I'm baffled, truly I am. I just came from reading on a quilting site about a woman with not one but two of what I'd consider super-high end machines. She uses one exclusively for piecing, and one for applique and quilting. She's considering getting a third machine so she can have a dedicated machine for each stage of a quilt. Oooookkkaaaaay...
You can only do one thing at a time, yes? I mean, if you had an embroidery machine that could work on its own while you sewed on another, I guess I understand that though I'm sure I miss something in the creative aspect of telling a machine to do something for you. Kinda like the washer, isn't it? "Clean my clothes." Push a button, go have coffee. But I digress,
Why does one need a machine to do applique that is different from the one on which you piece? And why yet another on which to quilt? Am I missing something? And does a $6,000 sewing machine really do a better job than a $500 one? Is it really worth that much money to not have to rethread a machine? And for $6,000 shouldn't the machine do all of those things (including the laundry and coffee, I should add) very very well? And if it doesn't, why would you buy it?
Maybe it's the "3 cars in the garage and they're all European" thing. The way I see it, a Corolla's gonna get me to the grocery store just as well as a Ferrari. And I won't have to mortgage one of my kids to touch up the paint if someone lets a cart loose.
14 comments:
There is this thing called invidious consumption. Americans seem to thrive on it. The more I see of it, the more I turn the other direction. I would be embarrassed to have three high end machines, when I could give a scholarship or feed homeless instead. But that is what is great about America, we can spend our money on anything we want.
I so agree with you and pigley. When I was doing craft shows 40 weekends a year I had 2 sewing machine and 2 sergers and used all 4 daily. I did burn up 2 sewing machine in one year. My second machines were used and did not cost alot of money. I wish people with throw away money would help my son (me) pay for college.
I have two friends that have $7K machines...they do alot of embroidery and these machines are computerized and do a terrific job with the embroidery...both gals have the attachment to the computer so they can design their own stuff...which I must say, takes a while (I've watched them do it). Not my taste and definately so not in my price range, but both these gals can afford these machines and to them, they are happy to use the best money can buy. Keeps someone employed building the machines, so it's not all bad...
I don't get the embroidery machines thing at all. As you say about as creative as making coffee or washing clothes.
I have 2 fairly expensive machines. I thought the second one (Janome 6600, bought for the large harp space) I bought was going to replace the first one (Pfaff 2056, bought when my 25 yr old Singer died), but each one has its own bells and whistles and I am hesitant to give both of them up. The Pfaff would sell easily, but the amount I would get for it is not enough for me to think I should sell it. I will eventually have the space to keep both of them up and running. So just because it is decadent, should I give it up?
Frankly-I just adore you....and today's post is the reason why.
Why are you concerned about what others have or how they work?
I have three old Singer 301 machines. I love them. One is out on loan to a beginning quilter. One is my main machine and the third one is set (tension adjusted) for free motion quilting. I don't have to worry about a machine going on the fritz and not having a backup while it in the shop for repair. I NEED another machine for zig zag stitching and am thinking about buying a Janome Gem.
I feel so rich! None of my machines cost over $400. I also have several Featherweights for my retirement.
I guess excessiveness makes some feel rich, and others(me) fat.
My personal challenge is to use as little as I can to get by in life. That makes me happy. That is why my last boss called me, "A Simple Woman". That was the biggest compliment he ever could have paid.
I think though if you spend alot I mean alot of time sewing it would justify getting the nice machines, because the computerized machines sew like a dream but again its about the comsumer and what their lifestyle and wants are.
But like eveything in life you just can have too damn much of anything...read my last blog entry I am trying to apply the "compact" idea to my crafting this year.
My mom spends a lot of time sewing and she has two of these machines. She could sell the one, but it probably wouldn't be worth the hassle. The embroidery is for fun. She hand smocks and cooks for creative outlets. By the way, she also funds a scholarship and feeds the homeless.
I understand your sentiment. I don't want to be defensive, but having a nice machine is what I do for me now that I've paid my dues--both to immediate and to extended family. I delete "stuff" from my world wherever I can. It doesn't bother me in the least to drive a 7-y-o Buick grannymobile. Transportation is not the fun stuff for me, but evidently it is for some folks. It's all a matter of priorities. Frankly, I'd love to have the latest model sewing machine. If and when I get it, I won't need to apologize because I've been generous to others first. The greatest charity is anonymous, so we rarely know who gives what to others.
The kind of conspicuous consumerism that disturbs me is the people who are buying to fill some hole in the soul. It can never be filled with stuff.
I upgraded to a Janome 6500 in 2005. I had sewn 20+ years on an Elna--almost daily for 4-5 hours. I cried big tears when I packed away my Elna but I could clearly see that the technology was leaving me in the dust. In 1980 I paid $1,000 for my (then state of the art) Elna and used it for 20+ years. In 2005 I paid $1200 for the Janome 6500 & expect to use it for another 20 years. If you figure out use vs. price, I think I did pretty well. The Elna cost about 14¢ a day for me to own; I expect similiar for the Janome.
I have used (and will continue to use) my sewing machines to comfort and clothe all kinds of people, including the homeless and the forgotten. I think that is a pretty good investment in time & money.
I am not going to try to defend a "rich" lifestyle. I am more blessed now than I was in my first marriage. I have paid my dues in many ways. I just try to remember that not everyone is in the same financial state and I give back in all kinds of ways to all kinds of people.
I have one expensive machine. A Pfaff 2056. It certainly didn't cost $6,000.00! It is a wonderful machine and has lots of quiltmaking related features that make everything so much easier. I sewed on a Kenmore that Bill got me for our first Christmas. I sewed many of my kids clothes on that simple machine. I have seen some of the things that an embroidery machine can do. I would rather pay someone to do it for me, than buy a machine myself. I can understand having 2 machines. I am always afraid that I will burn the motor up on my Pfaff by piecing and quilting on it. I can't afford to buy another. But if I ever do spend money on an expensive machine again, it will be something like a HQ16. I would have to save to buy it.
I turned off the ability to reply anonymously on my blog. I would rather have no comments, tha some snarky remark by someone who doesn't have the kahonas to tell you who they are.
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