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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: mhogie
Date: 12-19-2004, 07:48 PM (1 of 26)
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I am in the process of looking for a sewing machine, as I have never owned a sewing machine and I would LOVE to do quilting and crafts on a machine. I have been looking around town, and while I adore the higher end machines, I realize my budget and me won't be on good terms if I don't call a halt to things somewhere. Sooooo..... here's what I've found, and I'd like to hear what people think of them? Babylock Quilter's Choice - pretty high end there, about $799, but it looks pretty good. Bernina Activa 220 - around $650 for sale here - I like it from what I've seen, but it apparently has a four step button-hole which shouldn't be an issue as I don't plan on doing a LOT of button holes, but if I did, is it too awful? Janome - I've mostly been looking at the 6260 and then there's an 8080 I've seen at Sears which seems to be identical to the DC3050, but it's quite a bit cheaper. Any thoughts or problems that stand out or should I just go with the cheapest one of these, which is the 8080 Janome?? It SEEMS to do what I want - mostly sewing, some basic quilting stuff for piecing together quilt pieces, some basic decorative stitches. -Mary |
User: mhogie
Member since: 12-19-2004 Total posts: 13 |
From: paroper
Date: 12-20-2004, 03:40 AM (2 of 26)
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Some of the new Berninas are made by Janome. I'm not sure which models, however, they are usually made with modifications to the Janome machines, so they aren't usually exactly the same machine. Take some fabric with you to the store and do some sewing. If you are going to be quilting, make a little test "pad" that you can sew on too. Sit down with the machines and give them a whirl! I sat down with a salesman and had him give me a total test drive on my first Bernina...he really worked for his money, demonstrated every standard foot and feature on the machine. Then I sewed on it...and I was in LOVE. What sold me was quality of the stitching. However, if I were not a seamstress first, (say I were a quilter or into home dec or embroidery), it might not have been the machine for me. For the sake of comparison, you might want to use the same test materials for each machine so that you can really compare their stitch quality. Be sure and test the button hole method too. While you are at it, take the dealers for a test drive too. These are the people you may be dealing with over a period of years so you need to really like and trust them. If you don't like the dealer and there isn't another available, don't buy that machine.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: mhogie
Date: 12-20-2004, 08:26 PM (3 of 26)
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Thanks! My plan for tomorrow is to do just that - test drive!! So far, the dealer that sells the Bernina's and Janome's seems the most personable and helpful - they host a number of classes, and there's even a quilting group that meets there regularly for thier monthly get-togethers. But on the other hand, the Babylock dealer WAS pretty happy to show me features without pushing at selling me one. Although he didn't answer my questions as well as the Bernina/Janome dealer did, so based on that, I may end up going with them instead - if I like a place and I like what they sell, I can over look slightly idiosyncratic products. That's how I bought my first computer years ago - the place was so helpful, it didn't matter that the pc would reboot itself spontaneously any time I had a screensaver running. And even years later, I still don't regret that decision - that pc lasted me a very long time, thanks to the people at that shop. If buying a sewing machine ends up the same way, I can live with that. I am mostly interested in whether or not anyone has had problems with any of these machines or if there's a big issue with any particular brand. I have no idea what brands to stay away from, or if a department store model of the same brand is going to be equivalent to one bought at a dealer. That's why I am wondering if the inexpensive Janome I found at Sears (the Harmony 8080)is at all comparable with the regular Janome (DC 3050) it resembles. If it IS pretty comparable, it might be workable for me to just go ahead and get the inexpensive one - I don't have any plans for making a living at this, this is merely for a hobby - I like making baby blankets for friends, fancy pillows for my dogs, and maybe even a quilt sometime, but even just that short list could keep me busy for two to three years. So given the relatively light use this machine will see, is it worth buying a higher end machine, or is buying a sewing machine like buying a computer, where you really OUGHT to go ahead and buy the best machine you can afford at that time, because it will extend the time between purchases to such a huge extent?? -Mary |
User: mhogie
Member since: 12-19-2004 Total posts: 13 |
From: paroper
Date: 12-20-2004, 10:13 PM (4 of 26)
