New machine!

[JCY]

I bought the Viking Opal 670 in 2013. I'm very satisfied with it. The video I watched on YouTube had me sold before I even asked about it at my LQS. There are videos on YT about the 690 as well. I'd advise watching them to learn how to use your machine. I still haven't learned how to do everything that is possible with this machine. It has more stitches than I'll ever use. You can "write" letters on fabric, which I have not learned how to do yet. You'll need stabilizer under your fabric. I mostly do piecing & FMQ. It took a while for me to figure out what settings to use on the computer to get the FMQ stitches to look right. I had to lower the top tension & select woven "light" on the computer screen. I also ordered an 18 x 24" Sew Steady extension table through my LQS. I'd say you got a bargain price for your machine. Items you'll need to buy: a Viking-specific walking foot (~$100.), bobbins specific to your machine, as well as a foot for FMQ (I think I paid $39.). I like the feature of being able to fill the bobbins through the needle. I also love the built-in thread cutter & the 3 LED lights over the working space. One thing that is different, you'll need to clean your bobbin area much more frequently. When piecing, I clean every 2nd bobbin change. When FMQ or sewing on flannel, I clean it every bobbin change. If you don't already use pipe cleaners for this, I highly recommend them. The little brush provided doesn't get it all. Also those sm. vacuum attachments help. NEVER used canned air or blow into the bobbin area. It just blows the fuzz back into the area where you can't reach it. I was told by the shop owner the only safe soap to use on the exterior is Dawn dish soap. I wax my Sew Steady table prior to each FMQ project. Turtle Wax paste wax is safe to use on it. You can get a big can at any automotive parts place for ~$6.00. It probably will be enough to last a lifetime! If you do FMQ, I advise use the Supreme Slider; it really does make a difference in the smoothness of moving the quilt sandwich under the needle.

I called my machine "Opal." I think you'll enjoy your new machine.

[Carrie J]

That is just wonderful, so happy for you, and know you'll enjoy it immensely ! It's the wait for delivery that's the killer !

[KnitWitRosie]

Congrats!!!! I "test drove" that machine when I was shopping over the summer last year and I LOVED it!! If it were not for the fact I found my "Rosie" on Craigs List a couple days later, that was the one I was going to get

Have fun getting to know her!! Can't wait to see what you create!

[Oleg]

Thanks so much for the comments. Still no tracking number, hopefully they will email me one tomorrow. That was a wealth of information you gave me, JCY, and I really appreciate it. I watched a one hour YouTube video on the 690q, and that was very informative as well. It makes me want that machine to get here even faster! I have a Brother PE770 for embroidery, so I am happy to have a machine that can do all the quilting/sewing things that I need done. I have a very large lap (it might be twin size) that I have all pinned and ready to be quilted. It's the one on my "avatar" which was the first quilt top I ever made. My "UFO."

[Simply Quilting]

Congratulations on your new machine!!! I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of the projects that you do with your new machine

[JCY]

You may need to practice FMQ on some small sandwiches first till you figure out the tension & settings that work best for you. Remember to drop the feed dogs. I also set my stitch to 0, although it may not be necessary with dropping the feed dogs. If you use quilting thread that is 30 wt., like YLI, you may need to adjust the tension of the bobbin case. I pretty much use only 40 wt. both top & bottom. One of my concerns was losing the stylus that's used for the computer screen. It has a hole in it, so I strung it with some yarn & fastened it to the handle so it couldn't get misplaced.

[IBake]

Congrats! I have the anniversary machine that was put out for the 140 year anniversary. It's my second Viking. My first one lasted me 42 years! I still sit and talk to my fabric while I sew. I am a rabid Viking gal..

[songbird857]

Enjoy your Opal!! You will love her I have the Topaz 30 and she sews beautifully.

[Oleg]

My machine came yesterday! After I got home from work & the gym, I unboxed and set it up on the table. It is one very nice solid machine. Looks real good, too. It was already threaded and ready to go. So I thought. Sewed a little sample (my thread leader) and used the automatic thread cutter. It was jamming the thread underneath the needle plate somehow. Eventually I rethreaded and even took apart the bobbin area (very impressive, no screws to wrestle with, everything snaps in & out of place) and double checked. There is a learning curve in putting the drop-in bobbin just right. Once I "snapped" the thread into position correctly, it sewed beautifully & cut the thread perfectly when needed. I'm going to have to get used to having no presser foot lever (it's done with push buttons.) The 1/4" foot is interesting, you line up the fabric with the inside of the foot, where as I am used to using a blade on my Brother machine's 1/4" foot. I was too tired to do anything else, but I think I'm going to like this machine. I have already nicknamed him "Opie."