Sewing machines

[halo]

Thanks for taking the time to look at it; is there anything on there you wouldnt care for, or is there anything I really need for ease of working that isnt there?

 

[Acre of Blessings]

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No kidding! Great point. They freak me out- think about untangling THAT mess. LOL I am such a klutz, too

There is nothing wrong with these machines.....they are called Serger Machines, they cut the fabric while sewing (all at the same time). I have one that I use for making skirts and shirts for the family. Don't let the threads intimidate you, but these aren't for quilting either

 

[FrenchHen]

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Not really. You wn't get a feel for that until you've sewn for a while. Some folks really like a needle threader, but that seems like a great all-purpose entry level machine.

 

[NanaKat]

I read over the list of bells and whistles and noticed there is no mention of a manual.
To keep things running smoothly there are some maintenance things you can do at home....these should be outlined in a manual. Example: how to change the lightbulb. or how to clean lint out from around the feeddogs.
The manual will also give you instructions on how to use the special stiches and how each sewing foot is best used.
Brother is a good machine.

 

[FrenchHen]

Hey Halo, didja get your machine yet?

 

[halo]

No, not yet. Still mentally shopping. And wondering, do I REALLY need something else to do? Besides the horses and the chickens and the dogs and the gardening and working full time.

But Im sure I wont be able to resist; Im keeping an eye on Walmart to see if the prices drop a bit, too.

 

[Acre of Blessings]

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If your gonna go to Wal-Mart, I would go with the Brother Project Runway machine.....I have heard from a few people that they are a really good starter machine. Here they are $130.

 

[Southernbelle]

The best machines are Necchi brand or pre-1976 Singers.

Almost all of the machines on the market now are filled with cheap plastic parts and have 90-day warranties. Before 1976 the Singers had all metal parts and they are workhorses! If you know what you're looking for you can find them in sew and vac repair shops for $50-$100. I bought one with a cabinet when I was 17. All it could do was straight stitch and zig-zag, which made it very uncomplicated for a beginner.

As I got older and more experienced, I wanted more stitch options and features and I was disgusted with the cheap crap on the market, I wantes something that will LAST. The Necchi machines are competitively priced and the best part is they have the all-metal parts inside and have a 25 YEAR WARRANTY. Did you hear that? 25 Years!!!!! My Necchi can stitch through 8 layers of fabric without balking. Google Necchi and see if you can find a supplier - don't panic by the listed retail - no one ever sells a sewing machine for actual retail.

I'm still hanging onto my old Singer, it's still going strong and I plan to teach my girls to sew on it.

PS. Get a drop-in bobbin, if you can. Much easier than traditional bobbins.

 

[Acre of Blessings]

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I agree with you. Those are few and far between nowadays, but you could check out Craigslist too, they may have someone giving one away or for cheap.

 

[halo]

Such a great discussion! Im still doing a lot of looking; Im thinking of just getting something cheap-ish that will just give me some straight stitches to see if this is something I want to continue with. Thanks for all the opinions, its great.