Hello Dear Reader,
I was the highest bidder on an ebay auction for a sewing machine which is new and has never been used and is still under warranty. If I’d bought it from a retailer, it would have cost £1100/£1200 depending on who I bought it from. It’s an Elna Quilting Queen (I’ve bought it for £600 including delivery with all the extras that come with it, the original receipt and guarantee) after a lot of research I found something I could afford and did the lot. That’s enough advertising!
I’ve got an old basic machine and this is what I made with it today. I started yesterday on my quilting machine and I was picking out the floral pattern. I’ve just quilted it the best I could today.
I lined it with the red paisley corduroy which I bought a few weeks ago from a jumble sale, the trim is part of a wrap around skirt, which I previously made a scarf from. The blue floral material is an old curtain, kindly given to me by a colleague who knows I use old fabric for my hobbies. I shall take it to work to show him to thank him for is ‘donation’. I had some spare batting for the quilting and on the back of that to give substance to the bag is the remnants of a tatty old pillow case, which is hidden by the red lining.
I’m going to make more for gifts for friends and family and to use up lots of fabric that isn’t really suitable for and so far, each bag I’ve made has cost less than £1 to make. I hope who ever receives these bags enjoys then and I’m starting to want one myself!
So readers, thoughts on my purchase? Have I chosen wisely? Did I get a bargain?
Until tomorrow,
Love Froogs xxxx
Sounds like you got a good deal Froogs - virtually all the extras I would recommend come with your machine and you got it for half price - I hope you have as many hours of joyful stitching from it as I've had from my Bernina - can't wait to see all the results
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Why not give that workmate that donated the blue fabric first refusal on the bag?
It would be a truly generous offer and a chance for you to show off your skills at work.
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Phew, I am sure you have made a fantastic investment and you will spend many happy years together 🙂
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Hi 50 and counting - a man gave me the flowery curtains that were in his flat and he didn't want them. I can of course offer him the hand bag.
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I Love your bag! And congratulations on your new sewing machine, as a bit of a collector I think you have bought wisely and at a bargain price. I'm sure you'll spend many happy hours together. I hope there will be photographs when it arrives! I also look forward to seeing more pictures of your beautiful creations :0)
Mrs T xx
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I think you've made a wise choice. You've made a big saving and you have a machine that is especially for quilting that will last you for years to come. Really like the bags you've been making. Haven't used a sewing machine since school but am looking to get one to try and make some easy things ;-)) thank you for your blogs really enjoy reading them xxxx Sarah
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I think you've made a wise choice. You've made a big saving and you have a machine that is especially for quilting that will last you for years to come. Really like the bags you've been making. Haven't used a sewing machine since school but am looking to get one to try and make some easy things ;-)) thank you for your blogs really enjoy reading them xxxx Sarah
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I think you've made a wise choice. You've made a big saving and you have a machine that is especially for quilting that will last you for years to come. Really like the bags you've been making. Haven't used a sewing machine since school but am looking to get one to try and make some easy things ;-)) thank you for your blogs really enjoy reading them xxxx Sarah
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I think you've made a wise choice. You've made a big saving and you have a machine that is especially for quilting that will last you for years to come. Really like the bags you've been making. Haven't used a sewing machine since school but am looking to get one to try and make some easy things ;-)) thank you for your blogs really enjoy reading them xxxx Sarah
LikeLike
I think you've made a wise choice. You've made a big saving and you have a machine that is especially for quilting that will last you for years to come. Really like the bags you've been making. Haven't used a sewing machine since school but am looking to get one to try and make some easy things ;-)) thank you for your blogs really enjoy reading them xxxx Sarah
LikeLike
I think you've made a wise choice. You've made a big saving and you have a machine that is especially for quilting that will last you for years to come. Really like the bags you've been making. Haven't used a sewing machine since school but am looking to get one to try and make some easy things ;-)) thank you for your blogs really enjoy reading them xxxx Sarah
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You have just made a huge investment, but you did your research and you bought at what sounds like a bargain price with as much 'insurance' as you could, to facilitate a hobby that enriches your life no end. Of course you made a wise choice! I made a similar ebay purchase today (not sewing but spinning) and had my doubts, but ultimately I will have lots of fun and it will pay for itself in 3 or 4 jumpers time. I envy your sewing ability, I hope you have fun with it x
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Also, the bag is lovely. Have you thought about an Etsy shop/taking commissions?
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Good choice and a good price Froogs.