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When I bought my first Bernina I had just "lost" my Kenmore due to bad service at Sears. I had gone out and bought a Wards brand machine that I thought would be wonderful just because I was in the middle of Easter dresses and a suit for my kids and didn't have time to waste...so many stitches and really cool designs built in...at the time it was their top of the line (who knows who made the thing). It couldn't hold a tension long enough to complete a single seam...terrible machine....couldn't keep an adjustment for anything...I was pretty upset. Within a couple of weeks of purchasing the Wards, I fell absolutely in love with a Pfaff 1475. I visited it every week day for over six months before I finally bought it. Just before I bought it I decided that I owed it to myself to check out the Bernina line. I had a degree in home ec. and most of my college, university and high school teachers had bought them for their own use, several of my classmates had purchased one along with a very good friend who was a wonderful seamstress. They all seemed to belong to a rather snobish group of people who always said, "Yes, that's a nice machine but I have a Bernina." I decided before I bought I really owed it to myself just to make sure...and I did. When I left I was terribly upset because the Pfaff had some computer capactiy (with the software) which I was really interested in...and the Bernina at that time had not entered that market at all...and at that time did not intend to but the Bernina had the best stitch of any machine I had ever seen. About a month later, on the same day I ended up purchasing my 1475 Pfaff and my 1530 Bernina. My 1530 has been an absolute workhorse. I hardly ever used the Pfaff unless I just wanted to play. Last year I traded in the Pfaff for a Bernina 200E. It is a wonderful machine. (I still sew on my 1530). I embroider on the 200 but it is a wonderful sewing machine and eventually I'll probably sew on it more. However, right now I can sew, serge and embroider at the same time so I'm in no hurry to change the set up. I highly recommend the Bernina line Berninas. I don't know for sure which of their machines are Bernina and which are Janome, but I think that you can almost tell by looking at the style. (I just don't have any personal experience with the Janome lines). At the same time, Bernina is pretty particular about what machines they sell so I'm sure that they are comfortable with the Janome. The people here who have them certainly seem to love them. Just in case you are interested, there is a new Bernina 440(?) that has been previewed to come out in the spring. It is a quilting/embroidery machine. The embroidery part as I understand is not stand alone, but must be used with a computer hook-up all the time. The part that is interesting about this machine is that if you quilt free-style it will have a regulator that keeps your stitches even as you go. There are some people pretty excited about it. I don't know about costs. There are a lot of people who love the 153 and 165 machines. Bernina has several lines available depending on your price limitations and sewing/embroidery preferences. This is a good time to make a decision if you think that you will ever need a combo machine. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: mhogie
Date: 12-21-2004, 12:16 AM (5 of 26)
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Thanks - that's the kind of information I've been hoping to get. I've been cruising the internet, and from what I can glean, it sounds like if I choose to go with the Bernina, I'm not likely to go wrong except through user error. I've been steering clear of the department store brands, as I worry that I'd have the same kind of experience as you had with the Wards brand machine. But it has been very tempting, seeing that Janome at Sears. You're probably right about which Janome's are being sold by the Bernina/Janome dealer, so that helps me make that decision. When I go to the Bernina/Janome dealer tomorrow, I think I will ask them why they don't carry the Harmony Janomes or if those are just a Sears model. The only plus side? The Sears salespeople offered to plug in any machine I wanted to try, and offered fabric samples to play with, which is much more than I expected from when I've bought other household appliances at Sears. Apparently, unlike other department stores, Sears actually has bothered to see how people shop for these machines, unlike most other products. Plus, if I do go with the Bernina's, I will have at least one alphabet to play with, unlike the Janome's. That's something I can't embroider worth beans, normally. I don't forsee using this machine for other embroidery, as I like to hand embroider, and I feel funny enough admitting that I want to use it for quilting, which again, I've always done by hand. My grandmother is probably spinning in her grave - she made my wedding quilt by hand, embroidered and quilted by hand, the only thing that MIGHT have been machined was putting together the quilt squares - I don't even remember if she HAD a sewing machine, but I remember seeing her do both the embroidery and the quilting. And the really ironic bit? I never got married. LOL. It's sitting on the top shelf of the closet, with strict instructions from my mother that I cannot use it until the significant other finally pops the question. LOL