now visiting shops for sewing machine ?

It's a subtle thing...

Smell, for one! Does the shop smell faintly of sewing machine oil? I love that smell! ;)

Attention: do they greet you politely? I get put off by folk that are all over you like a rash! But you don't want to be ignored, either.

Do you get to test the old machines? Do they point out the pitfalls of models you like (like availability of parts) as well as the advantages? Do they discuss the suitability of the machines for your purpose?

Do the machines come with a guarantee? Last used machine I bought had a two year guarantee: some NEW machines don't have that!

Is it well organized? However good the engineer behind the scenes, if the place is disorganised, they may lose your power lead!

Nope, sorry!

Sounds fair to me, from what I've seen recently.

more questions please ?

How important are the number of differenet stitches supported ? What is minimum number of desired stitches to do most sewing tasks ? Is there a list some where ? Are differences between chainstitch or lockstitching ? Do most any machines do chainstitch, lockstitching or both ?

in my amateur mind i can't really imagine needing more than these stitches .... should i be looking for more others etc...

1. Straight
2. Zig Zag (adjust 7mm, multi-step)
3. Blind hems
4. Button hole
5. Over Edge
6. Purl edge
7. Saddle
8. Shell

Thanks again for any help , robb

Try to get reommendations ffrom friends, co-workers, acquanteneces?

That's a little high, IMHO. If it has been completely serviced, and has a 90 day warrantee, then *maybe*. I have bought two off eBay for under $175 including shipping. There are seven on eBay right now:

helped my brother buy one a few months back for my niece, and he was very satisfied. NAYY,

Beverly

Garbage...

Failed to run my message through though spell check, and I'm exhausted. Sorry!

Lockstitch is most common. Chainstitchers for home use are pretty rare birds.

For many, many, many years, I sewed on a straight stitch only machine. I either did buttonholes by hand or used a greist buttonholer. I can't think of any fabric I sew now (with a fancier machine) that couldnt' have been handled by my straight stitchers... more conveniently handled, yes. Couldn't have been handled, no.

I'd like to see most folks have straight and zigzag; blind hem is a nice option, but can be done without. Any of the rest depend on what you intend to sew. Some of the stitches you mention below are generally found only on single purpose commercial machines (e.g., saddle stitch). Others are more easily handled with a serger.

What do you want to sew?

Kay

Please keep them coming! :)

This depends entirely on what you want to do, and how much you are prepared to do by hand. I still make dresses for which the only machine sewing I do is straight stitch for seams and putting in zips. You could easily do this and more on Granny' 1909 hand crank!

Not a definitive one. Each manufacturer has a list for each of their different models.

Yes! Chainstitch only machines are usually used only in industry these days: any old domestic chainstitch machine you find out there today is likely to be antique and a curiosity only these days. There are dedicated treadlers who use chainstitch machines, but the stitch itself has disadvantages... It uses a single thread and is easily ripped out if a thread dangles, and the whole thing comes undone!

The only other chainstitch machines being produced today are in India and are for embroidery only.

Most ordinary machines these days do lockstitch. Chainstitch is available on some 5 or more thread overlockers/serger, as part of their seam/trim/finish process.

My personal essential list is an impeccable straight stitch, a adjustable blind hem, and a choice of perfect buttonholes: all the rest are toys, some more useful than others. To get the choice of 10 styles of buttonhole I wanted, I ended up buying a top of the line Husqvarna with 240 stitch patterns including 3 alphabets! I rarely use these or the decorative stitches, mostly using the straight, occasional zigzag when I use the eyelet plate to sew the eyelets in corsets, the buttonholes, and the blind hem stitch.

Take into account that I sew professionally, making garments (you can see the sort of stuff I do on my web site). Many of the fabrics and processes I use are better stitched on the serger/overlocker, especially where seam finishes and rolled hems are required. I relax by making quilts. Again, usually only the straight stitch is required, though I occasionally use the built in serpentine meander...

[snip]

hello, thanks for opinions/ideas/etc

I want to be able to sew as broad a range as possible, doilies to drapes/upholstery.

