Wednesday, July 20, 2011

I Sprung a Spring



Today my road to good intentions was going to be paved with creating a new 12x12 art quilt for the Painted Cheesecloth workshop I am teaching. The journey down the road came to a grinding halt when I was doing my routine clean and oil of my trusted Bernina 200. I am meticulous about keeping my machine clean and oiled. Today when I was cleaning, this little spring popped out. Well, what does this go to? I tested the machine to see if there is something dire wrong and the only issue I have is regulating the tension. I was having this problem last week and just kept tweaking the bobbin case until I was satisfied. That didn't work today. So, I made a phone call to the Bernina store and can't get it in for service for a month...and I have two quilts I need to finish and one is due while the machine is in the shop. What's a girl to do...
I may have to break down and go to Kathy Mayhew's and borrow her Handi Quilter.
In the meantime, I'll go ahead and cut out the applique pieces for my 12x12 and fuse them on, put some fabric on to dye and take pictures of fabric to add to Etsy and Art Fire.
There is ALWAYS something to do...I just won't be kept in stitches today.

3 comments:

gousley said...

IT's time to buy a backup Bernina! After I took my machine in for routine cleaning, I was without a machine for 5 weeks. I had given my old machine to one of my granddaughters last summer, so was absolutely without a Bernina for the first time in a very long time. I bought a Baby B at the Dallas Quilt Show. It's a reliable backup, sturdy enough to handle all my free-motion work. I sleep easier at night now....

Jules Rushing said...

I have a Bernina 180 too. But it doesn't have a stitch regulator, I'm spoiled with the BSR. I may have to try free motion without the stitch regulator for a bit.

suzanengler said...

Same thing happened to me 2 weeks before a piece was due to a gallery. I was forced to buy a backup machine because mine would not get serviced for 5 weeks...too late to make the deadline. I even tried to rent one from Bernina or borrow one from friends! It turned out my spring was from the lever that raises the presser foot. Good luck!