My sewing life is slow and literally on the shelf.
It's been sitting on this ledge for a while which doesn't make me happy. I'd like to blame my work shift patterns and complain how it stops me from creating fabulous dresses. Uchhhhhhhh.
Can I introduce you to Peggy...Simple Peggy Olsen.
I decided to ignore advice on buying a new sewing machine and opted for this old thing. The love for my blue duck egg shell machine is over and I've discovered it isn't worth pimping up. The machine engineer can't guarantee it will work after I've spent £100 or so - so I've moved on.
Master Jenny has checked Peggy and given it the thumbs up. She showed me how to handle this little gem and we delighted and smiled each time Simple Peggy Olsen made the right noises and stitched the appropriate stitch.
I exhale a sigh of relief.
Peggy is a Frister and Rossman machine. Who are they? Well I didn't know.
But Sewalot has given me the complete lowdown. It's a longish tale of corruption, death, growth and bankruptcy. At one point they stopped production of machines and started making weapons - I think for war - I could be wrong. Oh my.
This innocent beauty is plastic strong. The button are weirdly simple. There's no fuss or confusion about this machine and no gadgety things to fear or distract my short attention span. It's petite and heavy and I was told to get something heavy enough.
There will come a time when I will be a sewing genius and I won't need Master Jenny. I do long for that day. But first I best get going and do something rather than just think about it and blame everyone but me.
Top Tips before you go machine shopping and you don't have a car.
:: Don't act like I did and tell the shop assistant that you know nothing about machines.
:: Don't put the machine you are about to sell in a suitcase and realise on opening it you've broken it.
:: Don't tell them your real budget. Lie, lie lie. I told the truth. Uchhh.
:: Don't get a machine that only looks pretty. You need one that has more than one stitch.
:: Don't be forced into buying a new one machine - sometimes heart is better than mind.
:: Buy something you can carry. I don't have a car, but I do have a mini wheelie suitcase. Hooray!
:: Get it serviced once a year.
:: Be nice to the sellers cause because they might give you a £15 discount. I did. Happy days.
:: If you don't have someone like Master Jenny to show you how it works - make sure the shop does.
:: Don't put it on the shelf and let it collect dust. Use it, make dresses, be creative and have fun.
