The old one was… old…about 15 years old actually. While it would be perfectly fine for the casual home sewer, the demands I placed on it were just too strenuous after all this time.

It’s a good thing sewing machines don’t have a ‘machine union’, because I’m pretty sure I’d make the ‘do not go home with this woman’ list. I’m a bit hard on them.

Anyway, this is my third serger since 1987; the first was a New Home, the second a Bernina Fun-Lock that I won at a design competition, and now I’m back to the Janome (formerly known as New Home) machine.

I called up a small independent shop I’ve been going to since 1987. In fact they had only been open two-months the first time I walked through their doors. Diane and Jim Stutsman are part of that amazing group of business owners that truly care about their customers.

The Sewing Room has moved three times and expanded each time; I told them if they move any farther away from me, I was going to have to pack an overnight case! The oh-so-important factor is that they know me: they know how I sew, what I insist of my machines, what I need and don’t need, what bothers me, what I don’t care about.

I trust them completely in providing me with the perfect machine for what I’m doing.

After the ‘transaction’ is complete, we sit and catch up on families, business, trends – and Jim and I talk technology, Apple computers and wonderful Geek-speak! Try doing that that at your local chain store.

Support your Independent Fabric, Sewing, Quilting and Sewing Machine Stores – both the brick-and-mortar and online only shops!

So you’re wondering, what did I get? Well….. I got an 1110DX – and boy is it nice. Middle of the group, not the most expensive nor the cheapest, but a workhorse.

I’ve already sewed a couple of personal garments to test it out and a heavy-duty light-blocking liner for the bedroom drapes. She just fly’s!

The particulars:

• 2 and 3 / 4 thread overlock
• Regular type needle HA or 15×1SP
• 1 – 5mm seam length
• 3.5mm (regular); 5.7mm (wide); 2.0mm (narrow) seam width
• 0.5 – 2.25 differential feed ration
• Front and back needle guard
• Color coded thread guides
• Snap-on presser feet
• Electronic speed control
• Easy to follow upper thread guide
• Dual feed dogs and differential feed
• Adjustable cutting width
• Easily retractable upper knife
• Easy to reach lower looper guides
• Quick change rolled hem
• Solid metal base plate

Love it, love it, love it!

If you’re in the Dallas area, stop by The Sewing Room – 8500 Gaylord Parkway, Suite 4, Frisco, Texas 75067. 972-315-1489. sale@sewingroom.com. Tell them Annie sent you!

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She was good! You know, if you have to have a roll model try to make it someone that understands the value of a buck.

Where was I… oh yeah… I’m cheap.

The thing is, I will spend good money for a quality product (we’re talking $$$ purchases here).

• Good craftsmanship
• Warranty on large purchases included
• Something I truly need (not want, need)
• Not the bare minimum – but not over kill either

I spent a healthy amount of money in 2002 for my Apple G4 and 19″ flat-screen Apple monitor, finally paid it off in 2.5 years later. I use it for my businesses and it was worth every single penny paid. I love my Macs.

While computers are a major part of my business, my sewing machine and serger are equally important. I got my first really good machine at 23 – a trade off with my former brother-in-law to do a lot of sewing for his venture. It was a PFAFF 1229 (the first electronic machine) that finally died in 2005 after 25 years of heavy-duty service. I flat-out adored that machine.

About 1991 or so, I worked up the justification to get the first computer connected sewing machine – a PFAFF 1475. You plugged the cable into your computer and could store, manipulate and add stitches. I put the machine on lay-away, and every single penny I made designing/sewing the Christening Dresses went toward that machine. I didn’t take it home until it was paid for. Period. It was a great motivator…

The software/machine connection was a wonderful idea for the non-industrial sewer – the software turned out to be a nightmare living in DOS. I remember at one sewing conference going up to the PFAFF rep and asking a ton of questions about the program; I knew a lot more about it then she did. I wasn’t a happy camper.

I ended up with several additional software packages, heirloom-stitches, that were perfect for the dresses. Once I loaded them into machine memory, I never reconnected to the computer. I owned that machine for 12 years before selling it; it was getting a bit tired.

My next machine was a Janome 3000; she’s a tough little girl that ran me all of $500. Lots of stitches, memory slots – and 7 years later, not a whisper of trouble. Such a good girl.

Much to the horror of several shops and stores I’ve taught at, I alway stress that you can do-and-create just about anything on a lower priced machine. Fancy threads, heavy threads, utility stitches, varying the width and length of your stitches, combining wildly different stitches to create new and unusual effects… we play.

I feel like I’m in the minority here, but personally, I don’t want to plug-in a design card, thread up the machine, push a button and walk away. That doesn’t constitute sewing or creating for me. I have absolutely no problem letting a dishwasher wash my dishes – but I don’t want a sewing or embroidery machine to design for me. Besides, with those machines running $5000 – $9000, I’d never get it out of lay-away!

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