{"id":1339,"date":"2020-03-18T09:11:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-18T13:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/?p=1339"},"modified":"2023-02-03T11:48:32","modified_gmt":"2023-02-03T16:48:32","slug":"home-sewing-roman-shade-ultrafeed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/home\/home-sewing-roman-shade-ultrafeed\/","title":{"rendered":"Sewing a Labor of Love"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kathy Roberson is no stranger to the sewing world. She\u2019s been sewing as a labor of love for members of her family for years. But when her granddaughter wanted a complete revamp of her bedroom, she knew she would need a well-equipped sewing machine to get the job done. After some research and coaxing from her husband, Kathy embarked on her DIY journey with a little help from Sailrite\u00ae. And she\u2019s here to share her heartwarming story with us!<\/span><\/p>\n

Q. What\u2019s your history like with sewing?<\/b><\/p>\n

For years I dreamt of having an industrial sewing machine. In my young adult life, I worked at three different sewing factories and knew what they were capable of. When I was 40, my husband and I refurbished a 1978 Toyota Corolla for our then 16-year-old daughter\u2019s first car. We borrowed a portable industrial machine from a friend to sew the covers for the seats.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From that time on I searched for a machine that would compare to it. (Wish we had the internet then!) I found a few cast-off factory machines, but there was always something to keep me from buying one. I\u2019ve had a couple of well-known machines that worked on regular home materials fairly well. But they struggled to sew pillows, curtains and light upholstery projects. They would also break multiple needles with each project.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My very expensive computer machine quit a couple of years ago and for a few months, I didn\u2019t have a machine for the first time in my life. I finally bought a $100.00 machine to do simple mending jobs with. I have two sergers also that I enjoy and thought I would be fine with them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Xakm0+cjTASyXgCze9+mtA\"
Some of Kathy’s sewing work.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Q. What led you to choose Sailrite?<\/b><\/p>\n

Our granddaughter wanted her room updated because it was a little girl room and she is now a college student. We could have hired someone else to make the Roman Shades, but she wanted Gran to make them. So here I sat with yards of material and a sewing machine. I wondered whether the machine would make it through the simplest seams that the curtains would require.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon the Sailrite website. I was so mesmerized with the videos and products I found! I read tons of testimonies from people who were so happy with their machines. My dilemma was this: I will be 75 years old soon and my husband is 79, and I am wanting a new sewing machine! When I approached the subject of the machine, his response was, \u201cYOU WANT WHAT?\u201d I said, \u201cIt is a wonderful machine but if you are not on board with me getting it, I understand.\u201d I didn\u2019t cry and beg him to understand, but I wanted to!<\/span><\/p>\n

I could not quit watching the videos<\/a><\/strong><\/span> on the Sailrite website. Like I said before, the videos just mesmerized me! I guess he caught me watching the videos one too many times because one day all of a sudden he came into my computer room and said, \u201cKathy if you want that machine, just order it!\u201d I excitedly asked, \u201cAre you sure?\u201d You see, in our 55 years of marriage, we never buy anything that costs over a couple of hundred dollars without being in agreement. He answered, \u201cYes, you have wanted a machine like that for a long time.\u201d\u00a0 Happy is a calm word for the excitement I was feeling when I ordered my Sailrite\u00ae Ultrafeed\u00ae LSZ!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"IMG_3127\"
Kathy’s custom Ultrafeed table sewing space!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That very day I ordered the machine and two days later it was here. When the delivery truck pulled into the drive, I hurried out to meet the driver, which happened to be a lady. She opened the back doors of the vehicle and pulled out the first box and then the second and as she was helping us get them out, she said, \u201cYou are going to love this machine! I have one just like it and I love mine.\u201d I asked her what type of things she sewed on hers and she replied, \u201cEverything!\u00a0 After a week of working, when the weekends come, I am sewing. I love it! It will sew anything. I sew for myself and my grandchildren! I just love it! I am here to tell you that you will not be sorry for buying this machine!\u201d She sure eased any qualms that I could have had in buying the machine!<\/span><\/p>\n

Q. What was your experience like using the Ultrafeed for your project?<\/b><\/p>\n

We had no problem putting the machine together. I put the Monster\u00ae II Balance Wheel on it but thought that the handle was supposed to stay on the balance wheel. When I began using the machine, it shook more than I thought it should. I had watched the videos and thought I knew everything! My husband told me that the handle might be causing the machine to shake, but I wouldn\u2019t listen to him. I contacted the website and they wanted me to film a video while sewing to see the shaking. I did that and then they told me that the handle was not supposed to be left on the balance wheel while sewing. It was only for sewing when you were sewing manually! Uh-oh! But how nice to have my problem solved so quickly. The Sailrite customer service could not have been any nicer to me. I took the handle off and have not had any problem with it shaking. Just injured my pride a little!<\/span><\/p>\n

Sewing the Roman Shades and pillows on my Sailrite Ultrafeed LSZ was like cutting soft butter with a sharp knife. I never broke one single needle! It went over the thickest parts with no effort at all and made the project so much fun to sew. I have made curtains with welting the bottom before, but I’ve never ever enjoyed it like I did when I made these curtains. I watched the Sailrite videos for making welting<\/a><\/strong><\/span> and it was so easy with the LSZ. I didn\u2019t have any issues or broken needles like I’ve had with the other machines in the past. I love it!<\/span><\/p>\n

