Birthday gift for Mare

[beowabbit]

(I mean to post this a long time ago!)

Sweet plumtreeblossom’s birthday is coming up, on December 27, and she’d like a sewing machine. I would love to get her one, but it seems to me that maybe some of you would like to help get her one, too, and then she can get a really kick-ass sewing machine, like one that turns into a spaceship in case of alien invasion. (I am still squeeing over the Utilikilt many of you got me in this fashion.) So, if you feel like contributing towards a sewing machine for my wonderful girlfriend, you can do so with this PayPal button:

(You don't need a PayPal account; you can use a credit or debit card. But if you want to contribute but don’t want to use PayPal, you’re welcome to get a contribution to me in another way.)

I strongly suspect that this will be my last posting shilling for a group gift for several months.

In other plumtreeblossom-related news, we had a lovely impromptu dinner near my work this evening. Yay!

And in other beowabbit-related news, I have a truly dreadful cough, and correspondingly raw throat and hoarse voice, but other than that I’m doing a lot better. And I think the cough is slowly receding.

Comments

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

Shouldn't this be locked away from Mare so she'll be surprised?

[beowabbit]

“Hi, honey! Will you come with me to the sewing-machine store and teach me all about sewing machines? And, maybe, point out which ones you like best and why? Oh, no reason, I just think I should know more about sewing machines.”

Actually, I have already consulted her about this plan. The surprise is going to be the Chippendales in the hot-tub full of whipped cream.

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

OOOhhh!! I wanna be there when she opens the strippers!!

Ooooooohhhhhhh!!!!!!

my six cents

[linaria.livejournal.com]

So, feel free to ignore this comment, but as One Who Sews and Has Experience With Sewing Machines (that's not my real title, but it works), I sincerely recommend an older refurbished machine.

The space-age new ones are very pretty and shiny, but they have several drawbacks:

1. they are mostly made of plastic, and therefore break more easily.
2. many of them are digital, which seems neat at first, but makes repairs much, much more complicated (being wiring/electrical issues rather than hardware/mechanical issues).
3. they have many, many complex functions which seems neat at first but are rarely necessary.
4. they cost much, much more than older machines, even considering the necessary cleaning/maintenance required for refurbishing.

Older machines, on the other hand, are easy to clean and maintain, user-serviceable, much more durable, and have all of the necessary functions that one needs for home sewing (e.g., straight stitch, zigzag, backstitch, etc) without a million other options that most people use once a year at most. Most qualified repair-people know how to work on older machines, and replacement parts are generally available. Plus, they're often prettier.

yours truly,

linaria (proud owner of a 1963 Singer)

[chienne-folle.livejournal.com]

I donated!

I don't actually know Mare all that well, but I really WANT to; she seems fabulous!

Oh, and I like your description of what a truly kick-ass sewing machine could do. *grin*

Re: my six cents

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

That's what we were thinking. And as it happens, there's a store right in the neighborhood that sells nice refurbs.

Re: my six cents

[linaria.livejournal.com]

good good:) if you want any advice/tips I kinda have a small obsession.

oh--and see if you can get the manual for whatever machine you get. if the shop doesn't have them sometimes you can order back copies from the manufacturer (Singer has some available for purchase as .pdf files), or sometimes collecters online have copies they can make for you. but having the manual is a big help and can prevent a lot of stupid mistakes.

Re: my six cents

[beowabbit]

good good:) if you want any advice/tips I kinda have a small obsession.

Thanks! Schedule permitting, maybe when we’ve narrowed it down to a few possibilities we’ll post here for further advice.

[silverlibre.livejournal.com]

All the really kick-ass sewing machines are gone. They turned into spaceships and left after that last alien was elected.