I found a whizzy sewing machine on special, and put in on lay-by (because my good old second-hand one had started to snarl and seize) and then in a spoil-your-daughter-fatherly-swoop, my Dad went and paid it off for me. Shortest lay-by in history.
It's a Brother NS30. It's so quiet that the kitty felt completely at home with it and nearly got his paw sewn because he was trying to fight the needle.
I picked it up Monday morning and by the afternoon I'd made a little drawstring pouch, you know, just to try it out. It's completely ace. The machine, I mean, the pouch is not bad, but the machine is light, easy to use, quiet, a bit fancy (the boys are very impressed with the stitch range - we're talking 70 stitch choices here including little leaf patterns) and just really good to sew with.
Today being Day 2 of ownership, I found a tutorial on making envelope cushion covers and then created this Yes/No cushion cover using some Aunty Cookie appliques, applied with the Brother's blanket stitch.
Unfortunately I didn't cut enough fabric for the envelope opening at the back (I followed her directions but maybe our cushion inserts are fatter down under), so tomorrow I'm going to try the one-step buttonhole function, mmm-hmm, yes I am.
