And then there were nine.....

For Christmas I got another sewing machine. She was -- & was not -- a surprise.

I had seen her on eBay & told Shug that perhaps she would be a nice birthday gift (my birthday is in early February). But when we go back after our holiday travels to have our own personal Christmas at home, I found a big box under our little tree: a 1963 White! She is kind of a celadon green with an ornate face plate & nearly like new. I've decided to call her "Betty".

It took me a while to get the tensions right. There were skipped stitches at first, but a new needle fixed that. She also sounded kind of click-y, but with some oil & attention, that seems to be going away. (Both Betty & Amie had a short, refreshing trip to a sewing machine spa & returned rejuvenated & ready for play. Both sew a fine seam now.) Feather-weight she is not! -- tips the scale at 37 pounds -- I won't be toting her to any retreats! I wondered what roll Betty would have among my sewing machines. Except for the 2 family machines, which don't work right now & are more sentimental than functional, & the Singer 99 Lotus, which is mostly an art object, all my machines provide something unique: portability, deep throat for quilting, programmable stitches, off-the-grid ability for when the power is out.

I think Betty will be my downstairs machine, to set up in the dining room or on a folding table in front of the television.