MIA, again…

First of all, I have the greatest tip to share with all of you 6 needle machine users. Mine is a Brother PR-650. I’ve spent a lot of time the past few days on Facebook and yesterday someone posted about getting an error message that says to “check your bobbin or thread” or something to that effect. Your machine might stop and you might get that message, the bobbin is full and all seems fine w/ your thread. After several comments, several of us realized we all had the same issue with one of our needles, and it happened to be needle #4. YES!! My white thread pretty much stays on needle 4 and I get this message all the time. I usually keep going and have to press start over and over again and sometimes it’ll get going and sew fine. Well, someone pointed out that that’s the only needle with no guide. Someone also mentioned wrapping that needle thread around the tension knob TWICE, and after starting this snowman this morning and my machine stopping and giving me the dreaded message, I tried it and so far (fingers crossed, knock on wood, etc.) it WORKS!! I was able to sew this snowman without it stopping again! So…. if you have that issue with needle 4, give it a try! It can also be lint and buildup of wax on a guide (from thread), empty bobbin or a number of other little issues, but if you seem to have this trouble with needle 4, give it a try!

I’m not sure if other multi-needle machines are built this way or not? Anyway, I may be the last to know this trick. If not, I hope it helps!

 I’ve been MIA, AGAIN, for a couple of reasons. Every Thanksgiving we spend most of the week down in Orange Beach, AL. It’s a family affair for sure. This year we had around 35 people in a 3 BR condo for Thanksgiving lunch. It’s a great relaxing time for our little family as well as Jeff’s parents, sister/family, brother/his wife and other extended family and neighbors. This year it was WARM. These are my crazy kids outside in the lazy river the day before Thanksgiving. The water was FREEZING, but they insisted and luckily no one came home with pneumonia. As you can see he is “in the water” but not really touching it. Although his hair is wet so I think he did take a dip!

Here’s cute little Sissy too. G was floating around somewhere too. Since the high yesterday in Montgomery was 80, I guess this seems perfectly normal around here!

Every year we make a family trip to The Track (I think it’s technically in Gulf Shores, AL). Everyone rides “Woody” a few times and little Sissy was not afraid one bit.

Jeff & G behind us. I think Browder was riding with our neighbor behind them.

Anyway, it’s really fun!

 Now on to the real reason I’ve been MIA this past week. We got back from the beach the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and last Tuesday I had a planned partial hysterectomy. I’ve spent the past few weeks “nesting” (it’s NOT just for pregnancy) and getting ready to be OOC (out of commission) for a week or two. I was told by many how great I would feel afterwards, and hopefully that is true! I was also told that since it’s laparoscopic, then it would be NO BIG DEAL!! On this end of things, I have to say that any time a morphine drip is involved, it’s a big deal! Long story short, I had it Tuesday and was supposed to come home Wednesday. I ended up getting really sick. Not sure if it was the morphine, an Ileus or my bowel slowing down too much, or what. After lots of nausea and vomiting, which is not fun after having surgery on your stomach, and after X-Rays to be sure my bowels were OK, I was able to come home Friday. I spent most of the weekend on the couch and got to watch lots of movies and TV. Monday I felt better so I “got out” and went to Target and lunch with my mom, and then yesterday was back on the couch from 9:00 AM until I went to bed last night. You know, the “oh I feel great so I’ll do whatever I want today” and then the next morning you are set back 2 days.

 Today I am feeling much better and I am sure I’ll continue to heal and improve every day if I’ll just take it easy and take my time!  The good news is I’ve lost some weight! We’ve also been so blessed with friends and neighbors and my mom over the past week. The moral of the story: if someone you know has surgery, take them dinner, breakfast, offer to carpool their kids, etc. I have been so appreciative and BLESSED! I’m not supposed to drive until next week which is a bit challenging with 3 kids. Anyway, that’s where I’ve been! Today I am trying to get a few designs sampled and will go from there and do a little each day!

Here is Mal & G doing a little reading the other night in M’s bed! I’ll close with that! 🙂

 

Comments

  1. Best of luck in the rest of your recovery! I too had a partial hysterectomy last Friday. It’s amazing the toll it takes on your body! Take it easy and don’t overdo it!

  2. Best of luck to you in the rest of your recovery! I too had a partial hysterectomy last Friday and it’s amazing the toll it takes on your body! Keep resting and hope you feel better very soon!

  3. Holley Perkins says

    Glad to hear that you are home and I hope the rest of your recovery goes well! I love Mallory’s pajamas! Can I ask where they came from? Stitch with Christmas lights has been really popular with my customers and it is my favorite boy design this year…I have suggested it to everyone!

  4. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for the tip on needle #4!! I was about to take my machine into the shop to have it checked out because I kept getting that message. I was getting so frustrated! Thank you so much for the tip! Hope your recovery continues and you feel better soon!

  5. suzan maxwell says

    Gosh–when peeps say no big deal not always every case…… you take care of yourself….we have to be the last to be Down!!! Love your designs and have missed your Blog!!! Hugs suzan@monogram madness-

  6. Jane Moore says

    You will feel great after a while but in the meantime don’t overdo! Take care and let those friends and family keep helping out!
    Jane

  7. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Rosemary. Sometimes it’s just good to cuddle under a blanket for as long as you need to heal and feel much better. All good wishes to you and yours for the holidays.

  8. Rosemary, hope you are feeling better soon! Sorry to hear that you were sick on top of having surgery. You know good days are ahead, so be kind to yourself, rest, and let your body heal! I am praying for healing and strength for you.
    Patsy

  9. Wishing you a speedy recovery! Perfect time to re watch all the classics, gone with the wind, wizard of oz, etc… dont forget its a wonderful life! Thanks SO MUCH for the needle #4! I have the same problem! It seems to be worse with floriani threads, I have some “generic” threads that work fine, I think its because they are not so “shiny”. REST WELL!

  10. Glad to hear you are feeling better. Will put you on my prayer list, too, for speedy healing and strength. Once you get your strength back, believe me, it’ll be the best thing that ever happened to you. No more of all that yuckiness – more time to enjoy life!

    Take care of yourself.

  11. Sue Brewer says

    Glad you’re recuperating. I’m going in April 26th for a partial hysterectomy and I am so scared!! Could any of you gals send me comforting messages please!!

    • It really isn’t that bad! I would just be careful with all the pain meds! I don’t know that I will ever want my own morphine pump button again! 🙂

  12. I stumbled upon this post while trying to figure out WHAT THE $%&# was wrong with my machine. I had cleaning, oiled, changed bobbins, rethreaded a gabillion times. I finally googled and YES! It was needle #4! A second wrap around the tension knob and BINGO! I have had this machine for almost 7 years and have had this problem on and off – UGH! I wish I saw this years ago! THANK YOU!!

  13. I dont know anything about blogging so hopefully I am doing this right. I am brand new to my babylock 6 needle used machine. I was stitching along ok but now keep getting your check bobbin error you were blogging on. I have tried and tried to get it going again. Machine is spotless. It just cant grab and hold onto the bobbin thread. Any ideas?

  14. I am SO glad I found this! I have read a lot of your other posts and found this today after I have been messing with NEEDLE 4 for 2 hours on one Monogram! Anyway, it’s working like a charm right now. Thank you!

  15. Charlie Gracie says

    OMG, number 4 was driving me up the wall but thanks to you it is all working properly now.. Happy sewing…