My current baby!! the Janome MC6500

Every time I go to a sew-in or a retreat with my fellow quilters, someone comments on or asks about my machine.

Usually it's to ask questions about its functions and capabilities (lots!), what size quilt can I comfortably finish on it (full/queen), is it heavy (yup!), do I like it (LOVE IT), does it bounce (nope, it's a tank), etc.

I have a Janome MC6500P that I purchased last year (and have never looked back). It is a solid, reliable machine with a massive throat space. It accommodates cones and spools, has a knee lift, thread cutter, threader, stitch memory, independent bobbin winder, 7mm wide feed dogs, a ton of stitches, and more. It quilts (both free motion and straight stitch) like a dream. I freaking LOVE this machine. I researched the move to this machine (and all of it's competitors) for about a year before I actually purchased it, and I'm so glad I did!

the first new machine I ever had, and again, loved it! (Singer 9960)

Before moving to such a large machine I spent several years sewing on a vintage Brother, and then I was fortunate enough to upgrade to an entry level computerized Singer (which I LOVED as well but the harp space was tiny and anything more than a lap sized quilt was impossible to get through it's neck to quilt). But - that said - I didn't have anything to complain about with that machine for everyday piecing and sewing - it was a workhorse. (And to be honest? I'd still recommend this machine to anyone - awesome for everyday sewing and piecing - it's just not great with big bulky stuff). It had all sorts of fancy features on it like an auto thread cutter and threader. Going from my vintage, basic Brother, I felt like I had moved from a beat-up 1981 Honda Civic 2 door (you know the ones - that copper color, too...) to a Lexus. Boo ya.


Eventually I decided that:

➽ I was going to stick with this quilting thing, and
➽ I was spending a fortune to send quilts out that I could be quilting at home.

I compiled this list of larger harped sewing machines below (almost all of which were on my short list last year) as a starting point for anyone looking to upgrade to a larger machine (or for any spouses or family members out there who have a quilter in their lives and think that maybe this coming holiday season said Quilter maybe deserves said upgrade, tee hee) and included affiliate links for your researching pleasure.

Of course, the machine I decided to go with last year (the Janome MC6500P) made the list (can I say that I love it again???) although most of these machines below made my short list in some way or another - either through their features, test driving them at quilt shows, chatting with friends who own or have owned them, etc. Note that some of these machines below, notably the higher speed ones, are straight stitch only.

Other than the machine I ended up choosing being labeled as #1, the machines listed below are in no particular ranking or order. Here we go!

1  ⬤   2  ⬤   3  ⬤   4  ⬤   5   ⬤   6   ⬤   7   ⬤   8

1) Janome 6500MCP

• Stitch Speed: 1,000/minute
• Work Space (to right of needle): 9" x 5"
• Stitch Count: 400
• Thread Stand: Yes, 2 Cone/Spool
• Knee Lift: Yes
• Extension Table: Yes

2) Janome MC7700 QCP:

• Stitch Speed:1,000/minute
• Work Space (to right of needle): 11 inches
• Stitch Count: 250
• Thread Stand: Yes, 2 Cone/Spool
• 9mm Accufeed
• Knee Lift:
• Extension Table:

3) Janome MC-6300P:

• Stitch Speed:1,000/minute
• Work Space (to right of needle): 9"x5"
• Stitch Count: 66
• Thread Stand: Yes, 2 Cone/Spool
• Knee Lift: Yes
• Extension Table: Yes

4) Juki TL-2010Q:

• Stitch Speed: 1500/minute
• Work Space (to right of needle): 8.5" x 5.9"
• Stitch Count: 1 - straight stitch only
• Thread Stand: Yes, 2 Cone/Spool
• Knee Lift: Yes
• Extension Table: Yes

5) Janome 1600P - QC

• Stitch Speed: 1600/minute
• Work Space (to right of needle): 9" x 6"
• Stitch Count: 1 - straight stitch only
• Thread Stand: Yes, 2 Cone/Spool
• Knee Lift: Yes
• Extension Table: No

