Friends, have you ever had a tooth pulled? I did this morning and I don't have to tell you it wasn't a very pleasant experience, and I like my dentist.
About two years ago I fractured a molar while chomping down on a chicken bone (suck out that marrow carefully, readers!). The tooth already had a deep filling in it which was why it cracked in the first place and, long story short, two years later it was time to say good-bye. I could have opted for an expensive root canal procedure followed by a crown, but since the tooth was already so compromised, there was no guarantee it would last. So I had it yanked. While my jaw is a little sore, I actually feel so much better knowing that crappy old tooth is gone (The damaged root was also affecting my sinuses, I believe.). But I didn't feel much like sewing today, so so far I haven't.
But look what came in the mail. Know what this is?
No, it's not a molar replacement, it's low-shank adapter that allows me to use all my Singer feet on my Bernina. This means I have the option of sewing with my beloved Singer straight stitch foot!
I'm almost embarrassed to admit how much I love my new machine. I knew it would be solid stitcher but I didn't expect an instant bond. As far as not having the needle down feature, yes, that would be nice. But one of the great things about the 930 is that even in the needle up position, the fabric does not slip out of place. If I'm turning a corner, then sure, I turn the needle down manually. But a lot of the time this isn't even necessary, like if I'm just stopping to check my work.
The one feature I'm not crazy about, however, is the bobbin winder. It probably needs just a simple adjustment, but right now the little lever that turns off the bobbin winder when the bobbin is fully wound brakes too soon. So I'll probably wind my Bernina bobbins the same way I wind bobbins for all my other machines: on my vintage Viking. The Viking doesn't have a shut-off mechanism, you just stop winding when it looks full. Works for me.
In vintage 40's silk dress news, I'm almost done. I made the tulip sleeves yesterday but still have to clean up some seams and hem the thing. I think it's going to be very pretty. I've booked Cathy's services for Wednesday afternoon, so let's hope it doesn't rain so she can wear her mink.
Readers, it's time for a liquid meal. Actually, I can chew, but on only one side of my mouth, and since I don't want to compromise the healing, I'm playing it safe for the next day or so.
Have a great day, everybody!
Yes, having a molar extraction is NOOOO fun! Ice, ice, ice. Hope you feel better soon. c
ReplyDeleteHad two molars out a little more than a month ago - one was too far gone to save, decay behind a crown, and its chewing companion below was in need of a root canal - no point keeping that one, so I had them both out. Treat your mouth very gently for longer than you think you need to - but don't stop brushing and rinsing while you recuperate, just do it very gently. Feel better!
DeleteI feel for you. I had two teeth pulled to make room for braces when I was an adult. My dentist also my little brother took me out for beer and taco pizza afterwards. He has a warped sense of humour. Get well soon. I can't wait to see the finished 40's silk dress. The fabric you chose is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea there was an adapter for Berninas. This is good information! I inheirted a Bernina and had to spend $$ on a zipper foot.
ReplyDeleteThe adapter cost less than $12 on eBay, with (domestic) shipping -- a good deal.
DeleteYou might also find the adapters, like I did, at a Bernina dealer.
DeleteI think I got my adapter from Clothilde or Nancy's Notions years ago. It sure is nice to be able to use the Singer feet on the Bernina! I used my ruggler on my 1230 last week, to gather some gosh-awful embroidered poly organza for a vintage Butterick dress I was making for client. It was soooo much faster than gathering with a long stitch would have been!
DeleteOooh, feel better Peter! And I wonder if that fancy-ass machine is gonna be your fave in the world :-)
ReplyDeleteBerninas really are that good. So good you'll throw your seam ripper away. About the bobbins a lot of people over fill theirs so maybe thats why yours seems to stop short but having not being able to see when yours stop I can't say whether thats the case or not.
ReplyDeleteThe flat fell feet are totally worth it if your doing a lot of shirts.
I've only ever had a root canal done and I have an amazing dentist so apart from feeling like I had been punched in the jaw when the painkillers wore off it didn't really bother me...
ReplyDeleteI do think the reconstructed tooth is starting to crack a bit though, thank god I have a checkup scheduled for next month.
I remember my mother making instant pudding but adding more milk so it wouldn't set, and eating it warm. Delicious and nothing to chew!
Yikes Peter - hope you feel better soon. Freddy knows how it feels. So happy to hear that you are enjoying the Bernina.
ReplyDeleteI feel for you -- the tooth that is. I sold my Bernina 1000 about a month ago. I had a molar extracted a year ago -- it was case of a root canal gone bad. I took the chicken's way out and had the extraction done by an oral surgeon, just so he could use a general anesthesia. I also considered trying to save the tooth, but after the last periodontist said I only had a 50/50 chance and seeing how little of "the tooth" was left, decided to have that sucker yanked. I then got really crazy and got braces a few months ago, so won't be able to get an implant for at least a year. Happy to hear you're having minimal discomfort and happy to hear you're quickly bonding with the Bernina.
ReplyDeleteCynthia
Have you considered a bobbin winder? I like mine -- no messing around with the threading on the sewing machine (at least not unless I have only the one spool of thread).
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about your tooth. Are you going to get a bridge or just live without it?
Beth
My sympathies on the tooth. I have had a few pulled, and it's never a pleasant experience.
