Disboutiquers Part 30 Kids Disney Boutique / Customs Clothes psst..we sew ;-)

[darnheather]

@goteamwood Thanks! I'll check over there.

 

[ivey_family]

Erin - here's a free peasant top pattern that is more slim than the Scientific Seamstress Portrait Peasant. I suspect that's what many boutique types use under those corset style tops.

http://contentm.mkt2178.com/lp/814/...tegory-_-crhdqtr-_-Free DL CK Peasant Dress

Prayers for Chiara! How exciting!

Regards,
C.

 

[PurpleEars]

Hiya all I am back with another question. My machine does free hand embroidery and I got a foot for it for christmas and now that summer is here (sorta) I have some time to mess with this feature, the issue is looking through the directions for setting up the machine for embroidery it says I need a hoop. I am not sure what kind of hoop they are talking or where to get one. I know they have the hoops for machine embroidery like the brother hoops but I am not sure if that will work for this machine. Any advice on what kind of hoop they are talking about?

I am not sure what they are talking about - it may help if you can post a picture of the machine.

Omg, I'm going to need to buy you all something by the time my trip is over!
I have a question (sorry!) There are a couple of complex appliques I'd like to try, however I don't want to do them on my dress in case I screw up. I'd like to do them separately then attach them afterwards. How do I do this? Should I just applique them on a separate material, say white, then cut them out? Cutting as close to the satin stitching as possible. Then do I just put them on the dress and re-stitch the satin stitching around the edges?

THANK YOU!

I would suggest felt too but you said you don't like the felt look. How about doing them as "patches"?

And for those who have tried to help with my machine woes, I tried all your suggestions, the panty hose, the bobbin thing, etc. Here is where we are at right now. Met yesterday with the manager who poopooed the stabilizer, my designs, my thread, my bobbins and my methods. Blamed all of the issues I am having on all of the above. (never mind that this is the method and consumables that have been working for me for possibly a thousand shirts?) I sat down with her for a half hour and of course the thread did not break even once. I brought all my own stuff, and did 3 built-in designs. When I suggested I test of of my designs, she said that she doesn't trust my designs so that wouldn't be a good test and that I just need to buy their stabilizer since I am doing it wrong, and I need to take classes. Also, I needed to buy a thread stand and that would solve all my thread issues. $10 thread stand and I went home, set back up this a.m. and same issue. Thread breaks ALL THE TIME, like every 20-50 stitches. I called back and said that I would be driving to the store, with my two 3-year-olds, and we would NOT be leaving until they either return my machine for a full refund or fix it while I wait. An hour drive later, the 3 of us came in, we were there about 5 minutes, and despite my kids actually listening to me and sitting quietly on the floor not getting into anything, another lady kept giving us the stink eye and actually came up and said "it's not much fun in here, maybe you can wait outside in the parking lot, there's a picnic table." So yeah, they asked us to wait outside in the parking lot. Which we did since it was a reasonably nice day. They buffed the throat plate, since I had found a snag with my pantyhose, and I tested one of my designs there, and it stitched about 7 minutes straight, so I, stupidly, thought it was fixed. Got home and THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. I went out and bought new stabilizer, just in case that was really the issue... Of course it wasn't. I have wound my own bobbins using the bobbins that came with the machine, used my pre-wound (I am half way thru a 144 box, so 70 something have been fine) tried a dozen different needles, different packages of needles, every brand of thread I have, every one of 4 different stabilizers I have, including the tear-away that came with the machine and w/ and w/o the thread stand. Same issue. It broke 7 times in 900 stitches of the built-in design that was all straight stitching. I have shed so many tears over this and I am so insanely stressed. I have also talked to Brother directly, and ironically they called back while my kids and I were sitting the parking lot waiting. The lady I spoke with was incredibly frustrated at how I have been treated and offered to allow me to send it in for repair, but the thing weighs like 60 lbs and would cost a fortune to ship. (not that driving back and forth 3 hours round trip has not already cost that in gas!)
So I am not sure what else to do, I filed a complaint this morning with BBB and my letters to Brother Corp, the owner of the sewing store and the BBB are stamped and will go out in tomorrows mail. (I needed up update them but spent all of today either in my car or in the stupid sewing store parking lot...)