6) Janome MC Horizon 8200QCP

• Stitch Speed: 1000/minute
• Work Space (to right of needle): 11"
• Stitch Count: 170
• Thread Stand: No
• Knee Lift: Yes
• Extension Table: No

7) Singer S18

• Stitch Speed: 1,000/minute
• Work Space (to right of needle): 9" x 5"
• Stitch Count: 400
• Thread Stand: Yes, 2 Cone/Spool
• Knee Lift: Yes
• Extension Table: Yes

8) Brother PQ1500SL

• Stitch Speed: 1500/minute
• Work Space (to right of needle): 9" x 6"
• Stitch Count: 1 - straight stitch only
• Thread Stand: Yes, 2 Cone/Spool
• Knee Lift: Yes
• Extension Table: Yes

I ended up going with the Janome 6500 last year for the following reasons:

1. larger harp space than my previous machine
2. higher speed sewing
3. multiple stitch options (for my Etsy business I still needed embroidery and satin stitch capabilities, otherwise I would have considered a straight-stitch only machine)
4. Knee lift
5. auto-threader
6. thread cutter
7. extension table
8. weight (that machine is HEAVY)
9. it was in my price range

Regrets with going with the Janome 6500:

1. only one: that I learned soon after acquiring it that the Singer S18 is the same machine - just licensed to Singer and a Singer facade put on it - and the Singer rings in at a lower price. D'oh! 

Hopefully this post helps anyone starting the search for a larger machine! I have absolutely no regrets moving to a larger more heavy duty machine. My shoulders and back thank me every day. It's a little heavy to bring to sew-ins and retreats, but it is totally worth it. Best thing I ever did!

Oh my goodness, what a summer it's been.

We have been blessed with amazing weather here in Chicago, and as such, we've been outside working on the house, yard, or playing with the kiddos! It's been awesome.

Summer is also the time when we cram all of our annual/biannual health exams in, including for all of our eyes - so when glassesshop.com contacted me the week before my eye exam and asked if they could send me a free pair of glasses to review, I said sure! Send them along.

(for more information on my review and sponsorship policies, please see this page of my blog).

So, it's been almost 8 years since I had a new pair of glasses; I knew for sure that this trip to the eye doctor I would be picking out a new pair of glasses frames, that mine were pretty out of date and heck, I deserved a new pair. I actually chose to review a pair from glassesshop.com which were very similar to the ones I ended up purchasing from my optometrist - I wanted to compare quality and features as straight across the board as I could.

Here are the ones I purchased from my physician:
 ("Ernest Hemingway" brand - about $100 for the frame only)

Here are the ones I picked out to review from glassesshop.com:

As with anything I review, I make sure to use the item for several weeks before giving my honest feedback. So - that said - here goes:

➳ Shipping Time ➳:
So, from the time I placed my order to the time I received my glasses (I'm in Chicago) it was about 2 1/2 to 3 weeks. They were shipped appropriately in a tight fitting hard cardboard box. My glasses came with a case and cleaning cloth:

A photo posted by Erin Davis (@sewathomemummy) on Sep 9, 2016 at 4:00pm PDT

➳ Quality ➳:
👓 Weight:
Very similar to the Ernest Hemingway frames I have. Difference is negligible.

👓 Lenses:
Seem to be light enough weight; comparable to the lenses I bought from my doc's office - although I'm not a professional lens analyst, so don't take my word for it. Prescription seems accurate to me.

👓 Color:
Great color, love the blue. The "GlassesShop.com" stamp on the inside of the arm is starting to fade off a bit after a month's continuous wear.

👓 Feel:
Again, similar to the EH frames mentioned above; comfortable, don't slip. Good fit. Not too heavy.

👓 Reflective Coating:
I notice the reflective coating a bit more on these lenses than I do the EH - at the very edges of my periphery - but I have to *really* watch for it, so it's definitely not bothersome.

