Any machines to avoid?
.: Groups .:. Search .:. About :.
User Password
Register Now! Lost Password?

Sewing Textiles - Sewing: clothes, furnishings, costumes, etc. 

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
Any machines to avoid? ant 10-20-2007
If you were  Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options
Posted by ant on October 20, 2007, 8:07 am
I had a look through google groups and couldn't see this topic having been
discussed lately.

I am thinking of getting my very own sewing machine. I pinch my mother's
Bernina whenever the pile of alterations hits critical mass (and it has),
and I like that machine very much, but they seem to be mega-expensive. And
despite being serviced regularly and oiled at the right time, the tension
can be a bit weird sometimes.

I noticed in the local crafters shop, that they had some machines in the 200
dollar (australian) range, which made me think i could just get my own, and
have it all the time. The brands they sell are Elna (a bit more expensive),
Toyota and Brother.

I don't sew a lot. I like to do alterations on my clothes, and maybe add a
bit of something to dress things up a bit. I also do craft stuff sometimes.
I'd love to make things from patterns but am a bit daunted, those things are
complicated.

Are any of the machine brands I mentioned known to be troublesome? Or known
to be good? any other brands with budget models I should search out?

--
ant
Don't try to reply to my email addy:
I'm borrowing that of the latest
scammer/spammer



Posted by Kate XXXXXX on October 20, 2007, 12:39 pm
ant wrote:
> I had a look through google groups and couldn't see this topic having been
> discussed lately.
>
> I am thinking of getting my very own sewing machine. I pinch my mother's
> Bernina whenever the pile of alterations hits critical mass (and it has),
> and I like that machine very much, but they seem to be mega-expensive. And
> despite being serviced regularly and oiled at the right time, the tension
> can be a bit weird sometimes.

Is the Bernina 1008 out of your range? It's a good sturdy machine, used
in schools all over the place. It's all mechanical, has a good handful
of utility stitches, and nothing fancy to go wrong.
>
> I noticed in the local crafters shop, that they had some machines in the 200
> dollar (australian) range, which made me think i could just get my own, and
> have it all the time. The brands they sell are Elna (a bit more expensive),
> Toyota and Brother.

These will be bottom of the range light weight machines. Nothing wrong
with them really, but if you do much with denim or curtain fabrics,
they'll be a bit light weight for you.
>
> I don't sew a lot. I like to do alterations on my clothes, and maybe add a
> bit of something to dress things up a bit. I also do craft stuff sometimes.
> I'd love to make things from patterns but am a bit daunted, those things are
> complicated.

Nah! We're here to help you! Reading patterns is like reading books:
easy when you know how.
>
> Are any of the machine brands I mentioned known to be troublesome? Or known
> to be good? any other brands with budget models I should search out?

Elna have a good reputation here in the UK. Brother can be a bit hit
and miss, though I've had a couple of good ones through my hands...
They still have a bit of a rep for putting too many gadgets on a light
weight base, but are improving. Toyota are quite sturdy in their mid to
upper range, but I don't know about their lower priced machines.

Have you thought of looking at something pre-loved? You could get a
really good machine from a dealer that came with a short guarantee but
was a real bargain that way.



--
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 ant on October 21, 2007, 6:28 am
Kate XXXXXX wrote:
> Is the Bernina 1008 out of your range? It's a good sturdy machine,
> used in schools all over the place. It's all mechanical, has a good
> handful of utility stitches, and nothing fancy to go wrong.

Sounds like my kind of machine! I'll go investigate... I like mechanical
things without computers to go weird. Berninas seem to be well put together
and sensible,but yowtch they are pricey. It would be handy to have a
Bernina, as hopefully the feet and things would be interchangeable.

> These will be bottom of the range light weight machines. Nothing
> wrong with them really, but if you do much with denim or curtain
> fabrics, they'll be a bit light weight for you.

Hmmm. I would like to be able to do heavier fabrics, and definitely
curtains. a lot of my craft endeavours are heavy-ish.

> Have you thought of looking at something pre-loved? You could get a
> really good machine from a dealer that came with a short guarantee but
> was a real bargain that way.

