I purchased a D1 about 2 1/2 years ago. It took me a couple of months to bond with it. We are buddies now! Of course there is always a new and improved machine that comes on the market that tempts me, but having spent that kind of money I will stick with my D1 for a while longer. I did upgrade to the USB stick which I find much easier to use than the floppy disks.
I am also addicted to embroidery. I like embroiderylibrary.com for my motifs. Although I've yet to try 'lace', machine applique or the 'endless hoop'. That's on my to-do list.

hi, i buy myself something each yr... one person and 5 machines including my old singer tredal that belonged to my grandmother. well i just bought the Viking sapphire 870 quilter. OMG do i love this machine. it has a 10 inch throat, thread cutter i don't even need to unthread the needed to wind the bobbin. i am in heaven. i sure love the way it sews but it is going to be put on the grace pro frame i have. it will be taking the place of the singer i bought last yr. the singer is a great machine and i love it, i just wanted a bigger throat. well the 870 sapphire is a real jewel.
Barb
Midwest City ok

I have 2 Viking machines. My 400 is about 10 years old and still a great machine that I use for teaching. Almost a year ago, I treated myself to the new Sapphire 850 - 10" arm, needle up/dn, thickness sensor and so many other amazing features. I liked the fact that the walking and free-motion feet I already had also fit. My extension table does too.

Since I work at JoAnn's and the Viking shop is right inside, I can stop in with questions anytime I need to. I took the classes they offered and learned how to program the stitches, etc.

I embroider on a simple Brother machine. It's kind of primative but for now it's all I need.

I also have the Singer Touch N Sew that I got in 1977 for HS graduation. It only comes out to play once in a while!

By the way, the store just bought all new machines for me to teach on and they are Singers and pretty nice! I'll bet they cost under $500 and they do have needle up/dn etc. NA in NY

When I sell a vintage machine on eBay, I usually start the bid at $9.99, and let the market determine what it's worth. The machine is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. If you do several pictures of the machine, and of some of the special stitches it does, sewn with contrasting thread so that it shows up well in the pics, it also helps sell the machine.

Pat in Rockport, TX, who also knows how important it is to pack the machine well for shipping--double boxes, foam board around the machine, and enough packing materials so that the machine is unable to move at all.

I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions for selling a Viking Platinum 750 (made in Sweden). I used it happily for 4 years and decided I wanted to feel more confident in free motion quilting and have now bought a Bernina 440 with BSR. I tried my quild newsletter and local email forum. After a spooky scam experience on Craig's list, I recently listed it on eBay with no bids! I asked min. of $600. but hoped to get $750. at least. I offered is as a package with a full quilting kit and several extra feet and a few other accessories. Other than NOT having an embriodery unit, it is in great shape and well mantained. I would have thought still desireable, for general quilting and sewing. I had not thought to keep this as a backup machine as I spent $1500.+ originally. I would love some feed back. You could contact me off line too. I hope I'm not violating ethics here- I just want some ideas from folks in the know!
Thanks

Wow I hope you can share a picture, I love butterflies! I'd really like to learn some heirloom sewing myself, it's so beautiful! Do try the lace, it's very easy and incredibly rewarding.

Enjoy your machine, it's a wonderful hobby.

cj, I just have to say how much I enjoy your website! I just read a few pages (I love Moda's jelly rolls and charm packs, too) and I feel I know you! Living in an RV sounds great to me, and I admire you for learning to ride...I ride on the back of our bike, but if I was your age, I would have my own, too.

I have yet to discover the joys of embroidering lace with my SE. My LQS just recently got in some new software for lacy tops, and I'm anxious to give it a try. That, and some heirloom stitching. My latest project is an embroidered butterfly quilt, using both Viking and Cactus Punch designs...a total of 19 butterflies.
Thanks for your enthusiastic post!

sewso wrote:
Aren't today's machines simply amazing? The more embroidery you do, the more addicting it gets. I've been playing around with lace via my embroidery module, and I have to say I'm simply amazed... I had no idea our machines could do this type of thing. Congratulations on your machine, I hope you have many years of fun with it.

K-Kreations wrote:
I have a Designer 1.... have had it for 3 years now and made many, many quitls with it. I don't have the additional embroidery piece but I have just recently purchased the "fabric mover" for it and look forwrd to it become my new best buddy!

sewso wrote:
Sewso -

The Fab-u-motion is for the new large-bed Sapphire machines. You're safe (for now!!)

Tama

K-Kreations wrote:
Having worked for a Viking dealer for several years, I have had many customers experience a certain frustration level. I am hoping your dealer offers machine classes - TAKE THEM!! Your Viking is a phenomenal machine, but, it is very different from what you are used to and there is an education element to being able to get accustomed to it. I have known too many people who have invested in a machine like this and have been too frightened of it to go past a straight stitch! If you don't have classes, join one of the myriad Yahoo groups specifically for owners of that machine - you can get a lot of good info. Also, if you can find a dealer that does offer the classes, even if you have to travel and pay for the class, it is worth it if the dealer is any good at all. Even just being in a room with other owners with questions can help. I also used to have a monthly Embroidery Club, with a show and tell and demos of new tools and whatnot - a nice social event and quite educational. Each dealer handles things a different way.

Have fun!

Tama

KKreations, I have the Designer SE with embroidery unit and in January I purchased (OUCH!) the Fabric Mover. I'm just now beginning to get the hang of it, but in all honesty, it's been in the box for a long while until recently (hubby doesn't know I bought it!) I really can't say I can justify the expense, yet, but I did get brave enough to use the Fabric Mover on a lap size quilt last week. It came out okay for a first effort...it's definitely "free motion"! It's fun to use on small projects...wall hanging, purses, etc. but I don't know about a full size quilt. It's a bit difficult to maneuver...there's a learning curve...practice, practice, practice. Of course, now I understand that Viking is coming out with what they call a Fab-u-motion that will probably make my brand new Fabric Mover obsolete!

ETA...hang in there with your Viking, as far as the sewing machine goes. Have you taken classes to learn the basics about your Designer? I learn something new every time I attend a class at my LQS, and I've had my SE since last July!

Does anyone have a Designer I Husqvarna Viking? If so, do you have the Embroidery attachment and/or the Free Motion Quilting attachment? I've been using mine, as time permits, for about5 months now and am having difficulty justifying the cost - don't really want to say how much - but trust me it was a pretty (MANY) pennies!

How do you like it? How long did it take you to get the hang of it? My sewing experience to date prior to this purchase was with a Necchi and a Kenmore - neither of which have any bells and whistles at all like this Designer I does.

Any helpful hints/tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! (Can you tell I am frustrated with the machine? )

Lystger, I have noticed that snobbiness a bit, too. When a few of us are asked what machines we have, we'd say, I have a Pfaff, or I have a Viking, whatever, but invariably there would be a couple of "Well I have a Bernina", with this kind of upraised nose look. The rest of us just roll our eyes.