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased that you like the Bernina so much. Mom has a strictly mechanical one from about 1980 which still works well and she still loves. It still stitches like a champ. I loved it too, but haven't been able to afford one yet. I do have the Pfaff Creative (one of the last German-made Pfaff's) which is a very nice machine and which Mom bought for herself. However, she found it too complicated and passed it on to me and went back to her old Bernina.
I haven't met a person yet who regretted buying a Bernina.
Having teeth pulled is never nice, but I hope you get better with the minimum of unpleasantness. I got one yanked when I was young by a butcher of a dentist who didn't use enough anesthetic and had sharp little shards of bone coming to the surface for weeks afterwards. Oh, well.
ReplyDeleteGet well soon Peter! :)
ReplyDeleteI hope your smile is not spoiled by an empty space. You do have a great smile. Take it easy.
ReplyDeleteOnly if I pull both ends of my mouth and stick my tongue out! ;)
DeleteOh, no, I'm so sorry about your tooth-- that sounds terrible! Feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteone word: implant. i know they're expensive but i just had to have a tooth pulled which was an anchor for a three molar bridge--i am now the proud owner of two implant anchors: one for the anchor tooth and one for the gap tooth. you should be able to find a good endo in the big city. be brave!
ReplyDeleteBernina have an awesome jeans/denim foot that I use all the time for seams (any weight fabric)... for that machine it may be #038 (old number) or perhaps just #8 Jeans foot... while I have used the adapter shank for favourite feet (like you are) the actual feed dog is designed for a wider foot and thus feeding fabric through in a more even fashion. You'll love your 930, everyone did!
ReplyDeleteOuch, pulling out a tooth is no fun! Hope you'll recover with speed and without complications!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you've fallen head over heels with your new machine =) Both my mom and my grandmother has that very Bernina model (they upgraded at the same time), I learned to sew on mom's and then I inherited grans old Bernina from the 50s. My sister got mom's old 70s Bernina, and I think it's possible I might get disinherited if I ever were to switch to another brand... =) No, seriously, I've tried other brands in different contexts, both old and new machines, and maybe it's just habit but no matter the model, I always tend to prefer the Berninas (the mechanic one's).
Happy sewing! Looking forward to seeing the next step of your latest Cathy-project - when you're feeling better, of course.
Hope you feel better soon! At least it's nice to have an excuse to drink a milkshake. And thanks for keeping us posted about the Bernina.
ReplyDeleteHolding a Chihuahua,, or two, is proven therapy.
ReplyDeleteAll this Bernina raving has me "Bernina curious".
One thing I've noticed is that so many intrigued-types buy one and become hard-core users. Is there a detriment or downside to all this devotion?
I've had 8 removed - 4 wisdom teeth under general anesthesia, and 4 others out under local anesthesia to make room when I got braces, all done as an adult. Not fun!! But I remember my tongue hurting the worst of all because it kept exploring the new landscape.
ReplyDeleteHope you're on the road to recovery, Peter.
Oh, I wish I could make my old Lucznik feet work on my new Singer like that! Unfortunately, that's just not likely to happen, because the proportions are just wrong... *sigh*
ReplyDeleteAnd I unscrewed the bobbin-winding stopper on the Singer - accidentally - and now I go by my eye as well. :D I actually rather like it more, because it makes me do it consciously. Whenever I lose my concentration around my sewing machine, something goes wrong.
Hey, Peter. On winding bobbins on the Bernina, I put my finger next to the "little lever" and prevent it from releasing. I can get the bobbin to fully fill and then just move my finger and it stops. Just an option to keep from having to pull another machine out to wind a bobbin. I've had the same frustration. Another improvement is that it will hold a 15J sized bobbin case, and the 15J bobbin is wider than the traditional size 15 bobbin. Be well. Lane
ReplyDeleteSorry about that tooth! Another great foot to use for visibility in front of the needle is the jeans foot, which should have been included with your machine. Another foot that is great is the official Bernina 1/4" foot. It's got a nice open slot in front of the needle. I use it almost exclusively on all my Berninas when I'm interested in precision. You'll find that the straight stitch foot doesn't feed straight, because it doesn't match the teeth on a zig zag machine. Compare your FW teeth to the Bernina teeth and you'll see what I mean. Feel better! So...what do you put in the space left by that crummy old tooth?
ReplyDeleteYes, I have the jeans foot, which I like. For now the tooth space is empty; not sure if I'll fill it with something or not...
DeleteIf it's not the last tooth in line (next stop, your cheek), you have to fill it. Otherwise, over not too long a time, all your teeth will shift. Total disaster.
DeleteI've had my Bernina 910 for 26 years and still love it. It's a pretty good workhorse! I wouldn't mind a few more stitch types, but I don't even use all 8 of them!!
ReplyDeleteHope you're feeling better soon.
I didn't know you ad a Viking. What model?
ReplyDeleteIt's a Viking 3240.
Deletehttps://picasaweb.google.com/101177577152766699680/ANOTHERSewingMachine#5405144589756258434
Do not spit or drink through a straw - be very careful, you dont want a dry socket - terribly painful. Good luck.........when its all healed get a beautiful implant !
ReplyDeleteThis was my dentist's advice after having a tooth out a few months ago - no straws or hot liquids for a while. I ended up with dry socket anyway, but didn't feel a thing, which I found unbelieveable. I've had root canal and a crown and so far the extraction left me feeling the worst. It only gets better!
ReplyDelete