Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Project: Buttonhole! (and should I buy a new machine)

the mess of the tests

Today, I made a buttonhole. In fact, I made three of them: one to test and two for the show (the Oliver + S Playsuit show, that is). I have been afraid to try buttonholes because they seem so daunting. So I popped in the quilt shop with Senior Husky and we got to work. The setup for this particular model is different from all of the other Husqvarna machines that they carry so it was a bit of a challenge to figure out but it's so easy now that I know how.

But it's dangerous being in the quilt shop because of all the beautiful brand new fancypants sewing machines they have lined up ready to go at the front of the store. . .

I bought my Huskystar 224 used from my local quilt shop almost 10 years ago. It's been good to me. It's been a pain in the ass (mostly me not knowing what I'm doing). But lately I've been wanting to upgrade. Senior is a top-of-the-line beginner machine and I just need to move on. I need more control and I need a stitch that is shaped like little VW campervans. That's all there is to it. I think I'm going to buy an Emerald 183. It's an upgrade but it's not crazy. It's on sale. It's calling to me. It has fonts but it's not an embroidery machine. (I can use my mom's if she ever takes it out of the box). I am going Husqvarna because I want to support a local business plus they teach me stuff I don't know when I need to learn it and they do all well-child visits in house and most repairs. That means it won't get shipped around needlessly if something does go wrong.

So what do you think? Should I go for it?

7 comments:

bagfashionista said...

go for it!!

i attempted making a buttonhole a few days ago -- failed miserably -- i wonder if it's because my machine's reverse motion is broken?!

Beth Lemon said...

You should try changing out of the buttonhole stitch selection to the one next to it and back. That is what you need to do to mine to get it to work.
That's why there is a huge mess on the fabric!

Anonymous said...

Yes! That machine looks amazing! Your buttonhole accomplishment is inspiring me to figure out how to do one on my machine. :-)

Beth Lemon said...

I didn't figure it out. It took 3 of us at the quilt shop to make one decent buttonhole. It was me and the owner (10+ years) and her employee (who fixes all the machines). I never would have been able to do it on my own.

Katielin317 said...

I JUST brought home my new Emerald 183 and I am loving it. Quite a step up from my 1973 Kenmore. I am having a lovely time with my new machine. And, really...who could ever pass up VW campers??

Beth Lemon said...

I went to the store this morning with a test and had to sew up a row of those campers across the bottom. Did you know it mirrors? Amazing.

I am excited to see if it will make them bigger.

I put down my deposit.

You'll have to tell me how you like it! Mine won't come for a few days.

Steph said...

Can't wait to see it in action!