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Compact sewing machine suggestion

I am trying to figure out what kind of compact-sized sewing machine to send my daughter at college and thought I would take suggestions here. I doubt she is going to be doing a lot of sewing over there, but she does split seams, rip pockets, and tear out hems a lot, and she might sew a skirt or two if she really got desperate. The following issues are pertinent:

  • I am a single parent (she is paying for her own college education herself, BTW), and the most I have ever spent on a sewing machine for myself was about 0, so please don't suggest a 00 machine, because I'll never be able to afford it.

  • She was not interested in taking my Featherweight, which I would have been willing to give up for her to take. (I don't think I can afford to buy one just for her on my budget.)

  • She also was not interested in taking her own sewing machine. I am not sure if it's because it is too big, because she never really liked it after we got it (although she liked it perfectly well before we got it), because there's something wrong with it that she doesn't want to tell me about, or because she is not happy that I didn't pass my lovely
70s or 80s era New Home (which I am *VERY* emotionally attached to) down to her once I got my Singer 500A -- or maybe it's a combination of all of the above.

  • I live in California. She is in South Carolina. The postal charges to there are pretty steep from what I have mailed her, so I don't want to have to mail anything terribly heavy to her.

  • It's got to be something noticeably smaller than a full-sized machine, because she's living in a dorm room and doesn't have a lot of space.

  • We have a Singer 99 here, but I suspect it's too heavy to ship (see distance and shipping cost comments below).

  • Ditto for a Singer 66 that my son never converted to a handcrank model and I might be able to talk him out of, but I think that might be a full-sized machine anyway.

  • I also have a Singer 301, but not only am I moderately attached to it, but I think it's bigger than the 99 in size by the time you include its carrying case, so I'm not sure if she would want that or not, but then again, if there is a soft-sided case somewhere that would fit it, I could probably afford to buy one for her off of Ebay or somewhere similar (sew-rite.com?).

  • I am pretty sure a Singer 400 or 500 series machine is out due to size.

  • I also have a Singer 185K in a nice hard plastic case that may or may not weigh less than the 99, but I haven't ever compared their weights. I rescued it from a thrift store and it runs perfectly except that it needs a new belt, which a local sewing machine store can provide. I have no emotional attachment to this machine, so apart from possible weight issues it is a good candidate.

  • I see Singer Genies -- those "flower power" machines from the 70s or
80s or so -- on Ebay off and on, and I could try to convince a seller to pack it well and send it directly to her instead of to me, and the price would be right.

  • I could also save my money for a few months and get her a Janome Gem (9 USD new or I also see them occasionally on Ebay) and have it sent directly to her.

  • I've been off the beaten path on older machines -- if anybody could point me to a list of which Singers were more compact in size, that might help me select one from Ebay or somewhere.

  • I really would like to send her a machine that has ZZ on it without needing an attachment, but that's not a 100% requirement, just a strong hope.

Any ideas would be gratefully received.

Reply to
Melinda Meahan - take out TRASH to reply
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Since she wasn't interested in taking her own machine, and she probably isn't going to do a lot of sewing, I suggest having a long chat with her about why she didn't take a sewing machine. She may simply not think it's cool to have a sewing machine at college or actually plan to use one at all. She may prefer to back-burner the sewing hobby entirely while away at college. And there is nothing wrong with that- there's a lot to do at college. She may also change her mind later.

My neice took her sewing machine to college because she loves making costumes and college affords a lot of opportunities for that. She's also a theater major. She got her first sewing machine of her own from her grandmother while a freshman with all of that in mind.

I've loved sewing for most of my life, but I left the machine at home when I went to college. I did not have time to do sewing. Room for me wasn't the issue- if I wanted it, I would have made the room happen.

I think you have a good handle on what machines are available and are good options. One of my friends swears by her Genie. But because your money is tight, I'd talk to her about it before you send her a machine that she has no interest in receiving.

-georg

Reply to
georg

Sewing machine ideas gently trimmed...

Let her do a term without a machine as she chose not to take one. If she rants about needing one, THEN think about what to let her take.

I bought my 66 hand crank while at college: it was never out of use while I was there! I sewed everything from a tarp off a lorry to silk chiffon on it! She might want to think about the sort of use she'd put it to before thinking about the model...

Reply to
Kate Dicey

Thinking back to my own college days of living in a 9'x12' dorm room.... There just might not be room. And since she didn't want to take her machine.... Maybe a really good, well stocked, but small hand sewing kit would be a better idea. That way if she needed to do some mending, she could. But she wouldn't have to give up any room. Believe me, my roommates and I (yes there was usually 2 of us in that tiny space!) learned to use every inch of available space. As much as I would have loved to have a sewing machine with me, there was no room for one. :(

I'd have a chat with her and get her to tell you, very honestly and frankly, if she wants a machine there. You have to be OK with whatever she says. If she says no there isn't room, then you have to not worry about it, or get your feelings hurt. ((hug)) If she does want one there, then you need her to tell you exactly how much room she is going to have to give it a home.