It's been up there twelve years now... But it is one beautiful quilt. I gave up on being able to do something like that without the assistance of modern machinery. The squares alone just about kill me. I still have her quilting frame, which I've used for baby quilts (no squares to worry about - all one piece) but I know full well that if I got a machine that could do it, I'd use it. So that's my goal - something to put together the quilt squares and do the quilting. And make seams for general sewing - pillows for the dogs, mostly. They are very spoiled. I just can't see using it for a lot of embroidery, so I think that's not something I'll need. I just have a hard time with embroidery - for some reason, I just never think to add a bit of trim to something, or add a flower here or there. So I tend to look at old Ben Franklin stores and Walmarts for pre-printed embroidery quilt blocks, pillowcases, etc. They're getting harder to find, so I suspect eventually I might have to actually learn to be creative, but until then, I still have things I can embroider! Now I just have to decide between the Bernina and the Babylock. I guess try-out time tomorrow will tell me more. Thank you very much for your help! Mary |
User: mhogie
Member since: 12-19-2004 Total posts: 13 |
From: paroper
Date: 12-21-2004, 12:30 AM (6 of 26)
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My grandmother was a wonderful quilter too. She spent hours cutting and sewing everything by hand. She lived in a house with a 20x20 all-purpose room...bedroom, living room, etc. In the center of that house a drop down quilting loom. The only time that she didn't go to bed when the sun went down was when there was a quilt in that loom. She did lovely work. That was a different time.... She also did tiny little crochet (thread) things. I like to crochet, but make sure that the hook is large...the larger the better! Good luck in your quest. I used my 1530 for professional sewing after I left my job to take care of my kids and work from home. I ran that machine sometimes for 14 hours straight, 7 days a week. (Sometimes you have to take the work when it comes). Once I sewed on it continually for 3 full days when a huge project was dropped on me with a three day notice. I had it professionally cleaned and serviced for the first time last year when I got the 200E. (i couldn't afford to let it go long enough to put it in the shop.) It has just been a wonderful machine and one of the best investments I have ever made! pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 12-21-2004, 05:20 AM (7 of 26)
| I wanted to say here that Sears Kenmores are also Janome. They do have a computerized model now on sale that has a few more features than the 8080 with the Janome name on it. Their models do differ in features but this particular model is almost half price. I have a computerized Kenmore 19365 that is a great machine. It is whisper quiet..even quieter and has a few more features than some the other Kenmore models. It has 2 alphabets both Block and Script both upper and lower case and 365 stitches with memory and editing and mirror image. I also have and love my Pfaff mechanical 1530 because of the dual feed. I suggest before buying a new machine to look at the Pfaffs and at least try one with dual feed. But in the long run..there is nothing like a Bernina. I have always wanted a mechanical Bernina. I finally tried one out with a test drive last week. It was rather noisy compared to the machines I now have and I could not sew late at night in the apt. that I live in with one that had that motor sound. It would disturb my next door neighbors sleep..thin walls. I hope you find a good machine that you love. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: paroper
Date: 12-21-2004, 08:21 AM (8 of 26)
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My old one gets really loud if it needs to be oiled. If you ever try out a used one and it is loud, ask someone to oil it.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: mhogie
Date: 12-21-2004, 09:49 AM (9 of 26)
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Thanks Kylnne2, What I'm wondering is if the Janome's Sears is selling is of the same quality as what the dealers are selling at a much higher price tag. I tend to worry about the "if it's too good to be true, it probably is" kind of things. Especially since most of the machines I'm seeing at Sears seem to be similarly priced for the features. It seems to be pretty clear - if I wanted to spend a thousand dollars or more, I could find a machine with the features I want, no problem!! But there's that Janome, with ALMOST all the features I want (no alphabet of any sort, but I could get by without that, and no quilting or walking foot, but I could buy that later), and here it has a price tag so much lower than what I'd expect. Makes me wonder if it is similar in quality to the weird brands that Shopko sells - similar price for the features. Thank you for the information on the Kenmore's, but I pretty much had to already take them out of the running, as I can't afford the Kenmores at the local Sears - all of the computerized ones were higher than the price range I'm looking at. I'd like to try and keep my price range at around $500 to $800, the Kenmores that I liked were around $1000 at my local Sears, ouch! But it's good to know those could still be a candidate if I increase my spending limit a bit! As for the Pfaffs, I have looked in my area, and there doesn't seem to be a dealer nearby. I will have to look a bit more. Good to know. Thanks, Mary |