So IF I manage to get them to take back the machine, I will need to find a comparable machine. I looked at the Babylock Unity/Symphony (I think) at the expo, and decided, rather poorly I guess, to go with the Brother because the nearest service center was closer, boy was that dumb. (though no fault of Brother, and I loved the machine until the past 10 days.) Almost all my files are PES files, of course a lot come with all the formats. And I have Embrilliance which will let me convert. I know it's probably premature since it seems only an act of congress will get these people to budge on their return policy of nothing is returnable. But has anyone converted files without issues? I assume if the software saves as there should not be any noticeable difference? I have 600+ 8claws fonts ALL PES. For now, though I am a week and a half behind on all my etsy orders, and spent most of this evening sizing down the handful I had designed for the larger hoop so I can at least use my little machine. I just know staying w/ brother ties me to this place and I loathe the idea of setting foot in there again...

Oh no! I am so sorry to hear that! I think a Babylock would take PES files if you decide to go that route.

There is obviously something in the air! I have not updated with my tales of woe about my Brother repairman...mainly because I am still so mad I can't type more than a bit before I have to stop!

Some of you may remember that my Brother repair man...about an hour and 45 minutes away...is a jerk! He super glued my bobbin tension screw because he told me I shouldn't be messing with it!

I have a total of 4 Brother machines, including two 770s. They are workhorses...but can be a bit finicky. My new $500 sewing machine was sewing fine for 3 months...then all of a sudden it stopped doing button holes. It appeared to be a computer issue...because it would sew a zig zag with no problem, it would sew a straight seam with no problem, but when you tried the button hole, it would do the straight seam...then when it got to the zig zag portion it stayed in one spot and sewed until it made a birds nest...

On Memorial Day I decided it was time to call Brother...since it was a holiday, I waited until Tuesday morning to call... after 45 minutes they told me to take it in to the repair man. I took it Wednesday morning and dropped it off.

While during the check in process, the lady (owner's mom?) told me I had voided the warranty by using Coats N Clark thread... and I told her there was no such clause in the warranty. (so from this conversation it is clear that I brought it in because of warranty work.) I left with her the sheet I took my notes from the conversation with Brother...including time of call and who I spoke with. (I honestly can not remember if there was a claim number on the paper or not...because I forgot to make a copy of it!) Leaving that paper makes it clear I had spoken to Brother)

When I get the call on Monday that it was ready, they told me it would be $89.95. I said...wait a minute it should be warranty work. Nope, they have no record of it being warranty work, and since I didn't buy it from them they would not do warranty work! I reminded her that I had already brought in one machine that I did not buy from them for warranty work, she changed her tune and said I had to bring in my receipt and they would see what they could do...

Well, I did not have to bring in a receipt last time, but it only took a second to print out another copy of the receipt so off we went.

We were lucky...Husband was driving and it only took an hour and a half. When I came in they said there was no record of warranty work, and even if it was it would not have been covered...because it was ...USER ERROR!

It went down hill from there!

The fact that it worked fine for dozens of button holes before deciding to stop...it was my fault because I was too 'stupid' (yes, he used that word) to understand how to work a computerized machine, and he did not have time to give me basic sewing lessons!

There were threats of him calling the police on me (remember hubby and kids are in the car...and he IS a policeman!) He insinuated that I was going to 'steal' my machine back from him. He made comments that there is not a single notation that it was warranty work on his paperwork. If he had known it was warranty work he would have never started on it...because he 'knew' it was user error! Unfortunately for him...his employee/mother was standing there and I reminded her about the comment with the thread...and she admitted I had said something about warranty (but she couldn't remember the details) and she must have forgotten to write that down.

