Date: 11/7/09 1:53 PM

has anyone purchased a Babylock Sashiko? Can you give us a brief highlight of the machine? Pros and cons etc. Thanks

Date: 11/14/09 10:29 PM

I saw a clip of this on quilt out loud on qnn.tv - I didn't really know what to make of it, if you use it for quilting the throat space seems pretty small or at least not large so I couldn't see the appeal of it at first but the more I watched the better it seemed, but I'm not sure. I'd also be interested in anyones thoughts on it.

Date: 11/14/09 11:24 PM

Haven't seen the machine yet but I hope to soon. However, I did see some impressive work samples from someone who was trained on the machine (for sales). Pretty cool! But you would have to do a lot of sashiko to justify the cost.

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"The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted the spoons" Ralph Waldo Emerson

Reply to Natalie D.
Date: 11/15/09 10:04 AM

Quote: Natalie D.

Haven't seen the machine yet but I hope to soon. However, I did see some impressive work samples from someone who was trained on the machine (for sales). Pretty cool! But you would have to do a lot of sashiko to justify the cost.

I agree. I think they missed their price point. Or at least mine and I buy every machine that comes around the block - not really, but I have owned lots of machines!!!
Judi

Date: 11/15/09 10:41 AM

I played with the machine last week for a short time. First off, I LOVE sashiko and this looks wonderful from the top; the back, IMHO, not so much. It really is designed to be used in quilting or for home decor (according to the sales rep) but I'd say that the back of the piece would need to be covered. I may be mistaken about this since I had already decided that I didn't need it! The machine is large and the harp is good sized as well. It maneuvered very easily. All in all, I think it does what it was designed to do. I had misunderstood that it only used a single thread rather than having a bobbin but that isn't the case. It's pretty specialized and it will be interesting to see what happens with it.

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Patti

R-r-r-ripping my way to fitting success

Date: 11/15/09 11:35 PM

here a video of the machined that i watched yesterday http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-HrWBS79os

the starting might abit arkward (it was to me) but youll get inspired on what other things you can make on it.

Date: 12/11/09 12:51 PM

I love Japanese textiles and anything about them. I suggest that you check out the book Sensational Sashiko Japanese
Applique and Quilting by Machine by Sharon Pederson before you purchase a machine that just does Sashiko.

I had to order special thread to try this technique which just arrived. With the holidays I have not tried the technique yet, but she has produced some beautiful projects. Apparently as long as the Sashiko pattern is continuous or can be made continuous this technique is possible.

She stitches on either Japanese fabric or 100% cotton using YIL 100% polyester Jeans Stitch thread most often. The sewing machine set-up is usually the Jeans stitch in white on the top with a navy blue 50/3 wt thread in the bobbin. Use a 100/16 topstitch needle with a walking foot or even feed foot. The length of the stitches per inch is about 10. (Most important is that the design has the same number of stitches per inch in areas with the same size. This makes it look like hand sashiko.) The tension should be set so that the bobbin thread can be seen on top so the white line will not be continuous. This mimics hand sashiko.

Good luck whatever you decide!

Pat