User: mhogie
Member since: 12-19-2004 Total posts: 13 |
From: mhogie
Date: 12-21-2004, 09:58 AM (10 of 26)
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Thanks paroper, Wow, you really do give that machine a good work out! It's good to know that if I do decide on the Bernina, it's likely to be able to handle whatever I throw at it. Yeah, I know what you mean about it being a different time - when my grandmother was doing most of her quilting, she also used to do the little crochet finishes on pillowcases and things, as well as afghans and the odd table runner. It's almost impossible to do that kind of thing now - I knit, and it takes me months to finish almost anything beyond a scarf. And forget the little finger weight yarn - I'm going for bulky yarns, all the way! It goes MUCH faster! -Mary |
User: mhogie
Member since: 12-19-2004 Total posts: 13 |
From: paroper
Date: 12-21-2004, 10:07 AM (11 of 26)
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It sounds like we have a lot in common. My grandmother used to do pulled work on table cloths. My mother had a table that needed 120 inch cloth. She's carefully pull the stings on a Damask fabric and then crocheted little groups together in the center with a tiny little rose and chained to the next spot. These cloths were beautiful! She was an artist in her own way. Her tiny stiches on her quilts.... I have the last quilt that she did when her eyesight was going...the stitch are so large and uneven. It was made expecially for my "dolls". I love that quilt because she made such a special effort to finish it. I used it with my first baby but it was so poorly made that I decided to just keep it and not use it anymore.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 12-21-2004, 05:41 PM (12 of 26)
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MHOGIe, I hope you have not finalized anything, yet... You have not looked closely enough at the Kenmore made by Janome at Sears.. It has the alphabet , capitals and lower case,... I'm talking about the one that was on sale for 299.00 as of Dec, 18, Saturday.. I went in there and looked at it...It is almost identical to my Janome Memory Craft 4000 that sold for 1199.00 in 1994 when I bought mine.. I caught a sale , but I still paid 800.00 for mine.. This one I looked at Saturday only has the block letter alphabet, whereas mine has the block and also a fancy script, but you cannot read some of the letters, they are so fancy.. Also my Janome makes a little alligator and a tiny little penguin that the Kenmore does not make.. But for 299.00 Who Cares?? It has the same 1 step buttonholes mine does, one of them is specially for knits and believe me that is worth its weight in gold..Now the Janome I looked at had the script alphabet as well as the alligator and the penguin, but the price was higher... I'm still talking Sears.. If you don't need specialized lessons and all that special attention that a brand name dealer gives you, why not go with the Kenmore made by Janome at Sears for 299.00. I know the Bernina is supposed to be the Cadillac of sewing machines, but they are LOUD.. Ever watch Sandra Betzina or Susan Khalje on TV.. they have to talk very loud if they are stitching while talking...??? 
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: mhogie
Date: 12-21-2004, 06:47 PM (13 of 26)
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Thanks Libby, I appreciate the help, but I made my decision today after taking the machines for a test drive. I found myself really liking the Babylock machine. It was a bit pricey - $800, but it had the features I wanted - script alphabet, knee bar for lifting the pressure foot, the attachable table for quilting, the fact that it actually INCLUDES the walking foot, and then the silly Start/Stop button just made sense for me somehow, I liked the stitch selections, and it just seemed to make sense to me somehow, whereas I've felt a little intimidated by the Bernina's and Janome's. And when I compared the stitch quality, it didn't look much different from the stitches made by the Bernina's and Janome's. Then there was the dealer - they didn't offer as many classes as the Bernina place, but a class comes with the purchase of the machine, and the people there were a lot more personable - they knew some of the other customers by name, and were actually talking with them about what they wanted. The Bernina place wasn't very friendly - happy to make a sale, yes, but talk about what you were doing and what you want to do? Not so much. So I went for the Babylock!! I will be trying it out later this evening, I'll certainly let you know how it goes!! -Mary |
User: mhogie
Member since: 12-19-2004 Total posts: 13 |
From: paroper
Date: 12-22-2004, 08:33 AM (14 of 26)
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THAT'S WONDERFUL, Mary! I'm so glad you found the perfect machine/dealer!!!!! I hope you have many many great years of sewing!!!! Merry Christmas!!!
