I attended the Pleasanton Quilt, Craft, & Sewing Festival on Friday. I didn't buy much and I didn't learn a lot either. I made a cute bag but overall I was disappointed. I was looking forward to a digitizing seminar that was advertised like this:
“With so many digitizers offering so many designs, we often learn the hard way to test before we commit to an embroidery. But what if you could evaluate the design without even threading your machine? Discover how to proof any design and make necessary corrections before you press the start button on your embroidery machine. How great is that?”I thought I would get some great tips. But what I got was a brief overview of Floriani stabilizers (nothing new for me) and a quick sales pitch of Floriani digitizing software.
Fortunately it was close to home with no entrance fee and only $8 parking.
On the bright side, I went to a Make and Take Workshop for making a cosmetic bag completely on a serger. I used the Babylock Evolution which was a dream! The teacher was well prepared and gave wonderful instructions. I attached pictures of the finished bag. The Evolution doesn't have any tension knobs! Tension adjustment is my biggest complaint about serging. They actually showed me how it went from fleece, to chiffon, to denim with very few adjustments. I'm sold. Now if only a lot of money would grow on my money tree.
I don't do a lot of quilting but I did enjoy seeing the quilts on display. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that some quilters have a hard time picking their fabrics. Most of the quilt vendors sold pre-cut quilt kits so the coordinating fabrics were already together.
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299557Your bag is really chic and the fabrics great too well done...soozie
25169I really enjoyed reading your honest review! I like to pick my own fabrics instead of buying kits, even though the fabric in the kits may actually match better - he he. your bag is delicious! Jan
59630Beautiful bag. Too bad you can not share with us how you did it. A serger came with my embroidery machine, but I had never used one until in July when working on the brides-maid dresses. Then I only played with mine while my cousin did all the important work. Maybe I will get it out and use it on Christmas gifts. Sorry that the other class was a bummer. I know it is hard to sit through those. Hope it wasn't too long.
13250That's a shame but your bag is lovely and will certainly get used.
23222wow!!!! I love that purse. I love the colours.
If you ever do save up for a serger, go the whole hog, save a bit longer and get yourself a Babylock air-threader.
AlmaG.
17214My son sent me this serger, and I have yet to learn all it can do. Had no idea regarding what he may have spent on it. Guess I'd better get busy and really learn all it can do!! Fell in love with the automatic threading!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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3562I'd say that serger class was worth it-what a cute purse.
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37638Very nice Sewmom, it sounds like you revived after your disappointment with the overlocker session. There's a quilt and emb fair coming up in October here and I have been humming and urring as to go or not to go as I felt they were becoming a bit boring, but you may have changed my mind on that one!
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6831Wow! No tension knobs...wonderful! Love the bag too. How much is this machine worth?
Hugs, Nadyne
3 comments
by sewmom
24 Sep 2012
This is what they were selling at the show: Evolution $3699 + Bonus gifts (trolley, foot kit, inspiration guide, gold standard care coverage) $1000 = $4699. Trade in -$800. Event discount - $200. Bonus gift value -$1,000. Total $2699
by kazza
24 Sep 2012
Sewmom I take it you are in the States? that sounds a good deal we don't normally get those kind of deals here in Australia.
24424Love the cosmetic bag! Love Baby Lock...you're right, need that money tree and I would love to have that Evolution 8 thread serger as well...I have seen it demonstrated...color me green with envy for those who have it!
317196Floriani's workshops are like that. I sat in on them in Pleasanton before also and didn't get any info I didn't know either except for the history of Floriani. :) He loves to talk about clipping loose threads on embroidery designs in stores too. While he may have a intensive background in embroidery, I'm not overly impressed with his designs either.
10013Cute bag. I'm on my 3rd serger and I miss having the older style round tension dials. They stitched so much better than the lay-in tension guides. I liked that I could instantly see the changes I made in tension. When I got rid of 2 sergers to buy my current serger, I thought this one would have everything I ever wanted. I miss my older 2 sergers though.
10013Here is a link for the Babylock Evolution serger.
www.babylock.com
463089A pity you did not get the workshop or information you expected. However, the cosmetic bag is lovely, I like the piping and the way the zip is hidden. Nice work.
1 comment
by sewmom
24 Sep 2012
Thank you, I thought there was piping when I first saw it too. It is actually the rolled hem stitch used for decoration.
145230It was not a waste of time. At least for that part you have confirmation that you do "know it all"! The serger sounds wonderful! Babylock, Bernina and sometimes Husky use my sewing shows to boost sales of their new products. I did not even hear 5 thread or cover stitch in your description although I am sure the serger you worked on had those neat features. Love the bag! Thanks for sharing! christine
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173680Thanks for the info on the Floriani seminar. Sorry It was a disappointing time but the bag is gorgeous. I have the Evolve serger (the geeration before the Evolution). The Babylock sergers, sewing and embroidery machines are amazing machines. The threading of the sergers are also super. No tweezers needed, just the push of a button.
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169046Sorry it wasn't as you expected but the cosmetic bag is very nice.
14765Sorry that you didn't have as much fun as you had hoped. Good thing this way you can save for that Serger. Love your cosmetic bag.
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