I've gotten to the point where my cast-iron workhorse doesn't have quite the sophistication I need. (In particular, it has a really awful satin stitch.) So I'm in the market for a "new" machine.
However, I want a used all-mechanical one- and this means I don't know how to find out which model(s) have the features I want. Can someone here point me to a website that would tell me? Or maybe if your machine does what I need and you like it, would you respond and tell me what model it is?
I need a machine that has: multi-stitch zigzag blind hem stitch a good satin stitch adjustable needle position
It would be nice to have a built-in buttonhole functionality, especially if it can also do the keyhole style, but it's not required.
I love m Bernina 930, the only function it doesn't have is the key buttonhole. It has a powerful motor, nice decorative stitches, is happy with any kind of thread nad has a freearm. Hippie Chic Teri
It's a White, model number 2335, in appliance sea green- probably from the late 30's or early 50's. (White only made defense machinery in the 40's.) It does straight and zigzag stitches only, and the needle position is to the left, not centered, and is not adjustable. Oh, and it can't take a double needle- should have included that on my wish list. Oops.
Ooh, good. Thank you for the information.
Lovely! I have a buttonholer too, actually, bought before I realized that the needle position on my White would prohibit its use. Perhaps I'll be able to use the buttonholer with my next machine.
The Singer 401. It has all those beautiful stitches and the adjustable needle position feature. =20
It is all gear driven (no belts) so it will sew through anything you can fit under the foot. It does real dual needle sewing (as opposed to a needle with a split shank) and has many built in stitches besides the ones you list.
It does not have a built in buttonholer, but with the attachment (which does have keyhole buttonhole templates) the buttonholes are much better than any machine I've used with a built in feature. =20
I spent months researching old Top of the Line Machines before settling on the 401. Best decision I ever made! The only downside is all that research and insight into the old machines got me hooked on collecting old Singers.... oh well!! -Irene
------------------------ Adult: A person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing = in the middle.
Lots of people have said 401s are fantastic, but does anyone have an opinion on the 500? (I ask becuase there's one up for auction right now that is being sold by a person who actually used it, which makes me more willing to believe the "it sews great!" claim.) And honestly, it's kind of cute-looking. :) But if y'all say it's no good, I'll hold out.
As others have said, Singer 401s are great; they're also available and not too pricey (yet). Some other machines you might consider are older Berninas, the Necchi Supernova (one of my personal favorites), and older Pfaffs.
I have two 401As which I love. I bought a 500 for my mother-in-law in the early 80s. (Bought used, a 401A wasn't available at the time.) After she died, I received the machine. Thinking it was a 401 with updated "styling", I bought another. (Yes I have four sewing machines, five if you count the 500 I bought and gave to me DD). During the current project, I have each machine threaded with different thread for quick transfer from one dress to another. I have found that the 500s have a real problem with the upper thread path. When sewing sheers, the upper thread periodically catches something in the bobbin race, and pulls the thread into a huge mass of tangles. And, yes, I have flossed the tension disks, and cleaned the bobbin area thoroughly. My 401s _never_ do this. I thought it might have to do with the two additional thread guides on the 500, so I by-passed them. Better, but still catches every so often. I'm going to e-Bay the 500s and look for another 401A. Or two. :-} YMMV,
I will go against the grain as usual and say that there is no need to resort to Singers. Most post 1970 machines will offer the stitches you want , just make the rounds of your local repair shops and ask if they have used models that would suit your purpose.
As for the keyhole buttonhole, you will need a buttonholer attachments unless you buy an embroidery machine. You can find them on ebay for a song and a quarter, but you have to select the right one for the machine you have, the later Greist models came with a nifty chart on the botton of the box to help you decide.
I have a 401G that does all of what you want. I do like the buttonholer attachment better than the ones on any of my computerized machines. II do a lot of Thread Painting with this machine and the satin stitches are excellent. The only thing it will not do is take the new twin needles. They hit the needle plate, however using regular needles for twin needle sewing is cheaper and it seems to form a better stitch. I have had it converted by Singer but did keep the German motor...just in case.
Courtney, the 500 is just the 401's predecessor. Some folks don't like the style (i.e. modernistic shape, bobbin winder on top) but underneath it's the same machine.=20
------------------------ Adult: A person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing = in the middle.
The Supernova is a great machine (one of the few non-Singers in my collection) but it requires cams to do anything other than the zig zag, so the original poster should be sure to obtain a full attachment set(with cams) or they won't be able to do the other stitches they want.
-Irene
------------------------ Adult: A person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing = in the middle.
Nope, I think you're right. The 401 series started in the early 50s, and continued up until at least the early 60s (I bought mine in 1961). The newer 500 series styling was "modernized" to a sort of streamlined look, they definitely came in the mid to late 60s. They are called the "Rocketeer" so I'm thinking the whole space-age thing that culminated with Sputnik in '57 was a big influence. Maybe IMS meant "descendant" rather than "predecessor". :-}
You don't need to go for full embroidery capabilities to get a good keyhole buttonhole. They have been available on Bernina and Husqvarna machines that are not embroidery machines for over 10 years. They have also been available on Pfaff, Elna, and others for a considerable while.
I know the original poster wasn't looking for an electronic machine, but they ARE worth considering: many of the older higher end machines come up for resale when their owners upgrade to a newer model or get interested in embroidery, and they are very good. You often get a LOT more in the way of stitch ranges than you thought you'd need, but if you like the price and the rest of the machine, and you like the option of the keyhole buttonhole, look on the rows of ducks and flowers as a freebie! :)
I too will go against the grain here: I own a couple of the Singer buttonhole attachments, both gifts from sewing newsgroup members. One makes the straight buttonholes, and one makes keyhole buttonholes in different sizes with different cams. When they are working well, they produce a reasonable buttonhole, but it in no way matches the quality and consistency of the Lily buttonholes. They are not of a quality I would offer to my customers, though they would work for simple home made garments if that is all I had.
For a non-electronic option, look at Bernina, Elna, Pfaff, and Necchi built in the 60's and 70's, and the early 80's, before electronics invaded almost everything from TV's to toothbrushes! Don't touch a Singer built after 1964... To get that keyhole buttonhole, you will be looking at a high end machine with more on it than you think you need. Just ignore those extras: they'll be fun to play with later!
InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.