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 12-22-2004, 10:38 AM (15 of 26)
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Babylock has to be good.. Nancy Zieman has changed to that brand, you know..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
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From: mhogie
Date: 12-22-2004, 07:06 PM (16 of 26)
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Hi Paroper, Yes, I definitely made the right decision. I had the machine set up today, and made two drawstring bags for christmas presents and a purse liner for one of the purses I knitted for my nieces (most of the purses I felted, so I didn't have to put a liner in those, but this one wasn't felted so it has way too many holes for me to give it to the kid without lining it). And it felt absolutely EASY to figure out. Even played a little with some of the stitches. It made so much more sense to me than the Bernina and Janome machines - that knee lever for raising the foot really makes life easier!! It also has an automatic thread cutter, so you can set it to automatically clip the threads after finishing the line of stitches. That makes things go smoother - cut, then reposition the piece for the next set of stitches, without having to lift it. Thanks for your help! I really appreciate it! -Mary |
User: mhogie
Member since: 12-19-2004 Total posts: 13 |
From: paroper
Date: 12-22-2004, 07:08 PM (17 of 26)
|
I'm so glad you are pleased!
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: mhogie
Date: 12-22-2004, 07:16 PM (18 of 26)
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Hi Libby, Glad to know the Babylock should be pretty good. I've been very happy with it so far - I've already completed a couple of easy projects, a couple of drawstring bags and a purse liner for a knitted purse I was needing to line. It is really working great! Very intuitive for me, which is important. I can usually figure out any computer program you throw at me, but any other kind of consumer electronic thing, I'm lost - I still have to keep the answering machine book handy, for crying out loud. So I'm really glad this is making sense to me. By the way, I haven't the foggiest idea who Nancy Zieman is?? Sorry. I am a complete newbie to this sewing thing - give me a project to do by hand, no problem, just don't expect it done anytime SOON, and it will be pretty decent when I'm done, but I've never done anything with sewing machines before. Unless you count a decrepit rescued-from-the-garbage 1950's Singer I picked up off the curb a couple of years ago - that one was so bad, I don't think anything could have saved it. The posts for the topside thread had broken off, the lower bobbin couldn't keep a regular tension to save it's life, it didn't seem like I could ever get it to work without major repair work. Ended up back on the curb. Made for an interesting day and a half, though. -Mary |
User: mhogie
Member since: 12-19-2004 Total posts: 13 |
From: soverysewey
Date: 12-22-2004, 09:19 PM (19 of 26)
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Babylocks are made by Brother and I have two Brother machines that I like for the same reason..they make sense to me. The computerized part is easy for me to understand and use. I tested out the Vikings and personaly found them to be difficult..even the lady at the demo was having problems. So I'll stick with my Brothers. What brand did Nancy Zieman used to use? I would imagine that she uses whoever gives her the machines for free though..probably doesn't mean as much as we would like to think.  I wonder if she ever has to actually buy a machine?Must be nice to get all those TOL machines and the company gets the advertisment..I wouldn't mind it!!