Lots of happy sewing ahead.
x
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Hi Froogs,
I remember that we had Elna machines way back in Home Ec class. They must have been good for the school board to buy a whole lot of them. Sounds like you got a good deal. Happy quilting
Barb
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Fab make it looks gorgeous. Sorry I have no idea about sewing machines bit scared of mine so doesnt get used lots and really I should, because the times I have used it, its been very kind to me xx
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Hi Froogs,
What a bargain! You have an etsy shop in the making.
San
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Good on you! There's nothing like the joy of a new sewing machine but how much more when it's a bargain. Nice bag, by the way. xo
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Sorry this is not about your post today though am loving the bag, quilting and frugal stuff you do (tho' like Ali am scared of my sewing machine).
I used to read A Beautiful Life and have got a notice saying Permission Denied, is everything ok? How do I request an invitation (I am still a newbie and not technically clever), or is it me, though I haven't commented since the dogpoo swinging post.
Susan
PS Thanks for the direction to Isabelle's blog, I think she is inspiring.
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If it does the job, and you're happy with it, of course you got a bargain.
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Froogs, once again I love your new creation….what a lovely bag..you should be selling on Ebay.
Good to hear that you have found a reasonable priced machine. I'm sure that it will make you happy when it arrives, and you will be on your way to quilting again soon.
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Elnas are excellent machines. I have a few friends who own them and love them. Your bag is so pretty. You have an eye for matching fabrics.
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A brilliant bargain, and it could pay for itself over and over if you made some bags to sell.
It's always nice to get something we really need and want at a bargain price.
Sue xx
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No comment really froogs you seem to have a bargain, just to tell you that Elna are made by Janome, they bought the firm when it went bust some years ago.
I know a lot of people swear by Bernina, their parts are also made by Janome, and all but their top of the range machines are manufactured outwith Switzerland. I agree that Bernina's older machines, the mechanical ones are superb, would not even look at one of the new ones, I bought one some years ago it was like comparing a mini to a Rolls Royce. I sold it pretty quickly.
The older ones are getting more difficult to get and expensive, the spare parts for them are largly unavailable now which is why old machine which go into my dealer on p/e are stripped down for the bits that are still working,
Re Bags, be very careful, its easy to become addicted to making bags!! I love the blue one, very nice, but then its my colours.
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Wise buy Froogs, a real investment that should last you to retirement and beyond. As for the bags, who would not want one. i make them for presents and fill them with homemade goodies. Pam
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Wise buy Froogs, a real investment that should last you to retirement and beyond. As for the bags, who would not want one. i make them for presents and fill them with homemade goodies. Pam
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A sewing machne is a girls's best friend- looks like you have got a super duper one !!
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A sewing machne is a girls's best friend- looks like you have got a super duper one !!
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Looks like an excellent purchase to me!
Sometimes, things we want, (but maybe don't really need? as you could carry on with the old machine I guess ?) actually enrich our lives, and so are worth every penny of the money spent - especially if fewer pennies are paid for them than needed 😉
I love your bags btw - Etsy shop for sure now you have the new machine?
Cw xx
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Love your bag. I'm looking for ideas for new lunch totes for my tow daughters. This gives me some ideas.
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Hi Froogs, sounds like you got a bargain. I have an old Singer 201k in a little table. A straight stitch machine that's 60 years old and still going strong. It sews like a dream and I also have a zig-zag attachment with removable cams to make different stitch patterns as well as zig-zag and a buttonhole attachment, both almost as old as the machine itself, in fact nearly as old as I am! But these and the machine were built to last. It does me fine and I bought all of them second hand on for a good price. Hope you have lots of happy hours with your new 'quilting queen' very appropriate for a frugal queen. Melanie
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Hi Froogs, sounds like you got a bargain. I have an old Singer 201k in a little table. A straight stitch machine that's 60 years old and still going strong. It sews like a dream and I also have a zig-zag attachment with removable cams to make different stitch patterns as well as zig-zag and a buttonhole attachment, both almost as old as the machine itself, in fact nearly as old as I am! But these and the machine were built to last. It does me fine and I bought all of them second hand on for a good price. Hope you have lots of happy hours with your new 'quilting queen' very appropriate for a frugal queen. Melanie
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Hi Froogs, Still haven't managed to find a machine myself, although still on the hunt!! Sounds like you have got a bargain and I love all the bags.
Is this something we could learn how to do in a day? Would definitely come on that workshop!!
Loving how you all using all that fabbie fabric.
Love Arwedd xx
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