Don't. Even. Say. It. I can hear your collective groan of disapproval from here. I know, I know. But it's not what you think.
I did not purchase another sewing machine. Nor was this a gift. I found it yesterday, friends, in the trash -- the trash! Here's the story:
I'm coming home from the flea market, which happens to be three blocks from my house, empty-handed. Nothing (cheap) really caught my eye -- don't you hate that? I'm walking west on 24th Street between Seventh & Eighth Avenues (just in case you want to re-trace my steps) on the south side of the street, and you know me, I'm always interested in what might be lurking in the garbage -- usually just rats.
So I'm walking by this five-story tenement-type building and I see this sewing machine. Of course, I just assumed it was broken, or a total POS: it was covered with grime and just dumped there amid the black plastic bags and who knows what else. But I noticed it had its cord plugged into it (I draw the line at no power supply) and then I saw that a second wire led down to its pedal. So this machine had both plug and pedal -- nice.
I was only one block from home so I picked it up. It weighed only about ten pounds -- lovely! I turned the handwheel -- unresponsive. Then I noticed it was in bobbin-winding mode, so I just switched the doohickey on top, and from then on the needle went up and down when I turned the handwheel. Great!
Did I mention it was grimy?
One of the wires looked like it had been chewed by a puppy -- I know what that looks like. I'd have to wrap that with electrical tape. Perhaps that's why it had been discarded.
I plugged it in and flipped the on/off switch.
Hurrah! The light went on. I pressed the pedal. It worked!
So I got a damp soapy sponge and cleaned her up.
Readers, this is a nice little machine. Though it only came with a zigzag foot, it has one of those low shank foot adapters that takes snap-on feet, of which I have many. And I've already downloaded the manual free from the Brother site.
Stitch length and widths are pre-sets, which limits you a bit, but not much.
And it does buttonholes, albeit pretty crappy ones compared to a vintage Singer or Kenmore buttonholer attachment.
It's kind of a joke that the "25" in the name refers to stitches, as if a narrow zigzag and a wide zigzag were two different stitches. But it does do an elastic zigzag and a blind hem stitch. In fact, in terms of features, it reminds me a lot of the Singer Genie.
I think I'm going to sew Michael's shirt with it because...well, just because.
This machine is not vintage and it's really interesting to compare it to my older ones. I actually like the fact that it's so lightweight. It sits firmly on my sewing table and doesn't vibrate. And I find the foot pedal to be very responsive -- it can go slow or fast but doesn't race. For $50 or so, which is what you can get one of these for these days, it's a great value. It threads intuitively and fast. It feels powerful. Sure plastic is plastic and I doubt anyone's going to be sewing with it fifty years hence, but you know, it is not junk. Good needles and thread and you're good to go.
More pics of my little Brother here.
I had to laugh a little when I read this. Nancy just bought her second vintage sewing machine and is laying down the law. Good luck with that! I don't buy into "The Secret" but it does seem like I've been manifesting sewing machines lately. Spooky.
Friends, my normal Monday nagging and goal-setting has taken a back seat to heat-induced frivolity, borderline hedonism and a little girdle fun. Believe me, I know just who is sewing what out there -- especially if I dig back into last week's comments. Do NOT take advantage of this little respite I'm providing, loyal readers. It won't last.
BTW, I've concluded that my mystery black flowered fabric is a rayon, linen, poly mix. My thanks to everyone who threw in a guess. Within days it will be a 1942 dress. Now if only I could manifest one of these for my cousin!
In conclusion, what are you sewing this week and is it on a Brother LS-2125?
Honestly, what would you have done if you'd seen one of these lying in the trash -- just left it there? How about you Europeans -- does this happen to you, too, or is throwing out a perfectly sound, modern sewing machine more of an American thing?
Be kind.
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