If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know I’ve sewn on a vintage machine for years. All my life pretty much, except when at work. Until very recently, when I decided it was time for a modern machine and all they’re capable of doing. So I tried out a few machines, then I started talking with the lovely people at Baby Lock, and I now have two brand new machines.
I want to emphasize the order above – I looked at machines, then talked with Baby Lock. It’s important to me that this is clear, because while Baby Lock has become a sponsor of this blog (maybe you caught the cool new button on my sidebar?) and sent me these machines, these are the machines I wanted regardless. Just so you know that my opinions on this are my own and were formed before complimentary machines were on the negotiating table.
Also, if you want to read a little interview about me, I’m over at the Baby Lock blog, Totally Stitchin today answering some of their questions.
Say hi to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth is taking the place of my old vintage machine. While she shares the same beautifully formed straight stitches that I love about vintage, she comes with options I didn’t have. Like and automatic thread cutter that I am already in love with. And the knee lift bar, pictured below.
Yes, I was sewing in my pajamas. Obviously. Don’t you? For those of you who don’t enjoy a knee lift, it lets you lift the presser foot with your knee so you can keep your hands on your sewing. Between that and the automatic thread cutter, regular sewing is already even faster for me.
Which really, was what I wanted in a new machine. Yes, my old vintage machine could do everything I needed, but with the volumed I sew at this point it just wasn’t fast enough. Automatic threaders (Elizabeth has that too!), thread cutters, push button stitch changes, knee lift, snap on presser feet, automatic buttonholes – all these things add up to a lot of time saved when you sew as much as I do.
Remember I said two machines? While Elizabeth and I are getting really friendly, my Imagine got unboxed and set up first. And I’m in looooooove with it.
There are two genius things that the Imagine serger does – one is the Jet Air threading, which I’ve wanted ever since the first time I saw it. My sister-in-law and I had a threading party when I set it up the first time. For real. If you want to see how it works, watch the video below – skip to 1:50 to see the threading in action.
See what I mean? Par-tay!
The other thing I love is not so obvious at first – it’s the tension. There are no manual dials on the front. Which means little boy fingers can’t unset your tension, causing you to waste 15 minutes or more redoing your tension. Which totally happened with my old serger. More than once.
This machine just purrs when I sew, too. And cuts the fabric like butta. I’m not kidding when I say that I’m in love.
And finally, a new machine necessitated a new sewing cabinet. Because the new machine wouldn’t work in my old cabinet. Plus my mom said she wanted the machine back, and since she did technically loan it to me like 17ish years ago, I guess she had the right to ask for it back.
So I found a solid wood desk on Craigslist for $15. The hubs and I had to cut it down to fit in my corner, and we cut out a hole in the top and added support to hold the machine flush, and then I used a lot of spray  paint because the wood was ugly.
I also bought this vintage sewing storage tray to help hold all my stuff inside. Bonus:Â because these are desk instead of sewing cabinet drawers, they’re much bigger and therefor hold more stuff! I have plenty of space to hoard more presser feet, for example.
Lastly, I got a new chair with a higher seat, so now the sewing corner in my studio looks like this.
Marieke
You are one lucky lady! I want to come to Texas to sew on your machines!!
Audrey
Yea! I’m so happy for you! And jealous for me!
Heather x
Hi hunny 🙂
Wow! Love the new machines in your lovely studio 🙂
How did you strengthen the support for your sewing machine hun? This is something that i want to do with my machine to make quilting and sewing easier on a flat space.
Heather x
[email protected]
Melissa Mora
I may post a tutorial on that later. Right now I have temporary supports because I’m working on a lift mechanism, but haven’t totally figured out how I’m going to do it yet. The temporary supports are 2x4s and long bolts.
Whitney
That is awesome! They look beautiful. 🙂 I have my sewing machine on a regular desk as well. Could you post pictures of the cut out and how you attached supports underneath? I would love to do this with my desk!
Melissa Mora
I may post a tutorial on that later. Right now I have temporary supports because I’m working on a lift mechanism, but haven’t totally figured out how I’m going to do it yet. The temporary supports are 2x4s and long bolts.
Susan
I would loooove to have that serger! Purring from a machine is always a nice sound 😉
Your studio looks great too 🙂
Andrea
Yay! I love Baby Lock!! Your sewing space is looking amazing!
Christie
So awesome–I’m drooling over that serger! Your machines are beautiful, along with your sewing space!
Heather
She looks great in her new home! I think you are going to LOVE the knee controller. I use mine all the time. And the Imagine- the jet air threader is the best!! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
Lindsay Wilkes - The Cottage Mama
Enjoy your new machines!!! There are so many things to love about Baby Lock…….they are the best!
Michelle Rose
Congratulations on your new additions! I bought a used Babylock serger about six months ago, and I LOVE it. I agree that the jet-air threading and automatic tension really can’t be beat.
Jessica @ Running With Scissors
The knee lift will change your life! Sewing is so much more efficient hands free! Congrats and I’m drooling over the air jet threaded serger!
marissa | Rae Gun Ramblings
I’m going to have to check that sewing machine out. I’ve been flailing on a machine I don’t like since my precious workhorse died. Plus your sewing desk is kinda the coolest thing ever!
sorahart
I’ve owned 2 Berninas and the foot pedal has gone out on both of them, so I’ve started exploring new brands for when I buy a new serger in the next little while. Babylock caught my eye a few months ago and I appreciated reading your review today. I think I’m sold on the Imagine too!
Patti Cole
I wanted a new server in the worst way about 8 years ago, and chose the Evolve for all the reasons you said – and I’ve never regretted it. Because the server was the coolest ever, when I paid it off, I treated myself to the Ellissimo Gold, and what a treat it is to create with. 🙂 ps – love your posts!
Stef
ooooo! awwww! love your new space and your new machines – they’re lookin’ mighty good! Can’t wait to see more!
Amy
I bought the Elizabeth this summer and purchased it because I owned a plain, straight stitch machine. I have lots of projects to complete that require the use of a blanket stitch. I was borrowing my mom’s Bernina to work on my projects. It was okay but then my younger sister bought the Baby Lock Audrey and I absolutely loved her machine and the blanket stitch was so easy to use and my projects looked great. My older sister loved it too and went and bought an Audrey as well. I was dying for a Baby Lock with the wonerful blanket stitch. I saved for a year and decided to purchase the Elizabeth. I was tired of driving across town to borrow my sisters. I was incredibly sad and disappointed to find the blanket stitch is not like the Audry. I would have thought with that many stitches they would have included the less expensive models blanket stitch but it is not included as far as I can tell. I went back to the store where I purchased it and they blanket stitch on the model above has the same blanket stitch as the Audrey. The blanket stitch I have found although beutiful requires quite a bit of skill and lots of practice to perfect. Keep this in mind when shopping. The main reason I purchased the machine was for that easy to use, beutiful blanket stitch. If anyone knows how to find the simple blanket stitch on the Elizabeth that is on the Audry that would be great. I have already destroyed one small project with the Elizabeth and it looks terrible. I want the time I spend sewing to be enjoyable instead of cursing and destroying fabric. Help, I think I hate my Elizabeth.