Sewing Machine Shopping

I have spent the whole week end shopping for a sewing machine.  I suspect you all know what I'm talking about when I say this is mind blowing.  I had no idea this would be so hard.

Here is my sewing love.  She and I have put a lot of miles in together.  I don't want to lose her but give her a little rest. I have had her in my life for 26 years and I will never say good bye to her.  She has made some beautiful dresses, quilts, curtains, costumes, decorations, clothes, and purses.  She whines a little, but so would I if I had to put up with the abuse she has had to endure.  lol

My husband was so sweet to take Friday afternoon off to take me to a little quilt shop about 45 minutes away.  It's a Bernina dealership and I went armed with the idea of purchasing one of two machines I had seen in magazines.  I had no idea what the price would be, but I knew Bernina had great machines and I really wanted to have a machine with that fancy stitch regulator for free motion quilting.  Embroidery is something I'm also interested in but the main feature I'm looking for is a big throat area.

My dream sewing machine is the BERNINA 830LE.  This machine has everything I want.  It also has a very big price tag.  It's not out of the question, but I keep thinking of all the things I could buy if I didn't purchase this one.

I also like the features of the BERNINA 580 E.  It's throat area is too small but this machine is wonderful.  The BERNINA Stitch Regulator fits on this machine to make fmq a lot easier, but the price of that little gadget makes me wonder if it is that important.  So....

I decided to look for a Free Motion Pressure Foot to put on the Kenmore and try my luck.  I thought a quilt shop might have one, so I went over to the closest shop to have a look around.  No feet, but a class was going on.  I met a lot of very nice quilters and they listened to my shopping woes and gave some much needed advice.  75 percent of them either owned a Janome or wanted the machine.  Wow, that really got me excited to know that I could have a machine with a big throat at a fraction of the cost of my dream machine.  I won't have embroidery, but at this price, I can purchase a separate embroidery machine and still buy thread.... lol 

The Janome MC6600P is looking like a great option for me.  The price is right and it has some great features with some fun stitches.  I could do more that stitch a straight (somewhat straight) line.  It has a lot of room for king size quilts, which is one of the main features I want.

I left the quilt shop ready to go home and start my Internet comparison shopping....again.  But, I still wanted to find a FMQ foot for the ole Kenmore.  I found another Sewing Machine dealer with a google search on my phone and decided to head over there.  This is my last local chance for a foot.  The search didn't reveal what kind of machines they had, but I was willing to take a chance.  I'm desperate for supplies around here.

 

Hello sweetness.  The shop was downtown and sells vacuum cleaners as well as ......wait for it.... yes, they have JANOME and a pressure foot.  Of course, they do not have the model I'm interested in, but Miss Carol will order it and she was very helpful in the embroidery machines as well.  I haven't used the foot yet, but hope to try it out later today on my little Kenmore love.  I want to start this class: 

The instructor, Leah, uses a Janome Horizon 7700, but I've read there may be glitches.  I've read good and bad about all machines though.

Here are a couple links I've used in the search:
http://www.sewforum.com
http://www.PatternReview.com

If you have any advice, I'm welcoming thoughts.  Please.

I need to sew and quit worrying about the next machine of my life,

Linking with:

Craftsy Block of the Month - February

I have successfully ignored some unfinished projects in order to start a new quilt project, but I'm so excited to finally take a quilting class. I have found this great FREE class online and want to share it with you.


The class is called, "The Craftsy Block of the Month" with Amy Gibson. The link is HERE .  Every month you will learn a new technique and make two blocks.

February Blocks

This month's blocks were a bit more challenging with 1/4" SCANT seams.  The written instructions don't mention anything about "scant" seams, but if you don't use them, you end up with smaller blocks.  I went back and watched the videos when the Balkan puzzle block was too small and heard Amy mention the SCANT seam on the first seam around the first square.  I then went to the discussions (I was feeling like a looser) and found out I wasn't the only one having trouble. 

