Try this link: http://www.sewconsult.com/kenmore/158%20manuals/kenmore_instruction_manual_158_1946.html

You can download the manual for $8.00.

Check into a product call Winkies that you wear over your bra and looks like you're wearing a camisole. You could even make something similar yourself. http://thewinkee.com/

Mine is a Kenmore. I paid less than $300 for it. It does everything I need to do on it. It's a bit complicated to thread, but if I "tie on" the new spools, it doesn't need to be rethreaded. You don't need to spend a lot for a decent serger.

I also keep mine in 1-gallon plastic bags, with the pattern envelope facing out. I stuff the pattern pieces I don't use back into the pattern envelope. The ones I used, I leave in the plastic bag, but out of the pattern envelope. This way, if I want to make the pattern again, I don't have to search through all of the pattern pieces for the ones I want.

I keep the plastic bags standing upright in a banker's box. They are in no particular order, but I have the craft patterns in a separate box from the garment patterns.

Hard to know what to advise without more information. Can you send a picture?

Depending on where you live, there might be an American Sewing Guild chapter near by. You can check at http://www.asg.org/files/locator/index.php. While the members might not teach sewing, they are always ready to assist a fellow sewer.

I have an ultra-organized friend who keeps a scrap of each fabric attached to a 3x5 card. She records the number of yards, fabric content, amount paid, and stuff like that on each card. She punches a hole in all of the cards and ring mounts them. She takes the cards with her to the fabric store so she can check to see if she has something similar before purchasing more fabric.

I imagine she doesn't have much time to shop, if she's taking the time to make all the cards

Here's the direct link to the Atlanta Chapter: http://www.asgatlanta.org/

Have you tried the American Sewing Guild. I'm certain they have a local chapter in your area. The website is www.asg.org. The ASG does lots of charitable sewing.

My only suggestion is to try using a tear-away stabilizer between the foot and the fabric. This has worked for me in the past.