What sewing machine should I get?

[Apyl]

With polyester thread it kept coming out of the needle then wraping up on the little arm inside. It got real annoying. Luckily I talked to some ladies on a crafting board on another site and they told me its the polyester thread. Since switching back to my cotton spool I've had zero issues.

edited: oops forgot to add the model , It's a LX2500

What a nice gift!

What happens when you use polyester thread, and do you use all cotton? I couldn't tell what model yours is.

Just about everything I've read from users on the 6000i is that it likes and behaves well with anything except really inexpensive thread, and something about coated thread (can't remember if that was good or bad, lol). I've been wondering if I need to get more of a selection of better thread.

 

[EweSheep]

My mother have three sewing machines and I have one LOL!

Mom had those old Kenmore sewing machine, she really run with it LOL! For years, she made quilts, clothes for dolls, odds and end of things like curtains and making bed comforters. Not sure if the old Kenmore runs but she loves her Serger which she paid very dearly for it.

I have a el-cheapo brand, which it is OK for light projects but its a cranky machine that can not understand the thread tension. No matter what you do, adjust and re adjust constantly, the bottom stitch would get tangled up and a real mess under that fabric of threads going everywhere. Tried new needles, nope. You have to go so slow and if you push a notch up, it would tangle up the threads. The top stitch is perfect. Yeah, the darn machine is made in Tawaian/China. Didn't pay very much for it because my aunt didn't want to mess with it. If my mom would give me one of her sewing machines, I would be one happy camper.

I didn't sew very much in 8th grade, I was learning how to use it by paper and poking holes with the needle of my machine and get use to the motions and turns, etc. However I never got started on the fabric.

I made an apron, recycle out of my camp dress that I could not fit anymore. I took half of the side of the dress, made the apron strings with the scrap and hemmed it all up. Pretty darn nice! AND made an extra panel of my overskirt. Pretty proud of myself, winging it, learning it as I go along. I don't have any experience in making dresses but I am sure I can make hooped dresses easily but the bodice part, forget it, too many darts and pleats. Even the simpliest Garbardi shirts give me the fits so I had to buy those blouses from the sultery. Hard to find a good seamtress that knows how to alter dresses properly to fit me.

 

[dewey]

My mother have three sewing machines and I have one LOL!

Mom had those old Kenmore sewing machine, she really run with it LOL! For years, she made quilts, clothes for dolls, odds and end of things like curtains and making bed comforters. Not sure if the old Kenmore runs but she loves her Serger which she paid very dearly for it.

I have a el-cheapo brand, which it is OK for light projects but its a cranky machine that can not understand the thread tension. No matter what you do, adjust and re adjust constantly, the bottom stitch would get tangled up and a real mess under that fabric of threads going everywhere. Tried new needles, nope. You have to go so slow and if you push a notch up, it would tangle up the threads. The top stitch is perfect. Yeah, the darn machine is made in Tawaian/China. Didn't pay very much for it because my aunt didn't want to mess with it. If my mom would give me one of her sewing machines, I would be one happy camper.

I didn't sew very much in 8th grade, I was learning how to use it by paper and poking holes with the needle of my machine and get use to the motions and turns, etc. However I never got started on the fabric.

I made an apron, recycle out of my camp dress that I could not fit anymore. I took half of the side of the dress, made the apron strings with the scrap and hemmed it all up. Pretty darn nice! AND made an extra panel of my overskirt. Pretty proud of myself, winging it, learning it as I go along. I don't have any experience in making dresses but I am sure I can make hooped dresses easily but the bodice part, forget it, too many darts and pleats. Even the simpliest Garbardi shirts give me the fits so I had to buy those blouses from the sultery. Hard to find a good seamtress that knows how to alter dresses properly to fit me.

I'm hoping my "Pearl" will live up to her name and not throw any hissy-fits, lol.

I recall the paper sewing in grade school, lol. And nice job on the apron! Making something new out of something going unused is very cool.

My oldest sis is the one in the family that does everybody's alterations. She's amazing.

 

[dewey]

With polyester thread it kept coming out of the needle then wraping up on the little arm inside. It got real annoying. Luckily I talked to some ladies on a crafting board on another site and they told me its the polyester thread. Since switching back to my cotton spool I've had zero issues.

edited: oops forgot to add the model , It's a LX2500

Ooh, yeah, that'd be really annoying. I'm glad it was figured out & works good now.

From what I've read in user reviews, a few have had tension problems with my model that was solved by switching the thread type. I crossed my fingers and sewed the jeans-bag with a poly-cotton thread I got on sale way back when, lol.

 

[CatUT]

I have two sewing machines. One is a Bernina that my mom picked up for me at a Pfaff store. It was someones trade in on a new machine. We got it for $200 and I've been using it ever since. It was a Home Economics machine for a school before I got it. I found this guy who repairs things and specializes in Swiss sewing machines. It only has 5 stitched on it but I've sewed clothes, dresses, costumes and quilts on it without too much trouble. I also have my grandmother's Singer 15-91 machine. It's way old but has a wonderful straight stitch. It's getting the once over and a couple of things repaired on it too. My oldest daughter doesn't seem to be too interested in sewing my my younger daughter is. Two machines will be very helpful. The guy I took my machines to said that my old Bernina will out last me if I take care of it right. It has metal parts instead of the plastic and nylon stuff the machines have now.

 

[Egg Crate]

Thank you for your input. I just noticed that this thread has a lot of visits so there must be quite a few folks out there trying to figure out what machine is best for them. Some of the old machines are very cool.

You are most welcome. I do apologize - I only read the first page of your thread and did not notice there were 4 more after that and that you already got your machine! Oh well, perhaps someone may find the information helpful.

 

[dewey]

CatUT, I like the thought of having 2 machines when there's 2 people, and I think an extra one would be good to have as a backup.

Egg Crate, thank you and no apologies needed.

There's really good info in this thread and your info contribution is much appreciated!

 

[3forfree]

My sister sews and I ask her what machine to buy, and she said that her go to machine was a kenmore built in the 70's, and she's done nothing but sew on it, I found and bought one at an auction for 31.00 and now she's ****** because she didn't find it before me.