Tuesday, May 20, 2014

New Machine!!

I've had my eye on this sewing machine since another Ontario quilter whose work I admire recommended it to me. A couple weeks ago I finally had the chance to drive up to That Sewing Place in Newmarket and give it a good trial. Needless to say, it came home with me after that! Isn't it beautiful?


You can see that my sewing table had a previous incarnation as a paint studio. But never mind, the machine is the Brother 1500S, which is a single stitch, high speed sewing machine. It has everything I want, including a needle down function and lots of workspace, and nothing I don't want, like a bunch of fancy stitches I'll never use. My old Janome still works well for those times I'll need the zig zag stitch. Although I am starting to think that will not be too often!

I was very lucky that the owner of the store, Jaret, who is an expert on this machine, was there to give me a complete lesson. Once I got home I was able to get it all threaded and set up without even cracking open the manual. It also comes with an extension table and a knee lift, which are not shown in the photo.

LOL!

So far I've used it to piece the flannel parts of my snowmen blocks, I've done a little free motion quilting on the Homegrown placemats, and I've done some straight line quilting with the walking foot on Edward's quilt. It is really nice. When you get the free motion up to speed, the fabric positively glides under the needle. And the humongous walking foot is making easy work of Edward's wretched quilt. Plus, the machine will hold a full sized thread cone, which I really love.

So, no more excuses! I have a back log of projects that need quilting. Some are so old and long forgotten that I thought I'd post some photos with my to do list:

Homegrown kitchen set -- a little more FMQ in the centres and these will be ready for binding.
Edward's quilt -- long, long, long overdue, the straight line quilting on this quilt has been an ongoing nightmare. I used a new flannel sheet for the backing and the fluff goes everywhere, and it just keeps getting hung up for no apparent reason on my old machine. But the new machine copes beautifully!
It's Warm Inside -- I have some FMQ and an experimental quilting in sections technique to try on this one.
Hen Party -- I almost sent this out for quilting, but I had my own ideas that I wanted to try too. Now I can!
Highlands Houses -- my latest idea is to quilt this all over in a small clamshell pattern. I hope I can pull it off. :)
Spring Planting (aka the yoyo quilt) -- I think I finally have a way to quilt this monster. The yoyos make it very fat!

Since my WIP list has grown again, it seems appropriate to link up to WIP Wednesday at The Needle and Thread Network. Here's to a decent list of finishes in 2014!

21 comments:

  1. Lucky you. Have fun with your new machine. It seems like you really have your work cut out for you.
    I will need a new machine in the future since it's a Kenmore computerized machine and they cannot fix it in the future if it dies on me. I haven't started looking at what I want.

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  2. Have fun with your new machine - can't wait to see your updates on new quilting techniques!

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  3. lucky girl, as you say so many machines have stitches we never use, can see hours of fun quilting all your projects then starting more, happy quilting.

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  4. A new machine1 You go girl! I have often wondered how much extra I paid for all those stitches I have never used. I love your Hen Party. It made me smile.

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  5. How lovely! Nice machine and terrific projects to work on! Congrats on the new acquisition!! It looks great.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Lorette! I am excited to get back to some of these projects. :D

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  6. A new machine.....:) I never use any of those fancy stitches. I may occasionally use the zig zag but so rarely that I can't remember the last time.

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  7. Sounds as if the machine is just the ticket. I find the actual quilting bit the most attractive part of making something quilted, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how each of the comes up with your brain and your new tool!

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    1. Thanks, Jillian. I'm hoping to get a lot of good use from it. And faster finishes!

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  8. Hi there.....lovely works going on...where are you located? I am in Shepody, NB

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  9. Congrats on your new machine! About 16 months ago, I bought a similarly simple and solid machine--the Juki TL-2010Q, and I love it. Like you, I have my old Janome for when I need a zig zag stitch or a free arm (or maybe even all of those old embroidery stitches that I've never used), and the Juki for pretty much all of my quilting needs.

    Have fun with all of your projects!

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  10. I love love love my Brother Nouvelle 1500S!!!!! It is a perfect machine for left handers, which I am not so have to work to thread it from the outside in.

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    1. Thanks for dropping by, Chris! I am right handed, but I do not find the needle is difficult to thread. There is a threading gadget built in, but I just do it manually.

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  11. I have the Babylock straight stitcher and I have to say it is one of my favorite machines. The straight stitch is so straight, unlike the straight stitch on a zig zag machine. I know you will love your machine for many years.

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  12. New machines are always a ton of fun. Looking forward to seeing what your new addition inspires!

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  13. Don't know what happened there but my comment just disappeared into cyberspace lol. Thats what happens when the doogie leans her head on the laptop! Just in case you didnt get the first half I was saying how pleased you must be with your new quilting machine and was going to add when I quilted the same puff quilt I just went down the ditch and turned out great. Much easier than trying to go all over with it. Although your new machine might cope quite well with an all over design.

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  14. It's so much fun to get a new machine. Congratulations. I have used some of the "fancy" stitches on my Pfaff. I quilted a baby quilt and used them in the borders. They looked fine, but those stitches take FOREVER to stitch out. I was literally falling asleep while feeding the quilt through the machine. Never again. I, too, wonder how much extra those fancy ones cost me.

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  15. Oooooooh...nothing like a new toy to put a smile on a girls face. She looks beautiful. And it looks like she will be busy for the next little while, which is the perfect way to get to know her. Lots of fun, I'm sure.

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I'm told Blogger has been bouncing some comments, so if it happens to you I'm sorry! But the settings look right so I can't explain it. In any case, thanks for reading!

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