Sewing Machine Reviews

What brand and model do you have?
How long have you had it?
How much does that machine cost (approximately)?
What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?
How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?
Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?
What features does your machine have that work well for you?
Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?
Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?
What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?
Do you have a dream machine?I found this blog interesting, at Sew Mama, Sew....Wanting to participate and answer a few questions about my sewing machine. But, which one.... I worked in a sewing machine sales store for two years and learned a lot about machines, that I did not know, even though I had sewn for years. The store where I worked sold Bernina, Babylock, Janome & Pfaff. I already owned a Babylock Quilters Pro. I purchased it ten years ago and it is my "go to" machine. It was bought originally thru a close out..the store decided that it was not moving and they were selling off the floor model The list price at that time was about $1200, so I only paid $850. Seems like a lot, since I can now buy the same machine for less than $700, ten years later. But, it is such a good straight stitch machine, metal gears, does have a scissors option.  It is only a straight stitch machine, no bells or whistles. At the time that I purchased this machine, the selling point for me was it had a deeper throat and it came with a extension table. I can free motion with this machine and I love how I can set the feed dogs at one of four levels. I can also adjust the tension on the foot. So, if I am doing something that is heavier fabric, I can apply more pressure to the foot. It has been a great machine. It is actually a re-badged Juki...but, I would not give it up for any other machine.
On the other side of table, I have a Babylock Ellegante. I purchased this machine used. It has a few issues that I have worked around. The foot pedal has a broken place in the cord, so I know that when it does not respond, I just need to wiggle wires...a new electronic foot pedal is $100, so I have been putting off buying one of those. And one of the features of this machine is that I can sew with or without the foot pedal. But, sewing with the foot pedal is for long straight stitches...not, so much quilting.  I bought this machine, because I thought that I would like to do embroidery work and at the time, it was the only machine on the market that was USB friendly for embroidery work. Being able to download an embroidery pattern and move it to the machine with the USB was extremely easy.  But, I really found out that I am not an embroidery person. I like and use the machine for the following reasons. Babylock is extremely easy to learn. It has a hovering foot feature, which lets me set the needle down and the sewing foot to pickup when I stop sewing. It is a great feature. I also like the number of stitches available on the Ellegante. Other features that I like are the speed control, scissor, and the needle threader is great!  I probably would not buy another embroidery machine, because that is not something that I am interested in doing. I said the machine was used and I worked for the store, so I paid $3500 for a used embroidery machine...six years ago.
If I had to buy a machine and Babylock was not available to me, my next line of machines that I would look at would be the Janome. I also, have a couple of Janome machines. But, they are specialty machines. I have a Janome 2030...it is something to carry back and forth to classes, light weight, features are speed control and scissors. The other Janome is very specialized-Janome Expression Felting Machine.

So, finally I got to go back into my sewing room and work on my project. I have spent a little time (two weeks) working on a project for my daughter. She is in the process of writing a quilting book..she was in need of a piecer and I got to be one of them. I pieced more in a short time than I have in quite a while. So, I have pieced two quilt tops, and quilted a quilt. Waiting for another quilt to quilt...I am sure that it will arrive any day now. Sorry, no pictures...but what I have seen is awesome.
And, while I am finished with helping the daughter, I also needed to make a baby quilt. I have a good friend that is having her first grandchild...a boy! A BOY...what do I make for a boy!. I have three sisters, I have two daughters and five granddaughters...what is a boy! I have nothing in my stash to make something boyish...well, maybe there are a few pieces of fabric! But, just not what I wanted to make. It is just a flannel, raw edge baby blanket, but it is warm, soft and snuggly! So, I finished making the warm, soft, snuggly baby quilt. I was able find SOME nice baby flannel in my stash to make a few burp clothes. What mother does not need 3 dozens of those..but, I only made eight.
So, back to what I am doing back in my room. I have been looking at my design wall and have finally decided to make a few adjustments to the project..pictures will follow in a few days. I have had this project on my design wall, since the wall went up. It just has not looked right..so, finally I decided it was time to make it right. When I pulled the project out of space it was in...I needed a new sky fabric....then, I needed a new tree trunk fabric..and, now the only thing left from the original project is the background and I am not entirely sure that is going to remain. No wonder the project was not finished, it just wasn't right. But, never fear, all will be headed in the right direction in a very short time.
And while we are on the top of the projects that I love to make. It is so difficult to find any info on how to make an art piece. I have questions that I just cannot find the answers too. Some of those questions are; When doing free motion type of three play, I don't want to see all of my thread play on the final backing. So, I have decided that I will be doing my thread play on the top, with a sandwich of batting and muslin. Then at some point I will ad a backing fabric and there is the next questions. Do, I sew thru the layers to attach the pieces together. I think that I have to, because other wise the project has to hang from the backing and it would not be attached to the front, only the binding. I will be working thru these questions as I make this project. I will keep you updated on how thing progress and what I feel are the best methods to use. And hopefully I will have pictures to show while I am moving thru this adventure!

I am so in need of getting to sew on something of my own...I am about ready to scream. I should not complain..my oldest daughter is writing a quilt book and she need help piecing and quilting. Both, of which I do, on occasion. So, for the past week and a half I have been busier than I have been in quite awhile. I have pieced two tops in in 6 days and quilted another in two. They are lovely quilts, but sorry, I cannot show pictures for fear that I will be banned from any further helping. But, it was quite fun.
For my next act, while I am away from my project is to put together a baby quilt, since I have a good friend that is going to be a grandma for the first time. I am making a frayed edge quilt. They are so soft and warm for a winter baby.
Then once that project is done, the final project will be doll clothes. This, as I am writing, seems to be a month of off the wall projects. I have made doll clothes in the past for my girls and for the older grand-daughters, but I need to make some for the younger set of grand-daughter. Yes, that is all I have is grand-daughters. No, boys in this family. The husband says that is okay, cause that way we get to choose the boys.!
Hopefully, I will be done with baby quilt today and get to work on my own project for a few days. Because doll clothes are not due until the end of the month!