Saturday, September 3, 2011

Meet Bernie

I have tried and tried to nurse Lily along. I pieced the entire Puzzle Quilt I showed you yesterday with Lily. I ran out of bobbin thread half way through and Lily wouldn't wind a bobbin. I just pulled another already wound bobbin out of my thread stash and continued sewing, but I knew this was not a good sign for Lily. Not being able to wind bobbins was the last nail in her coffin. Her bobbins are not compatible with any of the sidewinders, so there is no other way to wind them, except by hand (and that's not happening).

Yesterday I went to my LQS to buy batting for the Puzzle Quilt and sewed on a Bernina 380. I came home and had lunch and told my husband all about it. Bernina is having a sale starting Sept. 15th, but the shop owner said she would give me the sale price today. After listening patiently while I told him about all the cool features of the Bernina he said, "why don't you just go buy it! You know you are going to get it eventually anyway." So I did.

Here is Bernie.


The needle threader is incredible! Lily didn't have one of those. Nor did she have a knee lift. I'm not sure whether I like the knee lift or not. I'm not used to having one so I keep forgetting to use it. I'm going to give it at least a month before I decide.

I'm off today for my free class that comes with the machine. I'm sure I can figure most stuff out but it's nice not to have to read the book for everything.

Change of subject: yesterdays post was 500! I've got some great giveaways lined up for next week to celebrate. They will be on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

10 comments:

Deborah said...

Congrats on your 55th post!!
Bernie looks very dapper. I hope he works out for you.
Sorry about Lily. :o(
Hugs, Deborah

Kathy MacKie said...

I was the same way with the knee lift when I bought my 440 but you must preserver. I just can't live without it now.

Mama Pea said...

Contrats on 500 posts! Woo hoo!

Love Bernie. I love my needle threader.

You will like your knee lifter once you get used to it. I am so used to it now, when I sew on my other machine I keep trying to push it and it's not there! LOL. It's especially helpful for doing blanket stitching around applique. You can make a few stitches, lift your presser foot, turn, lower the presser foot, and keep sewing...and your hands never leave your fabric. It's also nice when you're trying to hold something together before you begin sewing. You can lower that presser foot without letting go of your fabric. It's like having a third hand.

Have fun playing with her!

Deanna said...

It is hard to know if I should sympathize or congratulate. Out with the old; in with the new, I guess. Bernie and Hattie? Are they getting along?

Carolyn said...

Love your machine. I didnt use my knee lift at first but now I love it. It is really handy when you do alot of chain piecing.

Melissa ;-) said...

It is very nice to meet Bernie. So sorry to hear of Lily's failing. I have a knee lift and only use it for FMQ.

Linda said...

I'm sorry about your Lily but CONGRATS on Bernie!!! I've tried that machine out and loved it!! I think you'll end up loving the knee lift too. Once you get used to it, you'll love it! Like Stephanie said!

I hope you'll give us updates on your new machine!

Elaine said...

I went from a Bernina with a knee lift to a Lily, and it KILLED me to give up that knee lift. You'll get to the point that you can't stand not having it.

I've been without a knee lift for 10 years now and I still miss it. But our Bernina dealer here outsources service so that makes me nervous. I'd rather know who's working on my machine. So I live without the knee lift.

But when I teach at my quilt shop? I use their demo Bernina. And I don't have any difficulty remembering to use the knee lift. LOVE the knee lift. <3

quilthexle said...

Woho - a new sewing machine, and 500 posts ! Congratulations to both! When I got my Janome, I was not so sure whether I would use the knee-lifter, now I LOVE it. Seriously, it's like having a third hand!

Jen said...

Congrats!! Yeah for a new Bernina! I love mine. Congrats on the 500 posts too! That's a lot of dedication :)