Wounded in action

Woe is me, woe is me.
I know there are far more serious things to get upset about but my beloved Janome of 13 years has a malfunction.

I can not entirely blame my daughter,
I’ve been putting off a service for several months, but she was the last one to use it. She and a friend had been trying to sew some particularly sticky PVC coated fabric whilst I was out of the house over half term.
Whilst I tried very hard not to put her off carrying out an impromptu sewing project in the future, I’m not sure I was entirely restrained.
The feed dogs are not propelling the fabric back, causing it to stitch in just one place.
I was quite surprised how upset I was when I realised my weekend sewing plans were scupered. I have a Minerva Crafts project to finish. A whole week without a machine? Unthinkable.
I’ve undone as many screws as I dare. I’ve blown and swept out the fluff. Nothing is jammed. The feed dogs haven’t been retracted ( that had caught me out before), they still move, they are just not lifting as high with each plunge of the needle.
Today I shall drop her off with the man who I know will take good care of her. The man who’s face lights in praise of the sight of a work horse of a machine in a ‘this is a sturdy little number’ kind of way.
Then drastic action is planned. At the absolute horror of my OH who thinks I’m quite mad, I’m going to Argos to pick up a cheap ‘Brother’. This will be my emergency machine.
A machine to use during services and breakdowns. A machine suitable for everything except for denim and other similar fabrics.
Now my daughter and I will be able to sew side by side.

Love, Lucie xx