I am looking for a basic sewing machine. I have narrowed my choices down to models from Elna, Babylock, and Husqvarna/Viking. I know very little about the quality, reliability and service of any of the manufacturers. Any information or opinions would be a great help to me.
TIA
carolyn
Read the information on this website......twice! You'll get more opinions than you can imagine but it all boils down to which is best for YOU! It's about the same as the Ford vs. Chevy debate in the "boys' club". Penny has gone to a lot of work to put together one of the best sites I've seen on choosing your machine.
In article , carolyn of
Husqvarna are good (also make excellent quality firearms). I love my little elna Grasshopper (also made in an arms factory, and resembles an ammo box).Can't really comment on Babylock - but they've been going a while. Is there anything on
Val - Thanks for pointing me to that website. It will be very helpful. I was begining to think that buying a sewing machine is a bit like buying a car. They all get you from point A to point B, but have different bells and whistles!
AJH - I know Husky as a great chainsaw! and Viking as the appliances my dream kitchen will have. (I can dream can't I?) but not as a sewing machine or firearms. I guess it's a bit like Yamaha making musical insturments and motorcycles or GE making everything. I'll check your site as well.
Thanks for your opinions and help.
carolyn
Elna have an excellent rep here in Europe. I'm looking for an Elna Lotus myself! ;)
I have a HV Lily 550, now six years old, and I hate to count what I've sewn on it! I work as a dress and costume maker, and there is very little it won't cope with. I get it serviced at least once a year and have had very few problems with it (and those it has thrown up were very unusual! The handle broke, and was replaced under guarantee, and I thought I had a step motor problem, but it turned out to be a bit of lint caught in a peculiar place that could only be reached by taking half if it to bits!). I find it very reliable, very easy to use, and will sew through most things (including the metal head of a safety pin!)
I don't know much about Babylock, but I didn't like the serger/overlocker of theirs I tried.
Be careful what ignorant, unsubstantiated statements you make about certain brand names.
Husqvarna Viking machines have been made in Sweden for many years. The Viking appliances you dream of are made by a non affiliated company in Mississippi, they have nothing to do with Husqvarna, all though Husqvarna does make kitchen appliances and was one of the first companies to make a SAFE and efficient electric stove as well as dishwashers in 1934 for home use. Husqvarna started out in the late 1600s as a musket manufacturer, they progressed into the 1800s with sewing machines, they went onto bicycles, motorcycles, chainsaws, lawn and garden equipment. Their emphasis is on exceptionally high QUALITY ENGINEERING. Perhaps this is why the knowledgeable of quality respect the name.
Lets check out the Yamaha Pianos: Jazz Fusion Pioneer Will Boulware's CDs Feature Yamaha Pianist and composer Will Boulware has collaborated with such greats as B.B. King, Rodney Jones and Maceo Parker. His two latest CDs feature another great: the Yamaha C7 conservatory grand piano on which he insists.
Opera San José Names Yamaha Its Official Piano One of the premier regional opera companies in the United States, Opera San José calls on Yamaha Disklavier, grand and upright pianos for its range of rehearsals, recitals, training, coaching and special events.
Feisty New Jersey Opera Theater Names Yamaha "Official Piano" Up and coming opera company finds Yamaha pianos a quality match.
Joe Sample Takes a Solo Tour of Jazz's Past Jazz piano legend and Yamaha artist Joe Sample relies on Yamaha pianos to stay at the top of his game artistically - and to explore the roots of the music he loves in his latest CD release, Soul Shadows.
Usdan Center Purchases Yamaha Pianos Center chooses Yamaha pianos because of their consistency and reliability.
Yamaha Official Piano of Opera Company of Philadelphia The Opera Company of Philadelphia has once again confirmed Yamaha as its official piano. Officials at the 29-year-old institution say the quality and consistency of Yamaha stands up to the workload of rehearsals and performances that makes the opera run.
Their are dozens more famous, talented and reputable musicians who will play on nothing else. I know the Seattle Symphony uses several as well as the Seattle Conservatory of Music.
As a matter of fact Pavarotti insisted on a Yamaha piano in his accompanying orchestras.
I got my first Husqvarna sewing machine in 1974 and it still runs like a charm, I've dropped a total of $35 dollars in that machine since I've had it. I got the Designer1 the second year it came out and it's been a joy to use with no problems, also the HuskyLock (Husqvarna serger), love it.
These are whole separate factory who puts out these things so don't make snap decisions because unlike products have the same brand name. You will be limiting your choices with some unfortunate narrowed and unsubstantiated visions. There are quite a few very high quality brand machines and Viking is right up there on top.
And BTW......not one of those Yamaha pianos leak oil which is more than you can say for the motorcycle of the same name.
OK, all done venting now, *pant, pant, pant* Val
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One hears a lot of snide remarks about discount store machines that I would take with a big grain of salt.
My wife has a Singer Touch and Sew which has had major gear failures 3 times over it's life. Each time it was $150 or so to get it fixed. The most recent was just after I got interested in sewing and I said "no more".
