Wow Justpottering, that is quite beautiful - if you can get hold of the book I mentioned yesterday you will enjoy experimenting even more.  You have got further than I have - this is something I have wanted to do for years, but never had the time to try it out for real.  By the way did you know that you can get a sprung loaded hoop - I think mine are by Madeira and come in two sizes so if you need to reposition you just press the two butterfly clips together and move the fabric a little and let go - this is all done whilst the fabric is under the needle.  I shall look forward to seeing what else you can do - now just enjoy the process and have fun.

By the way another book for you to look out for is The Art of Embroidery by Julia Barton.  Julia did her City and Guilds a good few years ago now and she then decided to hold a few classes on a Saturday for machine embroidery and I must say she made it look so easy, my efforts were nothing compared to hers.  She did say however that it had taken hours upon hours of practice to run the machine at a speed she could handle and move the fabric in the hoop.  At this time I suppose this must have been back around the early 80's and these Saturdays were connected with Missenden Abbey and their Summer School although the classes I attended were held in another school across the road from the Abbey.  At that time Julia lived in Amersham.  At one time her book was considered very rare and was fetching extraordinary high prices second hand, they have dropped in price considerably now thank goodness.

One of the best things you can do to get to know your overlocker - regardless of the make - is to download  the Sewing Mastery booklet which was for Bernina overlockers but do not be put off by this, have a look back on TSP for the link to this which was posted by Morgan, you can then steadily work through the various pages attaching your sewn samples and that should help you both with understanding and sewing with an overlocker - good luck.

Well done Rubywishes, she looks beautiful.  How on earth can anyone get a cabinet in that state, and I know you will have great joy in cleaning this up and making it look presentable as well as tinkering with the machine and replacing any parts that need to be sorted.  Have you looked at all the bits and pieces in the drawers yet?

You have just whetted my appetite for a treadle, only the type of treadle base I would love to have is a black wrought/cast iron one - perhaps one day.

Enjoy your new machine.

Flobear regarding blind hemming, it does take a bit of getting used to, but the best thread I have found for using this method is Madeira Monofil No.60 this really is an ultra fine filiment and comes in two colours clear or smoke.  Now do not use the Madeira Monofil No.40 that is far too thick.

I used the No.60 on some Thai silk lining and it is lovely.

Now a very long time ago there was something I think called Perilusta and that is what they were using for blind hemming  and at that time it only came in a thickish thread and was horrible to use.  This new Madeira Monofil is gossamer like and comes on a reel a bit like the Sylko used to come in, and it holds 1000mtrs. (whereas the No.40 reel only holds 500mtrs).

Yes this Madeira is not easy to find, so I doubt very much any local thread place would stock this so it means looking further afield, but as you can see one reel of each is going to last you a very long time.

Incidentally I found that the instruction manual for the 830 Record is really clearly laid out and so easy to follow how to do things.  I have inherited my mothers 830 Record and this is my main go to machine these days as it had not been used too much, like all Berninas they are a joy to sew with, and when this first came to me I added a few extra feet, and one of those was the Edgestitch Foot No.10.  You can probably still get some of the old style feet and if you want to may I recommend using Bernina's own  warehouse down in Cardiff - the ladies there are so very helpful and it is always a quick dispatch, and they will ensure you get the right foot for your particular machine.  The Cardiff warehouse phone number is  029 2079 2079 and two of the ladies down there are Rachel and Jackie - they really do go the extra mile for you.

Also when I inherited my machine, at the time I came across some Sewing Leaflets produced by Bernina possibly for a later machine than my 830 Record, but I scoured various machine shops and the internet looking for these leaflets and have found them extremely useful, they comprised a set of 24 and they are called Bernina Sewing Service and cover all the feet and their uses, there are a few for the overlocker attachments.  Then I came across something else produced by Bernina and these were called Bernina Collection - I do not know how many they produced as I only have a few but again lots of lovely ideas showing you how to use your machine to its full potential.  I just need to find the time to stop and play.

By the way Bernina seem to have had a promotion going on through the year and have been offering foot of the month and often these have been reduced by a fair amount, so it is worth going and looking from time to time to see what they are offering.  www.bernina.com  and this is their own website.

With regard to an ironing board for a steam generator iron, it is necessary to have a mesh board, however if you are sitting down to do the ironing and using a lot of steam, make sure your knees are out of the way - I gave myself a nasty scald from the steam and it took a very long time  heal.

I bought one of those huge Brabantia ones back in 2003 when I was about to make my daughter's wedding dress, I deliberately wanted this particular one because the chunky tubular legs are at the back of the board so I would be able to sit down to do the ironing if necessary.  Well now it is necessary for me to sit down, and I am so glad I bought this  - not cheap mind you, but has been so worth it.  I agree it is huge, but it makes such a difference when ironing sheets and the like, freshly washed but as yet uncut fabric.  Don't feel guilty Gernella if buying another board is going to help you in your day to day life, then why not have this,  Let us hope that your OH is not around when the new board arrives - then ignorance will be bliss!!!

What a lovely room and of course now full of lovely memories.  Your Dad was very talented and skillful - the sewing cabinet does look just like a Horn cabinet.  You say it still has the lift in it, so have you thought of using this for your spare machine - I appreciate that the newer Bernina may not fit in through the opening.  Incidentally I much prefer sewing in the lower position with the plexi around the machine I even use my overlocker this way as well.  I appreciate that you may not have a plexi to fit around your older machine, but you can get these cut by Horn, they have templates of every machine made, the only downfall is the cost of these.  Also a few years ago they offered the opportunity to have a whole blank plexi for your cabinet so that you could use this as a light box.

Please don't go getting rid of your older machine, it really is so handy to have a spare, you never know when you will need this machine, and around here if you take a machine in for a service it could be away for a few weeks.  I also like using different machines, as each has something different to offer.  I have a 1975 Elna SU a machine I bought myself and that has the most marvellous triple straight stitch on it ideal for sewing in sleeves and the trouser crotch seam as it has some give in it.  Then I inherited my mother's 1975 Bernina 830 Record, and strangely this does not have this fabulous triple straight stitch and is limited to just 20 utility or decorative stitches whereas my Elna has loads and loads of decorative and utility stitches obtained through drop in discs.  I also love corded buttonholes and used to do these on the Bernina 830, and they are easy to do.  Then I bought a Bernina Artista with its embroidery unit, and now prefer to do my buttonholes on this as it is computerised and can repeat buttonhole after buttonhole effortlessly when all the sensors are kept clean.  The Artista also has the facility to stitch out a wider pattern being a 9mm width whereas the two older machines have a limited width.  I use all my machines a lot, and have three out at the moment.

Enjoy your little place of tranquility I am sure you will spend many happy hours in there, and as for the wallpaper that is gorgeous.  Love the shelf units too - what a find - and well done you on persevering with the painting of them.