At this point...he walked away screaming at me.

I refused to leave. I told them I would wait until. I got satisfaction. (at this point, I would have settled for paying half the price and accepted an apology. I did not tell him this)

I stood at the counter for a good thirty minutes, then a customer walked in. She was paying for a large purchase of software. I did not say anything to her...I did not move from my spot...but the owner came out and told me he was on the phone with Brother trying to resolve my problem and walked away.

After the customer left, the owner came back and said Brother had no record of my ever calling them...I told him the date and time of call and who I had spoken to (which I had remembered...I called at 9 on Tuesday and the person I spoke to had the same name as my daughter...Amanda.) He kept saying I was lying...I repeated time, date and person I spoke with. Three times.

After another 15 minutes he came back and said I was lucky...Brother was going to pay the warranty claim... and he was doing this out of the 'goodness' of his heart!

I believe I might have said something about he was the one that was lucky but don't really remember...but I waited for HIM to hand ME the machine and left.

I will not be back there...even if he is the only repair man left in the world!

I will be writing my complaint to Brother later today.

This man is known in the area to be a jerk. Earlier in the spring we were looking at the 6 needle...and for the second time in two years he managed to convince my husband not to buy from him.... and my husband is pretty easy going and level headed in things like this.nyway...that is a short syopsis of my experience with repair on machines.

Will it prevent me from buying another Brother...no. Will it prevent me from ever walking into his establishment again? YES!



Nini
(who is going back to the job of draining the pool so I can clean and refill sometime today!)


Oh forgot to say...I still haven't turned the machine on to see if it is working yet!

My machine is NOT working!

Yuck...

Nini

I am sorry to hear that your machine saga is still going on! Perhaps we should get one of us trained to be an authorized repair technician so we don't have to deal with people who does not care about their customers!

I just discovered this thread and I have to say I am absolutely addicted already!!! What amazing ideas on here!!!! I can't wait to try some of these ideas but obviously some of you have much more experience sewing than I do! So I'll gladly accept any tips you may have to give a newbie at sewing

Thanks for the wonderful thread!

Welcome! Please share pictures of your creations!

Just in case you missed this posted on FB, her PTR or my PTR...

Chiara just texted me and asked me to let you all know that she is having her baby tonight, her C section is scheduled for 9:30pm Eastern time.

I don't know any details other than that, but I do believe that prayers for both her and the baby would be coveted.

D~

Thanks D for the update. I hope Chiara and baby are doing well at this point.

 

[sewdisney]

I just discovered this thread and I have to say I am absolutely addicted already!!! What amazing ideas on here!!!! I can't wait to try some of these ideas but obviously some of you have much more experience sewing than I do! So I'll gladly accept any tips you may have to give a newbie at sewing

Thanks for the wonderful thread!

Welcome!

 

[4HppyCamprs]

Just in case you missed this posted on FB, her PTR or my PTR...

Chiara just texted me and asked me to let you all know that she is having her baby tonight, her C section is scheduled for 9:30pm Eastern time.

I don't know any details other than that, but I do believe that prayers for both her and the baby would be coveted.

D~

Prayers

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[aboveH20]

I've been lurking waiting for news about Chiara. Thanks for posting, D. Coincidentally I'm in Queens. We came down for my son's girlfriend's graduation from Hunter yesterday. I'm in Flushing. Someone ( lovechefmick??) posted about a daughter in Astoria. My son moved out of Astoria last month -- he's moving to Disneyland. Whoops, I mean Los Angeles.

Prayers for Chiara!

 

[disneychic2]

Oh no, Nini!! What a headache! He's not only a jerk, but incompetent as well! Hope your pool clears up too. Time for something good to happen for you I'd say.

Jen, can you just take a day with your boys and go have some fun? I feel your frustration and heartache and wish there was something I could do to help. Maybe if you just take a day away and try not to think about it, you can face it again and finish some of your projects. Please don't close your shop. You are amazingly talented. That would be a shame. I do hope the letters you wrote will bring some help, but meanwhile, I know you will get through it somehow. Good luck.

