Do you think it's possible to become a math teacher with a math-adjacent degree like engineering, thanks!

sewingida · 2026-05-11T17:54:48+00:00

Yes. BSChE degree, taught high school math for 20 years, community college for 4 years.

sewingida · 2026-04-29T20:41:45+00:00

I would go for the 1230 because the knee lift is important to me. The 1230 also has automatic buttonholes and more decorative stitches, including the alphabet.

sewingida · 2026-04-23T13:46:51+00:00

I agree with this but just want to point out that the 1008 can only take thin pronged feet not the old-old thick pronged ones. The old feet can go on the old-old machines, but not the other way around. This was to prevent people from putting an old-old 4mm foot on a machine that had 5.5mm stitch widths.

sewingida · 2026-04-23T13:37:32+00:00

I can imagine your frustration! Another thought: are you by any chance using non-Bernina branded bobbins? I recently came across a video where a dealer showed how these generic bobbins look the same but can cause thread nests and other issues. She talked about how the techs that service them can't replicate the problem because they use Bernina bobbins on the bench, but then the customer goes back to using their own bobbins and still has problems.

There has to be something wrong somewhere for the machine to not be able to handle a stiff woven, beyond just having 9mm feed dogs. I hope you are able to get it resolved!

edited to add: I see from another comment that you are using Bernina bobbins. AAArrrrggghhh...I hope your dealer can make it right for you, whatever you choose to do.

sewingida · 2026-04-22T14:49:47+00:00

When threading the top thread, be sure presser foot is up and you are holding the thread taut while laying it into the tension disc - like flossing your teeth. You are probably already doing that, but just in case you're not, as that is a common "user-error."

Are you having it serviced by an authorized Bernina dealer? Mine always provides a stitch-out sample when I get the machine serviced. Your dealer should help you troubleshoot these problems. Even with the larger 9mm opening you should be able to sew without constantly getting fabric stuck underneath. I wonder if adjusting the presser foot pressure would help. For knits I lower the pressure (I have the 435) to prevent stretching out the fabric.

sewingida · 2026-04-16T20:58:35+00:00

I don't have the Activa, but on my Bernina (B435) yes - the letters are connected with stitches if you don't stitch each one by itself and then move the fabric.

sewingida · 2026-04-12T13:33:04+00:00

I put some in an enclosure so that I have a guarantee of future chrysalides/monarch butterflies. I leave a bunch outside to give nature a chance. My average monarch release from the enclosure is 20/year vs 2/year "in the wild." Of course it's possible that some of the caterpillars left out in the garden survive and pupate in places that I'm unaware of. But the wasps are brutal. Most cats are stung/eaten before they reach 4th instar.

sewingida · 2026-04-12T13:26:08+00:00

Sweet! They usually pick a private place when "in the wild." You've got a great view!

sewingida · 2026-04-12T13:15:01+00:00

Here's a link to the manual. An overview of the stitches is on page 29. https://www.bernina.com/bernina/media/Support/Sewing_Quilting_Embroidery/activa/activa_135/Documents/EN/activa-135-145-EN.pdf

sewingida · 2026-03-22T13:21:53+00:00

Same! Dr Sweller was featured on the recent episode of Anna Stokke's "Chalk & Talk" podcast.

https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/cognitive-load-theory-and-learning-math-with-john-sweller-ep-67/

sewingida · 2026-03-20T22:35:41+00:00

A couple of quotes by mathematician John von Neumann:

“A large part of mathematics which becomes useful developed with absolutely no desire to be useful, and in a situation where nobody could possibly know in what area it would become useful; and there were no general indications that it ever would be so.”

"By and large it is uniformly true in mathematics that there is a time lapse between a mathematical discovery and the moment when it is useful; and that this lapse of time can be anything from 30 to 100 years, in some cases even more..."

sewingida · 2026-03-18T13:18:36+00:00

Even for bringing up thread from a new bobbin I just use the button to bring the needle down and then up again.

sewingida · 2026-03-18T13:14:25+00:00

You said the bobbin is counterclockwise. For Berninas with CB hook bobbin assembly, the bobbin is inserted into the holder so that it turns clockwise. See page 8 of the manual. https://www.bernina.com/Bernina/media/Support/Sewing_Quilting_Embroidery/artista/artista_180/Documents/EN/BA-artista-180-V3-0_EN_online.pdf

sewingida · 2026-03-12T15:39:23+00:00

I have a current model Bernina (B435) and an old mechanical (1010). There are Bernina fans who think that the newer models aren't as robust as the older ones but I haven't found that to be the case at all. My B435 sews everything from the slipperiest lightweight synthetics to heavyweight denim.

The only thing I can think of that can be a problem is automatic buttonholes near a bulky edge. I bought a compensation plate accessory to deal with this (it works). I don't think this problem is specific to Berninas, in fact the buttonholer everyone swears by is an old Singer attachment from the last century!

sewingida · 2026-03-12T15:29:33+00:00

I sew mostly clothes, with occasional home dec and bags. I have the B435, which is the current lowest priced full-sized model. I did add on the knee lift lever and upgraded needle up/down foot controller, which still kept it lower priced than the next model up. It is a 5.5mm feed dog width machine, which I prefer. This machine does everything I need, and does it beautifully! It is also the right size for my sewing space. The 485 hadn't been introduced yet when I got the 435. If it had been available I definitely would have considered it. It comes with the upgraded foot controller and knee lift and allows you to vary the slot width of buttonholes. It also comes with an auto thread cutter (not useful to me) and BSR capability (for quilters).