➳ Price ➳: 
For $30, with lenses for single vision included in that price, why not? Especially if you've exhausted your insurance for the year. Or, you just want a few extra pairs laying around if you decide you want to change up your look.

Multifocal lenses are available for a relatively small charge, depending on the type you want.


➳ Final Impressions ➳: 
Overall, it's a good deal. I'm seriously thinking about picking up a pair of their prescription sunglasses now, so that I have 2 pairs kicking around (you know, for when my kids kick them around...) - I won't be so devastated to have a pair of $30 glasses crushed and mangled as I would my cost-me-a-fortune physician's office purchases.

I am no stranger to ordering glasses online - there is a bit of a learning curve. Mostly, you have to remember to reference the glasses you already have which fit and the measurements which are stamped inside the arms, and go from there. Here's more information on GlassesShop.com's website {click here}

And, here's a little diagram further explaining what they're talking about with respect to all of those measurements:

source

➳ How about a COUPON CODE? ➳: 

GlassesShop.com has offered a coupon for 50% off your first pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses, lenses included -

Use the code GSHOT50 on checkout.

Thanks to GlassesShop.com for sending me this free pair of prescription glasses to review!

For a long time I've been meaning to write a series of posts on how I manage to fund my fabric and thread stash as a stay-at-home mom and as a single income family. I decided to put it all into one big whopping post. Stick with me - it's worth the read. Note that I've included affiliate and referral links for your reference and convenience.

And now, I have the dream of owning my own longarm quilting machine. I keep entering to win one, but alas, nothing yet. And I'm pretty sure longarm companies don't just give them away [although, if you know of one who'd like to sponsor a super awesome blogger like myself, let me know (hee hee hee)]. So, let the saving begin.

As my fellow quilters and crafters out there know, this is not a cheap hobby to have - so I've had to think outside the box a bit on how to fund my addiction I mean, favorite pass time.

I've been asked quite a bit about how I manage to afford to buy the fabrics and threads and notions I do - and here's how. These are my tips and tricks to keeping my hobby alive without working outside the home.

These tips apply to anyone who would like to make a little extra cash on the side to fund whatever your heart desires!

Tips are listed below in descending order for what I've found my earning potential to be. i.e.: I make the most money, top to bottom, at the below listed tips.









If you have something that you make really well, sell it. Open a little online shop (I use Etsy) and just start! Obviously, you'll have to weigh the cost-benefit of having said store, because, at the end of the day you need it to be self-sustaining and then some in order to have some extra coin in your pocket, but, for me, it's been worth it.

By selling on Etsy, I've managed to make enough to buy a newer, bigger, better sewing machine, periodically buy the fat quarter bundles I want, purchase the Aurifil I want (because I use it in my products!) and more.

It costs nothing to open a store on Etsy; they have a system where you spend $0.20USD to list an item for 3 months, and you pay a small flat fee if your item sells. You can choose to accept PayPal and/or Direct Checkout (credit cards), with funds you earn being deposited into your PayPal and/or bank account, respectively.

There's a learning curve to it, but they make it really easy. Maybe I'll write another post soon on what I've learned while being a seller on Etsy.

Plus, it's a tax write-off at the end of the year, which will save/earn you money as well.

Curious about what my store looks like? I'm SewatHomeMummy on Etsy.


This is a big one, and where I make a really big chunk of my extra funds. I estimate that annually I make up to $1,000USD in cash and gift cards by answering online surveys, shopping through affiliate links and watching suggested videos.

I've used a lot of online survey companies, and the best one I've come across, with the highest payouts, least amount of limitations, best customer service and most diverse gift card options has been SwagBucks.com.

