Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Baby Lock Ellure

I suppose I should write what machine I have been sewing on for the past few years. Most of the time I sew on a Baby Lock Ellure. My daughter (who was 9 at the time) and I invested in this machine together after a summer spent driving each other nuts working on my grandmother's 1970s Kenmore. We went into Montevilla Sewing Center and she was instantly drawn to the touch screen on this model. While I had no idea how to get past turning it on, she and the salesman were having a delightful time exploring everything this machine could do. A slightly used model was available and we put it on lay-away. It took us until the following summer to pay it off, but it was worth it. She loves this machine, and I like-like it. I don't take advantage of everything it can do, especially the embroidery functions, but there are a few features I'll admit I've gotten quite used to. I like the needle up-down, the scissor-cutter, the speed control (for my daughter and students), and the way it gave my daughter the confidence she needed to get to the next level sewing. I don't really like the top bobbin loader (although most new machines have this, so get used to it Michelle...) and the one-step button hole thingy is useful, but it has been unpredictable: could be the needle needed to be changed, but the thread has broken in the middle of my button hole attempts too many times to mention, so I think it is just an Ellure thing. I have also had problems with the thread breaking during embroidery attempts, which may be part inexperience and part this machine. Again, I don't use the embroidery feature much (those of you who know me know my catch phrase "manage your frustration" and I don't seem to be able to manage it well when it comes to embroidery...).
Sewing machines are so personal, funny, isn't it? I am going to start a series of interviews with some sewers I know about what machines they use and why starting tomorrow.

1 comment:

  1. I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to toss my sewing machines off my roof. For people like us who do a tremendous amount of sewing, home machines just aren't cut out for it.

    Did you know the average home machine is meant to be used 6 hours.......a year! Maybe they averaged it out.

    It is very personal. I miss my Necchi but it was time to let it go and get a higher grade one. The Necchi is in good hands and I hope she uses it well.

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