Thoughts on arrival of new machines

And don't forget the classic, "Oh, what a sewing machine!" if you can't
think of anything nice to say about the machine (say, if it's a bottom
of the line junker-to-be that the person unknowinglyi bought)

--
I know God will not give me anything I can't handle.
I just wish that He didn't trust me so much. - Mother Teresa

Melinda Meahan - take out TRASH to reply wrote:

And don't forget the classic, "Oh, what a sewing machine!" if you can't
think of anything nice to say about the machine (say, if it's a bottom
of the line junker-to-be that the person unknowinglyi bought)

"Precious" -- it's ok to say "Oh, what a precious sewing
machine!" "How happy and proud you must be!" *choking
and gagging*

--
Joanne
http://members.tripod.com/~bernardschopen/

Even if the new SM is a "junker" you can always say "It is breath taking!"
(Elaine on Seinfeld) No feelings hurt.

--
Sugar & Spice Quilts by Linda E
http://community.webshots.com/user/frame242

How about Autumn???

"Stepdawn" wrote in message
news:ZhK6b.13637$QT5.9283@fed1read02...

"Valkyrie" wrote in message
news:1062914194.645567@yasure...
As I have been reading the NGs having to do with sewing a thought all of
a
sudden occurred to me. The decisions involved, waiting for and arrival
of
new machines (often referred to as my/our baby) is much like that of the
arrival of a much anticipated child. I know writing out that check after
I
decided on my dream machine was almost as painful as 31 hours of labor.
LOL
When the announcement of the machine is made we all want to know the
name
and model, when did it get here, etc. This is always followed by the
appropriate ohhhs and awwws and words of congratulations.

I think we should have sewing machine showers as we do for our babies!

As proud ''parent'' arrives home with "the new baby" all the sewing
friends
are there for the shower. No discouraging words would be uttered about
the
type of machine brought home anymore than the comments of "why didn't
you
get a boy/girl instead", "why didn't you get one with hair" would be at
all
socially acceptable. All gushing would be positive and complimentary as
well
as the stories that would circulate through the group about "when my
baby
arrived". Gifts would include lots of accessory feet, little bags of
bobbins
and bobbin holders, a new machine dust cover, lovely thread assortments,
packages of needles and spare light bulbs, how to books, gizmos you'd
love
but could never afford or justify getting yourself, perhaps the truly
close
friends and family could go together to get the new baby a lovely
bassinet,
er, custom sewing table, fat quarters or other appropriate fabric rolled
into the cute"cake" form and lovingly presented. There would, of course
be
good food and beverages, perhaps some of those lame name the baby games.
I'm
sure you get my drift....

I can just see it now......"Where are you going dear?" "Oh, I'm off to
England, Kate's new treadle has arrived and the girls are giving her a
shower." or "I'll be leaving for the airport now, honey, feed the kids
and
the dog has to be at the vet on Tuesday, I'm heading to New York, the
little
Janome arrives tomorrow!" ~blowing kisses~

Boy, it's getting late, I've been at my machine most of the day and
obviously my mind is beginning to farkle. LOL

Val

I love this idea! Perhaps we could have a virtual shower? I need to come
up with a name for my new baby. She doesn't come until the 27th at the
earliest as they didn't have one in stock. Any suggestions?

Dawn

I have been hinting to DH that I really, really want a new sewing machine,
but I haven't even began to research what is available and what I want, also
don't have the money right now. But, does anyone have any suggestions on
brands, models, must haves, etc. My current machine is a Singer and is
probably about 25 years old.

Love in Stitches,

Coleen
(starting to dream about a new machine)

"Valkyrie" wrote in message
news:1062914194.645567@yasure...
As I have been reading the NGs having to do with sewing a thought all of a
sudden occurred to me. The decisions involved, waiting for and arrival of
new machines (often referred to as my/our baby) is much like that of the
arrival of a much anticipated child. I know writing out that check after I
decided on my dream machine was almost as painful as 31 hours of labor.
LOL
When the announcement of the machine is made we all want to know the name
and model, when did it get here, etc. This is always followed by the
appropriate ohhhs and awwws and words of congratulations.

Coleen wrote:

I have been hinting to DH that I really, really want a new sewing machine,
but I haven't even began to research what is available and what I want, also
don't have the money right now. But, does anyone have any suggestions on
brands, models, must haves, etc. My current machine is a Singer and is
probably about 25 years old.

Love in Stitches,

Coleen
(starting to dream about a new machine)


G'day E.Coleen! Fancy seeing you here!

I used to hanker after a new machine, but I've decided that my old clunker (28
year old Singer) is just fine! She does everything I need to get done and has
made (and is still making) most of our clothes. The only thing I really lust
after would be a decent three-step zig-zag for swimwear and making DD's dance
costumes. I don't need embroidery because I like to do that by hand.

AFAICT, there's really not much new under the sun. Or am I dreaming? ;-

--
Trish {|:-}
Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Sounds good to me.

Nell in Austin

"Valkyrie" wrote in message
news:1062914194.645567@yasure...
As I have been reading the NGs having to do with sewing a thought all of a
sudden occurred to me. The decisions involved, waiting for and arrival of
new machines (often referred to as my/our baby) is much like that of the
arrival of a much anticipated child. I know writing out that check after I
decided on my dream machine was almost as painful as 31 hours of labor.
LOL
When the announcement of the machine is made we all want to know the name
and model, when did it get here, etc. This is always followed by the
appropriate ohhhs and awwws and words of congratulations.

