I learned early not to leave a sewing machine where boys can have access to it. Growing up, the only place my Mom had for her sewing machine was in the room that my four brothers slept in. (What was she thinking?) At bed time, every once in a while, which ever was the first one in the room would unscrew the light bulb, place the foot pedal under their shirt on the floor a little ways out from the sewing cabinet & turn on the machine's power switch, then turn off the room light and jump into bed quick. When one of the other unsuspecting brothers came into the room and stepped on the shirt, the machine would race scaring the bajeebers out of the one stepping on the foot pedal. So I always kept my room locked when my three sons got old enough to think of those kind of pranks. I also told them that they would be "dead meat" if they touched my machine or sewing tools, especially my Gingher shears!

I would ban him from my house for a while especially if he is old enough to know better

Moral to this story. Double check all before you begin to sew. Also if you have pets make sure the machine is off.

Thank you everyone for all the thoughts. Made me feel a bit better about it. Successfully unpicked the mess and can continue.

The young man in question is 10 years old and the youngest of two. Unfortunately he tends to get spoilt while the other doesn't. He got banished into our dining room til his mum got home, and when I told her what he had done she went ballistic. I think he wont dare try something like that again!

Also mannem- fliedermaus is German for bat. Bats are my favourite animal. :D

I don't speak German but to me it looks like fliedermaus translates into flying mouse, and that's what I think they are!!!! :{~

My oldest grandchildren learned real quick that my sewing room was off limits unless I was in there.They didn't do anything but the punishment was the same.Having to sit on the sofa and not being able to move got the point across real quick.Of course they were 4yrs and 3yrs old.Having to sit still just was not something that they wanted to do.

lol flieder is lilac, F L E D E R maus is a bat lololol

BTW Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss is my favorite operetta

I know, but was a typo, then I liked it :lol: Also the idea of a purple bat is fun to me, as it is my fave colour

That's the literal translation, yes. I have spelled it wrong in my username though haha! It's such a nice word.