I just discovered this thread and I have to say I am absolutely addicted already!!! What amazing ideas on here!!!! I can't wait to try some of these ideas but obviously some of you have much more experience sewing than I do! So I'll gladly accept any tips you may have to give a newbie at sewing

Thanks for the wonderful thread!

Glad to have you here. Hope you get lots of inspiration and post pics of what you make!

 

[luvdumbo]

I have not posted on this thread actively since 2010, I became more active in the FB group. But FB is blocked where I am working today and I need to watch for Chiara updates! So I am popping in on here in a really long time and hoping to get to know some of those that are new on here since 2010.

 

[NiniMorris]

I sent an email to Brother yesterday and received a response within an hour.

Today I called to speak with Brother about the issues I am still having. After 2 phone calls and almost 2 hours on the phone, I think we have settings fixed where it will sew well enough to get the projects completed that have to be done before our trip in less than 10 days.

Apparently there may be an issue with my bobbin race. (which is what I thought it was all along...)

While I was on the phone I did find out I am not the only one to complain about the 'repairman'. (no surprise there!) They have launched an investigation...totally not sure what that means, but I know I will not go back to him...regardless!

As for the pool...it is sort of meh today. Not overly cloudy, but not clear either. Of course since it is raining I am not going to be dealing with it...

Nini

 

[sewmess]

My heart just breaks for everyone's problems with their repair men. Hopefully the result of the investigation by Brother will have his authorization revoked. I can't imagine any company wanting their name associated with such a jerk, Nini.

GoteamWood, hopefully something similar will resolve with your issues as well.

If I ever get any time (darn full time manager job) I have about thirty ideas perking in my head. Every time I iron anything I want to blow off work and sit at my embroidery - or regular sewing machine - and make something!

I'm sorry I didn't capture the quote, but someone was asking about a free-motion hoop. I came up with a unique and probably super silly solution for when I do embroidery type stuff on my sewing machine. I take a hand embroidery hoop, hoop my material and then slide that under the foot. Unorthodox, but it seems to work.

Speaking of hooping, I am totally going to try that hoop the stabilizer and then adhere or pin the fabric. I get very annoyed trying to get the tension right when I hoop all my layers.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

My heart just breaks for everyone's problems with their repair men. Hopefully the result of the investigation by Brother will have his authorization revoked. I can't imagine any company wanting their name associated with such a jerk, Nini.

GoteamWood, hopefully something similar will resolve with your issues as well.

If I ever get any time (darn full time manager job) I have about thirty ideas perking in my head. Every time I iron anything I want to blow off work and sit at my embroidery - or regular sewing machine - and make something!

I'm sorry I didn't capture the quote, but someone was asking about a free-motion hoop. I came up with a unique and probably super silly solution for when I do embroidery type stuff on my sewing machine. I take a hand embroidery hoop, hoop my material and then slide that under the foot. Unorthodox, but it seems to work.

Speaking of hooping, I am totally going to try that hoop the stabilizer and then adhere or pin the fabric. I get very annoyed trying to get the tension right when I hoop all my layers.

Thank you!!' That is what I was toying around with trying. I think it will work. I think. I am finishing up Spanish 101 and I am in a time crunch but I will post a pic of the machine when I get a moment. I am part of a vintage sewing machine board but don't frequent it much so that is why I asked here first

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[darnheather]

I have two inspiration questions.

First I have this panel fabric and want to make something clothing or purse/luggage wise from it. It's kind of on the thin side.



Second, I need inspiration for EPCOT. I have this adorable fabric but I don't know what to do with it or even if I want to use it for EPCOT.

 

[RMAMom]

Just in case you missed this posted on FB, her PTR or my PTR...

Chiara just texted me and asked me to let you all know that she is having her baby tonight, her C section is scheduled for 9:30pm Eastern time.

