OK, I've spent the past week getting to know my new Babylock Evolution serger. I am comfortable with the 4 thread overlock stitch and the cover stitch. The workbook is fabulous in that it has real pictures and not just drawings as with the owners manual.
I must admit that I was surprised that my old 13yr old Elna was very advanced in that it is digital with a computer screen and auto everything. . The Evolution as great as it is; is to me rather basic in that you must set everything i.e., stitch width, length and tension. The threading guide is a separate trifold heavily laminated document that can be kept in a handy place and tolerate a lot of use. That being said, I just love not having to fool with the loopers. The jet air threader is almost unbelievable which makes threading the needles a snap. I think after a few classes and more experimenting I'll be up to snuff with everything. I think I'm a little intimated by that large box of feet that was an add-on. After all, I never ever used any additional feet with the Elna; of course I just did basic stuff.
So far I've made four tops for my daughter, three for me and a skirt for granddaughter, Trinity Grace. They scooped their things up so fast that I didn't get a chance to photograph them.
My good friend who lives in North West Florida (about 3 hours from me) called with news that Nancy
Zieman will be at a three day workshop (Oct. 6-8) at Ruthie's Notions in Baker, Florida which is only a few minutes from her. I went to the website ruthiesnotions.com and found that the cost is only $98. for three days. I registered online immediately. This is the least expensive sewing event I been to in many many years. My friend invited me to stay with her so my only additional expenses will be gas and food. YEA! I'm so looking forward to doing this.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
A JUSTIFIED PURCHASE
Hi fellow sewers, readers of this blog and friends: It really has been a while since I took the time to sit and write on my blog. I won't spend a lot of time with all my dramas, i.e., sergers, sewing machine and the boys (my little dogs - pictures posted).
I haven't made many things since I posted last,however I was extremely inspired after an Eileen Fisher attack brought on by a stroll through Dillards out of sheer boredom. I must admit the prices were fabulous 65% off and additional 40% off at the register. I really love her stuff; it never wears out, extraordinarily fine fabrics and they look good on my mature (lol) figure. They had my size in everything as it was the first day of the sale. I guess so because the question in my mind is "Who pays $158 for a summer tank top"? However, I am happy to report that I grabbed up over $900 worth of Eileen Fisher for a little over $300. Although this was and end of summer sale, I will be able to wear these things until late November due to our semitropical weather and will be set for spring. No guilt as my Dillards card has had a tiny balance of under $100 for months since I stopped retired.
I am not the most creative sewer, but I have promised myself for years that I would try to copy some of the ready to ware things that fit well. So after wondering some more, I cleared my cutting table and traced the pattern onto pattern tracing paper. Success! It fit and looked just like the the $158. tank top. So I got out my prized linen jersey (I have become obsessed with this stuff) and made several more. AND THEN...........................................................serger trouble once again reared it's ugly head!
If you've been a reader of this blog then you know I have just about driven myself crazy with my Elna 925 server. Well, Thursday night as I was serging the e-shrug from Sewing Workshop (cute and very easy and takes less than 30 minutes) the upper looper broke. That did it! I finished the e-shrug by machine and went to bed. Yesterday, I drove to Mobile, AL (45 minutes away) and calmly, without any guilt purchased (are you ready for this) an Evolution by Babylock. Now you and I both know that I probably will never make anything that requires 8 spools of thread, but I purchased it because I wanted the same features as my 5 thread Elna 925. However, my main reason was because of the Extraordinair Threading system. With this kind of investment you can best believe that I'll be attending as many classes as the price of gasoline will allow since the shop is about 65 miles from where I live
Tried it out in the store and seems there will be a slight learning curve for me, but I'm up to the challenge. I must say, however, that had I not done my research due diligence, I probably would have not made the purchase because the sales staff and manager were like something out of a combination Three Stooges - Keystone Cops movie. I had to take several deep breaths and refocus, especially when the owner arrived after picking up the three kids (ages about 2-7) from school and daycare. Call me crazy, but I just expect the sales staff to be 100% knowledgeable of the products they sell. I was pleased to know that they were not the instructors for the classes.
So now I'll start the challenge!
I haven't made many things since I posted last,however I was extremely inspired after an Eileen Fisher attack brought on by a stroll through Dillards out of sheer boredom. I must admit the prices were fabulous 65% off and additional 40% off at the register. I really love her stuff; it never wears out, extraordinarily fine fabrics and they look good on my mature (lol) figure. They had my size in everything as it was the first day of the sale. I guess so because the question in my mind is "Who pays $158 for a summer tank top"? However, I am happy to report that I grabbed up over $900 worth of Eileen Fisher for a little over $300. Although this was and end of summer sale, I will be able to wear these things until late November due to our semitropical weather and will be set for spring. No guilt as my Dillards card has had a tiny balance of under $100 for months since I stopped retired.
I am not the most creative sewer, but I have promised myself for years that I would try to copy some of the ready to ware things that fit well. So after wondering some more, I cleared my cutting table and traced the pattern onto pattern tracing paper. Success! It fit and looked just like the the $158. tank top. So I got out my prized linen jersey (I have become obsessed with this stuff) and made several more. AND THEN...........................................................serger trouble once again reared it's ugly head!
If you've been a reader of this blog then you know I have just about driven myself crazy with my Elna 925 server. Well, Thursday night as I was serging the e-shrug from Sewing Workshop (cute and very easy and takes less than 30 minutes) the upper looper broke. That did it! I finished the e-shrug by machine and went to bed. Yesterday, I drove to Mobile, AL (45 minutes away) and calmly, without any guilt purchased (are you ready for this) an Evolution by Babylock. Now you and I both know that I probably will never make anything that requires 8 spools of thread, but I purchased it because I wanted the same features as my 5 thread Elna 925. However, my main reason was because of the Extraordinair Threading system. With this kind of investment you can best believe that I'll be attending as many classes as the price of gasoline will allow since the shop is about 65 miles from where I live
Tried it out in the store and seems there will be a slight learning curve for me, but I'm up to the challenge. I must say, however, that had I not done my research due diligence, I probably would have not made the purchase because the sales staff and manager were like something out of a combination Three Stooges - Keystone Cops movie. I had to take several deep breaths and refocus, especially when the owner arrived after picking up the three kids (ages about 2-7) from school and daycare. Call me crazy, but I just expect the sales staff to be 100% knowledgeable of the products they sell. I was pleased to know that they were not the instructors for the classes.
So now I'll start the challenge!
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