I’ve had a couple of people ask me what type of sewing machine I have so I think it’s time for an official post on the subject. This is my trusty friend featured in the photo. I like her a lot but I also give her lots of narrow-eyed looks as I go about creating each day.
I’ve only used a couple of sewing machines in my life. My grandmother’s Singer which I learned on. My mom’s Singer which she allowed me to take to college but not keep after I quit college (I did go back just like I said I would). That resulted in me buying my first Singer in 1983 with a tax refund check. I’ve always had my priorities straight. Which brings me to my Husqvarna Viking Lily which I purchased in 2000. My Singer is still around for the girls to learn on.
The Lily is a work horse machine. Certainly more featured and capable than any other machine I’ve sewn on in my life. It has a few bothersome attributes. The needle has always been just ever so slightly askew which makes my straight seam ever so slightly askew. This drives me nuts. Over time the feed dogs don’t seem to want to grip like they used to and I find myself using the walking foot almost all of the time. The walking foot tends to snag on fabric here and there. That drives me nuts. But other than those two things, I love Lily. She can sew over lots and lots of layers of cloth. She does a darn good job of free motion quilting. She just goes and goes and never seems to need a rest.
I also have a Babylock Evolve serger that Greg purchased as a Christmas present several years ago. I LOVE the machine but it’s such an indulgence. Something I would not have bought for myself. I only use it to make my finished seams look pretty. I give him a big hug every other month when I use it.
I have my eyes set on a new machine at some point. I want a Bernina and it’s such a huge investment that I keep putting off making a final decision. One day I think I want embroidery and the next I’m convinced I’d never use it and what a waste. Now that I’m doing more free motion quilting I think I want a machine that will auto snip the threads. I don’t even know if the Bernina can do that but I’ve heard the Janome does…so I continue deliberating about which features are most important and whether I really need a new machine at all. For now I remind myself to be thankful of the beautiful tools I own and focus my energy on creating.
This post is getting long so I’ll talk about thread and a funny story on machine quilting tomorrow.
I have the same Husqvarna or very very similar one and also the Evolve Babylock serger. I recently bought a new Pfaff quilting machine which I really love. There was really nothing wrong with my Husqvarna but the Pfaff has a built-in walking foot and needle threader. Love them both. I would trade my serger for a Pfaff quilting frame that makes a regular machine into a long arm type setup. I wasn’t quilting when I bought my serger and althoug I still love it I don’t use it as much as I did when I was doing more regular sewing.
All I have is a little Kenmore. All she can do is sew a straight line. None of the other six (6! Yes, 6! A pathetic little 6!) stitches work right.
Please excuse me while I wipe my drool off the computer now…
I just saw a Bernina for sale on Craig’s list on Bainbridge for $700.00. I’m not sure if it is still available but I thought I would mention it. I too want one of these but I’m not sure when.
I took my first Bernina owner’s class on Saturday. What fun it was! I can tell you that the 440 Quilter’s Edition that I have does NOT have the auto snip thread button, but several other models in the room did have it. I was so jealous. The instructor said to those ladies with that feature to say goodye to their bobbin thread because they would never see it again!
The unstraight straight stitch would drive me nuts as well! Can’t that be fixed?
I’m in love with my Bernina 440, even though it has no thread snipper. (Can’t live without the knee lift!) A friend with the Pfaff is having major problems with hers when she free motion quilts. Another aquaintance just bought a new Elna, which has the thread cutter, and is in LOVE! Ah, so many choices!
I just bought the basic Husqvarna and actully like it. It is light and easy. I am only doing basic sewing on it. BUt if i ever upgrade I will look into the lily. Clarice
Thanks for starting the conversation about sewing machines. I don’t think I’ll be upgrading from my Kenmore soon, but it’s never too early to start learning about the features you might want!
I agree with Kristin, I’m in love with my Bernina 440 QE that my husband got me last year. (He had just bought a new camera and was getting new lenses for it almost every other day and figured that I should get something too. Plus it was on sale.) It’s a great machine, but I still kept my old Bernina Nova that I bought when I was in college. Nothing fancy on it, but it’s a nice heavy metal portable machine that has always done right by me.