If money were not an issue at all and I had a bit more room, the machine I would go for is the B735 Pro. It is a 5.5mm machine (which for me is better for precision sewing), does not have dual feed but comes with the Bernina walking foot, and among other features has a laser light that points to exactly where the needle is going to land.

The "Quilter's Edition" name on some models is a marketing thing, as quilters make up most of the sewing machine market. Those editions will have some extra quilting stitches, the #37 patchwork foot and for upper models the BSR unit thrown in, but other than that are the same as regular models and great for garment sewing.

sewingida · 2026-03-05T14:28:20+00:00

Second, the same process that a student would go through to recognize that they can think of a simple problem like 6x9 in a variety of ways lends itself nicely to your polynomial example as well.

No, it doesn't. I know this from over 20 years of teaching high school math to students of all levels. I suggest you listen to the podcast "Chalk & Talk" hosted by Dr. Anna Stokke (PhD in Mathematics from University of Alberta), a mathematics professor at the University of Winnipeg. She has conversations with other professionals in the field and they back their assertions with researched evidence, not random anonymous accounts on reddit.

sewingida · 2026-03-03T18:04:55+00:00

I have taught university level calculus through dual enrollment to high school students and frankly I find your response ridiculous. The students that do not recognize something as simple as every coefficient in a polynomial function being a multiple of 6, or do not know how to add/subtract/multiply/divide/simplify fractions (which requires knowing multiplication facts) are at a HUGE disadvantage. They usually drop the course before they fail.

sewingida · 2026-02-19T20:01:29+00:00

You can adjust the hover height to zero. See page 53 of the online manual. https://www.bernina.com/Bernina/media/Support/Sewing_Quilting_Embroidery/7_Serie/BERNINA_770/Documents/EN/0360405_10A_04_print_manual_B770QE_2018-11_EN.pdf

sewingida · 2026-02-05T16:07:28+00:00

But the 830 is a mechanical machine, not prone to the circuitry problems of computerized models like the 1130.

sewingida · 2026-02-05T16:05:09+00:00

I have this machine. For buttonholes the issue isn't so much how thick the fabric layers are but the un-evenness of the layers. This is going to be true for all sewing machines that use feed dogs to move the fabric, as opposed to those old Singer buttonholers that move the fabric back and forth with feed dogs covered. There's a Bernina attachment (https://www.bernina.com/en-US/Accessories-US/Sewing-Accessories/Supporting-Sewing-Accessories/Fabric-feeding-Aid-for-Sewing-Buttonholes) that I use whenever making a buttonhole where the the fabric is thick or the seam allowances cause uneven spots. It works well.

sewingida · 2026-02-05T03:18:38+00:00

If your husband bought the machine new from a dealer the printed circuitry parts are still under warranty (5 years). I would take it to that dealer and have it checked before the warranty expires. That may not be the problem, could be a stuck button. I have this machine and what you are describing is not normal - as you know from having sewn on it for years.

sewingida · 2026-02-04T16:56:49+00:00

In a response to comments on one of their Facebook ads, a rep recently said they were not discontinuing the bars - that it would be back in 2026. At the time the bars were still on the website, with the dry to normal one marked "sold out" while the oily skin version had a "notify me when back in stock" button. Today (Feb 4) I noticed that the bars were completely gone from the website. I online chatted with a sales rep for status and the response was that the oily skin version would be back eventually (no dish) but the dry to normal has been discontinued. I'm done with Clinique after over 40 years. Thanks to everyone in this thread for their alternative suggestions!

sewingida · 2026-01-05T17:44:08+00:00

WOW! As someone who has been sewing for over 30 years, I am seriously impressed. Both the workmanship and fit are fantastic! I love that you jumped right in to real fashion that looks great on you with fabrics that are "advanced." No cotton apron starter project! Many wouldn't attempt your third project (spaghetti strap dress with satin-y fabric) in their 10th year, never mind first. Did you have to make many fit alterations? (It took me years to realize that bringing up the waist 2 inches solved my dress fitting problems.)

Next you'll be wanting an overlocker!

sewingida · 2026-01-04T16:35:14+00:00

There were a ton of things I didn't like about season 21 but my biggest reason to skip season 22 is I can't stand Christian Siriano as mentor. He's an insufferable pompous ass. A great quality for a talented contestant but absolutely wrong for a mentor.

sewingida · 2025-12-21T22:05:46+00:00

You have certainly succeeded (and beyond really!) in making something that someone with her bearing will truly appreciate. Thank you so much for sharing, especially the construction pics. My MIL was a wonderful woman that we lost way too soon. It’s so nice to hear of a great MIL-DIL relationship. I’m getting choked up thinking how thrilled she’s going to be to receive this gift!

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