One Fine Thing

Fine Work

2009-06-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

I have been sewing for as long as I can remember, but would only call myself "a sewer" for the last 17 or so. What changed at that point? I had moved to San Francisco and knew no one, other than the boyfriend I'd followed out there. We were living together and I was working my old job from our apartment, so I didn't get out much. A few months after the move, my parents sent what turned out to be one of the most thoughtful gifts of my life: a small Brother sewing machine. I found all kinds of projects to make, and the machine served me well for a number of years. But after a while I was looking for bigger and better things. (Truth be told, I was just looking for fewer thread jams and other messes. My Brother served me well, but she wasn't perfect, by any stretch of the imagination.)

After extensive research -- which, looking back, must have been on the Internet, but this was in the early, early days of Internet searching; certainly no Googling was involved -- I had found my next baby: The Bernina 930E. To give you some context, at the same time I was doing all of this sewing, I was also buying, restoring, and driving vintage VW Bugs. (The only reason that's plural is because they also kept getting stolen, but that's a whole different story.) My first was a '65, the second was a '66, and the third was the ultimate -- a '67. The 1967 Bug is widely considered the most favored of the old ones. It was the last year of the famed "double bumper," but the first year of the 12 volt electrical system. The best of both worlds, if you will.

So, when I came upon the Bernina 930E, I knew I'd found the '67 Bug of sewing machines. These machines, built in the 1980s, are among the last Berninas with all metal parts. Is it heavy? Absolutely. But does it produce the most beautiful, consistent stitches? Definitely. We were meant for each other.

I've been doing so much sewing on it lately and it rarely gives me trouble. When it does, I can usually trace the source of the trouble to my own poor choices or bad habits. I have always avoided learning about the expensive computerized machines because right now I'm so content with my Bernina -- I just don't want to know what I'm missing. I don't want to know what I could have. Lately, though, I've had a bit of a wandering eye and I'm starting to wonder (just a little) what it would be like to have a fancy machine that glows blue and almost silently embroiders the Mona Lisa in 18 thread colors while I lounge around upstairs. At least that's what I think it would do. Like I said, I haven't looked.

When I came upon the Sewing Machine Blog at Sew Mama Sew, I took it as a sign. Was it the universe telling me to start researching new machines? Or maybe it was the universe telling me to share a little 930 love. In case it was the latter, I thought I'd better participate.

What brand and model do you have?

Bernina 930E.

How long have you had it?

About 10 years.

How much does that machine cost (approximately)?

I've seen them go for between $900 and $1200 on ebay. I paid $600 from a local dealer.

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?

I sew a wide range of things, from quilts to children's clothing, to bags, to home decor projects. Most of the time I'm sewing things for my etsy shop, and that most often means bibs made from terry cloth and cotton.

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?

I sew at least 5-10 hours per week. The machine does get a good amount of wear and tear, largely from the heavy, shedding fabrics I sew with.

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?

I love my machine. She's does not have a name, but she's like an old friend who will be there no matter what. She's not afraid to try anything, and she's always up to the task. If she falters, it's rarely her fault.

What features does your machine have that work well for you?

The feature that works best for me is the consistent, even, beautiful satin stitch. There is a wide variety of decorative stitches, and when I venture into that territory, I'm never disappointed. But mostly it's just the reliable consistency.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?

There's nothing that particularly bothers me about my machine; if there was, surely I'd be shopping for a new one by now... I will say that I'm intrigued by features on new machines that I know little about but would surely enjoy, like a "drop in bobbin" or computerized thread tension adjustment. And then there are features that I've made up in my own head -- like a sensor that tells you how much bobbin thread is left -- that must exist on some machine somewhere. So while there's nothing that I could say drives me crazy about my machine, I do see the advantages to technology that's less than 20 years old.

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it!

I've already given you the back story on my machine. I think that's probably all you need to know.

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why? I would absolutely, positively recommend this machine to others. I can see how it would be tempting to take that same money and buy a computerized machine with all kinds of fancy features built in, but for essentially a full range of sewing projects, this machine will do everything you need it to, and will do it beautifully. I will say that it's HEAVY and takes some strength if you need to lug it to a sewing class, but as long as it's staying put, the weight shouldn't be a problem. All that metal has to weigh something, right?

