Bernina L890 Serger review

My birthday is today!! I turned 66 and I've been sewing for 53 years! I bought this machine as a birthday present to myself.  I bought the Bernina L860 serger a year ago and regretted not buying the L890 almost immediately. I didn't think I would use the coverstitch feature though so I went with the L860. But I sew for my toddler grandchildren and I really want that coverstitch now. So I traded up and I'm so happy I did.

This is what a coverstitch is... 

My goodness is this machine awesome! Right away I was stitching away on my first pair of toddler pajamas. All due to the on board touch screen and the features called "Expert Mode" & "Guided Mode". I learned how to use these features on the L860 but I need the help of the new machine's Guided Mode to learn how to set up the machine for coverstitch. This is a dream feature! A video right on the screen to show me what to do.

Janome JW8100 Sewing Machine Review

I had the opportunity to review a Janome JW8100 Sewing Machine recently and I found it to be a wonderful, computerized machine!  The technological revolution has made it to the sewing industry, and basic machines no longer cut it. Unfortunately, most computerized sewing machines are usually very costly.  This one is only $370!

It's one of the most affordable computerized machines I've come across and works great for both beginners and experts. Here's the specifications:

The Janome JW8100 has all the benefits of a computerized sewing machine but is beginner-friendly. It’s entry-level and has a lot of features compared to mechanical models, but it doesn’t have so many gadgets and options that you get overwhelmed.

It only weighs 12.7 lbs and measures 16 x 7 x 12 inches. This makes it easily portable. It has a digital LCD screen that displays important details such as the width & length of the stitches, the type of stitch being used, and the recommended foot.

It’s hard to find a stitch that isn’t included in the Janome JW8100 sewing machine because it has 100 built-in stitches! They are divided as follows:

Heirloom style stitches: 27

Basic and fashion stitches: 20

Quilting stitches: 18

Button holes: 7

Home decor: 28

The machine comes with a stitch chart which means you don't have to keep checking the manual every time you need to change a stitch. This feature is so handy. You can, however, remove it if you don’t need the chart.

 Janome JW8100 has an automatic needle threader. You can see it in the photo above, it's easy to use! It comes with a detachable table to extend your working area and has a free arm when you remove the storage compartment.

The photo shows the accessories that are included with the machine.  There is a cute little pin cushion you can place on top of the machine while you're sewing!  Additional feet available for the machine, which you can order by going to the Janome website or any online quilt shop that sells Janome. Quilters will probably want to order a 1/4" foot.

Some of the features that make this sewing machine easy to use include:

Start/stop button: this feature allows you to use the machine without pressing on the foot pedal.

Locking stitch button: this button ties off the thread ends which means that you don’t have to backstitch to lock seams.

Easy reverse button: this feature is used when you’re securing seams by backstitching.

The machine has the drop feed to control the speed and direction of the fabric when you’re using free motion.

All in all, this is a fabulous machine for only $370!

Click here to download a copy of the Janome JW8100 manual!

Enjoying my new sewing machine!

 I finally have a few days free due to the Thanksgiving Holiday and I plan to use it sewing my next show quilt.  It calls for 580 half square triangles!  I especially love my new machine as I sew mainly in the evenings.  Notice the pull out light above the needle area?  Wow, this is a fabulous feature.  There is plenty of light to see what I'm doing. My machine is the Elna Excellence 780+.  I highly recommend this machine for quilting!

What machine are you sewing with?  

There are some other features on this machine I have to tell you about!  You can adjust the automatic settings to any stitch!  I like to stitch with a 2.8 stitch length so I change the length and now the automatic setting is what I want it to be when I select a stitch.  So handy not to adjust this every time I turn the machine on!

The machine has an early warning for when the bobbin is getting low.  And you can adjust this as well! They thought of most anything a quilter might want when they built this machine.

Ode to Sewing Machines #34

Many of you follow my "Ode to the Sewing Machine" posts.  We've all seen the ads on craigslist, ebay and elsewhere.  The clueless sellers give those of us who sew a belly laugh, or two!  Here's installment #34…

Outrageous price for a machine with mold growing on it.

A rust bucket for only $700!

Singer 201-2 sewing machine

 I found a Singer 201-2 on facebook marketplace the other day and couldn't pass it up.  It is a machine that has had very little use in it's lifetime.  The machine is locked up though so I'm tearing it down to find out what the problem is.  The whole machine is so dry, no oil anywhere on it.