Balkan Puzzle Block

The secret to this block is to sew the first seam around the first 4 squares a SCANT 1/4".  The rest of the seams are the normal, 1/4".  It's a great technique and I will use it again to make triangle squares.

The Chunky Chevron Block pattern is made with triangle squares also.  This whole block needs to be sewn with SCANT 1/4" seams.  Yes, I found this out the hard way, AGAIN.  There weren't many posts about this block yet.  But, once again, the written instructions mention nothing about SCANT 1/4" seams.  WATCH THE VIDEO CLOSELY.  Still doesn't help much, but screwing it up will make you figure it out.

Chunky Chevron Block

I used a chain sewing technique to put the block together fast.  I used a tutorial from the blog, Hooked On Needles, on chain sewing a quilt top, I just used it on my little block.  The link to her tutorial is HERE.  It made nesting the rows so easy.  The only tricky part is pressing the seams, when they are so close together, in opposite directions.  Be sure and check out Hooked On Needles.  There are some great tutorials.

January and February Blocks

I am all caught up on The Craftsy Block of the Month class.  Now to get busy on an unfinished project.  Really.

Can't wait until the March class,

Linking up with:
Cherished Treasures
Sew Many Ways...
It's So Very Cheri
Debbiedoo's

Homecoming coiffure

It's an exciting day for my niece.  She is up for homecoming queen tonight at the basketball game. 

Kari, my niece

Isn't she beautiful?  I'm such a lucky Aunt.  She let me do her hair for the night's festivities. We tried to keep her hair simple and not to Prommy (not a word, I know). lol The braid is laid over the rest of her hair.  You can't really see it in the picture, but it looks like a spider web.

She'll be wearing a very cute strapless dress.  The hair should be perfect with it.

She is so sweet.  I hope tonight turns out just the way she hopes it will. She would make a beautiful Homecoming Queen.  She is just so happy to be nominated.  

I wish I would have taken a better picture of her,

The Craftsy Block of the Month - January

I have successfully ignored some unfinished projects in order to start a new quilt project, but I'm so excited to finally take a quilting class.  I have found this great FREE class online and want to share it with you.

The class is called, "The Craftsy Block of the Month" with Amy Gibson.  The link is HERE.  Every month you will learn a new technique and make two blocks.

I just completed January's class and have decided I love Slash blocks.  Next month I'll probably fall in love with that technique too, but right now I want to make all kinds of slash block quilts. lol

Slash blocks for January

I chose to purchase some new fabric for this quilt and went with an assortment of browns and teals.  I think black and white would be kinda fun.  In fact, I can think of a lot of colors I would like to try but I need to stick this one out with my first fabric choices first.




Asterisk Block





Wonky Pound Sign



I've never taken a quilting class before so I am very excited to be able to do it online.  There aren't quilting shops around me and the classes I've heard of do not work with my schedule.  This will be fun.











On to February's lesson,

Easy Peasy Peanut Butter Cookies

This is my favorite Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe.  I prefer it over cookies with flour because I think they are peanuttier...I know it's not a word, but I like it.

Easy Peanut Butter Cookies




Grandma Wycoff

 
My Grandma Wycoff used to make these and  I thought she was brilliant.  Now, I realize she probably got the recipe from someone else - but to me, she was the queen of the easiest peanut butter cookies.

 It only takes 3 ingredients to make these cookies. 

1 Cup Peanut Butter (I use creamy or Crunchy - I like em both)
1 Cup Sugar
1 Egg

Combine ingredients until dough forms.  Roll dough into about 1 inch balls.  Place on cookie sheet and flatten with fork dipped in sugar.  Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool on cookie sheet for about 5 minutes before removing.  Makes about 2 dozen amazing cookies.

I've started 2 quilt projects, but gotta get the darn taxes done.  I hope to post more on the quilts in a couple days,

Links:

Five Days 5 Ways
Sunday Blog Love
Debbiedoo's