We browsed the net, went into the city to look at hardware, were insulted at both of the sewing shops about "discount" machines. We ended up buying a Brother at a discount store for about half the price of the so called premium versions and love it. I doubt if the gears will break any sooner that on the Singer but if they do, I can get a new machine for the price of repair on the Singer which is now a table for a machine that runs circles around it.
There seems to be a price break at the one-step button hole feature and I am very glad we opted for it.
Other than that, they all seem to work and are very similar. My only criticism of the one we have is the lack of finesse in the foot control. It is not as smooth at starting and low speed as I would like.
As a point of interest, I called one of the sewing stores to order some different presser feet and he insulted me again about the toy machine I have that won't last a year. Needless to say, I bought the feet elsewhere even though he had them in stock.
js
-- PHOTO OF THE WEEK:
My family's personal experience is that the newer low-end White machines do not hold their tension settings, and after about the third time in as many months to have it fixed, the dealer told us that the machine was not meant to be used as much as my son was using it, that it was only meant for occasional lightweight tasks but nothing regular.
Obviously some people will be happy with them. In my case the discount store machine put me off sewing for over 10 years as I thought the problem was *me* when in fact it was the machine.
Three years ago purchased a used top of the line Singer 401 for $100 (this machine was the best available in the 1950s) and it was by far the best SM purchase I made. All metal, gear driven (no belts), a boatload of built in decorative stitches, and will sew through anything you can fit under the foot. The old machines are so much better than the new ones available for the same $$ (or less). Now I have over 50 vintage machines; I took a SM repair class and can now repair them as well. And, I sew and quilt up a storm.
-Irene
-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20
--Mae West=20
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Oh, boy, I never thought of that as why all these people tell me that they cannot sew, but I bet you're right. If that piece-of-junk White machine had been my first sewing machine, I would have given up, too.
Those things are known in some places as Touch & swear!
I'd hate that. Really slow speeds are a must for precision work of some types. I seem to do a lot of it!
What does your discount store stock in the way of instant lessons when something snarls up, repairs within a week, and guaranteed buy-back or trade in when you want to upgrade? Mind you, I'd never shop where they were rude to me, but my local fella has always matched prices with the warehouse places round here, and the service and after-sales help is second to none. I think I've been going to Wilf for service, repairs and machines for 20 years...
Looks like he's saved an Elna Lotus in the back room for me, too! :)
In article , Kate Dicey of Customer of PlusNet plc
Or "Touch and Jam"
Three years ago purchased a used top of the line Singer 401 for $100 (this machine was the best available in the 1950s) and it was by far the best SM purchase I made. All metal, gear driven (no belts), a boatload of built in decorative stitches, and will sew through anything you can fit under the foot. The old machines are so much better than the new ones available for the same $$ (or less). Now I have over 50 vintage machines; I took a SM repair class and can now repair them as well. And, I sew and quilt up a storm.
-Irene
-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.
--Mae West
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Hello Irene,
I have a old Singer machine (black in a wood cabinet) that belonged to my grandmother who bought it in the 50's. I'm sorry to say it's just sitting around looking like an antique. It probably still works. Do you have any problems getting these old machines in cabinets serviced? I think I'll open the machine today and look for a model number or something that will indicate it's model. My grandmother was very efficient. I have a green box filled with all kinds of attachment for the machine including and a separate button hole thing. Now that I'm typing this, I can't believe I never tried the machine. I'll bet it hasn't been run in over 20 years.
Liz
Chances are good that it doesn't need a "pro" servicing. Get a manual for it, and in there will be instructions for cleaning and oiling. If you need more information, come back and ask. You do want to thoroughly clean the tension assembly and the bobbin race.
Here's a good reference:
For anyone who sews regularly buying a new sewing machine is a very big deal. They will most likely keep it longer than they will keep whatever car they are currently driving. So if they aren't happy with their purchase, they are going to be unhappy for a very long time. What follows are just some ideas on buying the right sewing machine for you.
When I purchased a new machine several years ago, I wrote down all the features that I felt were important to me, the price range I was comfortable with, and the names and addresses of the various dealers in the area. Today I would also visit the Web sites of the various manufacturers. Next I got brochures from all the companies (available at larger quilt shows) and read though them carefully. Armed with the lists and after reading all the sales brochures on each machine available, I could pretty much ignore the "sales pitch" and knew going in what I needed in a sewing machine and I tested each machine based on MY criteria.
NOTE: When I did the testing, I left my checkbook, credit cards, etc. at home so I couldn't be tempted into buying one on the spot if I met a really good salesman.
After visiting the various dealers I went home and looked over everything and bought the one I thought fit me best. I started out thinking that I would buy a Pfaff and wound up with a Viking. From that day to this I have been 100% satisfied with the machine I got. BUT that was the best sewing machine for ME, what I needed from a machine, and the way I sewed. Each sewer is different. I know another woman who bought a Bernina and hates it and another who doesn't understand how to use her sewing machine. Another woman couldn't figure out the programming on a Viking. Yet there are LOTS of satisfied customers who have each machine. It's because they have the right machine for THEM.
