Old 10-27-2017, 01:18 PM
  #22  
peaceandjoy
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: The Finger Lakes of upstate NY
Posts: 3,819
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I bought a BlueFig bag (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1) for my FW. They are much less expensive than Tutto's. While they generally get very good reviews, I'm not sure that you can sit on them, as I have heard claimed of the Tutto bags.

Mine was not a wheeled bag (if you click on the link above, you will see it is a "project tote") but was plenty big enough for my machine to go in, as well as some fabric, and still fit easily under the seat. Not having wheels means two things: 1 - It's smaller, so can be tucked in smaller spaces, and 2: It's lighter. The smallest Tutto on wheels weighs 10 or 11 pounds on its own. Being this small and quite light, I could strap it onto the top of my mid-sized luggage that is on wheels until I checked luggage. From there onto the plane, and off the plane until I retrieved my suitcase, I had to carry it.

Unless you are going to buy things like scissors and/or rotary cutters at your destination and then leave them there when you go home, you will have to check a bag as those won't be allowed in the plane cabin. Even if you have a wheeled tote, you will need to be able to carry your bag at times - what if you have a gate that requires you to go up or down stairs? Wheeling them down the aisle of a crowded plane is difficult at best. If you can't carry it at all, I'd go with a separate luggage carrier (something like this: https://smile.amazon.com/Folding-Com...s=luggage+cart) to allow you to wheel where you can. Still lighter, total weight, than a Tutto and still less expensive.

There's no way I would check a sewing machine, regardless of packaging. Shipping ahead might be an option, if you take it to one of the shipping places that will pack it themselves (even if being packed in original box) and guarantee the safe arrival. Of course, even then, if it arrives damaged, the guarantee won't help right then as you'd have to file a claim and wait for the money to buy a new one.

Good luck, I hope you find a solution that works for you and have a wonderful time! Sewing on vacation is the ultimate luxury for me. Couldn't care about spa visits or fancy restaurants. Give me some sun, quiet and sewing time!
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