New Sewing Machine

 My Husqvarna Designer SE died after moving. It started a slow death prior to moving and I mentioned this in my previous post.

It was a sewing and embroidery machine. I don't embroider as much as I did once so decided I did not need a combo machine. I have a Singer stand-alone embroidery machine; should I decide to embroider something; it is simple but provides a nice embroidered item.

Lots of photos follow of my new sewing machine that fits my current budget. I purchased a Singer Quantum Stylist 9960. The Singer sewing machine was my first that my Grandmother bought for me back in the early '70s.

A local dealer sells Brothers and I was not interested. I looked at Baby Lock as well as Husqvarna websites and both websites were not showing much in the way of machines that appealed to me or fit my budget. Actually, Baby Lock seemed to have no sewing machines on the website. I also thought about Janome as well as Singer. Husqvarna's Jade was another machine considered but it wasn't appealing style-wise and had limited feet.

The one that fit my budget was the Singer model. I was enticed by the fact that the deal being offered included an extension table and you can remove the regular sewing bed and attach this one

and numerous sewing feet that come with the machine and are stored inside the sewing bed attached case

Also as part of the package, I  received several specialty feet and the special foot holder to be used with these. 

I can sew using the foot control or start/stop button. It also has a thread cutter that cuts upper and bobbin thread. I normally don't use the start/stop preferring foot control. I tested this while learning how to use this machine and I found I liked it. I really like the thread cutter and needle up-down button.

There are a number of buttons to select utility stitches and buttonholes, plus other buttons to lengthen or shorten stitch length and width. You use upper buttons to select these and you have to push the adjustment button on the bottom row. With the Designer SE, all of that was performed with a touch screen.  The challenge with the button is learning what to touch first and the included manual is well designed and easy to follow on steps needed. I like the touch screen better but had to trade-off that for price. The screen is not in color but find it easy to see.

The stitch quality is good and I have tried straight, zigzag and a few decorative stitches.

All in all, I am satisfied with the machine and preparing to sew my first project soon. The next post soon will be a blog on the sewing room. I find I want to trade out some tables for something else and considering buying shelving with 4 or 5 shelves. What I have now works okay but really need more room! Still need a few more set up steps to be complete.

Later!!

Moved

My last post was to let you know that we were in the process of moving. We physically moved on Nov 30. I had to finish cleaning up the house we moved from so the seller could move forward with selling the house. I also was unpacking boxes at the new home. DH was cutting up the boxes to take to recycle center.

Let me say that this was very stressful with constantly going back and forth. The Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year holidays were very low key and the focus continued on setting up the new home. 

Then I had to deal with Omnicron which thankfully was more like having a cold but the fatigue and backache were brutal. Of course, my DH got it next. Thankfully we both had our vaccine shots plus booster which proved to be, I think, the reason for the mildness of this virus version.

I am still unpacking my office/sewing room. This has proved to be more challenging as this room is smaller than my previous room. It has taught me that I really have held on to too much "stuff" that can and has been eliminated. Yet I still have more.

On top of this my Husgavarna Designer 1 bit the dust. Prior to the move, when I would go to turn on the machine, it would flicker. I then would shut it off and then turn it back on and it worked. Last week this solution proved ineffective. The cost of having it repaired was more than I wanted to deal with. I decided that the bells and whistles on this machine were more than I ever used and decided to downsize. 

I remember when I purchased the Designer 1 it was close to $5k which seemed rather high and I could afford it as I was still working. Checking the prices of top-of-line machines today was an eye-opener. Way too much for my retirement living.

I have found a machine that is affordable and I read many reviews with most being very positive. I will take about my new machine in another post soon.

I will close this post with pics of my move-in room with all the clutter.  I have made more progress and will post that in the near future.