A New Home

for this little Baby Lock BL9

I was finding that I was dreading any of the ASG sew days our group generally holds two or three times per year.  I just dreaded loading my Janome 9000 which became my "second" machine when I purchased the Janome MC 10001.  As my second machine, I took it to the guild meetings when I needed a machine.

That 9000 must weight 65 pounds - well I'm sure not that much, but it sure felt it as this aging lady tried to lift it into and out of the car when taking it to sewing meetings when needed.

I do have a Singer Featherweight, and I did take it to use on occasion but found myself "needing" a zig-zag stitch now and then which the Featherweight cannot do.  (I still love her very much, however.)

I looked a few times at the big box stores for a light weight machine to become my "take to class/meeting" machine, but could not bring myself to take a chance on one of those machines.  How long would it last, would it perform adequately, etc, etc.

One of my guild friends has a Brother machine from Walmart that she brings to our sew day meetings, and she often has problems with it (jamming, feeding fabric, and other annoying issues).

I'm generally now a Janome girl and considered a Jem, but another lady in our guild has one that she is not happy with.  Could be her; could be the machine--I have no idea.  I can tell you that I am happy with my Janome 10001, 9000 and my Serger 634D which is a real workhorse.

I have a Baby Lock Imagine serger also that use most of the time and I do LOVE it.

SO, I perused E-bay. I read reviews on several of the Baby Lock lightweight machines and decided to watch for a BL9 - a mechanical machine.  I let one get away and wished I had placed a bid--ah well, so it goes on Ebay.  A few days after that happened, I saw this one.

Seller said she had used it for a few times, but was in ill health and hadn't been able to sew so was selling it.  Only problem--she could not find the attachments that originally had come with the machine.  She did have the instruction book and the electrical/foot connection and a zipper foot was on the machine.  It was listed as BUY NOW or MAKE AN OFFER.  So, I made an offer $15 less than her BUY IT NOW price and she accepted.  That $15 almost covered the shipping charges she listed.

It arrived via UPS in it's original box.  However, there was no zipper foot on the machine.  Shucks,...but no deal breaker for me.  It uses snap on feet so I can use my Janome feet.  Also uses the same bobbin as my Janome machines.  Two checks right there!

I oiled her. I removed the bobbin case to clean, but it was not necessary,  The bobbin case was clean--no dust, no thread or anything to be seen.  The machine was very clean, and I do believe was hardly used.

She needed a cover so I pulled some denim scraps, took some measurements and sewed a cover with this new (to me) little machine.  I sewed like a charm and handled the denim just fine--even the multiple thicknesses while sewing on pockets to hold the foot/electrical cord.

Right now, I'm a happy camper.  She sounds good, looks good, and performs well, and weighs only 12 pounds.  12 POUNDS--so much easier on the arms and back when toting it back and forth into and out of the car.

The cost was less than the cheapest sewing machine at my local Walmart. so I consider this little machine a good deal for me and my need.

Hopefully, she and I will have a lasting relationship at the guild meetings.....