If you have pets, maybe you have one of these in your home.
Soft-sided crates.
I use them a lot.
I won’t admit to how many I actually have (but I can justify each and every one).
I have soft-sided crates for the car, for use in hotel rooms when we travel, for dog shows, etc… They are great because when they are folded they take up minimal space, and they are very light weight.
The problem with them though…
…is this.
This is actually a friend’s crate. But this is certainly something I’ve had happen to mine as well. I think an overly rambucious English Pointer decided to try to make his own exit in this crate.
Usually the zippers go on mine.
I know a lot of people would just toss them at this point but I always want to try to save them! I mean, these crates are not cheap. This one was actually an easy fix. And a good test of the Janome G1212 I’m trying out right now!
I’m really enjoying this machine. I love that it’s super lightweight. It comes in at just over 15 lbs. Which means it’s truly portable. Something I’ve been taking advantage of lately as my house is in a bit of a transition right now. Today, I hauled the G1212 to the dining room table for this little project.
It’s also got just enough stitches for a lot of the common projects people buy a machine for. This machine is perfect for mending, repairs (like this one) and other commonly used features.
You can even do hemming on this sweet machine!
Getting set up on this machine was really easy. There are guides right on the machine for threading the needle. And the bobbin threader was super easy to use as well.
So the first thing to do when tackling one of these crates, is to literally ‘break it down’. Fold the crate as if to store it and then remove the outside fabric from the aluminum structure. And remember which way the crate folded when you take it a part. It will save you from having to take it apart again and turn it around (like I may have with another crate, ahem!).
Tip time…
So the last time I tackled repairing one of my crates it was a zipper that needed to be replaced. A $10 zipper repair saved me over $80 by not having to replace the whole crate.
But the process of pinning in the zipper was a real pain.
An instagram friend gave me this little tip. Position the zipper in place with double-sided tape. Well, duh! I wish I had thought of that sooner. I gave it a try on this repair job. While I wasn’t having to tackle the zipper with this one, it definitely helped to not have to constantly stop and start with pulling out pins when I was already dealing with bulky and an unwieldy mass of fabric. I used some double-sided sticky tape that I had from scrapbooking because that’s what I had on hand. But I will certainly plan to invest in some proper double-sided tape for my sewing kit!
The Janome June G1212 was a dream to sew with. It’s smooth and super quiet.
I adjusted the stitch length to its widest point so that I wasn’t creating too many holes in the canvas. I used the straight-stitch for fixing the rip in the top of the crate opening. It worked perfectly.
There were also a few holes in the front screen. I switched to the zig-zag stitch and closed those up easily, as well.
I’m so impressed that this machine was able to tackle this project! And that the crate is repaired and back in commission again. The boys sure seem impressed with my work. Don’t ya think! 🙂
Contest time!
Are you in the market for a new sewing machine? I’m so excited that Janome Canada is allowing me to give away a brand new Janome June G1218. Just follow the rafflecopter prompts below. Draw will take place on September 11, 2013! Good luck!
As part of my Janome SAH experience I will be receiving a Janome Juno sewing machine, but I promise you this — all views expressed here are my own.
Oh my goodness – tape to hold the zipper in place?! Awesome tip – thanks!
Carmen – I know, right!!?! And it worked like a charm!
My local Janome dealer is AAA Sewing in Stallings, NC. I bought mine there and love it! I don’t have time, I have to make time….in the early mornings or late at night! I love my Janome machine and would love one for my daughter!
My local Janome dealer is Quilt as Desired – Winnipeg! I often get up by 5 am to sew…I am so would love to own this machine for mending and doing hems!
Subscribe via Email lorihook(at)shaw(dot)ca
The Sewing Mart Inc. – Brampton is my closest dealer.
I do not have a dealer close to me :(.
Where are you located?
My local Janome dealer is Marlene’s Specialty Fabrics – Lower Sackville
My not so local dealer is Plourde Machine à Coudre – Edmundston. I’m in Woodstock so this is quite a ways away, but it’s the only one in NB.
I don’t sew right now because I don’t have a machine, but I would try after the kids go to bed. I need curtains in my porch.
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My local dealer is Triangle Sewing Center in Guelph. My old sewing machine kicked the bucket so I’d love to be able to make things and fix things for my son without borrowing someones machine!
My local dealer is Triangle Sewing centre in guelph. My old machine kicked the bucket so I`d love to have a new one to start sewing again
Subscribed by email!
My local dealer is the Cloverdale Sewing Centre in Toronto. I normally wait till the kids are asleep or before they wake up to get my sewing done.
I have the luxury of sewing whenever I wish to as I am retired and my dealer would be The Sewing Machine Store in Saskatoon.
I subscribed by email–suzanne dot giroux at gmail dot com
My local dealer is Langley Vacuum and Sewing Centre. My time is right after the kids go to bd in the evening.
My local dealer is Sewing World in Calgary. I make time on weekends and in the evening.
I subscribe by email.
I subscribe with email.
My closest dealer is Marlene’s Specialty Fabrics in Lower Sackville NS, I find time to sew in the evenings and at the weekends.
I subscribe via email , I left my email addy that i subscribed with on the Rafflecopter.
My dealer is Singer White Oaks (in London ON), and fitting in sewing time is VERY hard, but I have been managing lately, usually when the girls are off on a playdate or with their dad. It’ll be much easier when school starts again! 🙂
My local dealer is Langley Vacuum & Sewing Centre. And I am still struggling to find the time to sew with a toddler running around…but I’m working on it 🙂
I subscribed with email, using my rafflecotper addy 🙂
The nearest dealer is quilt as desired in winnipeg. I sew whenever I have a need. Thankfully my life isn’t that busy! 🙂
The closest dealer is Sewing World – Toronto or Ultimate Sewing World- Oshawa. I could probably set aside some time on the weekend 🙂 I have always wanted to learn how to sew.
i don’t know how to sew but i would like to learn and this would be great motivation
great tips!
ultimate sewing world in oshawa.
I’m a winter sewer and I make the time.. unless it’s really late at night then I don’t bother because the last time I used a sewing machine and was dead tired I nearly sewed my hands. [it was THAT close].
Ultimate sewing Centre in oshawa. I don’t sew all the time just on an as needed basis.
Ultimate sewing world in oshawa. I’m a beginner so only sew when I have a project
Snip & Snitch here in nanaimo, I am a beginner sewer, and only work part time, so I do have time to start and hopefully finish products
My local dealer is not close at all, a good 5 hours away. I would love to get really good at sewer.
My local dealer is the Cloverdale Sewing Centre in Toronto. I wait till my LO is asleep.
I find it difficult to fit time in to sew on weekends. Pfaff on Granville
My local dealer is Pfaff on Granville Street and I sew in the evenings while the kids are in bed