just in time for the buttonholes

Look who's here! I'm sooooo excited. A lot of you emailed me to ask about my choice of machines. The truth is that I wasn't overly scientific about it. I narrowed it down to a few, really good, reputable names, and then I looked at the machines for each in my price range and compared a bit. I did visit a couple of shops that carried each, and ultimately went with Bernina. After hearing the way Bernina owners talked about their machines (and let me tell ya, they can TALK about their machines!) both online and in the shop, I was hooked. It probably helped that my aunt and uncle are Bernina dealers, which means that I have their home phone number and can call them at 11pm when I need help, right? And so, the Bernina Aurora 430 it is.

It arrived just in time to put the buttonholes on the shirt I was insisting on wearing out that very evening. And so, fresh out of the box, I put it to work immediately. Dude. The buttonholes! Automatic! As in, it remembers the size of the first one, so they're all exactly the same size. Apparently my sewing machine ignorance worked in my favor for years as I had no idea what I was missing. And it also means I have no idea what this machine can do. But, I'm telling you...a sewing machine that threads the needle for me? Buttonhole memory? Hands free foot release? Is this for real?

Oh, right. The shirt. It's Simplicity 4179, and I think I like it. I don't love the frilly cap sleeves that make me feel like it's 1988 and I'm in middle school wearing shoulder pads. BUT...I love everything else about it, and so I think the sleeves might just need to disappear (snip, snip). I love the bottom 'band' that conveniently covers, well, what's underneath. And I think I like the vintage blue/green buttons. I tried it with white or orange, but it just felt a little too stale.

Alrighty then. I'm going to go stare at the new love in my life some more.

Comments

[jean]

niiiiiiiice. Very very nice. So mod. Love the shirt too.

[lera]

YEAH! New machine!

The shirt is very cute. Love the colors.

[brandie]

what? i love the frilly cap sleeves! the entire shirt is just wonderful! i love the colors and the style, so very cute! and the buttons are fabulous!
hooray for new machines and technology!

[atelier455]

I'm a fan of the frilly cap sleeves too! Love the shirt...may have to hunt that pattern down.

[ilse]

congratulations with your new love !! I wish you both lots and lots of fun and creativeness.!!

[estea]

love the shirt fabric and buttons and style and - wait - is that the Hallelujah Chorus I hear??

congrats - she is beeyoutifull.

estea

[hannah]

wow. that machine is amazing. even in the picture it glows with promise! way to go amanda, dont worry, i say good morning to my new mixer every day. so she knows she is loved.

that shirt is good. the buttons? even better.

[Lilli]

_ _ _ _ _ _ _B e R n i N a !_ _ _ _ _ _ _

My Grandmother was always telling me that when I grow up, I should get myself a Bernina. She was of that generation that would read a statement and remember it for life. She must've read that Bernina was best.

This was a woman who knew little about sewing, but sewed her own clothes. She designed clothes for me by laying the fabric on the floor in a big square and then cutting out a long rectangle under each would-be sleeve. I looked like Tent-Girl for much of grade school.

I still don't have a Bernina, but I probably will get one someday.....if only to honour Gramma's memory.

Love your new creation, esp the bright buttons :)

[hillary]

sweet!! I'm in awe of these new machines with all their buttons and little monitors and all. I'm still working with a few knobs and a crank. hence the no buttonhole policy over here ;)

[stephanie]

enjoy your new machine! very sweet top. i think the sleeves are the best part or maybe the contrasting buttons...

[Debbie]

I just bought that pattern a couple weeks ago; still have to find some fabric for it. Thanks for a peek at the finished product ~ very nice!
~Debbie

[kirsten]

jealous.

[Steph]

I totally love my Bernina. I don't deserve the thing, it's so great. My son would drool over that slick hexagonal "panel" (as he'd call it--before running off with it!) ;)

Congratulations, YOU deserve this machine!

[Megann]

I love the shirt. The band at the bottom - the peplum - is my favorite part. I think that's what you call it. And, as a proud Bernina owner myself, I totally relate. I LOVE my Bernina. A question for you - I've never done a shirt, so how hard is it to make a collar?

[sally]

Congrats on the new machine. Looks like a winner! I love the contrasting buttons on the shirt.

[Blair]

I have complete and utter buttonhole envy! Enjoy your machine, its a lovely thing.

[kirsten]

woah, color me green with envy...
that machine looks amazing...

[quenna]

Congrats on the new machine -- have fun discovering all it can do!

[mav]

love the choice of fabric + buttons here. it's a lovely shirt.

[Selena]

It's funny. I have never really thought much about Bernina until this week when I used one to sew my wee wonderfuls kitty. I am using one at a house exchange that we are staying at. It was incredible experience. Now I am seeing and hearing Bernina in every direction I turn. Your new machine looks fantastic.

[laeroport]

I can't even zig zag on my machine! Yea for yours! May you have a long and happy life together. And the green buttons rock!

Cheers!

[amy k.]

oh congrats!!!!!!!!!! and i can't wait to hear more reports-I need a new machine bad, so please keep us posted. . .

[Mary-Heather]

Congratulations! Can't wait to see what you come up with as you unleash the power of the Bernina. Good times.

