spring cleaning...

Although it's cold here the sky is clear, the sun is out and there's a beautiful heavy frost; a perfect day for a winter walk.  We're very lucky as the InStitches Studio is  in the countryside and we only need to walk out of the front door, turn left and stroll down the lane.

It was such a joy to reach the ford and spy lots and lots of perky snowdrops showing in the winter undergrowth.  As we walked back up the drive we could see the daffodils buds  beginning to swell and underneath the bluebells  beginning to push through.  Each season brings it's own delights, but I'm hoping spring won't be too long coming.

Last year we'd been given a couple of older sewing machines which we thought would be useful for studio use, but with everything that's been happening recently we've not been able to sort them out.  Until yesterday: time to give them a spring clean and see if they worked. 

Hmmmm...looks like the previous owner didn't clean out this machine very often!  

It was weirdly satisfying, however, poking about in the (unplugged!) sewing machine collecting all the, broken threads and years of built up dust and fluff.  A quick lubrication and the machine is running smoothly now.

How often do you clean out your machine?  I've a little rule: every change of bobbin means a quick fettle around with the cleaning brush,  and every now and then I take the vacuum cleaner nozzle and give the whole machine a 'deep' clean.  Remember, a machine that's full of dust and fluff isn't likely to run well and could have tension issue. 

A clean machine is a happy machine and a happy machine means a contented sewer!

Hazel & Terry
​