Basically, this is how it works:

Generate an account at Swagbucks.com. On their site, they have several ways in which you can earn what they call "Swag Bucks" - which are basically points you earn towards redemption on hundreds of different gift card options for a ton of different companies (like Amazon, eBay, Target, Walmart, Visa, PayPal, Home Depot, and more!). What I love is that, unlike with other survey companies:

1. each gift card company has multiple options for denominations which you can cash in on - all the way from $5 cards up to $100+.
2. You can cash in anytime - and there are no limits or caps on how many times you can cash your points in in a period - because, there are no periods.
3. Want cash, and not gift cards? Easy. Cash in on a PayPal gift card which is automatically deposited to your PayPal account, then transfer the money to your bank account attached to your PayPal. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
4. They have multiple ways you can earn points, it's not just through doing surveys. You can: (*fastest way to earn points)
1. *answer surveys
2. search the web through their site and earn points
3. *shop at major retailers by using their "Shop and Earn" links - for instance, want to shop at Old Navy this Black Friday? Go to your swagbucks account page first, click shop and earn, find Old Navy on their site and earn 8SB/$1 spent at Old Navy. Booking a trip or vacation? click through to Priceline via your Swagbucks account and earn 8SB/$1 spent. Making a purchase on Amazon? click through from Swagbucks and earn 4SB/$1 spent...and so on...
4. watch videos and advertisements - if I'm sewing or cooking, I have the videos on in the background, earning points while I do other things.
5. play games/download apps/special offers/and more!

Now, I don't make a ton of money monetizing my blog, but it'll buy me a few bundles and some thread every year. There are two ways to monetize your blog: to sell advertising space and to use affiliate advertising. Here I'll cover the affiliate advertising option.

Personally, I use shareasale.com* on my blog. They are one of the biggest affiliate companies out there, their interface is easy to use, and they deal with craft companies I know, have used, and I trust.

Taking on affiliate advertising* is easy to do, but requires a bit of...finesse. You don't want to risk alienating your readership with a bombardment of advertising, both in posts and on your sidebar, but at the same time, everyone has to make a living, right?

Some things to note/my suggestions on the subject:

• take on advertising from affiliates that you know and trust - and that you've actually used. The ones you see in my sidebar (Craftsy*, Amazon*, etc.) I personally own or use on a regular basis and have products or services that are applicable to my readership.
• make sure that you follow the legal disclosure guidelines for your country when advertising affiliates and their sales/products (for example, in the US, you must by law disclose when there are affiliate links on your blog or in a post - note my disclosure at the bottom of this post, at the bottom of this blog, and, in the sidebar affiliate advertising is separately denoted by the heading "affiliates")

Here's where social media can really be your friend. When you make something fabulous, post it on all of your social media accounts - share it with all of your friends and family. Let everyone who follows you know that you make spectacular things, and your items are for sale. 

Also, let people know that you will create custom orders or items for people which are in your scope of practice - or offer your services out to friends and family who may also sew or quilt if they need help with projects they're doing. 


As a side note - if you do start up an Etsy shop, make sure to promote the items you make on all of your social media accounts - it's free advertising!

*Please note: Links marked with an * are affiliate links to Amazon.com for your reference and convenience.

the Oliso TG1600 image courtesy of Oliso.com

Extra large fill tank image courtesy of Oliso.com

steam holes on plate image courtesy of Oliso.com

For me, not a deal breaker but if you're sensitive to noise, it's not a silent mechanism.

Sporadic leaking:
Twice over the last year, something weird has happened with the iron and in both instances the same set of circumstances led to the iron dumping its' entire reservoir on my ironing board.

In both situations, I had decided I was done sewing for the day, shut my iron off, and then realized I still had more to do. I added water to the tank, turned it back on, and on heat up, the iron dumped the entirety of the tank onto my board.

This has only happened twice, and, I did contact Oliso support about it. They were very quick to respond (they phoned within 1 hr of my initial email to them) and walked me through some trouble shooting. They also recommended I send the iron into them to have it serviced. Because I don't have a backup iron, and they couldn't guarantee a fast turnaround, I decided not to send it in.

Worn Symbols:
The embossed symbol on the iron's steam button are starting to fade, showing their wear already, which I'm surprised about and a little disappointed in. Not something that would make or break the deal for me, and I haven't bothered to email Oliso about it since I highly doubt there's anything they would do about it. Still, at $200, I would expect the embossing to be more colorfast.

