Sew, Mama, Sew! Sewing Machine Meme

June was Sewing Machine Month on Sew, Mama, Sew! Since I am the worlds biggest procrastinator was busy, I didn't fill out the sewing machine meme until today! Hey, it's still June for a a little more than a day, yes? I'm going to talk about Greenie since she's the one I sew on the most!

What brand and model do you have?

A Husqvarna (Viking) CL8 (1960s era)

How long have you had it?

I bought it on Queen's Day the first year I lived here, so since April 30, 2007

How much does that machine cost (approximately)?

I paid €30, though Martijn says I should've haggled the price down. I was too excited and just said "OKAY" as soon as she told us the price she wanted.

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

Well, I've done a little bit of everything on this machine. It'll sew through just about anything. Currently I'm trying to make a puppet.

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

I seem to go through spurts where I'll sew for several days for several hours each day and then I'll go a few weeks without sewing.

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

I LOOOOOVE my machine. Her name is Greenie. Yeah, I'm really creative.

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

It is a straight stitch only machine, but it makes nice even stitches and doesn't get all jammed up. It's also a free-arm machine which is nice when I am sewing hems and cuffs.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?

Nothing really. I do need to remember to oil her or she gets cranky, but that's not unusual for a machine of this age.

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 left my sewing machine in Utah when I moved since it weighs approximately 73 billion pounds (okay, only about 35, but still). I was starting to get the "I really need a sewing machine BAD" itch. On Queen's Day, the entire country basically turns into a huge flea market, so when we were wandering around looking I spotted this little green machine in her case on the ground by someone's table. I peeked at it and started thinking about it. We finished walking through the market and I was still thinking about it, so we went back and bought it. THEN came the fun part. This is not a lightweight machine. Like my machine that I left in Utah, this is entirely metal everything and it is not a dainty lightweight, and we'd gone to the city center on our bikes!!! Luckily, we live fairly closeby so Martijn hopped on his bike and sped to get the car. Once he was back with the car, we loaded the machine in and I followed home by bike. Of course, Martijn took it apart and made sure everything was in order before I started sewing on it. About 6 months after that, we took it apart a little more to really give it a good cleaning and we found a very dead BEE inside! Who knows how long that had been there, this machine is from the 60s.

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?

Indeed I would. It's a good sturdy machine. It's all metal parts, which means you don't have to worry about something snapping off inside and expensive repair.

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

I think the most important thing to consider is what you want your machine to do for you. If you're wanting something that will embroider and do the dishes for you, then obviously my machine isn't the way to go. But if you want a steady workhorse then it's perfect! Of course, price is a consideration. When people ask about a sub $150 machine, I ALWAYS suggest looking used first. You're much more likely to get more for your money that way.

Do you have a dream machine?

Oh you bet I do!

This is the ORANGE 6000 series Viking. SOMEDAY I will have my greedy little fingers on this machine. Someday.