New Machines

I should think you are! Enjoy!

Congratulations on the new "toys". I've had Pfaffs for a long time till I received a new BabyLock Ellageo for Christmas. Although I haven't felt like "playing" with it very much, first because of illness, then I lost a DS last month and my dear SIL last week. The bit of practice I've done shows it is a fantastic machine and I hope to make some Easter outfits for DGD and myself next week. Enjoy yours. Emily.

Congratulations! We know what you'll be doing soon -- don't forget to come up for air from time to time :)

-Irene

Hi Cathi,

How exciting...I hope you enjoy your machines. I am new to sewing, and trying to pick brains on the best machines, overlockers, and how-to tips. The machines I have been recommended (and bought) are the Pfaff 4572 (hobbylock) and the Husqvarna Emerals 183 (yet to be bought). Are you happy with your husq?

I am nervous about the extent of investment, and while I take people's advice about different machines being somewhat like cars, I still want someone to tell me what to do:-) I am currently the owner of a very basic Janome M2008 - straight and zigzag stitch, 3 step buttonhole...which leads to my other question...do people generally hang on to more than one sewing machine? WHY? I was thinking of giving my almost brand new Janome away if I buy the Husqy, but now am wondering...

Imaan

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No, don't give it away or sell it, you may need/want a spare one day. I sometimes have 3 or 4 of mine set up to work on different projects, since I may work on 2-3 a day, depending on what it is and my mood. Emily

Murphy's Law dictates that a sewing machine will break down in the middle of a rush project of some importance, so having a reserve machine in the house will either save the day, or prevent Murphy's Law from operating. If you have just one machine you can use, you can almost rely on Murphy's Law kicking in.

Not to mention that machines have talents just like people do. If you take a class somewhere, you want a portable machine that travels well, even though you may prefer to do your work at home on another machine. Some machines are better for quilting - like piecing on a Featherweight or Singer 301, both very portable machines. One of my machines can do almost anything - except a decent buttonhole.

In addition to my Viking, I've got a couple of straight stitchers stashed away, a Singer 99K and a White Dressmaker. The Viking is my main machine and makes life much easier for many things, but the straightstitchers make much prettier topstitching and work so much better for inside-stitched pockets (small presser feet fit better!) that they get used fairly often, too.

It's also easier to do free motion quilting on either of the two straight stitchers because they're in cabinets that give me more supporting area than my current 30x30 work area for the Viking.

And I've got a couple of sergers, too... the almost worn out Pfaff 4 thread that gets hauled on trips, and the newer Juki 5 thread. Oh, and a coverstitch only machine, too.

Passing a not-often used machine on is a nice idea. It's also a nice idea to have a spare machine around for a quick job in the middle of a more complex project on the main machine, or when the main machine goes in for service. Do what pleases you.

After all, if my husband can have about 8 sets of socket wrenches, and two trucks, why can't I have three sewing machines?

Kay

If your Singer 99 is in a cabinet, you own a rarity. Cabinets for the

3/4 sized machine are very hard to find!

Gracious me! Don't do that! The moment you do, you'll need it!

As a MINIMUM I like to have two multi-stitch machines in the house, and two sergers. I want a cover stitch machine as well, but I don't do enough to really need one at present...

If you sew a lot (and I do, some of it professionally), then it is very sensible to have you main machine and a back-up for when that goes for a service. Being left with no serger in the middle of a wedding project with sixteen bridesmaids made me realize that a second serger was also a necessity!

I've just packed up seven of my herd: I'm off into school tomorrow to spend 4 days teaching kids to sew, making bags. There are quite a few left here at home still, as I have 19 in the house at present!

Not Kate, but let me put my 2¢ in: When I sewed all the gowns for DD's wedding, I had one serger set up with periwinkle thread, one set up with purple thread and wished for a third for white. I'm very particular about using matching thread, and re-threading sergers is somewhat more difficult (and time consuming) than re-threading a standard sewing machine. I had two and won a third serger and gave my second one to one of my daughters. But she is close by, so I can borrow it back any time. Can you tell I like having more than one? I often have a need for a serger with a different color thread even on the same project, so having at LEAST two is fabulous. ;-) I also have three sewing machines *and* an embroidery machine.

Beverly

I frequently have two set up in different colours or for different processes such as seams and rolled hems. If there's no room on the bench because it's a bulky project, then one sits ready on the floor to swap over at a moment's notice.

I do the same with sewing machines. Yesterday James had one of the Elnas set up for straight stitch to sew name tapes in his new shirts, while I had Lily set up for fancy appliqué stitches and zigzags to do the bag samples for school today.