|
User: soverysewey
Member since: 12-19-2003 Total posts: 56 |
From: mhogie
Date: 12-22-2004, 11:52 PM (20 of 26)
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Glad I'm not the only one who is confused by the Viking machines - I went to see them at a local store here, and while the saleslady was in general pretty clueless, it didn't help that none of the features I wanted were on the machines I could afford, and even those machines were too confusing for me. The interface just was too confusing. I find that pretty frustrating because I work with technology every day - give me a computer, and I can tear it apart and put it back together, and have it working just fine. But consumer electronics are a whole different ballgame - I don't understand any of that, and it drives me nuts, as I think I SHOULD be able to get the idea. After all, I can tell by the pattern of beeps my computer makes that it's memory chips have died, or it's video card croaked, but I can't program my cellphone to not beep when you press the keys (my significant other finally changed that for me after I'd had the phone for over three years - he got tired of having teenagers point at the ancient cellphone when he'd use it in public). Frustrating. So I was glad to find the Babylock so intuitive. And I still have no idea who Nancy Zieman is.  -Mary |
User: mhogie
Member since: 12-19-2004 Total posts: 13 |
From: Hogmami
Date: 12-23-2004, 12:07 AM (21 of 26)
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Nancy has a sewing program on PBS. Also is contacted to Nancy's Notions.
Carolyn
Michigan |
User: Hogmami
Member since: 09-30-2004 Total posts: 800 
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From: Hogmami
Date: 12-23-2004, 12:13 AM (22 of 26)
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Here is Nancy's website http://www.nancysnotions.com/Nancys/assets/html/homepage.asp?URLCheck=1 I have a Viking and love it. I used a Bernina in a couple of sewing classes I took and I don't care for them at all. I found them confessing and noisy.
Carolyn
Michigan |
User: Hogmami
Member since: 09-30-2004 Total posts: 800
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From: mhogie
Date: 12-23-2004, 12:59 AM (23 of 26)
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Ah, I see now. Thanks! I was really starting to wonder if I'd missed something really blindingly obvious. But it makes sense that I wouldn't know who this is - I almost never watch the PBS stations in my area except for Nova. Not sure why - I used to watch a lot of stuff on PBS. I may have to check that out, then. Thanks. As for the Vikings, I had hoped I would find them easy to use - their reputation seems to be very good. But I guess it's like everything - "your actual mileage may vary", so what seems easy for one is confusing for someone else. -Mary |
User: mhogie
Member since: 12-19-2004 Total posts: 13 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 12-23-2004, 05:41 AM (24 of 26)
I'm glad you found a good machine that you like. It sounds like you will be happy with it a long time. After I purchased a lemon of a computerized machine (more than one actually) I bought a mechanical Pfaff with the IDT that was on sale but I wanted all the different features of a computerized machine so I also bought a computerized Kenmore on sale ($540). I really ended up getting 2 good machines for the price of one. My Kenmore has 365 stitches with memory, stitch editing and stitch elongation. I like the way you can program up to 50 patterns in different order along with 2 alphabets upper and lower case including script. I use it for deco and heirlooming along side of my embroidery machine. I am glad I found quiet machines too because I live in an apt and sew late at night. I love to see people happy with their machines I love mine also. 
|
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: mhogie
Date: 12-26-2004, 09:01 PM (25 of 26)
Yes, I'm really looking forward to starting my first big project with this machine - I went home for Christmas to my parents' house, and once I mentioned the new sewing machine, my mother dug out a HUGE basket of material to give me along with some quilting books she had bought but had decided she wasn't going to use. Very cool! I had been gearing up to go to the bookstore and spend a fortune on books to show me how to do all this stuff with the sewing machine, and here it is already!! A couple of the books even talk about how to use the walking foot and other stuff like that specific to working with a machine!! And THEN she pointed out that she also had an old sewing machine she could have given me when her old Singer had began acting up and she'd worried it wasn't repairable, but then it WAS repaired, and now here she has a spare machine. But that was ok, too - she said the newer one tended to walk across the table anyway, it's too light, so I probably wouldn't want it, and I should stick with my new one.  Now I'm starting to play with the materials and patterns, and deciding where to start first!! -Mary |
User: mhogie
Member since: 12-19-2004 Total posts: 13 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 12-27-2004, 03:41 AM (26 of 26)
| Mary, that was nice of your mother to give you the things you needed to get started. Get goin girl..get your new machine smokin. Enjoy |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
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