Skip to content

Cheekyhandmades

+++ Sewing classes, handmade quilts and repair, sewing machine repair in East London +++

  • About Cheekyhandmades
  • Sewing Classes
    • Sewing classes in North East London
    • Private bespoke one-to-one sewing classes
    • Book a sewing class
  • Sewing machine servicing & repairs London
  • Quilting services
    • Etsy Quilt Shop
    • Unique bespoke handmade quilts
    • Quilt repair
  • Blog
  • Contact Me
  • The small print
  • Shop
    • All Products
      • Dressmaking class by zoom!
    • Basket
    • My account
    • Checkout
    • Orders
      • Downloads
    • Account details
      • Addresses
      • Lost password
    • Shop T&C
  • Basket
  • About Cheekyhandmades
  • Sewing Classes
    • Sewing classes in North East London
    • Private bespoke one-to-one sewing classes
    • Book a sewing class
  • Sewing machine servicing & repairs London
  • Quilting services
    • Etsy Quilt Shop
    • Unique bespoke handmade quilts
    • Quilt repair
  • Blog
  • Contact Me
  • The small print
  • Shop
    • All Products
      • Dressmaking class by zoom!
    • Basket
    • My account
    • Checkout
    • Orders
      • Downloads
    • Account details
      • Addresses
      • Lost password
    • Shop T&C
  • Basket

Husqvarna Viking 875 review

November 7, 2012 Jennie Comments Off on Husqvarna Viking 875 review

I splashed out and treated myself to a new sewing machine. I really wanted a machine with a bigger throat (the area to the right of the machine) for bigger quilts, and this seemed like the ideal compromise between price (it was not £2500 like the equivalent Bernina) and features (it has one of the largest work areas of a domestic machine for example. So I sold my industrial machine and my Husqvarna Rose and ordered the Viking 875.

And boy am I glad I did! It is amazing.

Some of the features I like:
*Automatic fixing of stitches at the beginning and end of stitching. No more backtacking. Ever.
*It automatically cuts your threads, and pulls the top thread down to the bottom of the fabric. So handy when you are in the middle of a large piece of fabric, no more endlessly long bobbing threads pulled out. Also good if you don’t want to move your sewing too much. Really handy.
* It adjusts the pressure on the foot automatically depending on what you are stitching. And this is not just a gimmick. I accidentally stitched some fabric with buttons which went under the presser foot, and it just went over the buttons like they weren’t there. No hiccups, no stalling, no jamming. Like a tank over an ant’s nest. And buttons is about the most extreme thing I would ever throw at it, and it just adjusted itself easily. Update: I stitched over hems made up of four layers of tweed and lining and it stitched it beautifully!
* The functions are mostly very intuitive. Good thing too as my machine shipped without a manual so I am having to figure it all out without one. Maybe helped by the fact that I was so familiar with the other Husqvarna’s functions but it is easy peasy to find your way around.
* Two bright lights. It lights up the whole sewing area, no more shadows on your work.
* It remembers your settings. So even when you turn your machine off it will go back into the stitch tension and needle position you were using. Annoying when you were previously reverse stitching as I discovered today but otherwise amazing. On the old machine I often left it on for hours or even days so it wouldn’t lose my settings. Now I can just turn it off. 
* The machine tells you when the bobbin thread is low. You can ignore it but then at least you have been warned. Really helpful!!
* When you start stitching it lowers the foot for you, when you take your foot off the pedal it raises the foot a little so you can pivot your work, and when you are finished (and have fixed and cut your threads) I will move the foot up and the needle out of your work so you can take your work out. Lowering and raising the foot is done by button at the front, no longer with a lever. Other than me automatically moving my hand to the back to do this (I am learning not to now!), it is very useful. And most of the lowering and raising is done exactly when you need it to be done so you don’t really all that often have to use those buttons.
* It has so many cool stitches!! Bicycles, cars, sweeties, stars, cross stitches, letters, hearts and about 150 more.

I have for the first time in about a year shoved the Jones straight stitch only aside and this is now my new baby!

Sorry, no pictures (yet) as my photostream from iPhone to Mac takes ages to update and I want to get this posted…

Post navigation

So where do you buy your fabric? This is where I buy my fabric!

Hello

Jennie Caminada

I set up cheekyhandmades after I left my job 2010. I really wanted to use all my creative skills, skills I’d had for many years but never had time to use any more, and skills I realised I could and wanted to pass on.

I also wanted to work for myself, I wanted to be able to work around my children. And I am doing all of that now, and am loving it. I get to be surrounded by like minded people, great fabrics, my kids and cats, and listen to music all day. I get to decide what I do every day and how I do it.

I get to teach people how to make things and how joyful craft is. Every day my job gets better, every day I meet and talk to enthusiastic people and I help them achieve their creative potential.

Subscribe

Stay up to date via my newsletter.

search this site

Instagram

Basket

Products

  • Quilting class by zoom! £60.00
  • Dressmaking class by zoom! £75.00
  • In Stitches - Cheekyhandmades' sewing handbook £15.00
  • Bespoke quilt cotbed size (44x60"/ 115x150cm) £350.00
  • Bespoke named applique cushion, made to order £25.00
  • Privacy Policy
  • The small print
  • Contact Me
© 2021 | Cheekyhandmades All rights Reserved