Look!

I know this may seem totally random, but yesterday I went to Valley Fabrics in Northampton to purchase fabric! Yes, fabric! I've been bitten by the sewing bug. I don't even own a sewing machine, so I don't know why I'm buying fabric. Valley Fabrics is actually closing their doors for good and having a liquidation sale, so I couldn't resist dropping by. Look at what I ended up with! The red gingham oilcloth is NOT part of my purchase. :)

I have some ideas for what I want to make with each fabric, but nothing's set in stone. For now, the most important thing is to actually go buy a machine! It's so difficult to know what to buy. There's too much information! The first dealer I went to recommended the Janome DC2010 for $399, and upon further research, I found out that it's the exact same model as the Kenmore 19110 for $299 at Sears.

Is the $100 difference worth the free sewing lessons and repair included with the Janome? Another advantage of buying from a dealer is that they accept trade-ins for upgrades. Then again, I also kind of want to get one of the so-called "better" machines like a Bernina or a Pfaff. Or maybe I can get my mom to bring me a used industrial model from Manila when she goes to Vancouver for the wedding, haha. Somehow I don't really see her lugging a machine through customs! I don't even know if there are any extra machines in the workshop.

There's also a used Husqvarna Viking Prisma 950 for sale on Craigslist at $100 with everything included. Any advice from anyone out there?

In the meantime, back to fabric, here are my favorites from my purchase yesterday: Garden Friends by Jay McCarroll. I hadn't even started watching Project Runway when he won! I also don't kow why these appeal to me so much since I'm not really the "quirky" type. My tastes usually run towards classic or preppy or feminine.

Hopefully, next time I talk about sewing, I'll have decided on a machine already. And in crochet news, I've decided to try crocheting my bridal garter. This should be interesting.