I did everything right!  Except the part where I was supposed to check and make sure the fabric pattern was going in the right direction. :/  Oh well.  They are just pajama pants. 

I used Kwik Sew Pattern 3602.  The pattern was pretty easy except it did get needlessly complicated when it came time to do the waist part.  Good thing I am part of sewing meetup.  Experienced sewers showed me an easier way. 

Also, one bad thing about the pattern is that if you are making a Large or Extra Large in this pattern, the waist is WAY too high.  You need to cut the pattern to the medium waist, otherwise you will look like Urkel when you wear them.  I've made this pattern three times, one time with the XL waist (which I later cutoff and resewed lower with some help), and with the Large waist (still too tall but manageable).  The Medium waist height is the normal natural waist.  I don't know why some pattern makers think that because you are 2 inches wider you must also be 2 inches taller. 

Wow, thank you for replying so quickly. 

After uploading these pictures, I really looked at them and the third picture especially showed the machine to be really dirty.  I shot some compressed air at it and used the brush that came with the machine.  I also took the silver plate off the top and shot more condensed air in there.  I also oiled the bobbin hook-thingy from up there (the other time I oiled it from the front). I replaced the silver plate.  I completely rethreaded both the top and the bottom - again. 

Then I tried sewing again.  This time it sewed!  Of course the top of the fabric looked fine and the backside was a bunch of huge loops.  I fiddled with the tension and now it's working!  I've sewn all the different stitch lengths.  Even the 1mm stitches look great. 

I'm not sure which part is the latch you are talking about. Is it this?


I'd like to know because this could happen to me again. 

I just bought a Pfaff Tipmatic off craigslist for $300 and now I am thinking I got robbed!

I tried it out while it was still in their home.  It worked then but when I got it home and tried to actually sew with it, I get this:

Picture 1: This is how I start.  This looks like how it's supposed to, right?  Sorry that the picture is blurry.  I later changed the bobbin thread from purple to the same white as the top between this picture and the second picture. 


Picture 2: I sew about two or three stitches and the needle gets stuck.  When I get the needle unstuck and pull out my fabric (sometimes that is VERY HARD to do) I see this:


Picture 3: Then, I open up the bobbin area and I see this:


I have oiled the bobbin hook per the instruction manual.  I don't know what the problem is and I am actually very upset that I might've gotten screwed out of $300.  Please help! 

Hi,

I'm more of a lurker than a poster but I took an upholstery class at my local fabric store and I wanted to show off my results.  LARGE PICS AHEAD:

Before Front:


Before Back:


After Front:


After Back:


See how pretty?  I'm so proud of myself, even though it has a ton of mistakes.  It's my first attempt so I'm pretty happy with it actually. 

...anyone who says otherwise is a liar.

I'm trying to crochet.  I'm learning from a book and youtube instructional videos.  Let me tell you, knitting is much, much easier.   If I wasn't so bound and determined to make this...





...in different colors, I wouldn't even bother. 

Crocheting is hard.   

Okay, I made a mock up in about an hour using muslin in the size 18.

It fits!

Whoo hoo. 

Here's a picture of the mock up.  I only did the side seams and the darts.

Thanks, guys!

Right now, I'm trying my hand at another pillow.  I bought a 18x18 square boxed pillow insert and I am making the cover for it. 

It's a light lime green microsuede with a pink ribbon down one side with two smaller black ribbon trims down each side of the pink ribbon.  The ribbon puckered a little bit.  I was only able to sew on the black (tiny) trim after glueing it down with Liquid Stitch.  I don't know if that's how everyone does it but I couldn't have sewn it any other way.  The idea of the colors is that it has the same colors as a watermelon.  (The pink isn't that dark in person.) I am even thinking of buying small black buttons to sew down the middle of the pink ribbon like they were seeds. 

Here's a pic in progress:  (I've got the entire front and one of the sides sewn together.)



(Thanks for caring.)

Here's my set up:



 

Oh, and I got a desk last weekend.  I found it on Craigslist.  It's an IKEA Jerker desk.  Just the desk, no shelves.  But it does have two drawers on one side.  I paid $60.  I think that's a good price. 

I'm so excited.  I called the sewing store to make sure they knew I was coming and to make sure my sewing machine was there for me to take home. 

AND!  I've already bought fabric to make a pillow.  See. 

Thanks for the info about the feed dogs and the free arm.  (I'm assuming that "free arm" is when there is no "feed dog" attached, right?) 

I went back to JoAnn Fabrics and tried out the HuskyStar.  I think I prefer the Brother.  The Brother NX-200 had better lighting and I was able to control the fabric better.  The store I went to (for the Brother) has the same 1 year policy about trade-ins.  I could trade it in for a better model within one year.  (It doesn't have to be the same brand, which is nice.) 

Oh, and she also showed me the Brother ExtraSuperFancy Embroidery Machine.  I even got to test it out.  I now have an embroidered butterfly with my name embroidered above it.  Wasn't that sweet of my saleslady?  Now, if I want another one, I'll have to shell out $6000.  I'm seriously considering it.  A long way down the road, of course. 

I've heard mixed reviews about Brother.  The saleslady told me that the Brother NX-200 is made in Japan whereas other, lower cost models are made in China.  The ones in Japan are supposed to be better quality. 

Oh, and here's a list of information about the Brother:

Computerized Sewing Machine with convenient touch pad operation panel and 50 built-in stitches

 The NX-200 puts all the function buttons at your fingertips in one convenient, easy-to-use touch pad operation panel. This computerized sewing machine is feature packed and available at an affordable price. It offers 50 built-in stitches and special features that allow you to sew perfect seams on any weight fabric. The extra-large sewing bed was designed for easy handling of large articles such as bed linens and quilts.

 * Street pricing may vary.
 Estimated Street Price: $600*
 
Buttonholes:  5
Stitch Width and Length:  5.0mm Length 7.0mm Width
Utility stitch functions:  22
Decorative stitch functions:  12
Bobbin:  Horizontal

Needle Threading System:  Manual/automatic
Needle Stop Position:  Programmable
Upper Thread Tension:  Manual
# of needles:  1
Bobbin winding system:  F.A.S.T. System

Machine Speed:  850 spm
Free Arm:  Yes
Presser foot attachment:  Snap-on
Drop Feed Dogs:  6
Presser Foot Pressure Adj.:  Programmable
Presser Foot Lift:  Manual
Presser Foot Height:  Preset 
Lighting:  Dual LED

**I love how it says "street pricing." Like it's a drug or something.  "Do you have any idea the street value of that sewing machine!"

Here's a picture:



Oh, and the lady also told me that she could sell it to me for $500 (that is $100 off).