Update:  The machine is sewing a beautiful stitch now!  I called an expert sewing machine repairman and he came by my home and got the machine running again!  I tore the machine down to where I was comfortable putting it back together but the machine still wouldn't turn but my guy did the tougher part and I'm so glad he came!

His shirt says "Real Men Rock Pink"

A Great Buy Found on Marketplace

 I found a Baby Lock Ellageo 3 on facebook marketplace and decided to buy it.  It's a 20 yr old sewing/embroidery machine and I'm very pleased with this purchase.  I took it in for a spa day and had a new needle threader put on.  It was sewing well before I took it in but it is even quieter now that it's been lubed up.

This machine does amazing decorative stitches. It's a 9mm but has feed dogs that move sideways so even larger decorative stitches can be done. The picture below shows a regular 9mm decorative stitch next to one of the larger stitches.  I'm amazed how big it is.

But the reason I bought it was for the embroidery aspect.  I plan to offer quilt labels to my customers and this machine has 11 beautiful embroidered alphabets.

I recommend buying used machines!  You can find some pretty good deals if you're patient enough to wait for them to come along!

I've been working on this quilt for a customer.  She used a fabric collection by Loralie and I think it's a beautiful quilt!

Here's a tip for other owners of the King Quilter 2.  I placed a magnet on my handlebars using the screw that was already there.  Now my scissors hang out right where I need them.  You can find this magnet on the Home Depot website.   I also placed a small stick-on magnet that holds my self-threading needle used for burying threads.  You can see it in this photo on the far left.

How to avoid twisted binding when joining the edges

This video has a very good tip for joining the binding.  She folds the binding over at one point and this tip has certainly helped me.   I used to end up with twisted binding about 50% of the time, but with this folding idea, no more twisted binding!

Happy Sewing Machine Day

This machine is a Singer 201-3, made in the UK.  It sews beautifully.  I've made several quilts on it. I bought it via ebay and rewired it when it arrived.  The wiring was shot!  Now it's good for another 7 or 8 decades.

My travel machine is a Bernina 170, it's been a great machine!

I have another Singer machine, this one is a 15-91.  I used it to sew 1/4 inch 

leather for an upholstery project.

But my favorite machine is my Bernina 640.  It has over a million stitches on it.

Ode to sewing machines #24

Many of you follow my "Ode to the Sewing Machine" posts.  We've all seen the ads on craigslist, ebay and elsewhere.  The clueless sellers give those of us who sew a belly laugh, or two!

Add caption

Ode to sewing machines #23

Many of you follow my "Ode to the Sewing Machine" posts.  We've all seen the ads on craigslist, ebay and elsewhere.  The clueless sellers give those of us who sew a belly laugh, or two!

Hand held!  What will they think of next?

Tension problems?

I'm trying to use a new thread this weekend, a 50 wt So Fine variegated with luscious colors.  I'm having fits with it though... arrrrgh!  The thread is falling off the cone too fast, gets caught and 'snap', the thread breaks.  I have 2 variables that could be causing the problem.

I placed a thread sock on the cone, but the thread is still loose near the top of the cone.  With the thread sock, the thread doesn't fall off the cone, but the thread is loose as it unwinds near the top of the cone.  I also have high static electricity in the air, so that could be the problem as well.

I placed a pot of boiling water on the stove to put humidity in the air.  We will soon see if static is the problem.

While taking a break from the break, I found a great video on tension problems.  You don't need an expensive TOGO tension gauge, it's simple!  Take a look and let me know what you think?

http://www.youtube.com/embed/Q1mRhcquZTM

He really knows tension!

How to lube your thread

I've been long-arming happily all day.  I finished one quilt, and will place another one on the frame tomorrow. I wish the holiday could be extended, I'm not ready for school to start!  For those who are new to the blog, I home school my son.  I'm also taxi-driver for my oldest in college (she has a disability and can't drive for now).

I thought I'd share a tip to help those who are tempted to oil your thread when you sew velcro or use metallic threads.  My method works for long arming, sewing, serging, upholstery  just about any type of sewing.  I've used this method for years and it works!

If you have continual thread breaks while sewing velcro or use metallic threads, try this!  Cut a tiny piece of stick-on velcro, use the fluffy side.  Place it under the thread path AFTER the tension disc.  Then place 1 or 2 drops of silicone (Sewer's Aid, etc.) on the velcro.   As the thread glides across the velcro it lubes your thread without ruining the entire cone, and without gumming up your tension dial.

