Keeping the Car and the Sewing Machine Happy

I made a trip over to Spokane this week so the dealer there could do some recall work on the BMW. The recall came out almost a year ago, but at the time it was issued, the replacement part was not available. The car threw a code two weeks ago, and when I called Kevin, he reminded me about the recall. They had the part in stock. He said it was slow in the service department, so I made an appointment for Wednesday morning.

I also called the big quilt store and made an appointment to drop off my Janome 6600P for service. I usually have it serviced every June. I’m a few months late. The store will do one-day service for out-of-town customers and that is usually where I take my machine. I don’t trust the dealer here.

I managed to get over to Spokane and back in a clear three-day stretch of weather. It is snowing right now and we’re under a winter storm warning for this afternoon and overnight. The past three days were precipitation-free—although overcast—and the roads were bare and dry. I arrived in Spokane just after noon on Tuesday, dropped the machine off at the quilt store, then did some running around. I checked all the of the Walmart mystery remnant racks in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, and Spokane Valley and picked up a couple of nice T-shirt knits. I also went to see the owner of the small quilt store where I taught a serger class last August. She wants me to teach again but we were waiting to find out if she was going to be moving her store. She was hoping to move into the old Boyd-Walker sewing machine store downtown. Alas, that has fallen through. She is staying put at her current location. I’m a bit bummed about this because that location just doesn’t have sufficient classroom space. I can teach six students there, but everyone is crammed in cheek to jowl.

We scheduled a date in March anyway. I said I would teach a Serger 101 class and also a class on the Simple-Elegant Tee:

This is by the same designer of the Little Somethin’ Jacket that I taught at the quilt store here in November. I still have to decide how to structure the class—I am thinking an afternoon session on fitting followed by a morning session on making the top—but I’ll know better after I make the pattern myself. This is not a pattern I would have picked out for myself based on the cover photo, but the pattern has several variations. I am going to make the tunic-length, V-neck top with cap sleeves. I bought some rayon batik at the store so I would have a class sample made from a fabric she carries. (She comped me the pattern and all the stores I teach for give me a nice discount on fabric and supplies.)

I dropped the car off bright and early Wednesday morning. Kevin arranged for a loaner so I wouldn’t have to sit for six hours and wait. I had moved my TSA pre-check appointment from Missoula to Spokane because the location in Spokane looked like it was being run much more efficiently. That was a good decision. I arrived about ten minutes early for my 8:50 am appointment and I was out of there within twenty minutes.

I went back to the quilt store and picked up the sewing machine, stopped at a few thrift stores, and before I knew it, Kevin was texting me that the car was done.

As the Crow Flies is a darling store north of Spokane that specializes in embroidery, particularly wool embroidery. Unfortunately, it’s only open for a few hours on certain days. I was in luck because Wednesday afternoon was one of those days, so I drove up to see what goodies I could find. I could go nuts in there. I confined myself to a couple of chicken-themed patterns and a new pair of embroidery scissors because I had given my embroidery scissors to DD#2 when she was here at Christmas.

I also hit all three Joann Fabrics stores in Spokane, although I bought only two patterns. It is disheartening to see the decline of that company. Whoever is in charge at the corporate level seems determined to run it into the ground. The stores in Spokane have cut their hours, too, and are fast becoming glorified Dollar Stores filled with plastic crap from China. I received an e-mail survey from them a couple of weeks ago asking me to evaluate some new “craft supplies” they were thinking of carrying. I didn’t even finish the survey because the items in question were garbage and nothing I was interested in purchasing.

Perhaps it is time to send some feedback. They need to know that there are people like me out here with classes full of students who want to make clothing but can’t find decent fabrics. I am buying deadstock at Walmart, for heaven’s sake. What does that tell you? Quilt stores are having to pick up the slack by carrying garment fabrics. Most are willing to do so, but it is a risky investment for them.

And I came this close to buying a sewing machine at one of the thrift stores. I found a Bernina Activa 130 in great condition for $40, but I have sworn off acquiring any more machines. I hope I don’t regret not getting it. It’s at the Union Gospel Mission store on Boone if anyone wants to go pick it up.

I arrived home yesterday mid-afternoon. The piano tuner is coming this morning to tune the baby grand—I am late on that service, too—and I think I’ll try to knock out that Simple-Elegant Tee while he’s here. And we’ll wait to see if this storm knocks out power and internet and for how long.