I have no problem with 2nd hand things, at all. There seems to be an awful
lot of sewing machine shops here (Canberra, Australia), so I'd have to track
down who was selling 2nd hand machines. But that's a good point, and a
sensible way to get a Bernina.

--
ant
Don't try to reply to my email addy:
I'm borrowing that of the latest
scammer/spammer



Posted by Gina van Acker on October 21, 2007, 8:10 am
Seeing that you're in Canberra, (Hi neighbour!), try Sew Simple in Phillip.
They have a selection of second hand machines and a good reputation. Theresa
really knows her stuff! I bought my 25 year old all-metal Husqvarna there
and it has no trouble sewing through multiple layers of heavy fabric. Cost
me less than A$200. It does really nice button holes too :) I've made
coats, costumes and corsets on it with no dramas. It's my second machine. I
have a Janome 9000 for embroidery and the more delicate stuff
No affiliation, just a happy customer.

Gina


> Kate XXXXXX wrote:
>> Is the Bernina 1008 out of your range? It's a good sturdy machine,
>> used in schools all over the place. It's all mechanical, has a good
>> handful of utility stitches, and nothing fancy to go wrong.
>
> Sounds like my kind of machine! I'll go investigate... I like mechanical
> things without computers to go weird. Berninas seem to be well put
> together and sensible,but yowtch they are pricey. It would be handy to
> have a Bernina, as hopefully the feet and things would be interchangeable.
>
>> These will be bottom of the range light weight machines. Nothing
>> wrong with them really, but if you do much with denim or curtain
>> fabrics, they'll be a bit light weight for you.
>
> Hmmm. I would like to be able to do heavier fabrics, and definitely
> curtains. a lot of my craft endeavours are heavy-ish.
>
>> Have you thought of looking at something pre-loved? You could get a
>> really good machine from a dealer that came with a short guarantee but
>> was a real bargain that way.
>
> I have no problem with 2nd hand things, at all. There seems to be an
> awful lot of sewing machine shops here (Canberra, Australia), so I'd have
> to track down who was selling 2nd hand machines. But that's a good point,
> and a sensible way to get a Bernina.
>
> --
> ant
> Don't try to reply to my email addy:
> I'm borrowing that of the latest
> scammer/spammer
>



Posted by ant on October 21, 2007, 8:14 am
Gina van Acker wrote:
> Seeing that you're in Canberra, (Hi neighbour!), try Sew Simple in
> Phillip. They have a selection of second hand machines and a good
> reputation. Theresa really knows her stuff! I bought my 25 year old
> all-metal Husqvarna there and it has no trouble sewing through
> multiple layers of heavy fabric. Cost me less than A$200. It does
> really nice button holes too :) I've made coats, costumes and
> corsets on it with no dramas. It's my second machine. I have a Janome
> 9000 for embroidery and the more delicate stuff No affiliation, just a
> happy customer.

Awesome!!!! I'll give them a call tomorrow. That's excellent to know.

It's funny, before the Bernina, my mother (who is a very good sewer) had a
Husquevarna and it was a rattly thing that didn't work. And yet their
chainsaws are excellent. So I suspect we got a lemon (there was a lot of
plastic in it). We had Berninas at school, and I liked them because they
went quite slowly and were easy to control.

I'll call the Philip shop tomorrow.

--
ant
Don't try to reply to my email addy:
I'm borrowing that of the latest
scammer/spammer



Page 1 of 2       1 2 > last >>
Similar ThreadsPosted
sewing machines. LOTS of sewing machines. January 10, 2007, 9:26 am
who knows old sewing machines well? October 26, 2005, 10:04 pm
if you like toy sewing machines and more March 10, 2007, 5:48 pm
Sewing Machines For Sale! March 31, 2006, 2:46 pm
sewing machines for hurricane evacuees September 7, 2005, 4:33 pm
Sewing Machines: Making A Comeback? February 15, 2008, 5:06 pm
"Industrial Strength" Sewing Machines? - maybe not May 30, 2008, 9:18 pm
seam guide for computerized sewing machines... December 10, 2006, 11:51 am
PF6001 JOYS JSM JUNK UK EMBROIDREY & SEWING MACHINES October 20, 2005, 3:53 pm

Contact Us | Privacy Policy
Sewgirls.com XML SitemapXML Sitemap