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The Sewing Machine Hunt

April 24, 2010 By JudyL

I was halfway in the market for a new sewing machine.  Those of you who have fancy smancy sewing machines, I’m surely not knocking them.  They’re great and I’m glad they’re available for those who want and use them.  If I wanted one and I thought I’d use half the features, I’d get one.  But, I make a 1/4″ straight seam 99.999% of the time.  I want a machine that makes a prefect quarter inch seam.  I don’t need a stitch regulator, nor do I need an extra wide space for quilting.  I quilt on an APQS Millennium!  I don’t need embroidery capabilities.  I have an embroidery machine (Bernina Deco 500) that Vince bought me 15 or more years ago and I’ve used twice and don’t worry about me forgetting that I have it because he reminds me often!  I don’t do decorative stitches and if ever I decide I need that feature, I’ll buy a machine then that does what I need.

For weeks I’d been researching and checking out machines.  There are lots of good brands of machines but all the way to my core, I’m a Bernina girl!  For now, in my mind, nothing sews like a Bernina.

I had decided I wanted a Bernina 1008.  It’s basic, it’s Bernina quality and it will be very similar to my old 930 and 1230 machines.  Even though I left here saying I may or may not buy a machine, I full intended to buy a machine while there.  When we walked into the show on Wednesday morning, I headed straight to the Bernina booth.  It wasn’t a happy experience and it may be why I left the show thinking .. that’s an awfully long way to drive and it’s expensive to stay in a hotel or cabin all those nights and I may not go back next year! I have a whole year to think about that though.

The ladies in the Bernina booth, which is manned by a Bernina dealer (maybe several dealers) and not Bernina itself, rushed over to give me their sales spiel.  Only problem . . they seem programmed to sell an 820, 830, 440, 430 . . something that costs more than my car and has way more features than I need.  When I asked about the 1008, you would have thought I’d gone to a Mercedes dealer and asked if they had a good used mule!

That sales lady stood there and told me every reason in the world why I wanted what she was trying to sell and wouldn’t listen to my explanation of why I wanted the 1008.  One of the main reasons I don’t want a fancy machine is I am not going to take it in once a year for service.  I told her my machine was 19 years old when it went to the shop for the first time.  I clean it and oil it myself and it has sewn  .. well, you know how much it has sewn in 19 years . . a lot!

She said well, you might be able to get by with bringing it in every other year! At that point, I walked away . . disappointed in my effort to buy a new sewing machine.

Deciding that maybe it’s time to become something besides a Bernina girl, I visited the next sewing machine booth along my path.  They were selling another brand of machines but they were familiar with Bernina.  I told them straight up that I have a Bernina 930 and 1230 and I love them dearly but they’re wearing out and I want something similar . . nothing that has to be brought in and serviced once a year.  They both looked at each other, leaned over and whispered “you need a Bernina 1008!”   I grabbed my friend, Kim, and said Come with me . . I need reinforcement to convince this woman I really want a 1008.  Kim went with me, the lady agreed to get me a 1008 if I was sure that was what I wanted.  Finally, I just said “no, thanks!” and walked away.

I know that lady was thinking I couldn’t afford the better machine but just wanted a Bernina and she knew what was best for me since I didn’t have a clue what I wanted. I don’t like being treated that way.  I’m not sure if it hurts my feelings or makes me angry to be treated like I don’t know what I really want and someone else is going to make sure I get what’s right for me.

From there I went to the old gentleman in the booth who sells old Singer machines and asked him to get me a new foot for my Singer 301 machines.  I have the perfect foot for that machine but when we moved 3-1/2 years ago, I didn’t trust the movers with the foot and I put it somewhere safe . . and it’s still there . . where ever that might be!  The 301 machines were made in the 50′s, don’t have to be taken in for service ever, make a perfect 1/4″ stitch and they’re truly all I need in a sewing machine.

So . . at this point, I may be a Singer girl and my guess is I’ll sew on a Singer 301 for the rest of my sewing days.

Tagged Bernina, sewing machine, Singer 301 Filed Under Quilting 54 Comments

About the Sewing Machine

April 28, 2009 By JudyL

I read all the comments and emails about the sewing machine.  There were too many to respond individually so I hope I’ll try to do it here.

The biggest problem with the 1230 is that it needs a new circuit board and Bernina is no longer making them for machines that old.  Rebuilt ones can be gotten but not on demand.  Seems like  you kinda have to get on a waiting list.  I truly don’t blame the repairman.  He pretty much knows what’s wrong with it from the age and my description.  I had asked him to clean and oil it but there’s no use cleaning and oiling it if the circuit board can’t be replaced.  He’s been very nice and apologetic about the amount of time it’s taking and as much as I want my machine back fixed, it just isn’t going to happen in my time frame.

I seriously can buy the 430 and keep Chad in college.  The decision for me is . . I don’t want a new machine; I want my 1230 back fixed like new.   There’s not a single thing a new machine is going to do, on any feature that I would use, any better than my 1230  I’m one of those people who can keep the same car, machine, stove . . whatever . . forever and a day if it’s working.  I don’t care too much about newer, prettier, shiny models.  It’s really hard to replace anything you love so dearly and I do dearly love that 1230.  I’m not sure any new machine would measure up to it.  That 1230 has worked at least 19 years and this is the first time it’s been in the shop for anything .. cleaning, oiling . . nothing!  I doubt there’s a new machine on the market that can hold up to that abuse.  I just want my 1230 back . . fixed!  But, I’m truly not blaming the guy who has it.  They are a Bernina dealer and have given me a price real close to what was offered at Paducah (though I didn’t tell them I had looked at Paducah because I was pretty sure I’d buy from my local dealer).

