Upcycled Denim 'Cat Lady' Shirt into Lovely Wrap Blouse with Puff Sleeves

FIVE YEARS...

I've sewn continuously for 5 years, bouncing from a regular sewing machine to my serger, and back to the sewing machine when the stitch was required. My husband even bought me a rolling chair so I did not have to get up anymore for a quick baste or serge. (Not a good strategy for weight management though!)

Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation for the mention of the sewing and sergers below. This opinions are exclusively mine and based on my experience only.

The Machines I've Bought

I've burned through 3 sewing machines:

• A Pfaff 1030 'Hobby', (15 years old), a wedding gift from my mother-- it just died one night in it's sleep.

• An 'expensive at the time' Husqvarna Emerald 118 , stopped working mid-stitch late one night which had me scrambling to Walmart at 10pm for a cheapo (see next bullet point)

• A cheapo Singer, 'Fashion-Mate' purchased out of desperation to meet a deadline...definitely a beginner machine not meant for heavy duty use...perfect for making quarantine masks or hair scrunchies.

Currently I am on a Brother XR3340 from Costco, and so far so great! Good price point for the value.

I've upped my serger game from one serger to 4!!!!:

• Two Juki m-1000...using each machine when I am working on multi-piece costumes and need to quickly move from one color to the other (ie white for petticoats or aprons and a color for the dress)

• One refurbished Babylock Imagine...permanently set to make beautiful silky, tight rolled hems

• One Bernette...hello 1980's solid, well-made machine! a $50 purchase off Facebook Marketplace...permanently set to white thread