Use velcro to sew velcro, brilliant! Let me know if you try my method?  I'd love to hear how it worked for you!

​

You must be a Master Gardener if...

What the finished quilt will look like.

My finished blocks.

I started piecing a new quilt today.  It's a Patchwork Party quilt.  This one is for my mom.  I've been using the Singer 201 sewing machine to piece this week.  What a wonderful machine!

Singer 15-91 affectionately called "the tank".  I use this to sew leather, heavy canvas, etc.
In this photo you see leather I used to reupholster my chiropractor's table.
It was 1/4" thick and this machine went through it like it was butter.

 (The blue bin you see in the above photo are my worms.  .... What?  You don't keep worms in your dining room?)

Long arm quilting machine and frame

I bought a long arm quilting machine and frame from a dealer in Portsmouth, VA yesterday, and I did some pretty significant drooling over the many vintage machines she had. Wow, she had a beautiful New Home treadle with a coffin top on a fabulous table. It wasn't for sale, but it was wonderful seeing one is such fine condition.

I spotted a beautiful 201 for sale! The Singer 201 is in wonderful condition. It's not in a table but the wiring was sound, and the paint looked great.  Look at the throat space!  The 201 is supposed to be the quietest machine available.  The Singer 201 is considered by most collectors to be the best machine Singer ever made. It is gear driven and has an internal motor, which makes it very strong. It is also extremely quiet when sewing.


Once I get my long arm set up I'll be posting about that. We have to finish the ceiling and walls with drywall before I can set it up. Hopefully that will be finished this week.

How can I be expected to cook and clean?

I've been sewing all day!

Not really, but I have been in my sewing room all day.  I decided I HAD to get the piles organized.  And this is what I came up with!  I bought the bins at Lowe's on clearance!  I bought all they had, and still have 8 more ready to be filled.  In another corner I added shelves above my embroidery machine.  Thread went on the wall and I can see it at a glance.

The quilt on the left was made by my great grandmother when I was born.  It's very worn and tattered, it was used for all 4 kids, I'm the oldest.  She used old shirts, aprons, sheets and anything else she could find.  It's entirely hand sewn and tied.

What to look for in a sewing machine

A friend of mine has been looking for a sewing machine for several weeks. She's researching brands, trying the new ones and also looking at used machines.  I found a blog that has WONDERFUL advice for anyone looking for a sewing machine.
What to look for in a sewing machine

I've had several brands of sewing machines through the years, including a Featherweight 221 and 222. Currently I use a 1951 Singer 15-61 Centennial, a Bernina 640, a Tin Lizzie 26" longarm quilting machine and a 1501 SWF embroidery machine with 15 needles.

I thought I'd share a photo of my Singer. I restored the top recently.  It looks beautiful, I keep it by the front door. I call it "the tank". I'm using it this weekend to reupholster our doctor's chiropractic table. The leather he chose came from a huge, huge cow! It's gigantic! It's also very thick but the tank will handle it nicely.

You can see the leather in a pile on the floor and the pieces from his table can be seen in my dining room.  The blue bin you see on the floor are my worms. I keep the attachments for the tank in the suitcase.  I found the machine on craigslist for free!

Then there are the Singer Featherweights, wonderful little machines.  A few years ago I bought a 222k as a doorstop.  It lived outside in someone's back yard for 2 decades, and was not a pretty sight.  I bought it for $40 and restored it.  An automotive shop repainted it for me, and then I replaced or repaired everything else on the machine, including the decals.  I used it for a year or so, and made a few quilts.  I sold it for $1,200 on ebay (it had every attachment known to man, which is why it went for so much).  The new owner absolutely loved it. 

I need to get off the computer and sew! ... until another day my friends, may you have no thread nests.

( .....What?.... you don't keep worms in your dining room??? ) 

My quilting studio

Not really, but I woulda if I had
a tree like this one!

Habitat Restore sewing machine

Just came back from the Habitat Restore, there are 12 sewing machines waiting to be loved. One was crying out to me as I left, a 1951 Singer 201 in a nice table, missing the power cord, no attachments but the gears were so stiff I could barely rotate the flywheel. Looked inside and it was black with hardened crud. They wanted $125 for it. I explained to one of the workers the machine was worthless as it was, but the table was worth maybe $40. Left my name and phone number behind... maybe they'll call me, maybe not. I need another Singer like I need a hole in the head.  Someone willing to put the time into it is all it needs.  Poor thing needs major work though.