I’m still on the fence whether I should go ahead and invest in the separate embroidery module for the new machine. It hooks up with your computer to design original embroideries. Other than that, I’m so pleased with it. My favorite function is the needle stop down.
I would suggest trying out all the new machines – but with an example of the type of sewing that you do the most. Bring swatches and give them a whirl!
I have just bought a bernina which i adore. My Mum bought my daughter a second hand one just as she left for uni that got her through 3 years of textiles and it was out again today doing a repair job she loves it, and won’t part with it. I’m sure whatever you choose will be great.
All I can say is….*WOW*
Delurking to add my voice to the Bernina chorus. I have the 160 and love her. My father bought her for me in exchange for some custom work I did…among the best money and time either of us has ever spent. After a lifetime of sewing with Kenmores, Brothers and Singers, Bernina is nothing short of heaven. She is the steak after a month of pb&j. While I’d love to have the 440 with the BSR, I won’t trade the 160 for sentimental reasons.
I bought a Bernina activa 145 about 4 years ago and I love it. But I am savibng for a New Brother PQ1500 that has the super larger area under the arm so I don’t have to “stuff” quite so much under my little arm. I got my Bernina at my LQS who are dealers as a used machine. A trade is is a good way to get a great machine at a lower price.
I own the Husqvarna Quilt Designer II with Embroidery attachment. It is such a nice machine. I had used a Kenmore for years and was sad to actually get a new machine, but the new one is d-e-l-u-x-e. It had an automatic threader and cutter and the embroidery capability is grand. Sadly, I haven’t used the embroidery part yet, but the stitches on the machine alone are amazing. It can stitch letters. How cool is that?
I have been a Bernina 830 owner for 20+ years. My mother has a Bernina 830 and a Pfaff. I have wishing for Pfaff with the dual feed for years. Recently, I had the need to buy a new machine, a thread was embedded deep within my Bernina, two week repair time and less than two weeks to finish a job.
I went to the store with the thought of buying a simple Pfaff and came out with the Janome 6600 professional. Dual feed and 9″ of clearance to the right of the needle. I ABSOLUTELY love this machine. It purrs beautifully, has thread cut and all the perks. I took a class and the teacher fell in love with this machine. She has 9 other machines at home but is pretty sure she is buying this one.
I also got bit by the bug for embroidery. I have recently started my own business so felt justified. I bought the Babylock Ellageo after much searching. It was hard to pass up the Bernina with BSR, but the embroidery capabilities and ease of use were to much better with the Babylock. I wish I could have afforded the Ellegante, but am quite pleased with the Ellageo.
I am still keeping my Bernina 830 though. It is still the best of the bunch for mending and going over those thick seams. Each of the three have their own special use.
And to think, my sewing room is 6′x9′. Had to take down either the ironing board or the treadmill to make it all fit. The ironing board lost. I can always iron on my bed, but need the constant reminder to get up on the treadmill.
Happy stitching.
Terry
St. Louis
entwistle@earthlink.net
I have two Husqvarna Designer 1′s – went straight to them from a hundred dollar Singer that only did a straight stitch. I can do a quilt in a day with these machines – they have the auto thread cutter, jam-proof bobbins, the walking foot never snags, they’ll sew through 9 or more layers of denim. I bought them in Canada, at a time when the exchange rate was so good – got two plus all the extras [software, quilt kit] for the price of one here in the states. Of course, now they have that new one that hooks to the computer – but I’m keeping my babies!
Hi Folks, I’m a guy who does all of the sewing in my house, as a hobby and also for practical reasons(i.e. – I’m the only one who knows how – my wife never learned.) And I also make crafts on occasion for fun & extra cash. Anyway, I have 2 machines – a Riccar model 555SU for light work, and my favorite, a trusty and true workhorse, the Kenmore model 1660(circa 1964). I know that there are alot of newer and more full-featured machines at hand these days, but my Kenmore just purrs and keeps working. It handles canvas and leather just as easily as it does cotton and wool. The Riccar is a smaller and lighter unit than the Kenmore and is ok too but just doesn’t have that “solid” Kenmore feel.
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