Guess what I got!

The old beast!

The new machine!

That's right! A new (to me) sewing machine!! We finally took my circa 1970's machine in for repair (it hadn't been working) and found out for that make and model our problem was common. It siezes up and has to be taken apart to be cleaned and repaired. Unfortunately this was going to cost $200.

I didn't know whether to be sad or happy. For that price we certainly weren't going to get it repaired but I didn't know exactly what the DH had expected to pay for a repair. Could I possibly get a replacement?

The gentleman at the store pointed to one of the store class models that they teach on and offered it to us for $125. I promptly put up the puppy dog eyes at the DH and told him that since the girls would be learning to quilt this summer we should have a machine. (They would get bored with the long process of hand piecing an entire quilt.) He agreed.

So now our family is the proud owner of a very simple but sturdy Singer 5705 C. It doesn't do a lot of "tricks" but at the current sewing level of our family it will do perfectly.

My oldest is signed up for a beginning sewing class this summer and if she likes it and wants to continue, then maybe eventually she may need a fancier model. I think there is no hope for me to progress out of simple projects and quilts. I am hoping for more sewing skill in my daughter.

My next oldest daughter has no interest in sewing. I asked if she wanted to take the class with her sister and she didn't even have to think about it. "No." Hmmm.... okay, I'll have one DD that sews. Andi does enjoy embrodiery though, and she's very excited to quilt.

I didn't ask if my son wanted to sign up and he made no mention of wanting to. Whew! As the only boy in the house I sometimes think he gets a little to much homemaking instruction. It's a good thing he likes to fish and build with Dad. I should search out a woodworking class for him to take.

Anywhoo... if you are in the Grand Rapids area and have someone who knows how to repair sewing machines, you are more then welcome to have my old model for free. You just have to pick it up. We hate to just throw it away. Anyone have any other suggestions as to what to do with it?