Sharon

Reply to
mamahays

Melinda, there are 3 good sewing machine shops within 4 miles of BJU where she might get a machine that doesn't cost very much. Heirloom Stitching might be the closest. The city bus runs fairly regular, but the system has been known to shut down for a few months, now and then. Also, there are possible clothing construction classes at BJU and she might have the use of the machines after supper. That is what I did at another university a long time ago. Barbara in FL & SC

"Melinda Meahan -> I am trying to figure out what kind of compact-sized sewing machine to

Reply to
Barbara Raper

That was me. Let her go without a machine. Tell her you will find her one if she wants it then wait for her to ask for one.

-Charlotte

Reply to
Charlotte

Needle and thread. Can be shipped for under $1.

Giselle (unless it's her major, if you daughter is spending her time sewing in college, she's just not doing something right :)

Reply to
Volfie, Owner, GizzMutt Stables

IMO the couple of inches difference in the footprint of a compact vs a full size machine would not make that much difference. Does she actually want a machine with her?

Back in the dark ages when I lived in a dorm, I had my (full size) machine with me. Used to do mending and alterations to earn book money. Good therapy too. (Hadn't started quilting way back then.) Roberta in D

"Melinda Meahan - take out TRASH to reply" snipped-for-privacy@TRASHsonic.net schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:BbILd.4784$ snipped-for-privacy@typhoon.sonic.net...

Reply to
Roberta Zollner
*If* she really wants a smaller sewing machine at college, then sell the one she left at home because she doesn't like it, send her the money and let her pick out her own there.
Reply to
JG1

Since Melinda's daughter is at a Christian college, she may just need something to keep her busy when she's not studying. I vote for sending her a machine. My daughter asked for one last year (her second year at college), and she actually used it. Plus, she left it in her storage locker over the summer, which surprised and thrilled me.

My oldest daughter, who is expecting my first grand in less than two weeks (!), has asked for a machine, too. I taught her to use a machine a long time ago, but she never really took to it, so this is big. ;->

Karen Maslowski > Giselle (unless it's her major, if you daughter is spending her time sewing

Reply to
Karen Maslowski

Christian kids don't have extracurricular fun at college? Boy, that's not a great recruiting tool! LOL

Reply to
Fiddy

LOL! The previous poster (the one I was replying to) sort of implied (at least I thought so) that a college student would be too busy being wild to sew. Hopefully, she's still having a good time being young and in college!

Karen Maslowski > Karen Maslowski wrote:

Reply to
Karen Maslowski

Doesn't matter what flavor the college is- there will be a lot of stuff to do! I went to a Women's college in the middle of Nowhere NY. Believe me- there was tons to do. Theater, sports, yearbook, newspaper, choir, bellringing (in a belltower), all night film festivals, swimming and sailing in the lake.... and that doesn't count hitting the other colleges nearby or shopping.

Young adults will find stuff to do - they are so full of energy.

Maybe her sophmore year she'll take her sewing machine, who knows. Talk to her about it.

-georg Wells College '91

Reply to
georg

My ole hand crank got me into (and out of!) more trouble than I care to mention at college! Yup, with the boys... ;) And it was a C of E college with PLENTY extra curricular activities.

Reply to
Kate Dicey

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

Only Kate could get into trouble with boys via a sewing machine! LOL Please explain how you managed that!

Karen Maslowski > My ole hand crank got me into (and out of!) more trouble than I care to

Reply to
Karen Maslowski

Her stated reason was because it was too big and she wasn't sure if she would have room for it -- also, she went to college with only what she could take on the airplane without excess baggage charges, and she did say that she wanted a machine at school to do repairs.

Reply to
Melinda Meahan - take out TRASH to reply

Ah, that would be an excellent thing to pursue, and that would save her having to take one over there. I will suggest that she check into this.

She is on their work-study program and doesn't really have time to go out shopping for a sewing machine herself because she's working 18 hrs a week on top of her school load. But I will look them up and give them a call and see if they have anything small.

Reply to
Melinda Meahan - take out TRASH to reply

I was thinking that maybe she might also earn some spare cash doing mending for other girls as well. And she did say that she wanted a machine.

Reply to
Melinda Meahan - take out TRASH to reply

Not only is it a Christian college, but it's an old-school fundamental separatist college and has some of the strictest rules around -- as an underclass female under age 23, I think the age limit is, she's not allowed off campus without either an upperclass female, a faculty/staff member of the college, or an adult immediate relative (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle -- not a sibling) to accompany her. That is for her own protection and for the sake of the University maintaining the reputation that she went there for. Not your typical college experience. She has a "campus parent" who wil take her on errands, but this campus parent has two "campus daughters" (and, I understand, an adorable Miniature Schnauzer) and they all go places all at the same time.

Reply to
Melinda Meahan - take out TRASH to reply

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