Trouble in Paradise: Elna 745

I knew it was too good to be true....that Elna 745 always causes me grief! Well for almost two hours, could I re-thread this overlocker after changing to grey thread? No, I didn't take my own advice to completely re-thread the machine when changing thread. I left the two needles with the threads on and re-threaded in any order. Big mistake the Elna 745 stitches became a tangle of grey with no chain stitch in sight!

This new thread cost around $30.00 for 5 cones with postage, made in India
bought in NZ. Has anyone used this brand before?

Lesson learnt...You must, yes you MUST re-thread in  the order stated not tie knots in the thread and take the easy way out. This machine does not like it. Well mine certainly does not, others may differ. I found out what the problem was, I needed to start back at the beginning and re-thread the Elna 745 correctly. Yes it was all my fault, I also forgot to put the thread through the clamps at the top of the machine as well.

Sewers of a young age...make the most of your young, sharp eyes, because these are the stupid mistakes you make when you are old, though not old, old yet. Not having so sharper eye sight, and two hours to spare you miss the obvious. Oh I wish I still had the eye sight of my youth I could sew black at night, see every little stitch.

Now in NZ it's almost spring and I feel like sewing, not sure what yet so I'm getting my machines ready for a hive of activity...Well I hope so I've had a long drought of no interest in sewing whats so ever.

Thanks goodness it wasn't the thread that upset my Elna's stitches..
All good now Elna 745 5-thread all ready for action.

Elna 745: 5-Thread Stitch

You know I only use this machine to sew a 2- thread rolled hem....It's rather a waste of a machine. But I have never been able to make friends with this overlocker. I either hate it, or just tolerate it.

Though I must say it's ability to power through the fabric is way much more superior than my other overlockers. I know I'm rather spoilt for choice, and that comes with age. I have been lucky enough able to try different machines as I have got older. Hence I have more overlockers than I should.

Today I dusted off the Elna 745 and decided to once again try and fix the 5-thread stitch. I bought the overlocking machine for the 5-thread only. Except the chain always kept breaking and it just would sew a 4-thread stitch.

Now to try and fix the 745 I went back to basics and did a total re-thread in the order suggested. Then changed the needles and oiled the machine.

Hmm...the spool holders won't slide to the bottom...
Are they supposed too? Maybe I have mixed up machine cones.

It's easy to oil...Just oil here

I did it I can't believe it worked. I loosened off the tension on the lower
looper which is used for making the chain stitch. It was that simple.

Next I wrote everything down that I did and  then glued a sample in a sewing book. So if it does not work again I will have a point of reference. Are we friends the 745 and I? Maybe for now...

More on The Merrylock 740DSA Overlocker

Do you struggle with looking for information on the 4-thread Merrylock 740DSA? It seems to be almost invisible on the Internet, my country New Zealand, doesn't have a lot of information either. Though it can still be bought off trade me  at (Direct Sewing Machines-Auckland) or here.

Juki MO-50/51e, any information you find on this serger/overlocker will also apply to the 4- thread Merrylock 740DSA.

Here are my latest findings...The Juki 50/51 MO-e  can now be bought in New Zealand through trade me  (Auckland Sewing). So If you wanted a Merrylock and can't get one you can get a Juki or visa versa. The Juki comes with the DVD.

Also the facade of the Juki MO-51/50 is different to the Merrylock but the three of them still have the same workings, threading, stitches etc.

Images © Sew Sister and Google

 You can see the facade on the Juki is totally different to the Merrylock
which is just straight and flat. Image© goggle

A video I like a lot on you tube gives you very specific instructions on the Juki MO-51e, and the instructions are suitable for the 4-thread Merrylock 740 DSA also. These are exactly the same instructions for learning to use the 4-thread Merrylock 740 DSE. 




One important lesson I did learn was the Merrylock overlocker/serger must be re threaded in order all the time. You will laugh at this one...I only discovered where my accessories were a few months back. They are hidden within the machine, nice and tidy...

Image © Sew Sister

Instruction Manual For Juki MO-51e:

To download the manual PDF go to http://www.jukihome.com/products/serging50.html. This website takes a moment to open. Use this manual if you have not got a 4-thread Merrylock Manual it's the same instructions.


Juki Household Sewing Machine, Japan shows accessories that can be bought for the Juki MO-50e overlocker/serger, and I would say these will fit the Merrylock also. See here for MO-50e attachments.

Another Blogger has done a good review on the Juki; blog post-review Juki MO 50e/51e . This is worth having a look at too.

Optional Attachments For Juki and Merrylock:

• Blind Stitch Foot
• Elasticator Foot
• Beading Foot
• Piping Foot
• Gathering Foot
• Taping Foot

Merrylock 740DSA Tension

Not my favourite thing but here we go....

