I mentioned back in July that I’d got myself a new ‘take to’ sewing machine, which may seem strange given that at the start of the year I’d treated myself to a new Bernina. But the Bernina is too heavy to move very often, so that rules it out to ‘take to’ twice monthly sewing group meetings, and any ad hoc workshops.

My plan had been to use my very old Toyota sewing machine for this, but thankfully I tried it before I took it anywhere. I knew its plastic was yellowed, and that it hadn’t been used in a very long while so I thought I’d re-familiarise myself with its controls and so on before taking it out.

Just as well I did, as it wasn’t happy about being neglected for so long.

It worked - and had recently been PAT tested - but it didn’t work at the same time. There was power, I could wind bobbins, but the actual sewing bit - nope. Just up and down, not up and down and along, which is what you need. So that scuppered that plan.

Given that I’m now au-fait with buying sewing machines - in truth I have found a good and trusted dealership - I thought I should invest in a ‘take to’ sewing machine. One that sews properly, doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, but does enough and is light enough to ‘take to’ sewing meetings and workshops. So off I went with a budget in mind.

Shock, horror. I was persuaded to spend less than my budget (which I’d already played down) by the dealership. And so I took that advice, and as I knew this one would be out and about I also bought a bag to carry it in while I was there. This new machine has now been to four sewing group meetings, it’s been to the Monday evening sessions and the Saturday morning ones (which I used to skip) and we’ve had a grand old time getting to know each other.

Getting to know my ‘take to’ Singer

I wanted to make some small and already known items to get to know my Singer, and as luck would have it I’d already run out of that stash of pouches I’d made the year before. I don’t know where they go exactly, though some have made it out of my sewing room into travel bags and others have found themselves full of sewing paraphernalia.

So it was time to make some more.

It’s taken about three sewing sessions to make my new pile of pouches, that’s alongside the chat, the tea and biscuits and time spent admiring other people’s projects, but let me show you my latest stack of window fronted pouches.

A pink and white patterned pouch with a lime green zip

On top is a blue and pink patterned pouch

On top is a teal and sunshine yellow pouch

Another yellow pouch, this one with orange skull patterned material behind the vinyl window

A small black pouch with blue 'bobble' flowers - contents in the pouch is a small cleaning brush, clips and an unpicker — THIS ONE WAS IMMEDIATELY PUT TO USE TEMPORARILY

A longer blue pouch - gingham and flowers together with a pale blue zip

dressmaker's scissors on top of the long blue pouch — AND THIS ONE WAS MADE WITH A SPECIFIC PURPOSE IN MIND

A smaller pouch on top with bee fabric on the outside and bright yellow interior

A cerise inside with navy multi pattern 'firework' type blooms

As well as making a new sized pouch for my scissors and rotary cutter, I made a couple to match my sewing machine bag and the velvet box pouch which I made for the foot pedal. With these I’ll look most coordinated when I venture out!

In the background the swing machine bag - a beige fabric with bees, three pouches in front - two vinyl windowed with the bee material and firework type bloom pouch. Also is the velvet box pouch which has the firework type bloom lining on show

I’ve a couple more projects planned specifically for my ‘take to’ machine’s sewing bag - mainly so I don’t forget the essentials when I go (as I have already!) and I’ll share more of those when I actually make some progress. So far I’ve gathered the materials I need, and even eaten a tube of Pringles in preparation, but I need to find some time to plan it out properly before I start. And then hopefully there’ll be no stopping me!

I also need to look for my next ‘take to’ project, or decide if I have projects just for the ‘take to’ machine or move current projects between the two machines. I guess that will come with time, and may even depend on what I’m sewing and how far I’ve got, but it’s nothing insurmountable is it?