Before buying, separate need from want. While it might be prestigious to own the top of the line sewing machine, if you aren't happy with it or don't know how to use it, you have wasted your money and will probably waste a lot of time trying to use a machine that isn't suited for you. My best advice to you is don't take other people's advice on which specific sewing machine to buy.
Questions you need to answer: · What kind of sewer are you? o Are you an expert, average sewer, or a beginner? If you are a beginner you might want to get a cheaper model right now and wait a few years to see what kind of sewing you wind up doing. I started out making my own clothes and now almost exclusively do quilting. o Are you a professional seamstress, professional quilt maker or a costume designer that may need a heavy duty or specialized sewing machine? · What do you sew? o Do you make slipcovers? o Do you routinely sew very large items such as drapery? o What kind of fabrics do you sew? o Do you usually use upholstery fabric, silks, knits, denim, cottons, or a mix? · Where are you planning on keeping your sewing machine and where do you plan on using it? o Are you going to get it out of a closet each time you use it? Maybe the weight of each machine is something you need to consider. o Will you be sewing on the kitchen table (not recommended, but many of us started out that way.) o Do you have a room dedicated to sewing where your machine will stay undisturbed? o Do you have small children that might play with the tension dial? Some reset automatically? o Do you have a sewing cabinet? Will you be buying one in the future? · What features will best help you in YOUR kind of sewing? o If you do mostly quilting? Then maybe you only need a few basic stitches rather than a whole array of stitches. o If you are making clothing it's very important how you finish seams in certain garments. Do you have a serger or will you depend heavily on various zigzag stitches? o Do you do appliqué using a satin stitch? Some machines satin stitch better than others. o Does it have a freearm? Is this something you need? o Will you use a large assortment of decorative stitches? I have known people who got machines high end machines with vast stitch assortments and have never used them and they would have been just as happy with a cheaper machine. · Do you want an embroidery machine? o Is it something you would use or just something you want? This is a distinction I had to make. While I think embroidery machines are neat, they aren't something I would have much need for personally. · What do I need to avoid? o If the one you are looking at is computerized: § Can you figure out how to program it? How easy it is for you to learn programming (a must in some machines)? Note: If you find using a computer difficult, probably getting the most computerized machine that you have to constantly adjust won't be the best for you. o What features wouldn't you use and don't you need? Why pay money for 100 decorative stitches if you don't need them? · Transporting it: o Are you going to take it with you to classes? o Will you take it on an airline? o Does it pack up easily if you need to take it someplace? o What kind of carrying case does it have? · Basics & Extras o What kind of needles does it take? Are they expensive? Are they readily available? o What feet/attachments comes with the sewing machine? · What kind of extra feet/attachments are available that you need, etc. Are they expensive? Are they readily available? o What type of instruction classes are given FREE o Are there additional classes offered? o Can it be updated with new cards, attachments, programs, etc.? o Warranty. o Routine Maintenance § What kind of service is available in your area for cleaning and maintenance of your machine? § Can you afford the routine maintenance? · Features: o How easy is it to wind the bobbin? o Does it have an option on the needle position that enables it to have the needle down when you stop sewing? o Does it sew sideways (this was an important feature at the time I bought my machine because I was embellishing sweatshirts)
On 11 Mar 2005 11:49:47 -0800, "carolyn" wrote:
Thanks for the information. I think I'll give this a try. Nothing ventured, nothing gained ... right?
In article , Ward of AllTheNewsgroups.com uttered
Do you know what model it is?
At a rough guess, I'd echo the other advice. Give it a good clean out.
Carefully undo the stitch plate. The feed-dog will contain a layer of fluff so compacted it will be like cardboard. Pick it out with a pin
Take the shuttle race out and defluff it the same way *but* *beware*: if it's a model 66/ 99/ 201 with the drop-in bobbin, you will see a bit of bright red fluff/ felt to the side of the shuttle race. *Don't* get rid of this. It's purpose is that you put a spot of oil on it from time to time and it gently seeps into the works from there.
Oil the rest from the outside as per the diagram in the manual. If you don't have the manual, you can find one on the web quite easily - if you draw a blank with Treadle On try
If you have one of the OLD Singers, you have a jewel. My Mom still uses hers. It made the nicest buttonholes, (that attachment needs a new screw). It has attachments for pin tucks, ruffles, sewing on lace and trims, rolled edges, darning, quilting, zippers & cording, and more I can't remember. Most of my & my sisters' clothes were made on that machine. It has it's own cabinet and operates with a knee lever instead of a foot pedal. Its only drawback is that it doesn't zig-zag. Oil it good before you try it out with good sewing machine oil- a drop or 2 in each little opening, and hand turn it a few times to loosen it up. If it is really stiff open it up & spray with WD40. wipe it, let it dry, then oil it. Cleaning, oiling, & new needles are all most of these old Singers need to purr like kittens. Jane in NE Ohio
Sorry, but mine was the BEST! No, really, she was. She was supportive, she *loved* *me*, she never once criticized me, the way I kept our home, the way I treated my husband (her only child), or the way I raised our children. Never, in over 45 years that I knew her. I loved her so much I took her into our home and cared for her the last two years of her life. I still miss her.
My greatest ambition is to be the same kind of MIL she was to my two sons-in-law.
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