I think we should have sewing machine showers as we do for our babies!

As proud ''parent'' arrives home with "the new baby" all the sewing
friends
are there for the shower. No discouraging words would be uttered about the
type of machine brought home anymore than the comments of "why didn't you
get a boy/girl instead", "why didn't you get one with hair" would be at
all
socially acceptable. All gushing would be positive and complimentary as
well
as the stories that would circulate through the group about "when my baby
arrived". Gifts would include lots of accessory feet, little bags of
bobbins
and bobbin holders, a new machine dust cover, lovely thread assortments,
packages of needles and spare light bulbs, how to books, gizmos you'd love
but could never afford or justify getting yourself, perhaps the truly
close
friends and family could go together to get the new baby a lovely
bassinet,
er, custom sewing table, fat quarters or other appropriate fabric rolled
into the cute"cake" form and lovingly presented. There would, of course be
good food and beverages, perhaps some of those lame name the baby games.
I'm
sure you get my drift....

I can just see it now......"Where are you going dear?" "Oh, I'm off to
England, Kate's new treadle has arrived and the girls are giving her a
shower." or "I'll be leaving for the airport now, honey, feed the kids and
the dog has to be at the vet on Tuesday, I'm heading to New York, the
little
Janome arrives tomorrow!" ~blowing kisses~

Boy, it's getting late, I've been at my machine most of the day and
obviously my mind is beginning to farkle. LOL

Val

Coleen wrote:

I have been hinting to DH that I really, really want a new sewing machine,
but I haven't even began to research what is available and what I want, also
don't have the money right now. But, does anyone have any suggestions on
brands, models, must haves, etc. My current machine is a Singer and is
probably about 25 years old.

Love in Stitches,

Coleen
(starting to dream about a new machine)

I love my Husqvarnas - I have a Lily 550/555 and a Huskylock 910 serger.

For me, as a semi professional dress and costume maker, in no particular
order, the must haves a

Totally perfect buttonholes in a variety of styles (there are 10 on this
machine)
a really adjustable blind hem (though NOT for use on bias cut dresses!)
perfect straight stitches every time
multiple needle positions (I have 26 altogether!)
the ability to cope with both thick fabrics (e.g. several layers of
denim or curtain fabric)
the ability to cope with fine, slippery fabrics (i.e.. silk chiffon and
poly satin)
absolute reliability - I do NOT want a problem in the middle of a
project!

To get the features I wanted, and the reliability, I had to buy a good
make of machine, and TOTL. This means I have 240 stitches, including 3
alphabet and number sets (I didn't 'need' them, but they do come in
useful! I put the lass's names on their dresses when I did the pink
bridesmaids, so they didn't get the wrong ones!). There are LOTS of
stitches and patterns I really thought I'd have no use for, but one of
the first jobs I did after getting the new machine was a christening
gown with - you guessed it! - rows of little flowers! When I'm
teaching, the kids LOVE all the decorative stitches!

My Husqvarna came with a 5 year warranty and a free finance deal. It
was also the lowest price available at the time. About 9 months after I
got it, the machine was stolen. I liked it so much I went out and
bought another from the same shop as soon as the insurance came
through! I've had the current one for 5 years this autumn, and it's
been serviced once. It also had a new carrying handle - under the
warranty.

The Huskylock 910 serger has been just as good and reliable. It
recently needed a small part, which cost the princely sum of £12 to get
and have fitted! The machine WORKED well enough without it, but wasn't
as easy to thread! The dealer always sends the machine home with the
old broken bits, so you can see what went wrong, unless it's something
obvious and large, like the carrying handle, which I didn't really want!

I looked at lots of different machines when I bought mine, as I was in
the market for two TOTL machines, but not embroidery. I saw lots of
lovely machines, tried dozens, and finally boiled down to two: the Lily
I finally bought, and the equivalent Bernina. I'd used lots of Berninas
over the years, and to start with, they had the edge because of that,
but I was familiar with Husqvarna Vikings as I'd used them years before
in school, and my Big Sis has one, which I've also used. In the end it
boiled down to ease of use. There was nothing to choose between them on
stitch quality, but the HV had the 'heirloom' buttonhole the Bernina
didn't, and I REALLY wanted that! The Bernina had one or two features
in what were for me awkward places, and the Lily said 'I was designed
specially for you!' I've never had to hunt for a stitch - except for
the alphabets! That's the dyslexia, not the machine! Everything is
exactly where I expect to find it. And this is why you have to TRY
BEFORE YOU BUY! It's so easy to use that I've had both little old
grannies who have 1950's Singers and never wanted anything else using
all the fancy stuff, as well as kids of seven!

The Lilies and other 'flower' models are being phased out for the new
generation of machines, which do more and cost more! You might pick up
an excellent bargain. Happy shopping!

--
Kate XXXXXX
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Well said Kate. I chose the Bernina for some of the reasons you chose your
HV. That is why their are different machines out there. Different strokes
for different folks.

--
Sugar & Spice Quilts by Linda E
http://community.webshots.com/user/frame242

When you can, buy a new one, BUT keep the old one. You'll be surprised how
often you go back to it for this or that. At least, I use my 1961 Singer
503 much more than I ever thought I would when I bought the new embroidery
machine, Pfaff 7560, which I love, too.
Emily