Ping Kate: What machine? Opinions of others welcome, too!

they've got a summer power pack: a Pfaff Select 2.0 (yes, I know you don't> like them because, but still...) and a Janome mylock 8002D for about 800.00> but do I need that? Give your advice, please, and help my addled, catless> brain... (Catless because my beloved, no, our beloved pirate cat Sparrow> died on Saturday due to a very silly accident and I still can't believe that> it was me who caused this.)>

This one if you can run to it:

Pfaff have a built-in walking foot machine, but you can buy walking foot for most machines.

Arrgh! The link doesn't show which one... I get it, it's a joke? Now, seriously, which one is it?

U.

>

Grr! It's the Bernina 1008. Might be a bit over budget. Goes for about ££595.00 here in the UK. Here's the details:

>>

That was very tempting for me, but we managed to do a motor transplant on mine which seems to have been successful. Mind you DH did need the lathe to reshape the new motor spindle, as external motors aren't designed to run a toothed drive belt.

Good luck with finding the right machine for you Ursula and enjoy it once you have found it.

Lizzy

I have two machines I'll loan to beginners to play with... one is a Viking electronic, the model down from and earlier than Kate's Lily. The other is a 1951 Singer 15-91. Almost everyone prefers the Viking as easier to understand and use -- and it's never given me any fits.

You can put a walking foot on just about any machine. You might also want to look at some of the pinfeed machines like the Brother or Babylock models sold for quilting. I'm not fond of either brand, but am tossing the technology in for your consideration.

Most importantly, find something that your local dealers can support.

I suspect if we took a poll here, most of us use the following stitches almost exclusively for construction: straight zigzag buttonhole blindhem stretch blindhem tricot (triple zigzag)

Kay

Yes, I've been there and done that. That's why I got the 1960s Husqvarna. At least the repair man called today and said the problem seems to be a bent lever or some such thing and he'll be able to fix it at no exorbitant cost (he thinks).

No, I'm fed up with that. I want something new. Doesn't mean that I'll kick out the old machines, though. ;-) Collecting sewing machines is obviously contagious and addictive.

U.

>>

That's a bit steep! I wouldn't cringe if it was worth it. However, we Germans are a strange people and put great faith into 'Stiftung Warentest' and so I looked it up there. They say that this machine comes out only 'satisfactory', not 'good' or 'excellent'. Their reason is that it 'doesn't sew well' and their list shows indeed a lot of contras. E. g. it doesn't perform too good with narrow edges and zippers. I'm a bit confused... I'd certainly expect a bit more of something to be had at the price of more than EUR 1,000.00. The test mentions a Brother 945 Super Ace III which is of course outdated (test from 2002) and I'm not sure which follow-up model I should look for. Decisions, decisions... I love it! It's like a shopping trip with friends, only much more comfortable. ;-) But seriously, I guess I'll have to go out one of these days and try them all out... Poor me! ;->

U.

Ooer! And my fault! :D

But yes, having a reliable modern machine has serious advantages. Then the Husqvarna can become the emergency back-up machine.

>>>

I had one here for a couple of months as a test machine. I had no problems with zips, buttonholes, heavy fabrics, light fabrics, anything. My only caveats are the single style of buttonhole (shirt button style square end jobs, but it does them superbly) and the reverse lever having no stop on it; by which I mean that you have to hold it up with one hand. I'm spoiled rotten by having a whole bunch of machines where I can have reverse set and both hands free to guide the fabric.

I just sewed a concealed zip into a wedding dress with the 1005 I own, and it did that perfectly with the standard zip foot.

My report hasn't yet got on Bamber's website, but I can email you a copy if you like. That is if I can find it on this new machine. ;)

>>>>

Just send away, I'm not buying tomorrow, so I've got loads of time to read and ponder. And try. But first, I think I'll try to spend some time in Switzerland with my aunt, provided she's there and willing to receive visitors.

U.

Ah, Ms. Shrader! The agony of having to look at all those different machines..... Decisions, decisions. How difficult ... I feel your pain.

I am not familiar with your reference, but I suspect it is much like our Consumer's Reports. I take CR's advice with a grain of salt. On cameras, for example, they rate ease of film loading more important than lens sharpness. The primary purpose of the camera, of course, is to take pictures, not to carry film. No one I ever knew bought a Leica because it was easy to load film into. Nor a Contax, nor an Exacta (I'm showing my age here...)

I wish you the joy of the hunt! Let us know when you decide.

Alex, waiting for his Bernina 930 to return from spa. And noting that the 1008 looks like "son of 930". Meanwhile, enjoying his Brother XR7700. A very likeable machine for light work, that comes ready for introductory quilting - with the walking foot and appropriate quilting quides. Great for granddaughters, I think.

Enjoy your field testing. You will be less likely to experience Buyer's Remorse.

Yes, Kate. Now we know where old sewing machines go to die (or at least to semi-retire). Symbiosis at work. LOL.

Alex

I had a wonderful time in Germany making Ursula's gown. And playing with the old sewing machines... The good reliable one we borrowed was her aunt;s older Pfaff. It has a marvelous stitch.

And the one in the cabinet at her brother's house was great! One of those with the very complex sets of levers for the different stitch settings... I was sad that we didn't have time to clean that up and explore it's settings. It had the opposite problem to what one usually finds: it had been oiled a bit too enthusiastically and needed blotting paper rather than anything else! :D

But I'm only a minor player in the old sewing machine collecting. I only have 24 machines here, and some are almost new. I know folk who have several hundred.

Kate XXXXXX a écrit :

Just to chime in a bit late with praise for the Bernina. The 1008 looks like a younger brother of my 1030 which I have had for

20 + years as it was my 21st birthday gift from DH. My 1030 is the best IMHO. I do sew a lot for customers as well as myself , and I although I have a frisker rossmans (SP?) as a back up the Bernina Does 99% of my work and the button holes are lovely as is the satin stitch for appliqué, which I use a lot . Like others I have never had a problem with zips or narrow seams/ hems. Hope that helps. Claire in Montréal France. http:// snipped-for-privacy@free.fr

Thank you Claire,

I'm not sure if it helps. I'm seriously torn between my desire for a new machine and a certain stinginess that makes me want to see how the Husqvarna

2000 works once it works. Anyway, I'm in no particular hurry since other things are on my agenda (see 'Wandering OT'). But thank you for your rating. Sometimes those consumer reports are not easily deciphered.

U.