Learning to sew again (aka "the sewing machine debacle").

A few days ago I mentioned that I had a "sewing machine debacle" that happened to me back in April/May, and thought I would share the story.  First here is a picture of my sewing machine ... doesn't she look so innocent just sitting there?



The ThreadBanger TB-30 ... it really is a great machine.  They no longer make this machine due to the demise of the Thread Banger website, but this model is the same thing, just with different packaging. 

So back in May I was making a bow for a stuffed bunny I was making for my Mom, when all of the sudden my machine stopped sewing and I got an ominous "E1 error".  I tried everything ... turned it on and off, cleaned it out, replaced the needle, etc ....  and it would still not sew.  The LED screen did change to an "E2 Error", but that did not help me at all. 

After consulting my owner's manual, and reading what some people had to say on the internet, it sounded to me as if there was an electrical problem most likely relating to the board, and that I would need to take it into a sewing machine repair shop to get it fixed.

So, I did.  We only have one sewing machine repair shop around where I live, and in fact it is the same place where I bought this sewing machine.  They were just as baffled as to the cause of the error, and began asking me questions like "do you sew a lot?", "do you beat up on your machine?", "where do you store it?", etc.... as though it were some how my fault the sewing machine stopped working.  I pointed out to them the section in the manual about how the E1 or E2 error is the result of an electrical issue, and mentioned what I read on the Janome forums.  Did they listen to me?  No.

Well, about a week later I got a call from the shop, they claimed it was my zig-zag motor that was out, and that they needed to order one.  So another week or two went by, they put the new motor in, and guess what?  The machine still did not work.  So then they decided it was some other part (I cannot even remember the name), ordered that and put that in my machine.  Mind you I had now been without my machine for at least a month by this time, and after the new part the machine still would not work.   So THEN they finally decided it was in fact the board (d'uh!), and had to order one of those. 

So about 6 weeks after I brought in my machine, I finally had it back ... complete with a new zig-zag motor, can't-remember-it's-name part, and board.  They told me that I must have just gotten a bad board, because on the whole these machines do not have any problems.  My machine was a little dirty, dusty, and had greasy finger prints all over it, but I was willing to overlook all that .... I was ready to sew!!!

So I plugged in my machine, turned it on, and went to go sew and I got "BEEEP!" and an "Fc" error.  I will tell you what, I am normally a very calm and patient person, but I almost blew a fuse ... I was livid .... LIVID I tell you!!!  So I pulled out my manual and saw that an "Fc" error message means that basically you have the foot controller plugged in, and are trying to sew using the start/stop button ... only thing was, I did not have the foot controller plugged in.  So I called the sewing machine repair place, and they were pretty much like "oops, we must have put the wrong board in."

Here is where the part about learning how to sew again comes in.  You see before I had this machine, I had a crappy Singer sewing machine.  I sewed with a foot pedal on that machine, but the machine itself had tension issues, and it broke only after about a year and a half.  So enter the Janome Threadbanger (TB-30).  I loved this machine from the outset .... it had automatic tension, was a real work horse, had adjustable presser foot height, AND a start/stop button. 

If you don't know what it is, here it is .... the beautiful start/stop button. 

This button allows you to push a button and the machine just sews ... you do not have to use the foot pedal at all, and to adjust the speed you just slide the speed control left or right.  From the moment I tried sewing with the start/stop button, I loved it.  For some reason not having to use a foot pedal was *sew* liberating. 

Fast forward to the present ..... my machine will now ONLY work with a foot control pedal.  The start/stop button no longer works.  I was at a crossroads .... bring my machine back to the shop and be without it for another month+, or just use the foot control pedal and get on with life. 

So, I decided that I would just sew with the foot pedal.  But I have got to tell you, I feel as if I am learning how to sew all over again.  I am clumsy, and I keep going to push the start/stop button instead of using the pedal.  It has been so frustrating!  But, I had  decided that I could not be without my machine for another (potentially) 6 weeks, and after doing some online reasearch realized that not very many machines come with a start/stop button anyhow.  Some day I am going to want to upgrade my machine again, and when that time comes it will most likely come with a foot control pedal only .... so I figured I might as well get used to it now.   But, oh .... the swearing going on in my head as of late has been quite terrible .... every time I go to push the start/stop button and I hear the annoying "BEEEP!", I feel the steam coming out of my ears.

What would you have done .... would you have taken the machine back in, or would you have just learned to sew again?