sewing machine review

Scroll down further to see the winner of the Sew Mama Sew giveaway-I've done 2 posts in one day!

Here's a little questionnaire from Sew Mama Sew. It's about sewing machines. They will publish the 'master list' at the end of June. I wish I had had something like this to read last year when I went shopping....

So here goes-and here's hoping this will help someone looking for a new machine:

What brand and model do you have? I have a Husqvarna-Viking Sapphire 850

How long have you had it? I have had my machine approximately 6 months-it was a Christmas gift : )

How much does that machine cost (approximately)? About 1200$

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

I sew a little bit of everything, but mainly crafty type stuff-pouches, bags, coffee sleeves, a little clothing here and there, some home dec. You can check out my shop to see what I make:andreacreates.etsy.com

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get? Several hours a day(!) when I can.

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name? I have yet to name her but I have been looking into it ; ) I think she should have a nice Scandinavian name.

I love my machine. It has never really given me any fits with the tension, like some other machines I have used in the past. It does a lot of things effortlessly. Mostly I turn it on and it does what I want with no issues.

There is something I thought it would be a little better at, one thing that had me sold on the machine- it doesn't go over thick or multiple layers as easily as I was imagining it would. I might have had unrealistic expectations. It does come with a part somewhat like a 'jean-a-ma-jig' that I'll admit I'm a little too lazy to use and the fact that I haven't taken any of the free classes might be part of the problem. The salespeople are always eager to answer all my questions when I go in, so maybe I'll do that next time.

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

I like that it has 137 stitches and 4 alphabets, enough for me, without being overwhelming.

I have also been spoiled by the the needle up/down position. That works well when doing patchwork and quilting. The presser foot can be raised halfway or all the way up. You can also lower it by tapping on the pedal.

You can wind the bobbin from the needle !

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine? Nope, nothing so far.

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!

My pincushion now sports a few 'flat flower head pins' with little perforations in the 'flowers'. I've accidentally sewn over a few and sewn them directly to my project! I will say, while I never recommend sewing over pins, the machine went over the 'heads' effortlessly.

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?

Yes, I think it is a very nice machine. I think the brand has a nice reputation. It has a lot of the features I was looking for.

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

Quality is always #1 for me, price, features relevant to the types of things I make.

Do you have a dream machine?

I'm not sure if my dream machine is already out there or if there is one that does more than the one I already have. I'm happy for now : )