Emptying the water reservoir:
According to the manufacturer's instructions, at the end of each use you're supposed to let the iron cool fully and then empty the water reservoir. This is a difficult task to say the very least. It's next to impossible to remove all of the water from the chamber, no matter which way you tip, tilt or turn it. To be honest I've gotten pretty good at only putting as much water in the chamber as I think I'll need for my sewing session. It's too much of a pain in the butt to overshoot on this, better to underestimate and save fighting with it.

Color:
I really wish that the limited edition pink version in another model # came in this model number. I love pink. And who doesn't love supporting breast cancer awareness? The yellow is catchy, I'll give you that. This is a minor point. Not a deal breaker.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, this iron is a good fit for me. It most definitely helps with my shoulder injury, and more than that, it's a great iron. The steam is fantastic on it, as is the heat. I've used fellow quilter's and sewist's lower priced, major brand irons and the heat is comparable, but I feel the steam on this iron is exceptional.

Ultimately, in my opinion, with the higher price point on this iron you're paying for superior steam, the convenience of the iTouch technology, larger water reservoir, and the 30 minute shut off time.

I like it. If the iron proves to have extensive staying power, and if in several years I have finally driven it into the ground, I'll replace it with the same. Without a doubt.

I recommend this iron for those whom are concerned about repetitive strain type injuries or those who have arm and shoulder pain aggravated by repetitive motions and who do a lot of pressing, or who partake in long periods of pressing. This may be the iron for you.

If you're the type of quilter who wants the latest and greatest gadget, this again, is probably the iron for you. It's pretty freaking cool.

If you happen to have the Oliso® Pro™ Smart Iron with iTouch® Technology TG1600*, I'd love to hear about your experiences, so leave a comment below! And if you're thinking of purchasing one and have any questions about the iron, let me know. I might be able to answer them.

*Please do note that this post does contain an affiliate link to Amazon - but my opinions are 100% genuine and 150% candid.

The summer seems to be getting away from us here in the Sew at Home Mummy household, as we try to make the best of the sporadically good weather and complete exterior home repairs as we can. We have truly become Weekend Warriors.

A few months back the awesome people from June Tailor sent me a bottle of their new spray starch product to try out and then in turn, give my honest opinion on.

I received the product just before the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild retreat, so of course, I brought it along to have a few of my fellow quilters give it a try as well. The reviews were really positive.

I have been using the product now for several months, as I like to do with all products I review (what's a true product review if the Honeymoon phase is still in full swing?), and here's what I have to say about June Tailor's Quilter's Starch Savvy.


About the Product:

This starch was made specifically with the Quilter in mind. It's a fragrance free, flake free formula in a 16oz bottle with a fine-mist trigger. The starch has been specially formulated specifically for quilting cottons to give increased stability and better control of pressed seams.

The starch is clear and does not settle; the user controls how stiff their fabrics are based on multiple applications of the starch.

June Tailor has created a video about their new product:


The Review:

Depending on the project, I have been known to be an avid starcher. I love how starch really makes the fabric do what you want - you can really beat some crazy seamage into submission with the right starch and a hot steamy iron. That said, I've used several brands of starch, both aerosol and trigger spray styles, so I'm pretty well versed with starches and what I've found both good and bad about brands I've used in the past.

Positives:
Well, there are many. Firstly, the bottle is not too large, not too small. Because you have more control over the quantity sprayed, it'll last you a long time without having to purchase a massive, heavy bottle that'll be sure to fatigue your hand and wrist. The trigger is nice and smooth, and fits nicely in my hand and is easily depressed.

This was important to me: the starch is released in a pretty even and fine stream, with very little to no big 'bloops' of liquid (this drives me crazy about other brands, the starch goes on too heavy or huge globby bits come out, not with this). I also like how fine the mist is, which allows me to control how much starch I use. Sometimes a seam just needs a little help, sometimes, it needs a lot.

