It is made by Brother and can do some truly amazing things and it is really well made. But the instruction booklet is over 60 pages long. At least it has an instruction booklet, unlike my new computer. And at least the instruction booklet is so well-written that I can actually tell what the instructions mean.

So far I've only used the straight stitch for a couple of projects but that was enough to get me excited about the potential of this machine. Unfortunately I'm probably not going to have time do any more sewing until we get back in our house. Then I'll be able to set up a real sewing area instead of having to move my computer out of the way. Also I have to buy all of the basic equipment again. And there's nowhere else to set up the sewing machine so I have to use the same card table that I use for my computer. Complain, complain, complain.

It's all pretty inconvenient, but I'm learning a few new things and re-learning quite a few more things as a result. But I'm pretty sure that the days of sewing bathing suits and winter coats and reupholstering the car seats are long gone. These days I have other diversions.

5 comments:

Mo said...

I'm dying to learn how to sew...and considering that my mom has attempted to teach me about a dozen times, it's pathetic that I still don't have a clue.

Anywho. I just happened to find your blog, liked what I saw, and thought I'd babble incoherently in your comments :)

Cyndy said...

Hey thanks, Melissa! Knowing how to sew can really come in handy sometimes. And I've noticed that the pattern instructions seem to be more highly evolved and logical than they were when I first learned. So go for it!

I took a peek at your blog and I'll be coming back for a longer visit soon.
Cheers.

Reya Mellicker said...

I bought a sewing machine once with the best of intentions. After it sat in my closet for two years, I gave it away.

But I regret never learning to sew. It's such a basic human activity. Are you a knitter, too? Knitters are a huge and marvellous presence in the blog world.

I've also always been entranced with the idea of spinning. Maybe in my late old age ...

Barbara said...

Loved reading about your trip to Iowa. There's something really down to earth about the people in the Midwest.

A good sewing machine is indeed a joy! I hope you have fun with your new one.

Cyndy said...

Reya, I've always wanted to learn how to knit, but I could never seem to find the time to get started. Finally a few years ago while we were on the road one of the singers taught me how to knit a scarf. It came out pretty well but I no longer have it and I haven't had a chance to think about knitting since then.

Barbara, I'm glad I finally got that stuff posted. My computer was driving me nuts. The new one works great, as does the sewing machine. I hope I will eventually become an active sewer again.

I would love to take you guys up on your invitation to meet for coffee and next week is pretty open right now. Barbara, I know you posted your email address somewhere, but I can't find it. Is it on your blog somewhere?