This is only my second, recent, sewing post on this blog. But it’s also my second recent post here too. Things fell off when I moved to Seattle and my thoughts around having a blog shifted away from where I was at when I was single. It’s also a far cry from the first few sewing posts when I got back into sewing that included posts about figuring out how to sew diapers for M when he was a baby:

I didn’t like the structure etc of the blog and so I didn’t post about the really successful diapers I did sew for his younger sister. Or getting started into garment sewing or all the other things related to that I could write about.

So there’s a gap of stories from those posts, or the one showing my old machine to today. BUT!!! I realized over the last year that I’ve grown beyond my old machine. It isn’t handling what I want to do at the level I’m satisfied with.

It’s frustrating when i can’t achieve the quality of finish on a garment and it’s because the machine just can’t do it. For example, the other day, I posted my first pair of Ginger Jeans and you will notice I didn’t show you a closeup of the topstitching. Most of that was done on my old machine and it was not great. It does fine for construction with denim, so I plan to press my old machine into service when it’s time to make pair number 2. But, it’s time to introduce my new machine. Lovingly dubbed “Sew3-PO” by my husgand.

I’ve been a Janome fan since I got my serger (Juno 3434d). I got that machine used in 2012 when I first moved to Seattle, and likely overpaid for it. But once I figured out how to work it, I haven’t been able to screw it up. It’s loud, but it’s solid and gets the job done and so simple. I then got my Janome Coverstitch — a 2000 CPX — and that is when I learned the value of an awesome relationship with a dealer.

City Vacuum and Sewing in Shoreline, WA is an awesome, family owned small business. They know what they are talking about, are honest and I felt confident that they would guide me well in ownership of a new machine.

I went to Sew Expo with my mother-in-law — right before the isolation for Covid hit — and explored all the new machines from all the manufacturers. I wanted my “dream machine”, not one I’d want to replace again in a few years.

Plus, I have a related interest that needs a machine — Machine Embroidery. My daughter, who’s almost 4, loves princesses and keeps seeing embroidered princesses on garments and asks me to do that on her clothes. Plus, it seems like fun and creative! But to learn you need a machine.

I don’t have the space to add a separate embroidery machine later. Enter the Janome Horizon Memorycraft 15000. She did exactly what I wanted, and room to grow is an understatement, and she’s a brand that my preferred dealer sells. I’d planned to save for a year and get her at the Sew Expo 2021.

Then covid hit, and another dealer started offering sales on their machines. It occurred to me to check and see what the pricing was for the 15000 at City Vac. They did offer me a price I couldn’t refuse AND I got to pick it up that same day.

So best April Fools day ever — new awesome machine.

Now to learn how to do embroidery. And all the bells and whistles this awesome machine has.

It’s been easy to use so far, I did a tester buttonhole and that was successful the first time out, and I did put her through her paces quickly getting some masks made for my family and friends. I’m sure I’ll learn more once I can actually go to my in person class. But, for now online tutorials are the way I’m starting.

So moving forward, I get to learn embroidery and am doing a lot of reading and video watching for that and I’m looking forward to adding unique touches to my makes, and my kids’ makes. Ideas are swirling. But regardless this is a huge upgrade and i’m loving every second!