Buying a machine in Israel however is a challenge. Oh yes, they have them all right, but they cost an arm and a leg! A basic "Bernette" (do they have those in America?) which is like $100 Brother is....wait for it....2400 NIS or in USD -- 662.70!! No way!
After spending a week figuring sewing machines up one side and down the other, the best plan was to buy a Singer 3232 in Rome. Our trip was coming up in two weeks, so everything looked really easy. Pick one up, put it in a carry-on suitcase, fly back, and Bob's your uncle. So we advised the store we were coming -- in a week -- and would like to pick up the machine. So in between sight seeing....
.... we took a cab out to the store. NO ONE in any sewing machine store in Rome speaks English. I can say buongiorno in Italian. They do speak "Singer" and so we corresponded. Cuicherona was the best option -- in the afternoons Katia came in and we could sort of communicate.
But they had just changed some of their complicated business laws to more complicated business laws in Italy and not even the store owner understood what to do. Two weeks later, after consulting with their accountant -- and our trip was over and we were back in Israel -- my machine arrived in the mail.
So here it is! With the instructions in ... Italian! Very pretty, isn't it?
I truly don't know what normal people -- even normal people who sew a lot like I do -- use all those stitches for on these mechanical machines, let alone the computerized ones! If you'd care to tell me, I'd love to know. Maybe you can give me some ideas.
I get the straight stitch and zig zag and hem stitch. But which design do you prefer and for what??
So now I am back in business. My next post will describe additions to my doll making....