I do not anticipate lots of any one task, i suppose more clothing work , kids clothing, alterations to existing OTS clothing to adjust fit/style/repair, hems, would like to do occasional pillows and seat cushion covers and so basically just another tool for the household

I want to avoid buyer remorse a month later when machine refuses to join the edging on new sofa cushion or will not sew through bluejeans

thanks again robb

Some time in the general neighborhood of the nineteen-seventies, Singer made a machine which would do both lockstitch and chain stitch

-- the idea was that you'd use the chain stitch for basting. Later on, they got a better idea and made a machine that would make lock stitches that were inches long. I've never run into a situation where four-millimeter stitches, slightly unbalanced, were a pain to get out, so there isn't a lot of advantage to either machine -- and both were made during the "If you mean to actually sew with it, don't buy Singer" era.

I had a hand-cranked chain-stitch machine. It was pretty good for a toy, but after attempting to hem a handkerchief with it, I gave the machine to Goodwill (or maybe it was the Salvation Army) and embroidered the hem by hand.

Has anyone ever seen a child-size or hand-held sewing machine that actually sewed? There must have been at least *one*.

Probably cost about like the first pocket calculator, too. (DH got his $600 worth out of it before buying a smaller one that did more for $15.) (My current pocket calculator was handed out as an advertisement for a magazine. Won't happen to sewing machines; the saying goes: "Silicon is cheap and getting cheaper. Iron is expensive.")

Joy Beeson

In that case, for a new machine, you can do no better than this:

It retails for about £450 here in the UK. That's mid-range on price. It's used by schools and small businesses all over the place. It's tough enough to do all you require, but not loaded with hundreds of fancy stitches. Buy it a walking foot to help with multiple layers and velvet, and keeping checked fabric lined up, and you'll have everything you need for all you have on your list.For me, the only disadvantages of this machine are that it doesn't do keyhole buttonholes and they don't make an eyelet plate for it.

(message snipped for space)

I just finished making 28 eyelets by hand in a circa 1860-1865 Civil War ballgown. (This is the same dress with the 6.5 yards of skirt.) Tell me more about the "eyelet plate". It took me 15 minutes to make each eyelet by hand. Needless to say, I'm thinking about adding a machine that does eyelets to my collection. Thanks.

Liz W

You need to buy a Husqvarna or a Pfaff in that case: as far as I can find out, at present no-one else is making them, and older pre-loved eyelet plates/kits for older machine are as easy to find as the droppings of the lesser spotted rockinghorse!

There are samples of eyelets made with the HV eyelet plate on my web site in several of the costume projects.

Here's the Pfaff one in use:

the HV one in place on my Lily: 's_Folly/dscf0008.jpg

Joy, There were quite a few toy handcranks that sewed. I have about 50 of them most will sew. Several years ago one of the groups of collectors I belonged to had a contest where we all made a quilt block, the SHelley Burge put them all together and made a few quilts that were auctioned for charity. Check them out

Yes, the toys will sew. But it isn't easy!

's_Folly/dscf0008.jpg > > I have an eyelet template for the Singer buttonholer attachment. It's mine, all mine! They're not as common as most of the templates, so if you can get your hands on one, hang onto it.

However, the Professional buttonholer for the "newer" Singer machines -- that's the set with about 20 templates, all plastic -- has an eyelet plate. If you have a Singer that will take that buttonholer (and which sews reliably) it would solve the problem.

That would be the one. I never said it was easy. In fact downright difficult. After that I decided I wanted to try a whole lap quilt and that bag of log cabin parts is around here somewhere.

In the 50s, when I worked for a few months in a Singer dealership, I bought myself a slant needle Singer and gave my eldest DD a "toy" Singer, she was 5 at the time. She treasured that machine, and says that's why she is such an avid "sewist" today. Emily

I hadn't looked at those pictures for years, and didn't "know" you then, but must say that you acquitted yourself with honor in that field of some extraordinary quilters! Graham on the other hand...... but we love him for who (and what) he is.

I have never seen a true "eyelet" template for the Singer buttonhole attachments. The smallest cam I have is 5/16" and still slightly oval. Does the one you have actually do *round* eyelets?

May I "borrow" it? ;->

Beverly

's_Folly/dscf0008.jpg >>>>

The eyelets stitched like buttonholes and then cut are not the same as nor as strong as those that are first cut and then sewn with the eyelet plate in place. Those that are part of a cam or decorative stitch set are for decoration rather than use on corsets and boned laced bodices, so beware!