What to do if you discover that you are missing something vital to your project, or if tools or equipment break while you are traveling.
By Diane L. Murtha, F465708
April 2023
You’ve arrived at your camping destination, and you’re ready to relax with your favorite crafting hobby. As you unpack, you realize you forgot a critical component, or something breaks. Oh, no! Now what? Of course, if it’s an inexpensive and readily available tool, you could always just buy an extra one to keep in the RV. Sometimes that’s not the case, though.
When we tent camped, our go-to tools were a hammer, duct tape, and a Swiss Army knife. They temporarily solved many problems, but they may not provide the same results when it comes to our crafting items and equipment. So, what do you do when you are either missing a vital component for a project or something breaks while you’re crafting on the road?
Reach Out
What if you experience a problem with your sewing machine? If you don’t carry the manual with you, look it up online by model number. You can also check the manufacturer’s website for a troubleshooting page or find a 24-hour support phone number.
Another option is calling your home quilt store or service center for help over the phone from someone who already knows you. For hands-on support, you can also try a quilt store in the area where you are staying. Even if the shop is not a full-service repair facility, owners and employees often have years of experience with machines and might be able to help you, or they may know someone local who can. Vacuum cleaner repair stores often service sewing machines as well, so don’t forget to try them.
We can’t do without our sewing machine power cords or foot pedals, but they occasionally end up being left behind. A local quilt store may loan you a cord that will work in the meantime.
Forget your pattern? Call a friend who is working on the same project, or try contacting the original designer. They may take pity on you and send you a free online version. Many crocheting and knitting patterns can be found for free on the web.
Turn To Social Media
You may not realize how many social media sites are available for support. Post a message to the RV Quilters Facebook page for advice. Try the Facebook page of your local quilting guild or knitters group. Sewing machine owners clubs exist as well. I belong to the Bernina 700 Series Owners Facebook site and ask questions there.
Improvise
Think about what you may be able to substitute. If you forget basting spray or iron-on fusible, try Elmer’s school glue as an alternative. It will provide a great temporary fix, and it washes out. Just use very small dabs and smear it around so your machine needle doesn’t have any problems sewing through it later.
If painting is your jam and you forget your paint tray palette, try using a foam egg carton to hold and mix your paints. Missing a paint brush? Perhaps a small bit of sponge can serve as a temporary substitute.
I have known knitters to make do with a pencil when one knitting needle was lost.
Do you free-motion quilt with quilting gloves? If you forgot yours, purchase cheap garden gloves with grips from a local dollar store or hardware store.
In place of a forgotten light box, trace your patterns against a large glass window.
Hand stitching or beading? You can use any thread or needle if you forget your favorites. It won’t be blue-ribbon quality, but it will work.
If All Else Fails, Take A Break!
A couple years ago, we stayed at a beautiful southern Illinois state park. I quickly discovered I forgot all the bobbins for my 1950 Singer Featherweight machine. There are only a few trusted sources for parts and accessories for this vintage machine, and FedEx wouldn’t deliver to a state park. I was so frustrated that I couldn’t make progress on the projects I brought with me. A friend suggested that I visit a local quilt store just for fun. Well, that’s not what I wanted to do, but I went anyway, and it turned out to be a lovely drive through the park to a cute shop. They were having a sale, and I discovered some wonderful fabric and four books on the bargain table. What a find it turned out to be! I was more than happy to go back to the RV and relax with my new books.
Sometimes you can’t solve all dilemmas posed by broken or missing craft components while traveling, but we can still find a way to enjoy our RVing time.
Diane L. Murtha is a quilter, fiber artist, lecturer, and instructor. Quilting for over 30 years, she gravitated to art quilts 10 years ago and discovered she loves challenges. Her quilts are included in books, magazines, juried exhibits, and international shows. She also leads crafts classes at FMCA international conventions. Learn more at www.dianeLmurtha.com,follow her on Instagram @dianelmurtha, or email dlmurtha2018@gmail.com for more information.