Thanks for the pattern #, too- I like your top (I LOVE the cap sleeves, and think those are very nice button colors!) and especially that band around the bottom. I'm always up for making shirts that cover the muffin top.

[Natasha]

I think the top looks great you have a great eye for color! OOOOh a new machine what bliss.
I agree about cap sleeves though for me they do nothing for the sausages that protrude from my shoulders. Hehe

[amy h]

Congrats! I can't even allow myself to look at the features on a machine like that -- mine can't even zigzag. And for the price of a nice Bernina, I could buy myself a little kiln (I'd pick the kiln). So I just keep plugging away on the ol' Singer.

Love the shirt -- especially the button color! I like the sleeves, but flutters aren't for everyone.

[tiffany]

i am now coveting your machine! will have to keep your bernina in mind when it's time to trade up.

the shirt is so cute...i even like the frilly sleeves!

your creativity and craftiness is so inspiring! thankyouthankyou!

[Niki]

Congrats on the arrival! Don't forget to name it. Very cute shirt. I think you should keep the sleeves.

[Luckybeans]

Sweet! I think I'll join you in the staring for a bit...

[Kellymc]

ooooo...congrats!
and gorgeous shirt!! the buttons make it..

[Jennifer]

Love the buttons, covet the machine. Is that like "love the sinner, hate the sin"? Not exactly...but anyway, yay for you!

[Jennifer]

Love the buttons, covet the machine. Is that like "love the sinner, hate the sin"? Not exactly...but anyway, yay for you!

[anne]

how funny! i bought my sewing machine from cote brothers (a used cabinet model)! small world. (of course, i am from maine, so that's not surprising.)

[Veronica TM]

Congratulations! The machine looks great! And it threads the needle? I think I may need a few more years of sewing, but I am already dreaming with one.
The shirt looks beautiful, love the buttons.
Enjoy your new love.

[Laura]

The green buttons are wonderful with the orange, perfect choice. What a great new toy you have, way way too much machine for me but in the hands of an expert like you - I'm sure great things will come of it!

[Miss Dot]

your machine has a light? oh my... I haven't had a working light since 1992... even after having it "serviced" oh lucky lucky you *green with new machine envy*

[Grace]

At first I was thinking I'd skip the frilly sleeves, too, but after reading everyone else's comments, I decided to kind of like them. I love your machine! I just have a little Brother that my mom got me a couple years ago, but since I'm still a beginner, I'll stick with it for now. Mine supposedly threads my needle for me, too, but I can't figure it out!

Anyway, cheers!!!

[joy madison]

LOVE the blue buttons with the orange!!! LOVERLY!!!!

[Elizabeth]

oooh, that machine looks fancy. Love the orange fabric and the collar, very cute.

[caroline]

I love the shirt - the blue and orange are fantastic together but sorry I have to disagree - I love the little cap sleeves.

[Jacquie]

I was wondering which one you were going to get. I'm a Pfaff girl myself. I told myself that I would use it more than I would use a computer and that it would last me infinitely longer and I was right. Congrats! From now on, your Bernie is your chief partner in crime.

[katharine]

Those buttons are perfect! I'm jealous of the machine. I don't have one - I can't even use one, but I really want to learn. I think in the meantime I'm going to tackle knitting.

[colleen]

i've had a bernina for three years and have yet to try buttonholes. i think i'm scared. what is my problem? i want that shirt!!!

[sarah]

wow! that machine sounds fab! I'm still using my old singer from high school. It was no frills then and still is, but I love it. I would love to have a buttonhole feature though. And your machine threads a needle for you and releases the feet? wow! Like you I never knew what I was missing!

[Toni]

I'm seriously excited for you about your new machine! My PFAFF has the button memory thing too, but I have yet to try it. I tend to sit and stare for quite some time before I feel brave enough to jump in. I admire how you just got going right away! And those buttons are the perfect color for that orange :)

[emily]

Your machine looks so fancy and pretty! I can't believe all the stuff that sewing machines do. I love seeing your fabric piles too...they make me remember that there are more colors than just the black and red that I am normally drawn to :)

[katie]

What a great top! I love the fabric and button choices you made. I'm new to your blog but I just got the same sewing machine about a month ago (yeah boy, those buttonholes are amazing), so I'm looking forward to being inspired by your projects!

[Sarah]

Ooooh, I bought that material to make a dress - and I love how the turquoise looks with it. I might have to use a little blue on my dress :)

[Connie]

I wish my Bernina knew how to thread its own needle since I can't even see the hole these days—even with what I assumed are the right strength reading glasses.

Threading the needle blindly is such fun.

[linda]

I heard through this blogging grapevine of ours that you got a Bernina! YAY! I got the 440 just a couple of months ago and am loving it as well. I'm very impressed that you did the buttonholes on your first session. I didn't learn it until my first class. He he. I guess I should have read the book! Did you know that if you spent TWICE as much you can get a machine that snips the threads for you? I guess it's not worth that much, but I sure with that snipping feature was on OUR machines!

[Carla]

I'm a Bernina user as well. I LOVE my machine. Wouldn't use anything else. I only wish I had more time to use it. Your shirt is adorable!