Here is the tension setting I usually use for my Merrylock 740DSA Overlocker. I've tried other settings, but I usually come back to this one. It seems to work on cotton, and stretch fabric okay...Never tried it really heavy fabric but for mid-weight fabric the stitch seems fine.

Stitch length dial setting.

Keeping a record...

Cutting width adjustment.

Differential feed dial setting.

Using these tension numbers at present.

Overlocker Thread on Cotton Flannel fabric.

Minecraft Dessert for Hungry Children

Very popular with young and old...

You Need:

Cadbury Flake Chocolate bar Treat Bag  (bag of 12)
1 packet Chocolate Dots (Sun Valley)
1 packet of Oreo Chocolate Cookies
1 packet of Chocolate Chip Fudge Cookies
1 Green Jelly 
Clear plastic cups (glass would be fine too)

I used FarmBake Chocolate Chip Fudge Cookies (in the big bag).  I then measured out enough for a packet of biscuits. Ground both the Oreos and the Double Fudge cookies into a crumbly mix with  the Breville Mini Whizz. Then I added some Chocolate Dots to the mix (I didn't measure these just guess work). I wanted the mix to resemble dirt...

Next I made a Green Jelly to the instructions on the back of the packet. I use slightly less hot water. When it has cooled I pour the jelly liquid into a flat pan then let it set in the fridge. When it is ready cut the jelly up into squares.

Now pour the dirt mix equally into clear cups, then place the cut up green jelly on top. Next place a Flake brick on top on the jelly. There you have it...a perfect dessert for a Minecraft Party!

I thought I might have needed smaller cups as these went narrow at
the bottom. But boys with spoons you know they managed to
 get every crumb out!

Minecraft Birthday Party

I confess I've really slowed down with my sewing, other things keep getting in the way like Minecraft Birthday parties...I guess I'm lucky I get to have a lot of input into my daughter's son's birthday party. Perhaps that's something to do with the fact that I used to spend my time chopping and cutting resources for children.

I left it a bit late to organize, so some things didn't happen. Like baking the Birthday cake, it was bought instead, and the Pinata never got made. Thank goodness imagine how many lollies there would be....too many!

The only thing is with a Minecraft party you are
using a lot of lollies so it is certainly a
'high sugar party'.

For a theme party Minecraft is a pretty easy one, (well if you like making props). Google is your friend here, because there are so many resources out there. Some are free and there certainly is plenty of information and ideas when it comes to Minecraft Parties on the Internet. Just check out the many boards on Pinterest. A good site for resources is here also.

Treasure Map made on the computer and printed out.

The potion mixing table....

I used familyshoppingbag.com. for a lot of the decorations like the banner, food labels, drink labels.

Enderman Bags were made buy gluing Enderman eyes
(found on Google) onto paper black bags from
 Party World. Then making labels using
 a Minecraft Font.

I downloaded the bunting from here. Then printed out.

The Balloons I bought off Trade me. There was some
good Minecraft Resources so I bought a few,
 like badges, stickers etc.

I laminated the print outs and used fizzy lollies
 as counters for the Minecraft Bingo Game. 

Some of the Minecraft food labels I stuck to small
skewers to place in the food. 

Just water, but the bottles were very popular. I made some
other potions too. 

 How we played the Minecraft Chocolate Game...

This was fun!

The Chocolate Game consisted of using a Steve Mask, already made from the last dress up day at school. A block of Chocolate wrapped in a Minecraft themed paper (easy to make). A big dice covered in a Minecraft picture on each side. For example, Steve, the Pig, and Enderman instead of numbers. Steve was our six on the dice. For those familiar with this game you will know you have to throw a six in the game to be able to eat the chocolate.

When a child threw 'Steve' with the dice they got to put the Steve Mask on, take the knife and fork, and cut up the Chocolate block, and then EAT the squares of chocolate they cut. But they can only continue eating the chocolate until the next 'Steve' is thrown....Then the child who has thrown 'Steve' has a turn cutting the chocolate up to eat (he has to put the mask on also).

Note:

To avoid disappointment, always have a spare block of chocolate handy to give to those who missed out in the game.

You might also want to change the dice value for winning after a while. For example, throwing a 'Steve' no longer lets you eat the chocolate. Now you now have to throw a Pig to eat the chocolate this round.

This changes the dynamics a bit...So the child who didn't throw a 'Steve' at the party they now have another chance. at maybe getting a Pig (you're sort of helping them along). 

I can tell you when you sometimes change the value of the dice 'Murphy's Law' kicks in and no winning Pig turns up. You still have one child who doesn't get a piece of chocolate in the game...
But don't worry you can sort it because you have that spare block of chocolate...

This is a popular game children  for a group of children.
The Chocolate block is kept in the fridge. This makes
 it harder to cut...