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?

Personally, I think you need to ask yourself what kind of sewing you're going to be doing. If most or all of your work will require only a straight stitch, buy the machine that will give you the most beautiful one as consistently as possible. I think everyone should consider used machines from reputable dealers (who will hopefully give you a warranty, so you can buy without worry). You can get a lot more machine for your money that way.

Do you have a dream machine?

Like I said... I've resisted the temptation to look, but I think I'll probably have a dream one of these days. I doubt, however, that I'll ever part with my 930.

One Fine Day

2009-06-13T18:20:00.000-07:00

I could easily make this post about Storyland, which is where we've spent the last two days. It's a small amusement park, designed just for small children, and they have managed to make it such a warm, inviting place. We came for the first time last year and have been looking forward to returning ever since. But instead of leaving it so broad, let's make it about shave ice, Hawaiian style. I first had this on the island of Oahu at Matsumoto, complete with red beans at the bottom. I think I've been wanting to go back ever since. Someday, if he's lucky, Eli will go there too. For now, however, I'm pretty sure he'll be happy with the Storyland version at the end of a long day of rides, games, and french fries.

Columbine

2009-06-11T13:37:00.000-07:00

The landscaping at our current home is, at best, overgrown. This included the small patch that I look straight at when I'm washing dishes or just gazing absentmindedly out the kitchen window. A year ago I took matters into my own hands by covering the cluster of foot-high grass and weeds with newspaper, covering the newspaper with pine needles, and letting nature do its work. This spring I uncovered what is now a patch of clear soil and saw that it was time to head out on a shopping trip.

I am very much a hit or miss gardner. I like to visit a nursery or garden center, choose plants that strike my fancy, plant them, tend to them (sort of), and then see what happens. I guess this is sort of a tough-love kind of gardening: If a plant can't take my hands-off style, it probably don't belong in my garden. Thankfully I seem to have chosen pretty well for the somewhat shady spot, and my patch is now home to a wide variety of flowering perennials, including this beauty, a Columbine:

I'll admit to having no prior familiarity with this flower and, like what I have to assume is a large number of people, my only association with the name is more sadness than anything else. But look at that flower! I love the deep red color, and I especially love the complexity of it. It, along with its other flowering neighbors, has improved my view considerably.

The Finest of the Fine

2009-06-09T17:08:00.001-07:00

By way of introduction, and because there is seemingly endless beauty here, in my inaugural post I introduce you to Eli. He is four (and a half!). He is 43 inches tall (which makes him tall enough to ride many rides at the amusement park, which is very important). He is kind. He loves to dance. He thinks "miscellaneous" is pronounced "miscelloaneous" (and please don't correct him because it has become my favorite non-word in the English language). He will tell you he wants to kiss your cheek and then lick it instead (but then, by way of apology, he'll kiss you anyway). He is unlike any other child I know. He is mine.

He will surely make numerous appearances here at One Fine Thing for things much more specific than just being himself, but it felt right to start things off with what I consider one of the most beautiful creatures I've ever met. Eli.

One Fine Thing

2009-06-09T16:55:00.000-07:00

I'm lucky. Every once in a while -- and usually more often than that -- I notice something beautiful. Sometimes it's an object, something that nearly anyone would admire. Other times it's a feeling, something that only I know about and probably couldn't describe. And often it's a person, someone I just feel lucky to know. I don't think I'm unique in this tendency, but I do think this all relies on a muscle the needs some flexing every now and then, just to keep it working.

Also...

I'm busy. I don't always pause to appreciate what I'm noticing. I don't always remember what was beautiful by the next day. And I am certainly guilty of letting these fleeting things of beauty get overshadowed by the less extraordinary, the less important, the more pressing things that come my way.

And so...

I'm embarking. I hope this can be my place to record it all, for myself and for anyone else who might want to take a minute to notice what's beautiful, just one fine thing at a time.