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Posted by Seamus J. Wilson on December 31, 2006, 1:11 pm
Old Kenmore machine which was intended for my teenage granddaughter bit the
dust. I plan to replace it but am rather ignorant of modern machines. She
has expressed an interest in sewing. Can I get a good machine for about
$400.00?
Is computerized machine superior to the old cam driven?
Is electronic the best choice.
Would appreciate recommendations for the interested novice.
Thank you,
Seamus J. Wilson
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Posted by Kate XXXXXX on December 31, 2006, 1:46 pm
Seamus J. Wilson wrote:
show/hide quoted text
> Old Kenmore machine which was intended for my teenage granddaughter bit the
> dust. I plan to replace it but am rather ignorant of modern machines. She
> has expressed an interest in sewing. Can I get a good machine for about
> $400.00?
> Is computerized machine superior to the old cam driven?
> Is electronic the best choice.
> Would appreciate recommendations for the interested novice.
> Thank you,
> Seamus J. Wilson
>
>
The first thing you need to do is read this:
http://www.cet.com/~pennys/faq/smfaq.htm
Remember that cam driven and electronic are neither superior nor
inferior: just different ways to achieve the same thing. That said,
having used both electronic and cam driven machines, I find the
precision and quality of my Husqvarna electronic whizzy thing when doing
buttonholes is far superior to that of all the cams and mechanical ones,
as well as giving me more choice, but we are talking a machine that was
£1100 list price in 1998! You do need to compare like with like, and at
the top of the range before electronics, you didn't get 10 different
styles of buttonholes in an infinite variety of sizes as part of a built
in 240 stitch package! In your price range you'll need to look
carefully at what is available.
The best thing to do is look at a range of different machines with your
daughter, in the price range, and let her choose the one that suits her
and does what she wants. If she is thinking lots of denim and bag
making, get something simple but robust, and look at pre-loved
trade-ins! If she wants to do light weight stuff with lots of Special
Effects, she might be happier with something less macho that has more
stitch options.
--
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!
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Posted by me on December 31, 2006, 8:27 pm
I have heard this from a number of people, and it has not been my
personal experience at all ...... I have had 2 computerized,
electronic machines capable of "automatic" making of buttonholes (a
Janome and a Babylock - neither were cheap machines), and the
buttonholes of which were both vastly inferior to the quality I can
easily achieve using a good mechanical buttonhole attachment. So I
guess that this is definitely something that "your mileage may vary
on". I have also heard this same complaint regarding automatic
buttonholes being inferior from others (who also knew their way around
a sewing machine, and were not using cheap machines)...
I personally use mechanical machines for most sewing.. The stitch
quality is wonderful, and they are simply more durable (there is less
to go wrong with them). I personally have never used all the fancy
stitches my Singer 401a is capable of (other than to test them to see
them). If sheer numbers of different stitches is your main criteria,
you need to be looking at a computerized machine, imho.
me
On Sun, 31 Dec 2006 18:46:08 +0000, Kate XXXXXX
show/hide quoted text
>The first thing you need to do is read this:
>http://www.cet.com/~pennys/faq/smfaq.htm
>Remember that cam driven and electronic are neither superior nor
>inferior: just different ways to achieve the same thing. That said,
>having used both electronic and cam driven machines, I find the
>precision and quality of my Husqvarna electronic whizzy thing when doing
>buttonholes is far superior to that of all the cams and mechanical ones,
>as well as giving me more choice, but we are talking a machine that was
>£1100 list price in 1998! You do need to compare like with like, and at
>the top of the range before electronics, you didn't get 10 different
>styles of buttonholes in an infinite variety of sizes as part of a built
>in 240 stitch package! In your price range you'll need to look
>carefully at what is available.
>The best thing to do is look at a range of different machines with your
>daughter, in the price range, and let her choose the one that suits her
>and does what she wants. If she is thinking lots of denim and bag
>making, get something simple but robust, and look at pre-loved
>trade-ins! If she wants to do light weight stuff with lots of Special
>Effects, she might be happier with something less macho that has more
>stitch options.
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Posted by Kate XXXXXX on December 31, 2006, 8:52 pm
me wrote:
show/hide quoted text
> I have heard this from a number of people, and it has not been my
> personal experience at all ...... I have had 2 computerized,
> electronic machines capable of "automatic" making of buttonholes (a
> Janome and a Babylock - neither were cheap machines), and the
> buttonholes of which were both vastly inferior to the quality I can
> easily achieve using a good mechanical buttonhole attachment. So I
> guess that this is definitely something that "your mileage may vary
> on". I have also heard this same complaint regarding automatic
> buttonholes being inferior from others (who also knew their way around
> a sewing machine, and were not using cheap machines)...
I heard this from several other folk over the years, but one took advice
and had the computerized machine serviced and adjusted after I showed
her the buttonholes mine produces, and Lo! She never looked back! Like
any precision intrument, you need to keep them properly serviced. I use
my Lily a lot, and it gets serviced at regular intervals.
show/hide quoted text
>
> I personally use mechanical machines for most sewing.. The stitch
> quality is wonderful, and they are simply more durable (there is less
> to go wrong with them). I personally have never used all the fancy
> stitches my Singer 401a is capable of (other than to test them to see
> them). If sheer numbers of different stitches is your main criteria,
> you need to be looking at a computerized machine, imho.
I also have plenty of mechanical machines, and while they all produce a
decent buttonhole, none are quite up to the standard of the Lily. The
other thing I really like about it is the 26 needle positions, allowing
me a precision with things like top stitching and concealed zips that is
hard to achieve by other means.
--
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!
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Posted by Pogonip on December 31, 2006, 10:44 pm
Kate XXXXXX wrote:
show/hide quoted text
>
> I also have plenty of mechanical machines, and while they all produce a
> decent buttonhole, none are quite up to the standard of the Lily. The
> other thing I really like about it is the 26 needle positions, allowing
> me a precision with things like top stitching and concealed zips that is
> hard to achieve by other means.
>
>
On the other hand, the Pfaff 1475, which is otherwise a wonderful
machine, makes horrible buttonholes.
--
Joanne
stitches @ singerlady.reno.nv.us.earth.milky-way.com
http://members.tripod.com/~bernardschopen/
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> dust. I plan to replace it but am rather ignorant of modern machines. She
> has expressed an interest in sewing. Can I get a good machine for about
> $400.00?
> Is computerized machine superior to the old cam driven?
> Is electronic the best choice.
> Would appreciate recommendations for the interested novice.
> Thank you,
> Seamus J. Wilson
>
>