Crafty Threads 'n' Yarns

CJ · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 4:06 pm Post subject:

I have a singer confidence machine which is designed for beginners and really easy to use. Can't remember how much I paid for it last February though. Laughing

I got it from cooper sewing machines and they delivered pretty quickly.
http://www.sewingmachinediscount....y-sale/singer/7463/116-c50-v0.htm

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Ravelry ID ~ ChristinaJL

pictish · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 4:18 pm Post subject:

Mmm like that one Cool

Thanks CJ!!
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Ali xxx

CJ · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 4:59 pm Post subject:

I know it's a bit more, but the choice of stitches is really good and it's great for bags. Laughing

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Ravelry ID ~ ChristinaJL

pictish · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 5:48 pm Post subject:

Bags?? Now nobody's mentioned bags have they?? Laughing

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Ali xxx

harrysmum · Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 468 Location: Leeds UK

I've got a dedicated embroidery machine - a Brother 190D that either takes cards (at £60 a pop) or I have a cardwriter gizmo and can either downlod desighns or digitise them myself (with an awful lot of swearing!!)
I used it a lot when I made clothes for DD, now it only comes out to make personalised towel sets for birthday pressies! It was very much an indulgence when I bought it and as it "only" does embroidery it lives in a cabinet most of the time!

My regular machine is a Janome 4800QC - fab machine with a load of fancy stitches, but in reality I only use about 4 regularly (and the alphabet on it instead of sewing on nametapes!!)

My advice would be to visit a real shop with some swatches of what you want to sew and see how the machine behaves. If you want to sew bags then it needs to have a bit of substance - some of the cheaper machines aren't man enough to get through the multiple layers when you're sewing straps on etc.
Rememebr places like Argos will let you try them at home & return them if you don't like them.

Look out for features that will make sewing easier - a built in needle threader, needle up button & automatic button holes were all luxuries to me when I got my machine but it would drive me mad to be without them now!

Happy sewing!

Liz
xx

pictish · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 7:28 pm Post subject:

Thanks Liz that's really helpful advice!!! Cool

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Ali xxx

Glynis · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:30 pm Post subject:

My Dad bought me my first machine 40 years ago, and then replaced it with the one I have now some 25 years ago when I was expecting DD2.
It doesn't do a lot of fancy stuff - you can do a few simple embroidery stitches with it, and buttonholes (if you can remember how Embarassed

) but I've had my (or rather my Dad's) money's worth many times over.

Of course now he's no longer around to buy me a replacement, keeping it has more meaning.
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Yes I can!

pictish · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:40 pm Post subject:

Things take on such a special meaning Glynis when someone special buys them for us can't they - such lovely and useful presents!!
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Ali xxx

Glynis · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:40 am Post subject:

Indeed.
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Yes I can!

franney · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:45 am Post subject:

Mine's a Janome something or other from Argos and it has a few fancy stitches and does button holes (apparantly Rolling Eyes

) and is powerful enough to stitch through two layers of leather Shocked

We've had it a few years now too and it's plodded on rather well Very Happy

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