eMotions: Au Revoir, Marie!

Sorry for the long hiatus--I've had little time for sewing lately, but am finally getting back into the swing of things.

Things really didn't improve with my eMotions machine. My machine started breaking needles, and I started getting major thread nests in the bobbin case on occasion--the machine makes a very distinctive knocking noise when it starts happening so I'd know to run for the machine to stop it. (Then I'd be picking out thread of the bobbin case for the next half hour. . .) So long story short, when it was working it was a fabulous machine--when it was unhappy, it seemed like nothing in the world could get it working again.

And yes, I'm using the past tense--this last Saturday I traded mine in towards a new Bernina Aurora 440QEE. I was going to hang on to the eMotions machine for a bit longer and add the embroidery module in a few months, but my dealer offered a $400 trade-in for it so I jumped at it. (I think my dealer was relieved to see it come back so they wouldn't have to hear me griping about it anymore.) =)

I don't regret buying my little eMotions machine at all though--I still think it's a great starter machine and I successfully embroidered dozens and dozens of projects on it. My plan all along was to see if I got hooked on embroidery enough to justify splurging on a "real" machine, so if someone is in that boat I think it's a great way to try it out for a minimal investment. I just ended up using mine a little too much than I think it was designed for so I noticed more of its quirks, and started getting frustrated with its limitations. But I loved the eMotion's USB interface that lets you control your machine from your computer, and it's one of the reasons I decided on the Aurora.

Stay posted for reviews as I try out my new toy, and some photo comparisons between embroidery done on the Emotions machine and my new Bernina to see if it's really worth the investment!

eMotions: Recommended Accessories

These are my completely biased, non-scientific recommendations on what's worked well with my eMotions machine--I hope it helps you get the most out of your embroidery. =)

• Marathon Thread: you've already heard me rave about this stuff. Everytime I've had problems with thread breaks, it was because I was trying to use a thread other than my Marathon. Those little Sulky spools wind the thread so tight that I think the eMotion's really tricky tension can't take the curlyness as it unwinds.
  
• YLI Lingerie & Bobbin Thread: I only bought this because it was on sale at Hancock Fabrics, but it's really worked well. (What didn't work well? Those pre-filled bobbins with the cardboard sides. I never finished using the ones that came with the machine because they kept causing thread jams.)
  
• HR5 Spray & Stick adhesive from Helmar (bought it at my Bernina dealer--it's an OESD product, I think): fabulous stuff for sticking your stabilizer to your fabric before hooping. I never had a problem with my needle getting gunky from it, and you can reposition things easily.
• OESD AquaFilm Wash-Away Topping: comes in a little roll, but it lasts forever! (Since you're only using enough to cover your design, not hooping it.) Spray a little adhesive on it and put it on top of fleece before embroidering your design--it keeps your stitches from disappearing into all of the fluff. Tears away pretty well, and you can put some water on any film left behind to dissolve it (beware, it may leave the fabric a bit sticky, because of the adhesive).
• Super Solvy Water Soluble Stabilizer: love, love, love this stuff. It tears away cleanly and anything left can be dabbed away with a little water.
• Sulky Cut-Away Plus Stabilizer: great for knits--provides a firm background when you're embroidering but washes up quite soft.

(These last two are sold at JoAnn's--I just always use a 40% off coupon on a new roll so it's much cheaper.)