When I bought my first serger, the woman who sold it to me told me to never ever unthread it — always tie in the new threads and pull them through because it was too complicated to thread. The first time I needed to change thread color I picked up the scissors and cut off all four threads because I vowed I wouldn’t have a machine I couldn’t thread… until I met this big beautiful beast AHEM I mean Lovely Goddess The Boss of My Shop. I thought I had a foolproof way of tying off the thread but today they separated and I had to rethread the machine. There was much complaining, mostly made-up lyrics to whatever song was playing so I wouldn’t scare or offend her with an angry tone.

I rethreaded the machine without checking the manual (I know what I’m doing!!) and she rewarded me by sewing the soles so sweetly. She also gets to choose the music we listen to while stitching; today she wanted “Are You Washed in the Blood” by New Tradition. The first sole image shows the sole stitched with the channel open, the second image shows a stitched sole and the bottom of the other boot with the channel closed over the stitching.