I want to get into sewing...

[SarahFair]

I want to make my own clothes..
I always seem to go into a store and cant find anything because it isnt what I find stylish, doesnt fit right for my body type, etc.


Id like to acquire a sewing machine that will sew anything from tee shirts to winter jackets.
Do I need a $300 or will a $80 one work?

What am I looking for?
Am I getting in over my head?

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

NO, you aren't getting in over your head!

I have never made my own clothing but I make my daughters dresses....You will love doing this!

You could do something like that with a fairly cheap sewing machine and be OK but IMO, sewing machines are 'you get what you pay for' type of thing. I would choose the best one I could afford to get if it were me...I prefer Brother brands. I have one from walmart (it was around 100 bucks I think) that was my starter sewing machine and it still works like new. I have since progressed to machines that embroider too and do all the fancy stitiching....

If you are wanting to do jackets and such, make sure your machine is heavy duty enough to sew thick fabrics like that.

Check out your local authorized Singer/Brother dealer. Ours is a sewing center in town. They work on machines as well as sell them and fabrics/notions....They will be able to help you find the right machine for you.

 

[vfem]

I take in and out my clothes with my machine, I picked up quilting and I make adorable little dress up dresses for my little daughter. I think I am finally at the point that if I get a pattern for an outfit I could do it... and I'm sure in a matter of months I will be able to make my own patterns.

I picked this up less then 2 years ago, and my machine was on sale for under $100! Friends and family gave me lots of scrap fabric to practice... it was wonderful!

I suggest finding a machine you are comfortable sitting at and using. You will be sitting at it for hours!!!

 

[Scoop]

You can get a used machine really cheap sometimes. If you just want to try it out to see if sewing is really for you, I'd suggest this. Then if you want to do the heavy duty stuff, invest in a heavy duty machine. I did a ton of my sewing on a treadle machine for years. I don't know if I spelled that right! You may or may not use all the fancy stitches that come with a machine. I like having them. I invested in a Singer machine a couple of years ago and I love it, but I can't do really heavy duty stuff. Good luck with your endevours!

 

[Holly O]

I've been blessed with Sewing machines I was able to acquire a Singer Treadle, one of the first electric Singer (with all the attachments), a singer slant-o-matic (which is great as it has no belts or plastic pieces, HEAVE DUTY) and a Baby Lock Serger, All of which where free.

I'm now looking into buying a new Embroidery Machine.

Try looking on Craigslist, You may be able to get one for free.

 

[Southernbelle]

My reccomendations are a pre-1976 Singer or a Necchi.

This is one of my soapboxes

Most of your cheaper sewing machines are filled with plastic parts inside and will break down with regular use. Singers had always been the leading name in sewing machines and stuck to the highly durable all-metal parts inside the machine, but in 1976 started using plastic parts and went downhill from there.

You can find older model Singers in Sew and vac shops for around $50 and they are WORKHORSES! I have one of these older Singers and I saved it for my daughters to learn on - they are fabulous for beginners!

My newer fancier machine is a Necchi. They are the last remaining manufacturer that still uses all-metal parts in their machines. How long would you expect a warranty to last on a sewing machine? The average is 90 days for whatever you buy at Walmart or Sears. Necchi's have a 25 YEAR warranty!!!!!!!!!! They really build them to LAST!! I had to order mine and don't get scared by "retail" price being hundreds of dollars online - no one actually sells sewing machines for "retail."

If you can get a machine with a drop-in bobbin - soooooooo much easier!

When I talk about all-metal parts - I'm only referring to the interior working parts of the machine. The exterior is very modern looking, sleek plastic home-model, not those monstorous industrial models

 

[Judy]

Most of my life, I made all my own clothes except jeans. Agree with Southerbelle. If Necchi actually still makes one with metal parts then that is what you want. Fancy stitches are for the most part useless for clothing unless you are sewing for a female toddler; all you need is forward, backward and zigzag, and for half my life I didn't even have zigzag.

For 25 years I sewed on a $25 used old timey Singer. I currently have a Brother that I bought at a WalMart for about $150 because it had a needle threader and my eyesight is not good any more; I have been lucky with it, but if it breaks down, it will be cheaper to buy another than try to find a repairman within 200 miles.

The problem with sewing in the last several years is that fabric shops have essentially disappeared. Other than WalMart, which really only has inexpensive crafty fabric, I would have to drive 2 hours to even get to a fabric shop, if they are still in business. I would suggest you check out fabric shops before you invest in a machine. I made all my work clothes for most of my life. I haven't used my machine for much other than alterations and repairs for at least 10 years. When I did want to make something, I couldn't find any fabric for it.

 

[DawnSuiter]

Your right, fabric is harder to come by lately.... or maybe it's because I moved out to the "middle of nowhere" as my family puts it

Our Hobby Lobby is pretty well stocked, but oh I miss the stores in Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago & Orlando!!!

I'm hunting a fabric store in Knoxville... I might get lucky

I have an old Singer, mus be at least 25 years old... I think it needs a tune up because no matter what I adjust the tension to the thread just piles up in place. I'm a novice seamstress, have hand stitched a lot of clothes, bathing suits etc and have a bit of time on an industrial machine, but not much at all on a little home model.

Does anyone know what a "tune up" costs? Sew n Vac has such great advertised specials on machines, I wonder if it's better for me to just get a new one

We are starting a Formal dress for my daughter, and will need a good machine to build it.

 

[SarahBeth9394]

My first machine was a Kenmore Mini Ultra. You can get one new for just under $100. I made all the kids curtains, pillow cases, placemats, and such with that machine. That's when I decided it was time for another machine and I didn't mind spending a little more on one because I was looking for things to sew by then.

One tip tho. With the Mini Ultra if you take up quilting you can't quilt with it. The walking foot seems like it fits but that's what did my mini in.

 

[Scoop]

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