Quilting-Mania: Sewing Machine Addition

My sewing machine collection keeps growing. Yikes! Saw an old Kenmore for sale in my local area and decided I would go see it. It was bought in 1988 but it didn't look like it had been used much at all. It was very clean and had lots of accessories. I couldn't pass it up when the owner told me she was selling it for $40. Had to adjust the tension and stitch length and after greasing it and oiling it was running very smooth. It also makes beautiful buttonholes.

I then saw a Janome New Home 23X for sale online. I've heard Janome machines are good and even though this one was old it had lot's of sewing feet, the needle down/up button, the low/high button, a needle threader and an automatic buttonhole maker. I jumped at the chance and bought it for $100 shipping included. Every time I buy a machine online I hope I'm not going to be screwed and receive a broken or no good machine but I just keep positive and know that most people are good people. The machine arrived very well packed and looking it over I was very surprised at how clean it was. Not a dent or scratch on it. But, when I tried to make a buttonhole on a scrap of fabric, it wouldn't and the reverse button wouldn't work. My reaction was,"NO! I've been screwed!" I wasn't going to complain because that's probably why it wasn't more expansive. Anyway, I calmed down and called a local sewing machine serviceman and they were wanting to charge me between $100 and $200. I told my husband, "There's no way I'm paying that much money to have this machine fixed that's highway robbery so you and I are fixing it." We opened up the machine and hubby started tightening up this and that and we greased and oiled the heck out of it and low and behold we freaking fixed it. I knew that once we fixed the reverse part the buttonhole maker would work too and that's exactly what happened. I told my husband, "If you're able to fix $80,000 + Nasa machines you will fix this little machine." Everything is working perfectly now. The foot paddle isn't even dirty and no scratches on it either. I guess some people buy sewing machines and then realize sewing just isn't for them. As for me, I love to sew!