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Topic: One man and a sewing machine

PaulBB

27/5/2011 at 12:01pm
Location: In my motorhome
Outfit: Rimor 677TC superBrig

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On the spur of the moment I brought this really cheap sewing machine from the local bargain basement shop for £25 BRAND New and not a toy (well not meant to be a toy) the intention being to sew up the curtains in the caravan which so far are only crudely tacked which would prob cost me £25 or so to pay someone to do it. However I have never use a sewing machine in my life and neither has my wife (who suggested I go and see a Doctor about my level of sanity). How hard can it be its got instruction is ready threaded and has extra bobbins (read that in instructions). So watched a few vids on Youtube looks easy enough and set to with first test and bar it being a bit wiggerly I thought this is so easy get the curtains. The curtains are on net wire (ok ok those in the know I’m sure know what is to come) so the idea is to sew up the bit that loops over the wire to make a tube for the wire and so get rid of the crude tacks. First curtain no problem so that old prelude to disaster steps in “cockiness”. Second curtain “turn the speed up” part way through this I failed to notice part the bottom of the curtain was folded under the top so sewed the top to the bottom and in my frustration at this I managed to break and unthread the cotton from the lower bobbin. After reading the instructions on how to rethread it many times and trying many times I couldn’t get it done. So after much cursing swearing and thoughts of giving the sewing machine some flying lessons I decided to leave it for a day or 2. This appeared to work because it threaded on first attempt a few days later but I can only assume it was due to some kind of witch craft as I still don’t have a clue how. Well can’t look a gift horse in the mouth “next” 2 seconds later the top thread broke and come unthreaded OMG what the F at **, so I was back to the cursing and swearing and thoughts of flying lessons until my teenage daughter come up with a very helpful suggestion “put ya glasses on you silly old sod” and all then became clear I was threading it wrong way. Finally I managed to finish all the curtains the sun come out and all was rosie again. Ok this is the bit were those in the know, know what is coming what my mistake is YES the bloody curtains won’t open more than half way because the material being thicker than nets and the tube I made is to small BUT they do look good closed. Fortunately my wife come to the rescue and suggested open them as far as they will go then tie them back which seems to work so not a total disaster.
Truth be told the £25 sewing machine worked well despite the idiot working it, a few days later I decided to have a practice on some trousers that I had a large rip in and much to my surprise I managed to fix them and quite well to .... well if I had used the right colour cotton it would have been better but I didn’t really think I would manage it. So next job make some new seat covers easy job unpick old ones to use as pattern, cut out new material and sew up easy ....Um am I getting cocky again...

kate w

27/5/2011 at 12:14pm
Location: Derbyshire
Outfit: Camplet Concorde Bailey Phoenix+ 420

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Well done! You'll be running yourself a dress up next! (lol)

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Kate

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jeff juke

27/5/2011 at 12:42pm
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Quote: Originally posted by kate w on 27/5/2011
Well done! You'll be running yourself a dress up next! (lol)

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Animals have feelings..

JEFF................

PaulBB

27/5/2011 at 1:01pm
Location: In my motorhome
Outfit: Rimor 677TC superBrig

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Hummm yes sweety ...WHAT am I saying I better go play with an engine or something quick LOL

R.S.M

27/5/2011 at 1:17pm
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Well done Paul. I recently bought a new one and despite much blustering from the Mehim Sahib, I managed to make new curtains for our [recently sold] van. I haven't tried anything bigger yet but the year is young.

RSM

bobsbabes

27/5/2011 at 1:58pm
Location: Shropshire
Outfit: Sterling Eccles SR 636 Nissan Navara

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have just had a new machine and went from sewing a simple cow girl outfit to recovering the seat covers in the caravan !!! but i have had to make up the patterns as i wanted to put the new over the old so when we go to sell i can remove the new and the original will still look nice (i hope)

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hello

Marilyn51

27/5/2011 at 2:10pm
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Outfit: Wynnster Eagle 6 & super old static

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Quote: Originally posted by R.S.M on 27/5/2011
Well done Paul. I recently bought a new one and despite much blustering from the Mehim Sahib, I managed to make new curtains for our [recently sold] van. I haven't tried anything bigger yet but the year is young.

RSM

Well done to everyone, especially RSM. Sewing machines can be very daunting. An old friend of my dad's who is Standard Bearer for our local Royal Tank Regiment Association made a new Standard for the Newcastle branch and the got orders from far and wide and they are really gorgeous. (I can say that as he won't read this and get all big headed). Not bad for a MAN in his 70's.

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Marilyn

vwalan

27/5/2011 at 3:41pm
Location: roche cornwall
Outfit: lynton 5th wheel

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hi, i use an old singer machine bought at the dump for 2quid . have made a few interiors for vans repaired lots of things . did once cover some car seats with vynil matterial thats really hard . had to use silicn spray on the stitching as the plastic melts into the needle hole and chews things up. but a good tool. great for cushion covers . if you can get some silent gliss curtain track it uses small hooks to allow the curtains to open fully with pleats to allow folds. bit like small version of house curtains . cheers alan.

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vwalan

jhsw

27/5/2011 at 8:18pm
Location: Lanarkshire
Outfit: Compass Lynx 340 2

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Hi PaulBB, Well Done, I have done the same and made set of curtains for my van, and sewn on the pop ons, after all the sewing machine is only an other tool among all the other tools needed for van maintenence.

.

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If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.

John

Gram

27/5/2011 at 10:09pm
Location: Padded Cell
Outfit: Calvin Klein Straitjacket & manacles

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...Eighty-three year old Jones sewing machine still giving faithful service - handles vinyl, canvass, (thin) leather and nearly all (except very thin) materials....

Gram

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What's the difference between a chicken?

2Barnesand1dog

27/5/2011 at 11:03pm
Location: Preston LANCS
Outfit: Bailey Senator California

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To a man who can from a woman who can't. Well done

And yah boo sucks to anyone that isn't impressed

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Why have kids when you can have a dog?

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