I don't know any details other than that, but I do believe that prayers for both her and the baby would be coveted.

D~

Why do I feel like it's to early? It feels like we just found out about the pregnancy. Prayers for Chiara, Hubby and baby. I hope I am wrong about it being to soon, pregnancy always seems to go faster when it's someone else! LOL!

 

[goteamwood]

Oh no, Nini!! What a headache! He's not only a jerk, but incompetent as well! Hope your pool clears up too. Time for something good to happen for you I'd say.

Jen, can you just take a day with your boys and go have some fun? I feel your frustration and heartache and wish there was something I could do to help. Maybe if you just take a day away and try not to think about it, you can face it again and finish some of your projects. Please don't close your shop. You are amazingly talented. That would be a shame. I do hope the letters you wrote will bring some help, but meanwhile, I know you will get through it somehow. Good luck.



Glad to have you here. Hope you get lots of inspiration and post pics of what you make!

We have a preschooler nature thing through the county conservation district tomorrow morning and then my friend is going to come watch the kids the rest of the day so I can try to get caught up w / the smaller machine. I didn't do anything with it yesterday or today, I just can't spare the 1/2 day to drive down there to check it in again for repair.

I sent an email to Brother yesterday and received a response within an hour.

Today I called to speak with Brother about the issues I am still having. After 2 phone calls and almost 2 hours on the phone, I think we have settings fixed where it will sew well enough to get the projects completed that have to be done before our trip in less than 10 days.

Apparently there may be an issue with my bobbin race. (which is what I thought it was all along...)

While I was on the phone I did find out I am not the only one to complain about the 'repairman'. (no surprise there!) They have launched an investigation...totally not sure what that means, but I know I will not go back to him...regardless!

As for the pool...it is sort of meh today. Not overly cloudy, but not clear either. Of course since it is raining I am not going to be dealing with it...

Nini

I am glad Brother has been responsive for you. I do have to say the two people I have talked to there have been very nice and understanding of my frustration, though there isn't a lot they can do I think other than suggest other repairs locations, which for me is not much of a solution since the two nearest places are twice as far as the already-way-too-far place I have been going.

The sun has finally come out after a day of solid rain, so maybe the kids and I will go out and look for worms or something.

 

[Iamthequeen]

We have a preschooler nature thing through the county conservation district tomorrow morning and then my friend is going to come watch the kids the rest of the day so I can try to get caught up w / the smaller machine. I didn't do anything with it yesterday or today, I just can't spare the 1/2 day to drive down there to check it in again for repair.

Our County Conservation District is awesome! Though I may be biased since I know most of them through work....

I am glad Brother has been responsive for you. I do have to say the two people I have talked to there have been very nice and understanding of my frustration, though there isn't a lot they can do I think other than suggest other repairs locations, which for me is not much of a solution since the two nearest places are twice as far as the already-way-too-far place I have been going.

The sun has finally come out after a day of solid rain, so maybe the kids and I will go out and look for worms or something.

Reminds me of the time my youngest dd asked if she could keep some worms for pets...

I've been lurking waiting for news about Chiara. Thanks for posting, D. Coincidentally I'm in Queens. We came down for my son's girlfriend's graduation from Hunter yesterday. I'm in Flushing. Someone ( lovechefmick??) posted about a daughter in Astoria. My son moved out of Astoria last month -- he's moving to Disneyland. Whoops, I mean Los Angeles.

Prayers for Chiara!

I believe Chiara was scheduled for a C-section on June 20 - which is my youngest dd's bd. So not too early. She had a baby girl - that's all I know at this point.

 

[aboveH20]

Recalculating.


I went back and did some reading -- maybe should have done that first? -- and it's Iamthequeen who has a daughter in Astoria. We drove down Astoria Blvd. on our way home today. My son enjoyed Astoria. He lived there for five or six years.

Continued prayers for Chiara.