The price on the Janome 6600 at Paducah was about 1/3 less than the Bernina and it is a very, very nice machine.  But, if I end up getting a machine, my heart tells me it will be the Bernina.

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Tagged Bernina, sewing machine Filed Under Quilting 14 Comments

The Great Sewing Machine Dilemma

April 28, 2009 By JudyL

Who knew I was looking for a sewing machine? Not me! Just a little over a month ago, I wrote about giving the Baby Lock a second chance.

My old Bernina has been in the shop now for over two months and I’m not real sure it’s been looked at.  Hopefully next week I’ll have a spare day when I can go to Kansas City and bring it back home . . still not fixed I suppose.

Thursday when Mom, Dad and I entered the quilt show, we decided to walk over to the far right wall and begin the show there. The second booth I stopped in was the Bernina booth. It was like a big magnet just drew me in there . . wouldn’t allow me to leave before talking to the Bernina folks. I suddenly found myself wanting a new sewing machine. After a few minutes with the nice Bernina lady, we decided the 430 was the perfect machine for me.  Then I decided it was college for Chad or a new sewing machine for me and I walked away without a new sewing machine.

On the next to last row of that same room, there was the Janome booth.  The nice Janome lady showed me all the features.  We decided the Janome 6600 was the perfect machine for me.  Then I decided it was college for Chad or a new sewing machine for me and I walked away without a new sewing machine.

I spent the remainder of the day debating.  33.3% of the time, I decided I didn’t need a new machine.  33.3% of the time, I decided I needed a new Bernina and 33.3% of the time, I decided I needed a new Janome machine.

What on earth do you do when you absolutely cannot make a decision?   I found my friend who was a former Bernina dealer.  I figured if anyone could talk me out of wanting a new Bernina, it should be a former Bernina dealer, right?  Wrong!  She told me she loved the 430 and thought it was a great machine.  Dang it.

Then I needed to talk to Vicky.  She has a similar Bernina.  But, I didn’t have internet access and I didn’t have her number at work.  I called Chad and asked if really wanted to finish college?  Or . . would he prefer that his mom get a new sewing machine.  (I really didn’t ask him that!)  I did ask him to send Vicky an email and ask her to call me please.  Tell her it isn’t an emergency! Here’s the email Chad sent her:

On behalf of my mother, I am passing upon the request that you call her concerning a specific sewing machine. If you find the time could you please call her.

Isn’t that funny?  Talked to Vicky and she highly recommended the 440 . . but I don’t need the BSR so it would be the 430 for me.

My friends had to be sick of hearing about it by now .. What should I do?  Bernina?  Janome?  College for Chad?

In the end, college for Chad won out.  I came home without a machine.  Doesn’t mean I’m no longer debating about what to get.  I pretty much think I want the Bernina 430.  The Janome is a great machine and most everyone I’ve talked to who has it loves it, but as Vicky said, I’m a Bernina girl and it’s really hard to think about loving another machine after having loved my Bernina 1230 so much for so many years.  I’m probably too busy in thenext few months to even think about learning to use a new machine so for now . . the sewing machine dilemma in Paducah kept me from making other purchases and for that, I guess I should be happy.

Seriously, if I get a new sewing machine, Chad can still finish college.  Please don’t think I’m that kind of mother.

I’m headed south to teach and wouldn’t you know it . . there’s not a Bernina dealer anywhere that I’m going to be so no decision can be made til next week.

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Tagged Bernina, Janome, Paducah, sewing machine Filed Under Quilting 23 Comments

A Second Chance

March 12, 2009 By JudyL

At Paducah in 2007, I bought a sewing machine.  I didn’t need a sewing machine so I don’t know why I did that . . because my friend bought one and it was a heck of a deal I guess but anyway, I’ve never given it a chance.  I set it up shortly after I got it but because Mom has a Bernina and I can use my same feet when I’m sewing at her house, and because different machines seem to have a different version of 1/4″ inch when it comes to those seams, I went back to sewing on the Bernina.

The Bernina has been in the shop for 2 weeks now and I’ve been piecing on a Singer 301.  I love those 301 machines and do a lot of my piecing on them.  I miss the needle up feature but thankfully, I’ve never gotten real attached to the knee lift, though both the Berninas and the Baby Lock have the knee lift.  I pretty much keep the walking foot on the Bernina for doing bindings.  The walking foot for the 301 doesn’t thrill me so the plan was to add the bindings when I get the Bernina back.  By Sunday, I already had four tops needing binding so I figured I’d better get out the Bernina 930 or find the walking foot for the Baby Lock.

Though I can’t get an insert for this machine for my cabinet, it fits pretty nicely in there.   So I set it up with the walking foot and sewed the binding on those four quilts.  Then I decided to put the 1/4″ foot on and do some piecing on it.  I think I might love this machine.  That little button that cuts the top and bobbin thread . . that might just cause the old Bernina to become my backup machine!

Tagged Bernina, sewing machine Filed Under Quilting 6 Comments