Ask BYC

[azurbanclucker]

I once tried crocheting. I guess bouncy five year olds don't really mix well with that.

I sewed a bunch of masks during covid and made a couple of keyboard covers. Didn't have the patience to hit the sitcks.

 

[CCsGarden]

But do you know your way around a sewing machine enough to answer the question?

No, I'm sorry I don't know anything about sewing machines.

I only sewed with my other sister that does A TON of sewing.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

QUESTION: I found this old (it works!) sewing machine on a property I purchased. My limited research indicates it was built in 1970 for Sears Kenmore. Made in Japan. It's their travel edition. Very heavy- all metal. Can someone with sewing knowledge explain what all these knobs do?

Beautiful machine! @Evadig's list didn't have anything pointing at the big nob on the end, so mind if I drop in on that? Like most things, I know more about what things are used for than what they're actually called, but the big nob on the end lowers the needle when you want to do it by hand, so you know it's lined up before sewing too much. I've only used a Singer, so I'm not quite sure how this one works (actually, I went back to @Evadig's list, and it's #17), but on mine, the reverse is on that same nob. Besides being a different brand, this machine is a lot older than my Singer, so there seems to be a lot of things that are different from mine.

I will highly recommend you oil this machine before using it, then practice using it on junk materials to both get used to it and clean up some of the oil before using on something you'll actually care about. That will also give you the opportunity to check to see if things like the timing is all working properly.

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

QUESTION(S)!

I'm writing an article that will have dosing information. What's a good universal unit for these sorts of things?

Ounces? mL? Do Europeans know what a tablespoon is (it's 1/2 a fluid ounce, btw)? Should I just write for US audiences because I'm an idiot that doesn't know how to use the metric system? Will these questions ever stop?

A late response but I was under the impression metric is more often used because it's more accurate.

Personal preference, ALWAYS at the least provide both because if it's something you're looking up in a hurry, converting is absolute pain and drives me nuts.

 

[thecatumbrella]

A late response but I was under the impression metric is more often used because it's more accurate.

Personal preference, ALWAYS at the least provide both because if it's something you're looking up in a hurry, converting is absolute pain and drives me nuts.

I agree. I'm trying to strike a balance with two different measurements (usually ounces and liters/mL). It's tough because I want the guide for MYSELF, and I'm 100% tablespoon-ing some of this stuff.

 

[Sally PB]

Cool old sewing machine!

That will also give you the opportunity to check to see if things like the timing is all working properly.

In case you don't know what "timing" is...

As the needle goes up and down with its thread, it needs to be "in time" with the bobbin and its thread. If it's not, the threads don't make stitches.

Timing is not something I would try to adjust on my machine. I would take it to a sewing machine repair place.

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

I agree. I'm trying to strike a balance with two different measurements (usually ounces and liters/mL). It's tough because I want the guide for MYSELF, and I'm 100% tablespoon-ing some of this stuff.

Well I don't mind tablespoons at all, I have more issues with things like ounces where I don't necessarily always have something that can even measure in that unit.
Then again my perfectionist side loves the very detailed instructions, for example my Coccidiosis medication comes with a little scoop and while the instructions tell you what kind of scoop to use (level or heaped, depending on dose) it also says how many grams that should be.

 

[azurbanclucker]

I agree. I'm trying to strike a balance with two different measurements (usually ounces and liters/mL). It's tough because I want the guide for MYSELF, and I'm 100% tablespoon-ing some of this stuff.

What about footlongs per furlong?

 

[thecatumbrella]

I have more issues with things like ounces where I don't necessarily always have something that can even measure in that unit.

I hear you. I wasn't joking about using a shot glass/jigger earlier. It's tough because a lot of these supplement manufacturers give their dosages in ounces, so I don't want to exclude it completely.

Now I'm thinking maybe include the jigger as part of a my chicken first-aid kit?

 

[tlcmurphy]

The last time I heard of someone using a spoonful of something was Mary Poppins. Drug measurements should be in metric.