Sewing Machine Survey

Sew Mama Sew is celebrating Sewing Machine Month so I thought I'd play along and fill out the sewing machine survey.


What brand and model do you have?
I have an Elna Club 500. It's an older model from the early 90s (back when Elna's were still made in Switzerland)

How long have you had it?
About 6 months

How much does that machine cost (approximately)?
I bought mine from E-bay for about $90

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?
I mainly make purses and home dec projects. I also recently started quilting.

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?
I don't get to sew as much as I would like - but on average I spend about 5-10 hours per week sewing

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?
I like my machine. I call her "Ellie". :)
What features does your machine have that work well for you?
I like the easy drop in bobbin, the speed control and the needle up/down feature. I also love that there is a true basting stitch - in bag making this is a great feature.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?
sometimes I wish it would go a little faster, and I can't get the buttonhole to work right. I don't do much garment sewing, so that's not a huge issue for me.

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it!
Nope. No great stories. Won her on Ebay (kind of accidentally) and I'm glad I did.

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?
I would recommend this machine - it sews beautifully and is very easy to operate.

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?
What kind of sewing will you be mainly doing, what "bells and whistles" are really necessary for you, the reputation of the manufacturer and reviews from users

Do you have a dream machine?
I am always looking at new machines - I don't have a particular make/model in mind but I would love a machine that has a longer arm for quilting, with a stitch regulator for free motion quilting.


Here is a picture of Ellie. :)