Friday, March 6, 2015

Time for a change

     Twice a year, without fail,  time changes.  Not only does it mess with my body clock, it messes up my head.  About 2 or 3 days before, Sir Old Man starts the comments about,,, "It will be 8:00 when you get up next week."  Or some such crazy comment.   I threatened to change the clocks back one hour every time he made one of his comments.....just to confuse him.    
     Seriously.....the mysterious "they" tell you to Spring forward.  If I spring forward, I should be gaining ground, right?  Not so, I lose an hour.    Ah, "they" say, you gain it back in the fall when you "fall back".  Fall back sounds like I am losing something.   Things like this must be messing with the time continuum or the tilt of the Earth's axis, or something really important in the universe.    How about I keep my hour, and let "them" just go jump into the lake, backwards to make it more interesting!

 As I implied, there are more important things in my universe........
      Do we need a calendar to remember to change the machine needles?     How do you remember to change your machine needle?  Ideally, a new needle should be used after 8 hours of sewing.  If that is true, why didn't they include a buzzer to remind me.  On Hot Legs, the sit down quilting machine, I routinely change the needle after each large project.....or sooner if I notice skipped stitches.  On my regular machine, it is a hit and miss game to remember.  For a while I had a piece of painter's tape on the side and I would note the type of needle and date.  Note I said, for a while.....I got out of the habit, and so I wing it here.

    I know to change the bobbin when I run out of thread....no buzzer needed here. I clean out the bobbin area when I change bobbins.....those fuzz bunnies multiply so quickly when you sew a lot.  I also do the oiling thing after a cleaning session.
 
     Then there is the rotary cutter.   Admittedly, I over use my blades.....I wait till I have to fight with it before changing.  This past week, I order a new pack of blades so it is time for a change.....on all cutters.  I just wish there was a good use for those old ones other than trimming paper.  
   My hint for the week.....change the time this weekend,  and change your rotary cutter blade, and needle.  You won't get that hour back, but your stitching time will improve.    Happy stitching.

9 comments:

Deb@asimplelifequilts said...

I am looking forward to another hour of good sewing light... And I need to change my sewing needles way more often! Thanks for the reminder.

Dana Gaffney said...

Good advice. I always have trouble with the time change and having animals makes it even harder, they just don't get it no matter how many times I try to explain it.

Mary said...

The time change really does mess with our heads, doesn't it!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I thought of you two and your shennigans with the time when I took note of the change coming up - too funny. I remember all those sewing changes with use although I do push the boundaries with the rotary blades. I use the other for changing the batteries in all the smoke/carbon monoxide detectors thru the house.

Gene Black said...

I have a friend who has two clocks that he never changes . He has worked it out with his employer that he stays on "summer time" all year long. If I did that I would be late for every single appointment I have. Ha ha. At least with retirement I can sleep on my schedule

Sherrill said...

LOVE the springing forward as that means I'll have more sunlight in the evenings (hate the long dark days of winter). I do not change my blades often enough either and it IS time for a change. However, I just broke my needle a couple of days ago so that should be good for a bit!

Janet O. said...

Good counsel, Debbie.

Terri said...

Time was invented to keep trains on schedule... it's just a relative thing. Don't let it bother you. You do still need to change your clocks, of course, so you can get to your appointments on time.
I can tell when the machine needs cleaning by the sound it makes. Even a little dust makes it sound different. Usually after the second bobbin. I only oil once or twice a year... depending on how much sewing I've been doing. It's a sewing machine holiday... I let it rest for a day after oiling. Then I wipe it down really well in case I've dripped somewhere. Have a great weekend.
Hugs

Impera Magna said...

...messing with one's biorhythms (esp at my age) is a baaaaddddd thing. It'll take several weeks to adjust... plus going to work in the dark is not one of my favorite things...

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