How do you carry your machine and stuff to classes?

[kalispunk]

How do you cart your machine and all your stuff to classes/retreats?

My quilt shop has classes downstairs and I have a hard time carrying my machine (back and wrist problems) so I'm looking into buying Tutto sewing machine luggage.

Has anyone else has used that brand?

Is it really that easy on your shoulders and arms? From the video, it looks like it goes down stairs pretty easily. How hard is it to go up the stairs?

Thanks!

[auntjana]

I just went to Jo Ann's and bought one of the heavy duty scrapbooking totes and removed the inside dividers. My orginal sewing machine tote broke while we we travelling and I needed to replace it before we got home. I have a Singer featherweight machine that I drag to classes and it fits beautifully. I can use the outside pockets to hold supplies and inside my fabrics and machine. The frame is strong and takes going up and down stairs and baggage handlers too. I was lucky that DD had a 40% off coupon too.

The old tote broke on the feet/roller area due to fatigue on the rivets that held it to the bag - they were just thru the cardboard bottom and fabric. Just standing it on the feet cause the wobble and it broke. The new one has a much better frame.

Jana

[sewbug]

I take a Featherweight to classes and workshops. It's easy to fit case and all in a big tote bag or wheeled bag. I have a Janome Gem I keep in the trunk of my car in a hard case ($20 at Walmart). It has been very handy many times when someone has forgotten their machine cord. I've done that many times!

[norwich]

Like sewbug, I too have a Singer 221 Featherweight that I take to classes and workshops. It's nice and light and works like a dream.

[ParrotLady]

If it were me I'd ask someone at the Quilt Shop to please carry the machine in & back out to your car, even if you get a suitcase system/luggage. I had to do this when I had machine & software classes at my Bernina dealer that were held on the 2nd floor. I have back, neck & hand & wrist problems & they were very willing to help tote my machine/etc for me. I do have a suitcase system that came with my machine, but dang it's also heavy, plus it has to be loaded/unloaded into the car.

I also had to take my machine(s) in for repair recently. My Bernina dealer closed his shop. Drop off/pick up was at a local Quilt Shop & the ladies there also unloaded & loaded my machine for me even tho I didn't spend a dime in the place.

Asking for help often makes us feel less than we are. By returning the kindness anyway you can, no matter how small it may be, sort of evens that feeling out. I can't lift heavy things, but I offer my services anyway I can. A few days a go in McDonalds a handicapped person(physical & mentally) came up short paying for his food. He was short 67 cents. The Assistant Manager came over & told the cashier to let it slide. She fussed. Asst Manager told her the 2nd time to let it slide, so she did. When it was my turn to order I handed the cashier the 67 cents. That was my good deed for the day. If we all took just a minute or two each day, or a few cents to help others our world wouldn't be so screwed up.

[knitnoid]

I travel with my machine in several ways. It depends on where I'm going, what I'm working on and how long I'll be there.

For a multi day retreat, the sewing machine goes into my Tutto bag, and everything I'm going to sew on goes into the matching surger bag my friends insisted I buy. Best money I've spent. The bags are light weight and between the two of them they hold a heck of a lot of fabric. On the multiday retreats I also have an 'artist backpack' -- looks more like a messenger bag, that I picked up at Hobby Lobby for less than $10. In it goes my sewing table extension, my seat cushion (a rubber excerise ball that doesn't collapse like typical foam cushions) and my rulers and mats that I take. If it doesn't fit in these 3 bags it doesn't go.

To a class, depending on how far I have to walk, I might go with the orginal hard plastic cover which came with my machine which just sets over it like a dust cover -- or take my smaller Genie which also has a hard plastic cover. Then the 'stuff' would go into my big knitting bag.

Occassionally for a class I'll take the Tutto - especially if I'll need to tote the machine aways and if my 'stuff' fits.

The Tutto can be expensive. Had I not found a fantasic deal on the last day of the MQS show a couple of years ago, I wouldn't have bought it. But, it is something my DH would have bought for me if he had realized I wanted one. -- He's also the guy who bought me my Gingher shears for Christmas -- I asked for purple Fiskars so he would know they were my sewing shears. Instead he bought me Ginghers because he knew I would never buy them for myself. Got to love that man.

[fabricgirl]

I have a piece of luggage on wheels and everything else sits on top of it.



Lois