Came across this web site, CRAVE, which reviews different products (mostly electronics). Anyway, they were reviewing one of the new high-priced Bernina sewing machine.
Crave wrote:
All of this is well and good, but don’t think you’ll be saving money by making your own clothes with this machine. It goes for $8,200. Wouldn’t it be easier (and cheaper) just to buy a new wardrobe?
Guess that’s how the non-sewing world sees things. They do have a point though…LOL
I remember when I purchased my first sewing Singer machine for $169 at Caldor’s 6 years ago. I was just learning how to sew and the possibilities were endless–I thought I could sew anything. Well, I broke and returned 2 of them within 3 months (most likely due to operator error).
Soon the overwhelming need to monogram anything and everything hit (thanks Martha) and I purchased one of those White $399 embroidery-only machine from the Viking dealer inside my local Joann’s craft store. The limited embroidery card selection (not to mention the $60 price per card) and small hoop size soon got in the way of my big sewing plans.
In the meantime while having my crappy Singer repaired, my local sewing repairman talked me into purchasing a 3/4 thread Pfaff serger for $500.
While it was a great serger, I was hearing all this talk on the internet about the coveted coverstitch feature…something my Pfaff serger was lacking. So off to Viking I went…returning home with their top-of-the-line 936 serger. I was in Heaven! Mr. Diva’s wallet was now $1,800 lighter.
While attending a serger class, the Viking instructor talked me into trading in the cheapo White embroidery machine for a Husqvarna Viking Rose 605 sewing/embroidery machine at the cost of another $2,700.
However, the instructor “forgot” to mention I’d need embroidery software and a reader/writer box.
Well, more than a $1,000 later, I thought I was set. Little did I know, I’d have to purchase software upgrades at the tune of another $800! But fine, my embroidery abilities were now endless. I started getting large embroidery orders and now required yet another embroidery machine.
I then became the proud owner of “Iris.” I told my husband that I had purchased it for my daughter…ummm, I lied. Now I could have two embroidery machines running at the same time!
I was enjoying my 936 serger, but it became apparent that I was too lazy to keep switching over from the 4 thread to the coverstitch function. Thus, I added a used Viking 905 to my “collection.”
My bright idea was I’d use the 905 for 4 thread serging and the 936 for coverstitching. But once your drive a 936, you just can’t settle for less. The 905 didn’t have the cool LCD sewing advisor making it a deal breaker. So I spent the next year searching eBay for a used 936. I also called my Viking dealer to see if they had any 936 floor models available. No such luck…but she did mention she had a great sale on the Designer I sewing/embroidery machine (their top-of-the-line at the time) for a mere $4,500…SOLD! Anyway, Mr. Diva was planning a solo trip to Las Vegas and I’d be stuck home with the kids–the Designer I would be my reward…LOL!
Six months later, Mr. Diva decided to make another trip out to Las Vegas and that meant another “reward” for me. I told him I’d like a used 936 serger which I spotted on eBay for $900. He asked why I didn’t want a new one from the dealer and I told him it would cost $1,700…but he said it would be smarter to buy it new thus getting the dealer warranty. He had a point…haha. Well, luckily Viking was having their Black Friday holiday sale and I was able to pick up a new 936 for only $1,300. Score!
Now I was set–3 Viking sewing/embroidery machines and 3 Viking sergers.
Or so I thought…
If you hang around long enough on the sewing forums, you’ll hear all about how Industrial sewing machines put even the top-of-the-line home sewing machines to shame. I tried to ignore the impulse for as long as possible, but once again got sucked in. However, I could not justify spending over $1,000 for a new Industrial machine, so I began searching eBay once again for used machines.
As luck would have it, a local seamstress was downgrading and I became the proud owner of 4 (yes, FOUR!!!) Industrial machines! Now the best part was I won her “upholstery business” for a mere $154!!! She even threw in an extra motor, industrial grommet press and tons of machine attachments.
Did I mention I’m now in the market for a used Industrial Coverstitch machine?
It just never ends…
THE DOMESTIC DIVA'S DISASTERS™ 
