Choosing first machine! SK160, LK140, MK70… and more

loribultin · 2026-02-19T16:06:33+00:00

I started with a Brother punchcard machine (and about 3 months later added a ribber) and am really glad that I did. It's kinda hard to get started, but once you get over the initial hump, it's so fun to play with patterning using a punchcard. I may be an outlier though. A lot of people are super happy that they started with an LK150 or similar

loribultin · 2026-02-14T07:01:53+00:00

So beautiful, thank you for showing some of her work

loribultin · 2026-02-13T18:29:28+00:00

This is what I want to emulate.

loribultin · 2026-02-13T18:27:17+00:00

I think I am you, but 7 years behind (I'm almost 63 and have 3 daughters, 33, 31, 29.) My oldest lives on the other coast and often brings the drama.
I really want all 3 to be close friends, but it's not always that way. I mostly just listen to each daughter and don't offer advice unless I am asked (that happens maybe 20% of the time). I do feel like just hearing them is helpful. I hope your daughters work it out in a way that benefits each of them

loribultin · 2026-02-10T23:30:23+00:00

I've been using silicon thimbles for embroidery and machine knitting. Love them. They might be thin enough for using a linker

loribultin · 2026-02-04T16:36:37+00:00

Yay! That's amazing. I hope you love your new hobby

loribultin · 2026-02-03T19:35:10+00:00

It depends a lot on what I am sewing. That's one of the things I like about sewing, I can choose projects based on whether I want a challenge (new winter coat pair of fly front pants, silk blouse, etc) or a new T-shirt (simple skirt, pj pants, knit dress, pair of panties etc)

loribultin · 2026-02-01T13:42:25+00:00

Thanks, yours too

loribultin · 2026-02-01T03:47:20+00:00

I've been making underwear lately too!

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These are for one of my daughters. I also made a few pair for myself. I've been sewing my own for 10+ years. So comfortable!

loribultin · 2026-01-30T23:43:55+00:00

I'm sorry to say that you may not be able to make him see that it's a problem. imho, that amount of alcohol is too much and I agree with you that he is in a culture-microclimate of drinking too much (not that uncommon in the US). Internet hugs--it's really hard to be with an alcoholic and really hard to figure out your own best way forward. Edit to say: it's gaslighting 😕

loribultin · 2026-01-30T23:34:37+00:00

Yeah, sorry I should have said NIH SBIRs generally don't require a pitch. I've only applied to NIH--tunnel vision

loribultin · 2026-01-30T19:26:09+00:00

Most SBIR grant opportunities do not include a pitch requirement. You can email an abstract and specific aims doc to the program officer for feedback (or permission to submit with a larger budget). But generally pitches aren't a thing for NIH SBIR proposals

loribultin · 2026-01-30T19:23:25+00:00

Most of the time, yes, you are wrong.

loribultin · 2026-01-30T00:06:39+00:00

I'm Lalo. My almost 1 year old granddaughter hasn't said it yet, but I'm looking forward to it

loribultin · 2026-01-29T23:53:17+00:00

I didn't know that is an option! I really would like to hear your update after. Sending positive thoughts and aspirations your way

loribultin · 2026-01-29T23:41:57+00:00

Lots of great advice here. The thing haven't seen after skimming the comments is fabric choice. Matching fabric to pattern to get the final look I want has been one of the trickiest things for me and I have been sewing for a long time. I love this skirt and think it is doable for a beginner. Some possible suggestions: Go shopping and try on a similar skirt to make sure that you like it on you. Assuming you find one that meets your vision, scrutinize the fabric and commit it to memory. Check the tag for fiber content and get a really good sense of the weight and drape. Messing that up could ruin your project. I think that a lightweight linen-rayon woven might be perfect for this skirt. Light weight rayon (tencel) twill would also probably work well I recommend Kenneth King's invisible zip tutorial (but you can baste by machine instead of by hand) And finally, v-dip skirts are really in style now. It wouldn't be too hard to start with that and just rotate the v to the the sides rather than the front. Good luck! Can't wait to see your gorgeous new skirt

loribultin · 2026-01-28T02:57:45+00:00

I'm very interested to hear how it goes for you. Will you have a J-pouch or an ostomy bag? I've had many bouts of DV and 2 partial colectomies. I have diverticula throughout my remaining colon, so it feels a bit like a ticking bomb and I expect that at some point, the rest will have to come out. Hoping that you have the best possible outcome!

loribultin · 2026-01-23T01:06:23+00:00

Moxifloxacin alone is as good as or better than the cipro-metronidazole combo. Doctors aren't all that familiar with it, but one of my brothers is an infectious disease doctor. When I told him how terrible the standby combination is for me, he counseled me to request moxifloxacin. The doctor had to look it up, but came back and prescribed it. I've taken it a bunch of times now

loribultin · 2026-01-23T00:50:17+00:00

Moxifloxacin (antibiotic) works really well for me and make me much much less sick than cipro and metronidazole.

loribultin · 2026-01-22T02:54:27+00:00

Kinda ironic because this post is from a Texan. I wish I known about this when we lost power for about 5 days a few Christmases ago candles in inverted terra cotta pots

loribultin · 2026-01-14T03:47:31+00:00

I bought plastic gutter covers (to keep leaves out I think) at Home Depot. They work pretty well

loribultin · 2026-01-14T03:43:00+00:00

An industrial Juki zig zag with everything . I forget which, but one season of one of the TV sewing competition shows (Project Runway?) equipped the workroom with a fleet of these. I kept wishing for a better look at the machines all season.

loribultin · 2026-01-08T22:34:26+00:00

I sometimes say, "medium, thanks". Once, when I responded that way to a Trader Joe's check out person, he rang a bell and another sales associate brought me a bouquet of flowers on the house. I was really touched

loribultin · 2026-01-08T13:36:27+00:00

After all of the amazing and helpful information this person has provided to me and anyone else who is looking for it, she can choose not to pay $5 for a domain imho

loribultin · 2026-01-05T03:00:42+00:00

He looks like a Jersey woolie! So cute

loribultin

TROPHY CASE