W00t!
As GirlDanesi would say LOL
I got me a sewing machine!! Now I just hope it isn’t crap!! So we made our once-every-three-months trip to the evil palace of Wally yesterday, ostensibly to get MrDanesi some cheap jeans. Well, of course, it snowballed from there. I always peruse the crafty stuffs and the sewing machines, hoping to find a deal on something I actually like. Doesn’t happen often but yesterday I saw this Brother CE-5000PRW Project Runway Limited Edition on the shelf and took a look. Oooh, pretty stitches! It has a threader that doesn’t seem too complicated, some nifty feet, top top bobbin winder thingy, bright working light, and lots and lots of pretty stitches which I love as I intend to use those LOTS. Other things, too, but those’re what I loved most.
The sign said “Intermediate” which of course means nothing as it’s what the Wally people said about it but it isn’t just a basic machine which is what I didn’t want. Even though it’s been years since I’ve tried to sew anything I didn’t want something I’d outgrow really soon. I’m pretty confident in my ability to play around with it and figure out how it works and I know of several sites I can ask for help in (including a group on my add…er, favorite site – Ravelry!).
Unlike my usual modus operandi I didn’t see it then go home and research it. There was only one left and the price was ok by MrDanesi (not to mention a deep aversion to going back to The Evil Palace anytime real soon) so I took the chance and got it. I did some looking around online after we got home, with some trepidation, but I think it’ll be ok. One scathing review at PatternReview.com but several decent to good reviews on the Wally site. So, we’ll see.
I haven’t actually played with it yet. I’ve been spending time getting the craft room organized and the machine set up on my table. Now I need to get one of the folding chairs in there and a pillow for it (hate hate hate sitting on metal chairs) so I’ll be doing that today. I really should have had this all done before since I’ve been wanting a machine for ages but I also didn’t think I’d actually get one anytime soon.
Of course, I already have projects in mind 
The first two are
a bag from this sweatshirt and
a skirt from these two pairs of pants. I think I’ll tackle the bag first (after I know how to use the machine!) but I’m dying to have my skirt. There are all sorts of instructions online on how to turn a pair of jeans into a skirt so those jeans will be the base, the green velour will be inset into the front and back. It’s gonna be cool but I can wait until I’m more comfortable in my skills. I’d hate to screw up something I’ve been so looking forward to having!
Hey there! I just bought this same machine from MalWart myself and, like you, did the research after the purchase and came across your blog! it’s my first machine and I’m very excited about finally learning to sew! Looking forward to seeing how your projects come along… keep up that motivation!
~ Jamie Lynn 2008 August 26