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amyable
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What do you love about your machine?
I'm not yet in the market for one, but my sewing machine is a completely basic does-only-one-stitch type of machine, and I'm curious what I'm missing. I've joined the sewing guild at church and I'm sewing at snail-like speed because my tools are all wrong. 
So what is your favorite feature of your own machine? 
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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lapazfarm
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There are features????
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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organiclilac
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I like the little attachment on mine that you stick the button you are using into, and it makes the correct size buttonhole.
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Tracy, wife to Shawn, mama to Samuel (4/01) and Joseph (11/11), and Thomas (2/15)
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amyable
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LOL, not on mine, Theresa! The only "feature" you might call it is the little sharp part on the back of the needle holder thingy that lets you break the thread more easily. Hey, yours can go fast and slow depending on how fast you push the "gas pedal" right? That's a feature!
OK, I'll stop. I'm in a mood!
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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lapazfarm
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Right! The sharp-thread-cutter-thingy! I love that! Plus there is that whole needle and thread thing going on... 
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Fe2h2o
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The knee-press!
I would never have got it, but I got the machine (and overlocker, and cabinet) second hand, so I got everything that came with it.
It's fabulous! You can use both hands to position the material/hold layers together, and just press your knee against the lever to lift the foot.
If I ever need to get another machine, that is one feature I'll definitely be counting on!
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Mama to Puggle (ds 05/04), Bilby (dd 10/06) and Cygnet (ds 09/08)
The Genial Hearth
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~Rachel~
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In all honesty, my favourite features are the straight stitch and zig-zag stitches  That's pretty much all I use. I'd *like* some of the other things, but I don't think they fit on my machine!
I do have a buttonhole maker, which is really nice!
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~Rachel~
Wife to William
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Lighting a Fire
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crusermom
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I like the fact that mine has been abused/dropped/mistreated by my girls and others at 4-H and has been ticking for about 8 years with no repairs. Janome Memory Craft. Just love it.
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Mary
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amethyst
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I love the 1/4" sewing line that is on the sewing foot. I'm a quilter and having perfect 1/4" seams is soooo easy with this feature. 
I also agree with the one-step buttonhole attachment - brilliant!
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Jenny in Australia
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hylabrook1
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What brands are your machines that have some of these *extras*? DH and I are seriously looking at a new machine for me, and are mostly checking out Viking/Husquvarna (did I spell that H word right?). The things hooking me in are the buttonhole dealy that Tracy mentioned and, as a wonderful gift for my aging eyes, the automatic needle threader.
Peace,
Nancy
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Matilda
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I love that my machine has a governor on the engine. If I want it to go slow when I am teaching my girls I can move the lever to the lowest level and even if they pound on the pedal, it will still only creep along. To take it back up to full speed, I just move the lever up again or put it somewhere in the middle when I need to be careful but not poky slow. Does that make sense?
Oh yeah, and that thread cutting thingy is awesome! 
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Charlotte (Matilda)
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organiclilac
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I have a Huskystar, which is Husqvarna's cheaper line. Still supposed to have the fancy insides, just no computer on board.
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Tracy, wife to Shawn, mama to Samuel (4/01) and Joseph (11/11), and Thomas (2/15)
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mavmama
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hylabrook1 wrote:
What brands are your machines that have some of these *extras*? DH and I are seriously looking at a new machine for me, and are mostly checking out Viking/Husquvarna (did I spell that H word right?).
Peace,
Nancy |
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I used to work a t a sewing store that sold Vikings--even the bottom of the line is a great machine. I do have to say though, that I think it's like cars; if you started on a Ford, you like Fords. If you started on a Chevy, you like Chevys. I learned on a Viking (my mom's and at school)and have always had a Viking. However, most of the great features are on the higher end machines, whatever brand you choose.
BTW my favorite feature is the beep that tells me my bobbin is nearly empty. I can pop in a full one without lifting the presser foot. Very handy.
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Liz
Blessed by 4 wonders
dd11, dd911, ds9, ds8
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nissag
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Rolled hem foot, followed by my pintuck foot and double needles. Oh, and the automatic lock stitch. Love that. Oooh, ooh, and the needle-down button makes pivoting super easy.
I don't like any of the embroidery features on my Pfaff (it's an OLD one). I'd love to get a used commercial single-head one. Strangely, they're about the same price as those home machines are brand new. I have little confidence that the home models can hold up to the usage I'd give it.
Blessings,
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Nissa
Deacon's wife, mother of eleven, farmer, teacher, creator, cook.
At Home With the Gadbois Family
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amyable
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mavmama wrote:
| BTW my favorite feature is the beep that tells me my bobbin is nearly empty. I can pop in a full one without lifting the presser foot. Very handy. |
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Oh I would love that! I'm always pushing for just "one more side" when I'm sewing and constantly run out of bobbin thread in the middle of something.
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Favorite feature on your sewing machine
