Sewing the Dream | Chapter 1: Will it fit?

Hi – my name’s Angie and I am lucky enough to live on the beautiful Isle of Man – a little island right in the middle of the Irish Sea between the UK and Ireland.  This is the first of a series of blogs about my adventures with the fabulous Brother XV – or Dream Machine, as she is known in the States.

When I told my embroidery and sewing friends that I would be getting an XV to a man – or rather to a woman – they exclaimed, “Where on earth will you put it”?  “Can you even get it through your front door?”  So early on the day, I prepared for an enormous box to be delivered.  Rest assured – that machine would get inside the house, even if I had to take out a window to do it!  My fears were NOT allayed when I called the courier company to be told that it was out for delivery but was a “two man job”  (My poor husband overheard “two VAN job” ….)

But, sure enough, later that day the courier hove into sight and two young men emerged.  Both taking one end of the box they carried it up our lane (too narrow for the van) and it fitted perfectly through the front door and was carried straight into the dining room to be unpacked.

Now I had intended to make this first blog an ‘unpacking’ blog but truth to tell I simply got completely over-excited and just waded in there!  (I apparently really did do the Happy Dance – but fortunately, there is no visual record of that).  So it was not very long before she was set up in my sewing room to be cooed over by me while my husband wrestled the box into one of the outhouses.

(IMPORTANT NOTE:  DO keep the packing and the box against the time you have to send your machine off for service, move house or whatever.  It really does give you peace of mind knowing that your machine is safely packed and protected.  You can always flatten the box down and slide it under the bed, or put it in the loft along with its polystyrene packaging. )

So – machine is set up and husband points out that my previous machine needs a new home.  Without prompting from me he says “Let’s move the bed sofa out (sewing room doubled as a guest room) and put the pine dining room table in there.  That way you can still have access to your former machine as back up” (I mean – what a keeper right?)

Meanwhile – while said Saint goes out for fish and chips as he realised he would not get fed otherwise – I attach the embroidery unit (easy peasy) and start up my machine.


The first thing I notice is the sheer size of the screen!  It really is as big as an iPad!  No more squinting at the screen trying to work out exactly which design you want.  The thumbnails are very clear and a good size and when you turn on the machine there is a lovely sequence of music and film - a lovely welcome.











Now I don't know about you but when I get a new machine I’m all about the built-in designs!  And the XV doesn’t disappoint!  Page after page of a wide variety of designs.  (I can see more than one there I HAVE to sew out!). And if you are trading up from a Brother Innovis V5 as I was you will be delighted to see all your old favourites right there with some new ones too.

The big screen also comes into its own when you want to find out how to do something.  There are a whole lot of videos covering a wide variety of functions from basic sewing to embroidery tips like threading an hooping. Clearly, I will need to sit down with a big cup of coffee and watch these!

Turning my attention to the accessories box and polystyrene tray in which the hoops were packed, I am delighted to find hoops* in a useful variety of sizes including a ginormous 9x14inch hoop; a 9.5 x 9.5-inch hoop; an 8x12 inch; a 5x7 inch and of course the useful 4x4inch.






There are other interesting things in there too – a special LED embroidery foot; a couching foot; a sensor pen; a thread stand so you can use very large embroidery cones and have them right there on the machine instead of tumbling around on the table behind the machine; a full array of presser feet, some spare bobbin cases, needles, thread caps in various sizes -  even some stabiliser and a reel of bobbin thread.  Some of these are housed in a wonderful accessories box (which has a simple locking mechanism to protect it from tiny, curious fingers perhaps?) 

One of these accessories caught my attention straight away - the screwdriver!  To be honest, whenever I needed to remove the needle or foot or needleplate on my Brother Innovis V5 I just used a 2p piece but this little gadget is wonderful!

There are basically three settings. Setting number one (shown here) is ideal for undoing the screw which holds the presser foot in place. It gives you a good grip but remember - don't take the screw out completely!

Setting number two puts the ‘blade’ at an angle so you can easily remove the two screws holding the needleplate down. You shouldn’t have to do this too often but every now and again it pays to take the needleplate off completely so you can give your machine a quick brush out.  It's surprising how much fluff and general gubbins can gather down under the bobbin case.

But it’s third setting that is a revelation to me!  This setting is invaluable for tightening the hoop so you get a really nice taut hooping. Hitherto I had just tightened the screw on the hoop as tight as I could with my fingers not wanting to overdo it.  Indeed you should NOT over tighten your hoop but this little gadget makes it very easy indeed to get just the right degree of tautness. 

By now, it is beginning to get dark and I am persuaded that I really should get some sleep – so that I am fresh to continue my explorations tomorrow.  Even though I point out that the Brother XV has wonderful bright LED lighting – I reluctantly agree.  I will be up bright and early the next day to explore and play. I’ll share my next steps with you in my next blog post – Sewing the Dream – Chapter 2: First steps.

#sewingthedream

Angela Lawrence
Cinnamon Crafts
Isle of Man