 

[PurpleEars]

I sent an email to Brother yesterday and received a response within an hour.

Today I called to speak with Brother about the issues I am still having. After 2 phone calls and almost 2 hours on the phone, I think we have settings fixed where it will sew well enough to get the projects completed that have to be done before our trip in less than 10 days.

Apparently there may be an issue with my bobbin race. (which is what I thought it was all along...)

While I was on the phone I did find out I am not the only one to complain about the 'repairman'. (no surprise there!) They have launched an investigation...totally not sure what that means, but I know I will not go back to him...regardless!

As for the pool...it is sort of meh today. Not overly cloudy, but not clear either. Of course since it is raining I am not going to be dealing with it...

Nini

I am glad that Brother has been responsive to you. Now I hope they will actually DO something to get your machine up and running again!

I have two inspiration questions.

First I have this panel fabric and want to make something clothing or purse/luggage wise from it. It's kind of on the thin side.



Second, I need inspiration for EPCOT. I have this adorable fabric but I don't know what to do with it or even if I want to use it for EPCOT.

For the first fabric, I would suggest iron on heavy weight interfacing on the back of the fabric if you want to make a purse. For clothing, perhaps you can do an underskirt or lining?

The fabric is super cute! It may be suitable for something that lines up with "It's a Small World" theme too. I can see a skirt with that fabric.

Recalculating.


I went back and did some reading -- maybe should have done that first? -- and it's Iamthequeen who has a daughter in Astoria. We drove down Astoria Blvd. on our way home today. My son enjoyed Astoria. He lived there for five or six years.

Continued prayers for Chiara.

Cheryl - I have to say I miss having you around here. Will you be taking any trips to visit your son at LA any time soon. Perhaps you can combine it with a trip to Disneyland!

I hope Chiara is recovering after her delivery.

On the trip planning front - today is our 180-day mark! I didn't set an alarm for the ADR's since I really did not want to get up at 3:45 on a work day. I ended up getting up at 6 (which was 8 Eastern time), tried to make reservations on line (which was not successful), and called the reservation centre. The good news is that we were able to get all the reservations we wanted within 10 minutes of our desired time.

 

[ivey_family]

I hope Chiara and baby are resting comfortably tonight!

Yay for getting all your ADRs, Flora!

Here's what I made this week with my new "name brand" fabrics. They were really nice to work with! I can see a new addiction in the making! The dress is the Usha Twirl by Tikatuly and the hair bow is an in the hoop flower set from Embroidery Garden.

Regards,
C.

 

[BabyRapunzel]

I have two inspiration questions.

Second, I need inspiration for EPCOT. I have this adorable fabric but I don't know what to do with it or even if I want to use it for EPCOT.
http://s58.photobucket.com/user/funda62/media/Made By Me/2013/043_5184x3456.jpg.html

I thought small world as well.

I hope Chiara and baby are resting comfortably tonight!

Yay for getting all your ADRs, Flora!

Here's what I made this week with my new "name brand" fabrics. They were really nice to work with! I can see a new addiction in the making! The dress is the Usha Twirl by Tikatuly and the hair bow is an in the hoop flower set from Embroidery Garden.

Regards,
C.

Love this dress, so cute!!!!!

PurpleEars.....glad to hear you got your ADRs!!!

Nini and Goteamwood.......so sorry you are having these troubles. Absolutely crazy! Scares me to ever have to take my machine in. Hope it gets resolved soon for you both. I would be in tears.


Prayers for Chiara.

 

[Iamthequeen]

Recalculating.


I went back and did some reading -- maybe should have done that first? -- and it's Iamthequeen who has a daughter in Astoria. We drove down Astoria Blvd. on our way home today. My son enjoyed Astoria. He lived there for five or six years.

Continued prayers for Chiara.

I meant to add that to my previous post. My youngest dd lives in Astoria - she loves it there. My oldest dd lived there for a while too, until she moved to Baltimore 2 years ago for work.