It is truly scent free. Sometimes I like a scent, but most of the time, especially when I'm creating things for clients, I go out of my way to keep everything scent free. So I love this aspect of this starch.

I have had zero flaking. And I don't have any new scorch marks on the plate of my iron.

The clear plastic bottle means the rust you might incur with the metal aerosol tins is no longer an issue.

Negatives:

Honestly, I had to think really hard about this one. I guess for some who like to have a scented starch, having it unscented is a negative.

A quick Google search indicates that the starch goes for anywhere from $5 - $14 - so make sure you do your homework on where you buy.

Otherwise, I am really happy with this starch. Really. Like, a total convert.

If you have any questions, please, let me know in the comments below! I'd love to answer them for you (if I can, and if I can't, I know people who can!).

Available at:

I found some online retailers who carry the starch if you're interested in picking a bottle up! It'll be one of those great 'add-on' items for when you're trying to make up your free-shipping totals, he he.

June Tailor Online Store
Amazon.com
Joann.com
Fat Quarter Shop

If you have tried Starch Savvy, and would like to leave a comment below about it, please do!

Thanks for reading this review, happy starching!

image courtesy of Havel's Sewing

This year I've been very blessed, and extremely lucky, to welcome Havel's Sewing as a sponsor here on Sew at Home Mummy.

So lucky, in fact, that I just had to show you this skookum gadget Havel's has recently released.

I received this cutter a while back, but like with any product I review, wanted to give it a really good using before writing this up for all of you - and I'm happy I did - this is a Quilter's dream tool. Seriously. If you're someone who cuts strips, squares, and more, you should consider this gadget for your Christmas/Wish List this year.

This, my friends, is a Havel's Fabric & Quilt Ruler Cutter. It measures in at 27.5" long and cuts widths up to 6" wide. It has a no-slip grip on the underside, making slipping and sliding next to impossible as you cut. The sliding blade glides easily along the track, and allows for precise, straight cutting - every time.

The Havel's website states that the cutter 'drastically reduces your cutting time' - so I put it to the test.

As some of you may know, I've been hosting a Cotton + Steel swap here at Sew at Home Mummy. As part of the swap, I've allowed international residents to ship their fabric purchased to me, and I offered to cut them for them so as to cut down on their shipping times and costs. I had to cut stacks  of charm squares as a result: 

A photo posted by Erin Davis (@sewathomemummy) on Sep 9, 2014 at 8:26am PDT

...I timed myself for the cutting. To cut an entire yard of charm squares ((56) 5"x5" squares) it took:

• CONVENTIONAL RULER + ROTARY CUTTING: 3min 58sec
• HAVEL'S FABRIC & QUILT RULER CUTTER: 2min 47sec

Result: it took about 40% longer / more time to cut using a conventional ruler and rotary cutter system over the Havel's Fabric Cutter.

A photo posted by Erin Davis (@sewathomemummy) on Oct 10, 2014 at 2:13pm PDT

The blade is easily replaceable, and measures in at a standard 45mm size. It literally pops in and out when you need to change it; it's actually much easier to change than most rotary cutter brand's handheld cutters.

image courtesy of Amazon.com

To cut, you simply line up your ruler over your fabric, and depress the blade and slide along the fabric. Zing! Done.

Absolutely fantastic for anyone with arthritis or repetitive strain injuries (I have both, and I can honestly say I felt much less fatigued by using this cutter than by using a conventional system each time I've used it).

The no-slip grip on the bottom of the unit is absolutely BRILLIANT. I can't say enough about it. 

Wanna see it in action?

The ruler is really easy to read, too, being a clear ruler with black measurements marked.

So, after playing with this ruler for several months now, it's honestly become my primary mode of cutting. It's lightweight enough to move around easily; stores away easily hanging from a hook on my wall; the blade has a safety on it so I don't have to worry about my kids being around it.

I can wholeheartedly say that this is a tool that every Quilter should consider. I'm in love!

Thank you to Havel's for giving me the opportunity to add this cutter to my arsenal.