My 100th post! I LOVE my new machine

I woke up this morning insanely early and could not go back to sleep... I had showered, eaten breakfast, done my 45 mins of PT exercises and spent 45 mins in the sewing room all before 8am!

It was a darn productive morning! Too bad I don't have the energy to make that happen everyday :)

IN that 45 mins in the sewing room I was able to figure out how to wind the bobbin, thread the bobbin and the machine and sew with the coolest pivot feature. OK, actually my first day of sewing on the machine and I had several seriously cool to me things.

1. The Bobbin, you don't have to pull up the thread. You just pop it in, pull it through a slot where it cuts it at the end and done.
2. Threading the needle... OK, soooo cool. you thread it through the upper guides like normal, everything is very well marked, you get down by the needle and pull the thread across this little slot, pull down a lever on the side and the needle is threaded. no more licking the thread, squinting my eyes and getting close and personal with the machine. It was so cool and easy that I had to do it a couple times!
3. The pivot feature: there is a setting that allows you to sew and when you stop it lifts the foot automatically so you can pivot your fabric then you just press on the pedal and the foot automatically lowers and sews on. You don't have to reach through the machine and lift the presser foot at every corner. I was amazed at how much time this saved.
4. the last thing is also mighty nice. you push a button and it automatically cuts your threads so all you have to do is pull your fabric out from the machine. NO more pulling the threads out and snipping with snips or the side cutter.
5. Oh and it sews like a dream... can't wait to put in the zippers!

I think all of those cool features, plus the gazillions more that I have not yet even gotten to are just great time savers. They all add up to make your sewing more efficient plus they are just cool.



I am working on making a bunch of fabric wallets and one of the first steps is sewing the rectangle box for the zipper. You sew the 2 pieces of fabric right sides together, then carefully slit down the center of the rectangle with an exacto knife and into the corners and pull one side through and you have the zipper window. The pivot feature made this go so fast.

I had to just add one more picture of my new machine! I think it may be about time I make some fancy covers for my machines. My serger looks disheveled in it's old plastic cover...

The only down side that I have had so far is that the machine came with free lifetime lessons. When I bought the machine I was told to call on Monday and with whom to leave a message for to set up the appointments. It is now Wednesday evening and I have not heard anything back. I will give them the benefit of the doubt that things just got missed and call them back again tomorrow. If not I will just have to show up at the store and smile sweetly :)

BabyLock Symphony

My new BabyLock Symphony set up on my main sewing desk. The included extension table is to the left.

I had several hours Sunday afternoon/evening to set up my new Baby Lock Symphony, give it a try and to go through my other expo loot. I am amazed at how much larger it is compared to my NewHome machine, easily 30% bigger.

Looking at the picture above makes me realize that I really could use a new sewing desk! I'll have to keep an eye out at garage sales and antique/re-sale shops. Maybe I can find a desk made from real wood and re-finish it for my sewing room. My 15+ year old pressed fiber desk is looking a bit shabby and it is starting to sag in the middle.



It was nice to have several hours uninterrupted to just play around in my sewing room. The rest of the family were busy on the couch watching movies and I was just not interested.

The new Symphony and the Old New Home. The New Home will be going to a new home!

The new machine was easy to set-up. The first thing I did was to go through all the included parts and make sure that everything was there and that I knew what everything was. With 17 included machine feet/attachments there were lots of little pieces. It also came with an extension table which is great, it means I don't have to order one separately. I must point out though that the bed of the machine is so much bigger than any machine I have ever used.



I then sat with the instruction manual and spent a good hour or more just navigating the touch screen and getting an idea of the layouts and where everything can be found. Of course I then pulled out some fabric from the scrap bin and played around a bit with some stitches. The machine was already threaded with pink thread so I left that for playing with.





Maybe this evening I will get some time and can play some more. Figure out the threading and bobbin. It is super fancy! You don't have to pull up the bobbin thread, it cuts your threads when your done so no having to pull threads out to the side cutter, unless you have an actual reason to!

The threading has an advanced automatic threader which they showed to me at the expo, it was like magic... I'll have to try it out and see if it really is.



Sew much fun!!

Tha place mats are done! and a new Toy :)

The place mats and table runner are done! They turned out really. really nice... despite them not being my favorite project.

The table set.

Reversible to a solid wine colored batik backing. The 1inch diamond quilting pattern looks great from both sides.

We used them last night for a little dinner party with friends.


On Friday I attended the Sewing and Quilt Expo in Schaumburg, IL , a suburb of Chicago. I planned in spending the day this way I could take my time and have lots of breaks for my leg. I also wanted to take the opportunity to try out sewing machines. I have been researching a new machine and had some good ideas what I wanted and the Expo is a great place to try them all out.

I also took some time to watch the fashion show of the independent pattern makers at the Expo. 

Of course, I left with a bunch of fabric and patterns and various other items... I'll share with you later.

 But... the biggest thing I left with was a Brand Spanking New 'Advanced Sewing and Quilting' sewing machine. The Babylock Symphony.

I can't wait to unpack the box!

I am sooooo darn excited!! The dealer who I ended up buying it from is about 35 mins from me. I was hoping to go with one of the dealers closer to me but this dealer is top notch and hands down beat her competitors with not only price and personality but also in offering free lifetime lessons on the machine and excellent customer service and has a full sewing shop with fabric, notions, classes, etc. The 'other'  dealer that is 5 mins from me is a sew and vac shop and while they have been fine for tuneups of my basic machines they always seemed to lack something. 


Anyway... I hope to get my new machine unpacked and set-up. I can't wait to play!!! Monday, I call to set up some lessons.