Ode to my sewing machines – Day 3 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

Hello friends,

here we are again, on a third day for the Blog Writing Challenge – I am really enjoying this!

It inspired me to think more about my blog, to try and plan my posts and write them in advance. Not to mention going to visit all other participating bloggers – seriously, the quilting community is just THE BEST!! If you have a blog and what to see what this is all about and even join, go to Cheryl Sleboda’s blog post HERE!

Today’s prompt is SEWING MACHINES – and here is my main one, my trusty old Pfaff. It is called Quilt Expression 2044 and it is close to 20 years old!! I think! Even though I remember how I decided to get it (it was a brand new model that year!), and how I paid for it with my quilt teaching, I now can’t remember exactly which year that was… but it was somewhere around 2000? It still works perfectly, I love it’s IDT (stands for Integrated Dual Transportation – it is basically build-in walking foot that ensures even feeding of both top and bottom fabric (or all three layers when quilting)), that makes a big difference for good piecing IMHO. I do take good care of it too – I clean my bobbin case and area EVERY TIME I change my bobbin thread, occasional detailed cleaning and of course regular maintenance and tune-up by a professional at least once a year.

Also worth talking about – it is set-in in my Tracy’s table (one I talked about in my last post) and honesty, that is for me one of the biggest improvements quilter can do. Having your machine flush with a large table is such a big help – in laying out and piecing your blocks, having that small ironing surface if I need it and of course when quilting.

My advice for anyone just starting out or looking to improve your sewing set-up is – get your machine INTO a table. It doesn’t have to be a purchased special table – this can be DIY-ed from an old desk or table for sure. Having that continual surface around my machine made a huge difference for me.

In the case of Tracey’s Tables, when you order your table they include the plexi-insert specific for your machine brand and model, so that definitely makes life easier.

Also highly recommended – get yourself a “little bright light” – which is the name of one you see here, however that is an older one and now there are many different ones to buy, just search for it on Amazon if your local quilt shop doesn’t have any. I even got one for my granddaughters’ machine! 🙂

I also got very very lucky to be gifted a used Pfaff Grand Quilter (forever grateful to Lori! 🙂 ), – a mid-arm, industrial strength, straight stitch only, workhorse of a machine that I use for quilting.

It is fast and strong and it has a bit larger throat space of course and a good extension table too. Even though I also use my regular Pfaff for quilting, if quilt is big I would set up my Grand Quilter on my huge dining room table and “attack” it that way, haha!

Here is a birds eye view of my setup. I usually finish a quilt within an evening or two if I can, so not a big intrusion into the use of our dining room (we do use it all the time actually).

Now what would be a perfect addition to my sewing machine duo? A LONGARM!!! Oh how I want one!

I am lucky that I had a chance to use one, first in my local quilt shop (that since closed due to retirement, miss them so!!) and now sometimes I borrow time at my good friends house (hi Robi! 🙂 ) and the difference in ease of use and what one can do is amazing! Quilting (specially FMQ!) is one of my favorite parts of the process and I would love to have that amazing tool at my disposal but for now price is slightly prohibitive and of course there would be some serious house rearranging to fit one… But, some day! 🙂

I really enjoyed this friends and hope I had some good advice and ideas for your sewing machine and setup too. Let’s chat again tomorrow,

Love,

Marija

PS – here is another little inspiration spark for you – I am currently working on this version of Sharon Holland’s recent pattern Rose Window, (pattern is part of the Quilter’s Candy Membership ), using festive and beautiful fabrics from Cozy & Joyful collection by Maureen Cracknell