The way the Ultrafeed LSZ feeds the material to keep both top and bottom even is wonderful. The larger window shade had to have a seam in it. I had cut the material so that the pattern would match when seamed. My experience in the past is, no matter how close you cut to get the pattern right, the real test comes with how the machine feeds the material.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"fullsizeoutput_2afb\"<\/p>\n

In the picture where I am pointing to the seam, you can see that the Ultrafeed LSZ fed the material really well. I was so pleased after I got the seam finished and opened it up and the pattern was perfect! Unless you are close to the shade, as I am in the picture, you cannot tell where the seam is!\u00a0 That seam was only sewn once. I was amazed because in the past I have had to rework things multiple times until I got it right.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Q. What\u2019s next for you in the sewing world?<\/b><\/p>\n

My husband took a folding table we had and cut a hole in it and made a box so that the Ultrafeed LSZ would set down in it. That way I have a larger table area and if I need the machine to be portable it will just lift out. I made the skirt at the end of the table and the pockets at the front so that my notions would be handy as I need them. Under the table, I can store other sewing notions, thread, material, etc. Now when I need to sew, all my \u201cstuff\u201d is in one place! I LOVE IT!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"fullsizeoutput_2a91\"
Kathy’s granddaughter loved her new and improved room.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I haven\u2019t decided what project I will try next, but I am confident that whatever it is, I have the machine that will sew it! I love my Sailrite LSZ machine.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Who We Are<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Sailrite is your one-stop DIY shop! We are a passionate crew of do-it-yourselfers who strive to equip you with the supplies and how-to knowledge you need to tackle your next project. Do you want to learn upholstery, leatherwork, canvaswork, hobby sewing, bag making or more? We have the fabric, tools, hardware, sewing machines and notions you need to master any DIY. And even if you’ve never sewn before, our tutorials and how-to videos are designed for beginners and experienced crafters alike.<\/span><\/p>\n

Start your DIY journey today: www.sailrite.com<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kathy Roberson is no stranger to the sewing world. She\u2019s been sewing as a labor of love for members of her family for years. But when her granddaughter wanted a complete revamp of her bedroom, she knew she would need a well-equipped sewing machine to get the job done. After some research and coaxing from … Continue reading Sewing a Labor of Love<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1346,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[9],"tags":[14,20,37,70,25],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/r57exqIzTxmTrBoDCEX9Cw-4011917923-1581948982292.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/padSoq-lB","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1510,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/home\/sewing-upholstery-ultrafeed\/","url_meta":{"origin":1339,"position":0},"title":"Sewing Upholstery With the Ultrafeed\u00ae","date":"June 29, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"All DIYers, whether they're a sewer, woodworker, crafter or other, have the same thing in common. They love the satisfaction they get from accomplishing a project on their own. Cory Springer is no different. She owns a small upholstery business in Virginia, and one of her favorite things about sewing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/upholstery-collage.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1094,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/outdoor-living\/taking-diy-new-heights\/","url_meta":{"origin":1339,"position":1},"title":"Taking DIY to New Heights","date":"October 25, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The possibilities of things you can make with a sewing machine are limitless! Sailrite\u00ae customer Gregory Palmquist had a fleeting idea to sew his own kites after he was underwhelmed by the selection of mass-produced kite kits. This seed of an idea has grown into a bigger hobby that has\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hobby"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/kites-collage.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1549,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/marine\/diy-clothing-ultrafeed-sewing\/","url_meta":{"origin":1339,"position":2},"title":"Sailing Wife, Sewing Life","date":"July 10, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"At the age of 10, Bailey Heyman received her first sewing machine as a gift from her grandparents. What she didn\u2019t know was that this small gift would spark a lifelong passion that would change her life. Bailey is truly a Jill-of-all-trades, sewing everything she can get her hands on,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hobby"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_A75BE89E1490-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2419,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/hobby\/diy-cosplay-costume-ultrafeed\/","url_meta":{"origin":1339,"position":3},"title":"Boldly Sewing: Adjusting an LSZ for Home Projects","date":"May 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"In episodes of the classic sci-fi show Star Trek, landing parties exploring uncharted planets needed three pieces of equipment: a communicator to contact the crew still on the Enterprise starship, a phaser for defense and a multiuse device called a tricorder. Self-proclaimed Trekkie and Sailrite\u00ae customer Adrienne Killey would add\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hobby"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Generations-cosplay.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":908,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/outdoor-living\/diy-awning\/","url_meta":{"origin":1339,"position":4},"title":"Outdoor Awnings: A Dream Home DIY","date":"August 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Debra Brown is well acquainted with the world of sewing, having started her first project as a teenager. But what began as a fun, sporadic hobby turned into necessity years later when Debra and her husband moved to Portland, Oregon, and purchased a beautiful Cape Cod home built in 1937.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Outdoor Living"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/image8.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1245,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/hobby\/recycled-jeans-bags\/","url_meta":{"origin":1339,"position":5},"title":"Peace, Love & Handbags","date":"January 2, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Sometimes you get an idea for something and it takes off. That's what happened to Laurie Carty. One day, she was looking online for purses and stumbled upon a crocheted fat bottom bag. She instantly fell in love with the classic hippie-style purse and thought the design and shape of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hobby"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/main-image.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1339"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1339"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1339\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2766,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1339\/revisions\/2766"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1339"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1339"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1339"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}