When I worked in insurance we kept a running list of the crazy things we saw people doing in heavy traffic - like, putting on mascara, a driver keyboarding and talking on his headset, playing with the baby in the back seat, etc. This got me thinking about what we all do while stitching at the machine to fill out the time. I know some had said they run two machines, or knit or do hand sewing. If your computer is there, you could download, unpack files, read emails or chat here. I nearly always do my manicure and pedicure and lotion my hands and feet at the machine. And I play with matching up my fat quarters for future appliques. What else - with the caution that you should censor yourself in accord with the rules of this site. hehehe

When I am home alone, I tend to watch the machine or crochet or knit or put the threads away or get them out for the next stitch out. And I write notes on the item I am stitching out.
When I am at class or with other embroiders, I will watch others machines for them while they disappear to the loo. One lass in a class had her machine break down every time she left. But once she asked the others in the group to mind it while she ducked out - it behaved!!
Enjoy

1 comment

by graceandham 01 Feb 2014

Machines are fickle.

I always have good intentions to tidy my sewing room while a design stitches out - but it rarely happens that way!
I do a lot of ITH designs and I sometimes stitch a piece of FSL while I am putting the pieces together by hand.

When I am going to do a lot of embroidery, I bring my machine downstairs to the kitchen. Sewing room is upstairs and I feel that I am shut away from everything while up there. I get my exercise running (well, nowadays its walking lol) up and down the stairs to get thread colors. Also, if I bring it to the kitchen, I can do dishes, cook, clean kitchen, drink coffee... I find that if I sit at the embroidery machine and watch, the stitching puts me to sleep. Flowers to all, keep on stitching and multi tasking!! :)

1 comment

by cfidl 31 Jan 2014

you must be in your twenties! Lol!

well I have a machine with SSA ( Severe Separation Anxiety) !!!


When I'm around everything is fine, but the minute I walk away it starts....
So usually I look TV or read an article of are painting or drawing something. I cannot go to the PC, that's upstairs and the embroiderymachine downstairs in my craft room.

I often run two machines. I hoop for the next stitching for each machine, put thread away, work on the computer, make the bed, whatever I feel safe doing for a few minutes.

I hate leaving my machine as I know it likes me to be there!!! I usually read the newspaper, do the crosswords or go on to CUTE site.

I'm a few feet from the kitchen so I can work on dinner plus everything you mentioned in your post and reading magazines/books. Think most crafters are really good at multitasking.

I use the time to organize my files, answer emails, watch You Tube videos on quilting and, clean up my sewing area.
Real good question