Below is a picture of the bobbin winder array. I put the end of the thread through a hole in the plastic bobbin, wind several turns excess in a clockwise direction, insert the bobbin on the spindle and then slide the thread through one of the grey appendages on the winding spool. The grey lever engages manually and stops automatically. Once the spool is full, there's another cutter to the left of the bobbin for easy removal. Fairly consistent results with this method so far. I like the separate motor, which means no more disengaging the flywheel clutch. Perhaps using the second spindle will also avoid having to rethread the needle. Buy two spools and never be lacking. The size is a Class 15 standard plastic.

With the garments pieces still layered inside each other, pin the side seams and stitch from the underarm down with an elastic "straight" stitch.

I used a Schmetz size 12 ballpoint needle, but perhaps could have gotten away with smaller. All these fancy stitches aren't necessary, since a plain straight stitch and serged edge works very well on the original, but I thought I might as well try them out. The wonky hem is a result of poor cutting as opposed to bad sewing. I added extra seam allowance though, so I can make that plumb no problem.

Since the material was so flimsy, this project is an instance where I'm not using the auto cutters. Instead, I pull up the bobbin end and held both top and bottom threads at the start of each stitch. To give the Juki credit, however, even when using autocutters and getting a little snarl ball, the fabric never fully jammed like my Singer.

I love pork belly in all sorts of permutations and the recipe Nagasaki-Style Braised Pork from Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art, by Shizuo Tsuji is pretty ace. The pork belly is braised for 6 hours in okara, rice or bran water. Then the meat is rinsed and simmered again to remove excess porkiness (there's a Chinese word for this which I don't know how to translate, perhaps smelly/bloody tasting). The next day, the pork is brought to simmer in a simple sauce. Separately seasoned and blanched vegetables are added right before serving. 


I did not cook the veg separately.  Instead I just tossed in green onions and snow peas about 5 minutes before the dish was finished. Most restaurants seem to omit them, but doing it the Tsuji way will result in a nicer presentation and clearer flavor. Next time I think I will cut the pieces into 2" chunks and double the recipe!

"The Uncertainty Principle. It proves we can't ever really know what's going on. So it shouldn't bother you. Not being able to figure anything out. Although you will be responsible for this on the mid-term."  --Larry Gopnik

A Serious Man could be a great dark comedy, but somehow the Coens have infused this fable of Jews, family, faith and values with creepy ominousness that undercuts all the funny and is ultimately an even better film. The script is smart and sharp. The images are so well constructed that each gag vectors effortlessly into the greater narrative, one in which Man, small and meek and feeble, armed only with fallible weapons like Tradition, has to contend with the unknowable chaos that is Life or the wrath of God or whatever. In any case, the enemy is something big and uncomfortable despite any best effort, and the rewards for being "a good boy" are perhaps only tangential. This one belongs on the top ten of 2009 proper.

This thin sliced beef served over rice is straight up Yoshinoya style. I have yet to turn broccoli and carrots neon though. This recipe is adapted from the Tsuji book, which usually has more broth than I'd like, so the below proportions are a little strange.

Gyodon (Beef Bowl)

1/2 lb thin sliced beef
2 long onions or 1 medium round onion, cut into long thin slices
1 tbsp veg oil
1/2 cup water
Generous 1/6 cup dark soy sauce
Generous 1/6 cup mirin
1 tbsp ginger juice (use the pickling water from the pink packaged kind)

Over high heat, saute onions till soft. Add beef till barely cooked through. Pour in sauce and stir-fry another minute or so. Adjust seasoning and add ginger juice before serving. 

Option 2 is this microwavable delectable from Suruki Market. No vegetables in there either.

These were so good, I have no pictures! The mocha flavor wasn't as pronounced as I'd like with just coffee, so perhaps I'll try a double-brew espresso next time.

1/4 strong espresso, cooled
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 all purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup chopped, toasted pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together wet ingredients; espresso, buttermilk, oil, eggs and vanilla.  In another bowl, mix dry ingredients: flour, sugars, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Stir wet into dry ingredients roughly, then mix in chocolate chips and pecans.  Divide batter equally in muffin tins, about 2/3 full. Bake 25 minutes, rack and cool.

Adapted from this Epicurious recipe.

SHOWStudio: Design Downloads offers free sewing patterns from great designers like John Galliano and Junya Watanabe.


Print out the pieces on letter size paper, tape them together, and voila a pattern to trace. The Yohji Yamamoto design is fairly simple though it takes some thinking to work out the construction.

I'm moving up from a flawed 1970's Singer Fashionmate 288 so I'm no expert on machines, but so far I'm liking my new Juki set up. I've also used the Bernina mechanicals at school, and a borrowed Singer from the 80's or 90's.  At The Sewing Machine Shop (Walnut Creek, CA), I tried the Pfaff Creative 2134, the Babylock Decorator's Choice, and Janome's 2010.  Since I got home, I've been hovering over the machine, turning it on and off (it makes a bzzzt! noise), and generally sort of just letting go of my new purchase jitters. Oh, and taking pictures!

The handle of the machine fits through the hard case, which is padded inside with some molded pieces of cheesy styrofoam glued into place.  Seems sturdy enough, but I'm not sure it will hold up for 30 years... Side pocket full of stuffs: handbook, extra bag full of accessories (walking foot, darning, plus others), cables, foot pedal, and the knee lifter. The Juki is pretty plug and play. No hitches there.

Here's the accessory tray with some included feet, bobbins and the like. Beneath the tray is space for the buttonhole apparatus, which is a sensor type that plugs in to the side.

The threading and stitch chart from above.  Apparently, the bobbin winder has a separate motor. 
With the case off, the free arm is, well, free. I forget what that grey button is, but now a little lever is exposed that drops the feed dog. There's a slot in the back side of the case for stuff storage, but it's an awkward space I probably won't use.

Conclusions: The Pfaff was slightly smoother feeding then the Juki with that built in walking foot/IDT, but the stitches looked close enough to my untrained eyes. While the saleslady could just whiz away at the faster Pfaff speed, I know I rarely get out the gate that easy at home. Also the Pfaff has a 9mm max stitch width (apparently easier to sew zippers) where the Juki only has 7mm, which is not a dealbreaker for me. However, none of the other machines at this price point had the same kind of features as the Juki. Once I started using the auto cutters, it was hard to go back. I think the only function I liked that the Juki doesn't have was the tie off stitch. Finally, the auto needle threader isn't as easy to use as the Babylock, although again, not terrible.

In any case, I have 30 days to change my mind. The only remorse I have so far is that I didn't bargain harder for extra needles, bobbins, discount, free service, classes and whatnot. In fact, there was a sign that said if you spend a certain amount you get a gift card, and I emailed them but have yet to hear anything back. They offered me basically nothing except a toll free phone number. No one else sells Juki in the area so they had me over a barrel unless I bought online, but really I prefer to support someone local. I did ask for a tax break to even it all up but the owner said nix. Honestly, the folks there are friendly and helpful, so no major complaints. I probably was just obviously too sold. 

Tomorrow, the pillow making test begins.