The Birthday Cake was bought from The Naked Baker. It was tweaked a bit to make it look more like a Minecraft Cake.

Actually nobody missed the green icing of last years cake.

Minecraft figurines from Mighty Ape

The Christmas Elf

I decided to be an Elf maker for a day, or two....It's Christmas after all, and this year since I have a thing for Elves I'm not making a Gingerbread house, or Pinata. Instead there is going to be an Elf who doesn't give out sweets and isn't made of sugar.

So I thought I would just make up my own sewing pattern, and this did sort of work out. Except the finished Elf didn't look exactly like the pattern I tried to draft. My Elf took on a life of his own...His face is made from the fabric left over from Humpty Dumpty, and the rest of him is made out of Christmas scraps of fabric.

This little Elf was supposed to have a bigger head. and this was cut out with more of a roundish shape to it. Except all this changed when I appliqued the hearts and mouth upside down on the face and the head was already sewn onto the body. I had no patience to start all over again so instead I re cut the head shape out again  on the body which made it much smaller.

Also my other problem was the Elf eyes, I forgot to sew them on in a contrasting thread which I really wanted to do. But before you knew it this 'Imp of an Elf' was all sewn up and glued together. Too late to change anything now. So I glued the eyes onto the felt circles and let him loose in the garden...and what a naughty little Elf he was!

Bells, glue, clips for the Ric-Rac...Buttons for the eyes and
silver fringing around the neck

Golden thread laces for the Elf shoes...

Garden antics of the impish Elf!

'Sorry no room for Elves, twos company threes a crowd...

Is that really me? Who else has sewn Elves this Christmas?

Have a Merry Christmas everyone....

Easy Christmas Bunting

Spotlight is the place where I found these Christmas bunting flags, all printed on one sheet of fabric. Just waiting for me to buy, cut out, and sew...The best part was that it was half price, a real bargain I thought. But I must say what I saved in dollars here I overspent on bias binding. So actually their was no savings to be had at all...

I decided to buy red FOE (fold over elastic) and then I didn't like elastic it made the job too hard. Next I bought five metres of red bias binding straight off the roll. Only problem was when I got it home it was was a crimson red colour. Who chooses bias binding with sunglasses on? Me, lesson learnt.

After all the extra spending I found the exact red bias binding in my own stash. Who would have thought and I started pinning the flags onto it to realize it was way too short. In the end I used a red 'Hello Kitty' bias binding I  had made a while back because I  just couldn't be bothered going out again..

If you want to make 'Christmas Bunting' with your own fabric from start to finish. This blog, jenthousandwords.com will show you how to make Christmas Bunting.

Sewn on my faithful Bernina 801 I've been using it
a lot lately.

For now it's on the wall...

Christmas Elf Stockings

The Elves are visiting us this year (only because I gave away the Christmas stockings I sewed last year). I had fun making these curly toed stockings, but soon realized my days of making little stockings are just about over. You have to have good eyes for a project like this. Mine are fading slowly for doing the intricate stuff, like applique.

It might have helped if my old Bernina 801 had a light bulb that actually went, and I cleaned my glasses properly so I could see. The pattern I chose to use for the Christmas stockings this year is from Sew-4-Home. You can find the tutorial and  pattern here.

I chose to use the Bernina 801 for this project. It looks rather jaded with
it's paint starting to peel at the bottom.

I stuffed the end of the stocking with a bit of fluff (Dacron). The bells
are off the 'Lindt Easter Bunny'. Just the perfect size... I saved
them from last Easter for the cat's collar. But the cat wears a
bigger bell now.

I didn't use the letter template that the pattern linked you too. I found another
because I couldn't re-size it on my printer...

Long Yoga Style Skirt

This skirt is made out of a fine stretch crinkly knit fabric which actually needed lining. I chose not to line it because I had nothing to line the skirt with...So I have settled for an under-skirt to stop it being so see through. The pattern I used was the Ladies Yoga A-Line-Skirt and I made a shorter version earlier and it can be found here.

This skirts mine looks rather shapeless on the dummy....but easy to
wash just twist it and it stays all nice and crinkly.

Putting my smells on everything...

He has a big bell so he can't catch rather big birds...

Off to explore the neighbourhood.

Simple Yoga Skirt

Put your sunglasses on this is so bright....eek! The pattern I used for this  yoga skirt is from Jocole....I didn't have much fabric (it's a 4 way stretch) and it was a bit of a squeeze to cut out and keep the pattern matching. I finished off the hemming with a cover stitch.

Front of skirt

 The fabric clings a bit it almost needs an underskirt...

I opted for the smaller band...

Reversible Slippers Ready For Winter

I'm using up scraps of Polar Fleece. I had a computer crash awhile back and lost all my sock patterns except for this one which I printed out. You can buy the Reversible Slipper Pattern on Craftsy.