JemJam

Summertime

and the livin's easy...

   

Finish the lyrics... 

My Serger

 

To continue with Sewing Machine Month, I want to tell you about my serger, one of my best friends.

What brand and model do you have?  

I own a Babylock Imagine Wave.  

How long have you had it?

Since October 2008.

How much does that machine cost (approximately)?

$1700.00

What types of things do you sew?

I sew clothing for our toddler daughter, tote bags, napkins, aprons, and plenty of other useful items that can be done with cute fabric...

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?

I sew often, several times a week.

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does it have a name?

I love my machine.  It does not have a name, it is not a person, which is weird, because I referred to it as one my best friends.

What features does your machine have that work well for you?

All of them!  First, and foremost, the jet-air threading.  My mother-in-law advised me on this--sergers can be difficult to thread.  I ran my campaign on that alone, I never looked at another brand.  I enjoy the rolled hem, especially when used with wooly nylon, I have made plenty of napkins this way.  I love the elastic foot, this is especially important when making skirts, the elastic will not roll at some point of wearing it.  If you want to make an ironing board cover, the elastic foot will be your best friend.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?

It does not make dinner.

Do you have a great story to share about your machine? We want to hear it!

I obsessed about a serger for months before getting one, thanks, Jimmy!  

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?

Hell yes!  It does everything but a straight stitch.  I can (almost) completely make some skirts and aprons on here, of course, I use my machine for topstitching.  I have not used the "wave feature" yet, but I got it for the same price as one without it.

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?

My mother-in-law told me to take fabric that you will sew with often and test it on the machine that you are considering.  

Make sure that you understand the basics (threading machine, operation button, changing stitches, etc.) before you purchase.  Take classes at the shop in which you purchases your machine, if offered. I did not do that because I am a know-it-all.

Do you have a dream machine?

This is it.

 

 

To continue with Sewing Machine Month, I want to tell you about my serger, one of my best friends.

What brand and model do you have?  

I own a Babylock Imagine Wave.  

How long have you had it?

Since October 2008.

How much does that machine cost (approximately)?

$1700.00

What types of things do you sew?

I sew clothing for our toddler daughter, tote bags, napkins, aprons, and plenty of other useful items that can be done with cute fabric...

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?

I sew often, several times a week.

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does it have a name?

I love my machine.  It does not have a name, it is not a person, which is weird, because I referred to it as one my best friends.

What features does your machine have that work well for you?

All of them!  First, and foremost, the jet-air threading.  My mother-in-law advised me on this--sergers can be difficult to thread.  I ran my campaign on that alone, I never looked at another brand.  I enjoy the rolled hem, especially when used with wooly nylon, I have made plenty of napkins this way.  I love the elastic foot, this is especially important when making skirts, the elastic will not roll at some point of wearing it.  If you want to make an ironing board cover, the elastic foot will be your best friend.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?

It does not make dinner.

Do you have a great story to share about your machine? We want to hear it!

I obsessed about a serger for months before getting one, thanks, Jimmy!  

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?

Hell yes!  It does everything but a straight stitch.  I can (almost) completely make some skirts and aprons on here, of course, I use my machine for topstitching.  I have not used the "wave feature" yet, but I got it for the same price as one without it.

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?

My mother-in-law told me to take fabric that you will sew with often and test it on the machine that you are considering.  

Make sure that you understand the basics (threading machine, operation button, changing stitches, etc.) before you purchase.  Take classes at the shop in which you purchases your machine, if offered. I did not do that because I am a know-it-all.

Do you have a dream machine?

This is it.

 

All the jars are all lined up...

This photo reminds me of "March of the Pigs," as I put the jars on the table, that song played in my head. 

I made cupcakes in a jar, it started with this.  Yes, it looked liked muffins, which, I suppose they are because I put chopped cherries and pecans in yellow cake.  

After baking the cakes, I put them in the mason jars, topped with chocolate frosting, I used the recipe on the Hershey's Baking Cocoa box, and silver sprinkles.

 

Here's one that did not make the cut, I was hungry. 

 

The cupcakes were for my husband's niece, she had a high school graduation party. My sister-in-law and her husband made turkey kabobs and they were fabulous. Who knew sweet potatoes were actually good? I did not.

   

Between courses, E wanted to play on the trampoline, which is not an attractive option when the ladies are wearing dresses, but, you have to have fun sometime, or at least, whatever keeps the baby from crying. 

 

Luckily, we could soothe crying E with a cupcake, she was distraught after being removed from the trampoline. 

Security was tight, she had bodyguards at the graduation... 

My Sewing Machine

June is Sewing Machine Month at Sew, Mama, Sew!  I want to tell the world about my sewing machine today.

Next, I will talk about my serger.  I know, the most boring crap, ever.  Never claimed to be exciting...

What brand and model do you have?  

I own a Babylock Ellure.

How long have you had it?

Since October 2007.

How much does that machine cost (approximately)?

$1000.00

What types of things do you sew?

I sew clothing for our two-year old girl, lots of key fobs, tote bags, napkins, aprons, and plenty of other useful items that can be done with cute fabric, like, coasters...

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?

I sew often, several times a week.

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?

I like my machine.  It does not have a name, it is not a person.

What features does your machine have that work well for you?

Before I bought a serger, I used the overcast stitch, it does not compare to a serger, but, it was handy.  I love the bobbin winder, the "low bobbin thread indicator" is awesome, and the buttonhole feature is nice, I am not afraid of buttonholes.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?

It does not make dinner.

Do you have a great story to share about your machine? We want to hear it!

When I started sewing, my mother-in-law loaned me her first machine, it needed repairs after I had it for a while and while I was away, my husband bought me a new one the next day of sending his mother's machine to the shop!  

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?

I would, I guess.  If you want to do a lot of embroidery, I would upgrade.  For little stuff here and there, it is great.  For sewing, I like it just great.

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?

My mother-in-law told me to take fabric that you will sew with often and test it on the machine that you are considering.  

Make sure that you understand the basics (threading machine, operation button, changing stitches, etc.) before you purchase.  Take classes at the shop in which you purchases your machine, if offered. I did not do that because I am a know-it-all.

Do you have a dream machine?

I really considered buying a Pfaff (do not remember the model), but, my husband bought this one.  Pfaff has IDT on their machines and that is attractive.  I use my walking foot when it is extremely imperative that there is no slippage.  My serger is also great at this feature for seaming.