death and replacement

I know the last post had me raving about the virtues of yarn play as my preferred time spender but the last two days have seen me sitting at my machine.

Yesterday were some quick and simple pillowcases in a gorgeous floral sent to me quite some time ago.It has been sitting on my shelf all this time and I did not know what to do with it that was a "worthy" use.In the end I decided I didn't want to put it in a quilt and would love to enjoy it most days.Done.

*needless to say that no weary head shall be laying on these-show pillows only people!!

Then I took to the huge pile of alterations and holes in knees and I conquered it.Yay.

So I thought I might try my hand at smocking.I don't wear frocks with smocking and have no little female relatives so until now have had nobody obvious to smock for.I thought it seemed simple enough.It is too- but your machine has to be a willing accomplice otherwise it all goes to hell in a hand basket.Which it did.

I was ironing the spaghetti straps hoping my goddaughter would forgive the crazy and unhappy thread /elastic combo goings on under the seemingly perfect exterior.I was feeling a little (just a little ) as though next time it would be a doddle.My machine had squealed in horror and pain the entire way through the eight rows of smocking and I was perspiring at each and every "altercation" between thread and elastic,fabric and needle/ bobbin chaos but it was possibly working.

But then some kind of magic happens when you spritz and iron.It goes PING.Pretty huh?

Then I heard a whizzing sound followed by a pop.Thankfully I wasn't sitting at it.I looked over to see thick smoke whooshing from the plug socket on the machine.

I can safely say its had it.Over twenty years of fairly reliable service and I am now in the market for a new one.

Which brings me to the next and most important part of this post.

How on earth do you choose a new sewing machine!

Please tell me what you use lovely people and what it does for you to help me narrow things down a bit because I believe choosing a new sewing machine is more challenging than entering Hope and Greenwood carrying a substantial sugar addiction and not buying half the store.

Comments

[Rachel]

Oh no Clare! Hmm sewing machine shopping is hard, I have a Bernina Activa 230 PE which I think is now superseded. I love it though next time I will be buying a bigger machine, such as an Bernina Aurora. I chose Bernina because thats what my mum always has, because its a reputable brand, and has 10 year warranty. But I know lots of people love Pfaff and Elna. Do let us know which one you pick!

[Kirsty]

I bought a Janome 1600P about 2 years ago and i love it. My sister bought the exact same machine just this christmas passed. She also loves hers. She has every machine under the sun and loves this one above all else. They are a semi pro machine and can sew through just about anything. I do a bit of quilting but mostly make clothing with it. These machines are a straight stitch. Good luck.

x

[Monda]

I have an old Bernina, which I bought second hand. It's the minimatic 807 - it's solid (cast iron) and very reliable. It's doesn't do 100's of fancy stitches - it's over 50 years old now but it does everything I want it to do - especially freehand machine embroidery because it's very easy to lower the feed dogs.
If I was to buy a new machine, I'd go for another Bernina. I have used other machines and in fact have an almost new, barely used brother machine as my back up machine, but it just doesn't handle as well as my trusty old Bernina.
Good sewing machine shops will let you try machines out. Perhaps this is the best way to go?

[Jessica C]

I have a janome and love it. Great product if you don't have loads of money. I've recommended it to several others who've bought them and I've yet to hear any complaints

[Isabella Golightly]

I have a Bernette, which is the budget model Bernina in the attic, if you need to borrow one in the interim. I have a Singer now, which I really like, but if I had unlimited funds (which I know you don't have either!) I'd get a Brother QC1000, because they are incredibly clever... or a second-hand Bernina but they are like Hen's Teeth.

[linda]

I know this is late but I have read wonders about Janome.I was told by a Janome retailer that this company makes other machines for some well known names.
If you look on overstock.com they have had sewing machines for great prices.
My mother & I had Kenmores for years.I bought a Singer in the 90's,no problems with that either. I would buy a Janome next time.

[Kristen]

Just buy a new Bernina. LOVELY.

[Miami cataract surgery]

I have an old and antique sewing machine left from my grandmother but is so old that I can't use it, I keep it as a souvenir. Now I want to buy a new one and I don't know what to choose, I wonder if anyone of you can help with an advice. Thanks!

[julia]

I love my Elna and I really haven't been good or kind to it. It keeps taking the abuse.