Should I get a sewing machine?

Sewing Discussions - A group that is not as it seams. 

Page 1 of 2       1 2 > last >> Bookmark this page:  YahooMyWeb Yahoo!  Google Google  Windows Live Favorites Windows Live  del.icio.us del.icio.us  digg digg  Add to Netscape Netscape
Subject Author Date
Should I get a sewing machine? yamuna 01-21-2006
If you were  Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options
Posted by yamuna on January 21, 2006, 12:36 pm
Every pant and jean I bought, I had to do alteration at the bottom.
For Suit, the alteration is on sleeves. While I would still take the
suit to the altration place, for the pants, I sure hate spending money
...

The money could have been used to buy a good sewing machine but I know
that to do a good job on alteration take skills. I grew up watching my
Mom sew and had done straight line stitch helping make curtains. That
was long time ago, like I was may be 13 -14.

My fabric of the pants I bought includes cordury and velveteen among
others which are normal thickness in fabric, aside from jeans.

Should I bother getting a SM? Is there one with reasonable price and
easy to use that would do a variety of stitches? How much should I
spend? Any suggestion on brand and model?

I don't mind taking a class to learn the basic stitching class. Below
are some links to the classes near where I live. If anyone can tell me
which class would be useful, I would appreciate it.

Note that my goal is mainly to do alteration and may be minor
mending/fixing like this white cotton jeacket with hood that I love got
torn at the end of sleeve when cleaning/ helping freind move out of
his apartment and I was going to get a fabric (cotton in jean color
that's used as lining inside the hood in that matches) and stich it
over the torn area with double stitch lines and do the same for the
other side. Unfortunatley, I left my jacket at an airport gate area and
though I was back at that airport the same day, it was not found. It
was sucha cute jacket and would work for kid too. Oh, well.

Here are classes:

(1) http://tinyurl.com/7k448
Here, would "FASHN 151: Basic Industry Sewing" be useful? This is 2
units.

(2)http://tinyurl.com/dkrsj
Here, would "FASHN 150 Fundamentals of Sewing/Beginning Sewing" be
useful? 3 units. This is probably more than I need.


Posted by Kate Dicey on January 21, 2006, 3:11 pm
yamuna wrote:
show/hide quoted text

Shorter than average arms and legs... Yup - hemming up is standard for
us short folks!
show/hide quoted text

Started late! I was watching my mum and gran at 4-5, and making
garments for me at 7-8. Better late than never. Alterations skills are
excellent, but not my area of expertise. I find it quicker to start
from scratch!
show/hide quoted text

Cord is about the same weight and toughness as denim jeans: you want a
machine with a bit of welly if you are to do this regularly.
show/hide quoted text
EVERYBODY should have (and learn to use!) a sewing machine! ;)

Make and price are up to you. How much to you want to spend? If your
budget is less than £200/$200, you might like to consider a pre-loved
machine, as most new ones in this price bracket won't do well on lots of
jeans sewing.

show/hide quoted text

basic dressmaking: it'll teach you how to handle the machine and fabrics.
show/hide quoted text

Rats! I'd rather GIVE clothes away than lose them! maybe it ran
away... Feral jackets! :D
show/hide quoted text

This is for those intending to go into the factory and sew all day for work.
show/hide quoted text

Sounds much more like what you need.

You know, you may START by just wanting to do alterations, hemming, and
the odd mend, but if you do a class, stay here with us too, and really
relax and enjoy the process, you could end up making lots of other
stuff! :) Welcome aboard!

BTW, I am about to acquire my 13th machine! The tenth pre-loved one, too...

--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Posted by yamuna on January 21, 2006, 7:11 pm

Kate Dicey wrote:
show/hide quoted text


Actually, I was told that I am highly proprotional but may be I need
1/2 to 1 inch in leg and arm.


Posted by Kate Dicey on January 22, 2006, 7:47 am
yamuna wrote:

show/hide quoted text
Yes, but if you are less than 5'6" tall (standard height for women, and
the height for which most clothes are manufactured), to be in
proportion, your arms and legs will also be shorter than those of
average height with the same proportions.
--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Posted by yamuna on January 21, 2006, 7:21 pm

Kate Dicey wrote:
show/hide quoted text
[=2E.]


show/hide quoted text

I don't want to learn to make clothes. I don't have time but it's just
that it is ridiculous that I have beee spending so much money on
alteration.


show/hide quoted text

I agree.


show/hide quoted text

I probably won't be buying jeans (not bliue jean anyway) that much
anymore but if I do buy one or two, I can take it to alteration buying
a SM to include features to handle jeans would hike the price.

As for a pre-loved one, one ould need to know what one is looking for,
right? I have no idea. I helped my mom making curtains way back then
only because I was a curious girl and wanted to do everything. But I
don't have time now.

show/hide quoted text
Would love to indulge in such a hobby but not realistic as I am
constantly having to spend time learning for my career. May be once I
have my career more stabilized, I might feel relax to try making
clothes for myself.



[=2E.]

show/hide quoted text

May be I should just get a SM and try to start doing hemming. Can you
folks help me pick out something. I won't hold anyone responsible.
Anything is better than my getting it on my own.


show/hide quoted text
.=2E.

Do you shop online? I am in US.



show/hide quoted text


Page 1 of 2       1 2 > last >>
Similar ThreadsPosted
Newbie questions on a sewing machine and a simple sewing project. March 5, 2007, 9:45 pm
Need Sewing Machine recommendation for sewing Sunbrella outdoor fabric July 7, 2007, 10:27 am
Bel Air Sewing Machine? August 7, 2005, 10:22 pm
Need to buy a sewing machine. Help! March 14, 2006, 12:52 am
Need to buy a sewing machine. Please help! March 14, 2006, 1:33 am
Need to buy a sewing machine. Please help! March 14, 2006, 2:24 am
New ,Old Sewing machine? December 21, 2006, 4:45 pm
Not quite a toy sewing machine... July 9, 2009, 6:36 am
A New Sewing Machine... May 2, 2005, 12:12 am
sewing machine June 28, 2005, 10:15 pm

Contact Us | Privacy Policy
Sewgirls.com XML SitemapXML Sitemap