Bobby~40 years later....I cherish the label fixed to my Pfaff 1222E & there is a label on my Featherweight that I try to keep intact. Not all labels are viewed as defacing a machine. I look at it as "history". Changing needles often is probably the most ignored maintenance task with many sewers. I applaud your repair guy for tossing that needle and replacing it with a needle he knows is the correct size to calibrate the machine. When you broke the needle, you may have caused the burr on the hook or vice versa. Whenever things are not right, the first thing I do is change the needle. Needles are cheap - change them often, use the right kind and size for the thread and fabric, toss them after you hear the clunk or see the stitch change, or with each new project. Use your coupons from Joanns and pick up a pack of Schmetz needles when you aren't buying fabric and they aren't on sale and you won't feel so bad when you toss a needle out. I use an empty McCormick spice bottle with a snap lid for my used needles. It sounds like you found a great tech to work on your machine!

If you want to use the Sapphire for quilting, you might have to bite the bullet and get the walking foot (even feed foot) for $100 - it is worth it. Another foot that I would recommend is the piecing foot with a metal bumper on the right side - not the "piecing foot" that comes with most of the machines. This was only about $20 when I got mine a couple of years ago and is worth every penny. With it on the machine and the needle set at the far right position you can get a nice 1/4" seam for piecing and it is always the same (unless the operator forgets to move the needle over!). It may be called the "edge stitching foot with a metal flange".

First, I'm sorry this is so long, but there was so much to say. The only model suggestion I can make with any authority: Pfaff 1069. I have one of these that I bought 20 years ago, and I could not bear to trade it in. It is a sweet machine. Completely mechanical, no computer controls, original list price 20 years ago was $900; I got mine for $700. I have NEVER seen a used one for sale! Sewers love these machines. If you see one, snap it up and pay to have it serviced. There are a number ways to acquire a good used machine. Look for machines that have not been used much (gifts or abandoned hobbies), although theres probably no way to be sure how much the previous owner used the machine. Some used machines just need servicing: a good cleaning and tune up, which you can always get from your dealer after you buy any machine. Having to pay for servicing drives up the initial cost of your used machine. I suppose the cost varies depending on where you live, but I always expect to pay $60 to $80 for a thorough repair and service. Then again, I own some complex machines, so my estimates may be high. The advantage of buying a used machine from an independent dealer is that he has already done the cleaning and tune up and any needed adjustments and repairs as he was getting the machine ready for resale. Another place to check for refurbished sewing machines is your local vacuum and sewing repair shop. ThereÂs a vacuum shop near me where the owner is not a dealer of any new sewing machines, but he does sewing machine repair (and vacuum repair) and has an entire assortment of used machines, which he has fixed up for resale. Again, these are all "ready to go" when you buy them. (I lusted after the industrial Bernina for $500, but where would I put it and how could I explain it to my husband?) Look for the popular high-end brands: Pfaff, Bernina, Janome, Brother, Viking, Baby Lock  IÂm sure there are other good brands, but IÂd avoid Singer and Kenmore. I canÂt recommend specific models, but there does seem to be a sliding scale of features from low-end to high-end machines. This does not mean that a low-end machine is necessarily no good, only that it doesnÂt have as many features. Low-end machines tend to not have the ability to lower the feed dogs. However, they usually have a plastic cover for the feed dogs so you can do free motion work. Check that all the presser feet are with the machine. There should be a tool box or accessory box with some presser feet and other tools. Having an instruction book is a big plus, but those are often separated from the machine. This is where it pays to do your homework by looking at new machines at your dealer and noting how each model moving up the price scale adds more features and what those features are. Some features to pay attention to: Adjustable needle position  left, right, center or (on high-end machines) multiple adjustments points, left to right. Button holes: they tend to be easier to do or more automatic as you move up the price scale. Also, different types of button holes. For instance, you usually donÂt see a keyhole button hole on a low-end machine. Specialty straight and zig zag stitches: a hem stitch, variations on zig zag stitches, a triple stitch zig zag, an edge joining stitch. This is not a complete list, but look for some variations. Knit stitches, a straight knit stitch and a selection of knit overlock stitches. Knit hem stitch. Doing knit stitches requires the machine to sew forward and backward in the stitch pattern, and some low-end machines donÂt have any knit stitches. Decorative stitches. The more decorative stitches there are, probably the higher up the model ladder. However, my experience is that you can get by with no decorative stitches at all. I think they are a sales feature "This machine does 125 different stitches!!" but they really arenÂt all that useful unless you have some specific need. Good Hunting!! CMC

Well I am going to beat this quilt idea to death. Heheheh Going back and fourth do I buy it made or make it myself?? Finally I came upon the solution. I am going to make it myself in a cheating sort of way. I am going to stitch the strips of fabric to a blanket base and use some bias binding I have miles of as the ruffles between the rows.Or some of them. I bought the blanket on sale and dug out my fabric stash of some vintage table cloths and fabric pieces and some new pieces I have had and I think I can combine them to pull it all together. Will use up great bunches of fabric I already have . I have the fabrics because I love them and they have made several fabric cuts in my purging. Yes I took a picture but it is not laid out as it will be on the quilt and there is one more piece of lighter floral fabric I can use some of. Also I think I might have confused some here because I actually have two rooms to deal with on quilts / spreads. Our master bedroom and the sewing room that doubles for guest room when we have company. As I see fit I can switch things around. But the sewing room is the one with the turquoise already in it. Chris