Hi Ruth!
-=> Quoting Ruth Haffly to Wendy Buchanan <=-
 RH> never got in for any lessons; you can learn a lot by just using the
 RH> machine.  Same with my sewing machines; learned a lot by using them.
I learned that the bobbin on this one needs to be wound just so, or
it bounces all over the place.  Ruined my first wall hanging quilt
trying to machine quilt it with a badly wound bobbin!    Live
and learn!
 RH> Most sergers have a way to disengage the cutter set up so you don't
 RH> need to worry about cutting yourself.  It's a good way to learn the
 RH> feel of the machine.  Also, practice a lot on scrap fabric.  If you are
 RH> really serious about sewing, it's a good investment.  I got a Baby Lock
 RH> 402, not the top of the line but with enough bells & whistles to do
 RH> what I need.
Hmmmm, that would be a good idea, the ability to disengage the 
cutter.  If that demonstrator had been really listening to us, she
would have told us that.  Tom was quite vocal on the subject!
I'd love to sew more but I'm not very good at it right now.  I'd
sure have to practice a lot more before I thought about buying a
serger, I think.
 
 RH> but told me that she's good at sewing on buttons.  She will probably
 RH> do that for Rachel's dress; much as I would like to do the whole thing,
 RH> I know this lady would be so happy to do just that part.  Even if she
 RH> can only do a few, I want her to be able to have the thrill of working
 RH> on the dress.
Oh, I'm sure she'd love the chance to help.  My friend said that 
when her aunt got married, her mother and grandmother made the
dress and they sewed seed pearls in the center of each lace rose
on the bodice and the tiered skirt.  I thought, boy, what a job
that must have been!  She said that it was months doing that, and
her grandfather kept complaining that there were even pearls in
the bathtub, so heaven knows where they took that dress while they
were working on it!  hehe
 
 RH> My dad didn't wear a tux for his own wedding so he was not sure about
 RH> wearing one for mine.  But, since mine was the first wedding of my
Mine married Mom on Labor Day weekend, and he was in the Army Air
Corps, stationed at Standiford Field in Lousiville, KY, which was 
where Mom lived and that's where he met her.  So he wore his military 
uniform for the wedding.  They were married on Saturday afternoon and
on Monday he had to march in the Labor Day parade!    He nearly
roasted to death in that heavy uniform--he was from Michigan and not
used to the heat and humidity of Louisville.
 RH> siblings, he gave in (and, I think, enjoyed it in spite of himself).
 RH> Five years later, my one sister talked him into wearing one for her
 RH> wedding.  I don't think he's worn one since.
 
 Dad was very active in Freemasonry, and he had to have a tux for
a lot of the events he attended after he got the 33rd degree, which
is quite an honor.  So finally they bought him one.  Now my brother
has it.  Both brothers seem to be following in Dad's footsteps but
the tux only fits one of them--the other one's too thin to wear it.
 RH> usual family of the groom does.  It was well worth it; we will
 RH> celebrate our 22nd anniversary this year.  The "fuss" was fun too.
Mine was not, too much tension, and his family considered me beneath
him.  Tom's family's so thrilled that I love him, they think I'm OK.
But first hubby's family had delusions of grandeur.    They were 
a very dysfunctional bunch, too, let me tell you!  Drove us half nuts!
 
 RH> about 6 weeks.  By the time I got to feeling decent, Rachel had decided
 RH> that I would make the dresses and we went fabric shopping.  I guess
 RH> after she leaves, I'll make her room into a sewing room and leave my
 RH> stuff out all the time.
 
I'm green with envy!    It sounds sooo nice!
 
 RH> Just keep Phillipians 4:13 in mind.  I read somewhere (I think it's
 RH> the Pennsylvania Dutch) that some groups believe that things made by
 RH> human hands have to show their imperfection since we are not perfect.
Oh, it stays uppermost a lot.  I felt my own imperfection a lot
but the man who prayed for me last October also did a prophecy,
and part of it which stood out in my mind was the Lord saying, 
"I don't care about your weaknesses and your faults--I know all
about your weaknesses and they don't matter to me because I've
made you strong in other ways."  WHEW, talk about meeting a need!
When you hear something like that you don't quibble if you have
any sense at all.  You just get up and start walking!  
Have a wonderful day!  LadyBear Hugs,
Wendy
... A day hemmed with prayer is much less likely to unravel.
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