Compact sewing machine suggestion

I think I'd ask her how she felt about you selling her machine and using the money to find one that she would like. If it were me, I'd talk to her about what, besides mending, she might want to use it for. I'd think a nice selection of basic stitches, straight, zig zag, blind hem, etc. for keeping clothing in repair, and maybe a couple of decoratives if down the road she wanted to make a skirt or blouse for a special occassion. Maybe talk to some shops near the school. And have DD talk to her campus mother or another favorite staff member about spending a little time looking at the machines available.

Also, while you're looking for the machine I'd send her a well stocked hand sewing basket and maybe a copy of Singer's clothing care and repair. With enough practice, her hand stitching will improve. I know mine is!

Maureen

Mel> georg wrote:

White also has a nice lightweight Quilter's machine that is inexpensive. My friend was looking at it when she decided she wanted to sew. The Huskystars from Viking are also nice. That was my first machine out of school.

Maureen

Sherry Starr wrote:

Well, if she had the time to go thrift store hopping, which is where I have found quite a number of nice machines, and if she had the room for a full-size machine in her dorm, I wouldn't be asking for advice on small-sized sewing machines.

Thanks for the personal review. You know, you go to places like Epinions and get people saying they love their POJ brand sewing machine (a family joke -- "POJ" means "piece of junk"), even those models that we have found don't hold their tension adjustments, etc.

She already does know how to do that, and she went with 20 spools of thread in different colors and other assorted hand-sewing supplies. It just takes a lot less time to do it by machine, and she just doesn't have a lot of free time right now.

*holding fingers up in cross formation to ward off evil LOL* We have had simply the WORST luck with new White machines, and I don't want to tempt the fates by trying to buy another one. And the Huskystars *brief holding up fingers again* are also Whites with a Huskystar label on it.

We are trying to avoid ferrying a machine on the plane, because it costs $80 for an extra piece of luggage. And she will only be coming home for Christmas due to her work-study program and I already have lots of sewing machines around here, so she won't really need to bring one home.

You might want to consider the Kenmore Ultra Mini. It's a compact machine with a decent motor. I've read that it's the one Billie Lauder takes everywhere. Just picked one up to take with me when I do 24-hour shifts at the hospital, so don't have personal experience, but I've seen very good comments about it. It's very quiet and feels very solid while sewing.

--Heidi

"Mel>>

Oops. Forgot to say that it's regularly $99 at Sears, and often on sale, like now, for $79.

--Heidi

Thanks for the recommendation, which isn't the first one I've had for that machine, but NO THANKS for telling me it's on sale for $79 right now -- now I want to go get myself one, even though I have no need of it! ROTFL :) :) :) :) :) :)

Sorry I offended you by trying to offer two very low cost suggestions. Debra in VA

Then she can leave the little mender in SC, perhaps with a fellow student. I never wrote that she had to bring it home, just that she could.

Debra in VA

No, you didn't offend me, honest. I was just saying that that I already knew of the possibility of doing that and it won't work in this situation, so if you could think of anything else that hadn't already been suggested you might mention it.

If you go read the whole thread, you aren't the only person who made a suggestion that I said, "sorry, that won't work," so please don't take it personally.

*chuckle* whoops. I have ADD and the fact that that statement didn't apply just screamed at me. Sorry.

In general it is a good suggestion, and I do suggest that to people all the time, but in this case it is extremely difficult for her to go off campus pleasure shopping and still keep up with her studies and her whole work-study program, so I was specifically asking for suggestions of what smaller-sized (3/4 size or smaller) machines are good to try. And a few people had already suggested that she shop off-campus a few days ago and I had already replied that this was not possible right now, as she is still getting used to her hectic schedule and it will only get worse, because she will have to pick up more hours of work as soon as she can.

Oh. OK. Debra in VA

I guess I read you wrong. That's so easy to do when all I have to go by is typed words. A bad day at work didn't help matters either.

Since your daughter can't go to the stores easily, you might try looking for the little mender sewing machines at walmart.com and have it sent to her dorm. Some of the menders do have zig zag so if the ones walmart has don't fill the bill you might try other chain stores. . Debra in VA

Thanks Pat. It just didn't fit the bill this time. Debra in VA