Meet My Machine! blog hop

Hi everyone!  Welcome to my stop on Stacey and Erin's Meet My Machine Blog Hop.  

I've just spent some time in my sewing space trying to get a decent photo to share.  However, the size of the space (approximately 5ft x 12ft), all the things in that space (sewing desk for me, child size table for my daughters, ironing board, and wide bookcase-type organizer thingamajig where I keep my fabric), that three sides are covered in windows (I sew in a tiny sunroom), and that my camera only has a 50mm prime lens (no zooming in or out), it appears that I won't be sharing any pics today!  Hmm, is that enough excuses?  Well, excuses plus a description!  But so that I don't have a completely picture-less post, I'll share some pics of what I've made using my new machine.

Anyway, the reason you are reading this is to hear about my sewing machine.  If you were reading my blog last summer/fall, you might remember that I wrote a lot about sewing machine problems and was constantly on a search for an upgrade.  I don't know the model number of my first machine - it was purchased way before I actually started sewing (almost 10 years before!) when I thought I would use it to make curtains (I never did but I did make a pillow cover!) and sat in a box until my oldest daughter showed an interest in sewing (about 4 or 5 years ago.)  It was just a basic mechanical machine that worked great for basic sewing and I even straight line quilted some smaller quilts on it.

However, when I became more serious about sewing (December 2011), I bought a computerized machine online that came with both a walking foot and a free motion quilting foot.  I was so excited but I had problems with it from day one - fortunately, I was able to return it for a full refund so I took out my old mechanical to use again.  By this point, I had started blogging and meeting people who actually owned sewing machines so I began paying attention to what people wrote about their machines and began seeking advice.  

Ultimately, I bought the Juki 2010q and I LOVE IT!  The Juki is a mechanical machine that only does straight stitch but it really has everything I need!  It is awesome for free motion quilting (it also has speed control - you choose the speed by moving a little tab toward a tortoise or a hare!!!) and has needle down and a thread cutter!  Oh, and it came with an extension table that I leave on all the time.  

There have been exactly two times when I would have liked to have been able to zig zag stitch - once to secure the edges of the linen for the Woodland Sampler and once when I wanted to machine stitch the binding the way I did way back when (in early 2012.)  As for the binding, not having the zig zag option just forced me to learn a new method (learning new things is always good, right?) and I just straight stitched around the linen a few times which seems to be working so far. 

One more thing about the Juki - it does not technically have a free arm but I've still been able to sew bags on it so I wouldn't say that is something I miss (at least not yet!)

So, overall I am extremely happy with my sewing machine!  Despite its lack of fancy features, I don't find it lacking at all!  It really has everything I need and I have no plans for purchasing an additional machine (though I have thought about possibly getting a serger at some point in the not so near future.) One disclaimer here, though - my daughters have their own sewing machine (an inexpensive computerized Brother bought when my old mechanical machine stopped working) and though I haven't used it since I bought the Juki, that option is always there if I wanted to use a fancy stitch or needed a true free arm machine.  And I'll probably start bringing it my guild's sewing days (not that I actually do much sewing there!) because their little machine is way easier to travel with than the Juki!

Here is the blog hop schedule and click here to link up a post about your machine!

SUNDAY, MARCH 17

Erin @ Sew at Home Mummy 

Angela @ Heart of Charnwood

Shannon @ Crafty Turtle

Amy @ Stitchery Dickory Dock

MONDAY, MARCH 18

Ebony @ Love Bug Studios 

Jaclyn @ Jaclyn Quilts

Amy @ Diary of a Quilter

TUESDAY, MARCH 19

Kara@ Me and Elna

Beth @ Plum and June

Nerissa @ Nissa Made 

Elizabeth @ Don’t Call Me Betsy

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20

Carly @ Citric Sugar 

Celine @ Espritpatch 

Patti @ A Yankee in Queen Liz’s Court

THURSDAY, MARCH 21

Stacey @ The Tilted Quilt 

The Jolly Jabber Staff (Chelsey, Kimberly, Debbie)

Rachel @ Sew Happily Ever After! 

FRIDAY, MARCH 22

Erika @ Sews it All 

Lisa @ Vintage Modern Quilts

Adrianne @ On the Windy Side