And now I'm off trying to find an adapter than can fit my new sewing feet onto my old sewing machine, because standardization is obviously also for nerds...
@Stephie Thanks. I'm lucky enough to have an actual shop that specializes in sewing machines around, but it's still a ride and there's no guarantee they'll be able to help me
@JourneymanGeek Reminds me of an anecdote I read a while ago. Someone bought a crystal ball, and the seller warned them, "Be sure you always cover it with a cloth when you leave the house." "Why, because of the spiritual energy?" "No, because it's a lens and could set your house on fire if the sun hits it."
@Elmy That's a big part of why I have multiple machines in spite of the sewing shop lady's efforts to get me to switch entirely to the one she sold me :)
I think it's just because they really believe in their machines, and they're nice higher-end models. If I had a super-old, super-clunker, I'd probably go ahead and make the switch, but mine runs well 99% of the time (and the 1% is generally due to bad threading) and is reliable
So I just keep the new one set for embroidery almost all the time
I did have one at one point (not sure if it's lost in my parents' house or actually lost) that basically is a clunker. It's a cheap Singer, that does forward, backward, straight, and zigzag, but it cost me about $30 to get it into working order (and free for the machine itself). I mostly used it to teach others, since it does basically nothing.
@Sarov Oh yeah, those are pricey too. Mine's a computerized embroidery machine, that I bought to upgrade from a "hobbyist" entry-level version. I think the largest hoop on the new one might fit around the entire old one.
Swimming like a mermaid, yes. You use a monofin (like regular swim fins, but a single piece both your feet go into) and a tail skin so you look like a mermaid too
Mostly for exercise. :) It's a really good core workout, plus being a lot of fun, especially on the occasions when I get to swim with others. (We had a big swim meetup over the weekend where we basically just hung out in the pool with each other admiring each other's tails)
Light novels are a thing common in Japan - they're basically short novels. Though they often come in series, so if you have 3 dozen light novels, it's still pretty long.
@SerenaT there's a HUGE variety of options for colors and styles :) My regular one is a really simple purple one for exercising, the one I was wearing at the meetup is black and green, and I want to get a tropical colored one
But yeah - as long as it's not serialized (professionally translated and published), it's free+legal to read the things when they've been translated by unofficial groups (who work for donations).
@SerenaT My regular go-to is from SunTails, the slightly fancier one I have is from Fin Fun, and I'm considering either Fin Fun or Mertailor for an even fancier one in the future :) (Fabric is cheaper and easier care than silicone)
@SerenaT the silicone ones are crazy expensive. They look great, but a lot of the higher-end fabric ones can give them a good run for their money when you're in the water.
I think only one of the people in the photo I shared has a silicone tail, maybe two. Most of them are fabric.
@Sarov Probably my most expensive ones are: Cars (it's taken a concerted effort over the last year or more to reduce my collection down from four to just the one) and driving them on racetracks, Snowboarding, and until a temporary hold was put on the process for medical reasons I was starting to learn to fly planes.
@SerenaT I'd guess it probably does. I know the fabric ones are easier to get on! (And I tried out someone's silicone monofin/fabric tail combo, getting my feet into the fin was a struggle)