Crafty Threads 'n' Yarns

Xt!n@ · Joined: 12 Nov 2006 Posts: 112

Thinking about buying a sewing machine .
Are cheapo sewing machine just not worth the money ?
Or is it OK to buy a sewing machine for £100 ( $200 USD ) from Woolworth ( Walmart ) or is it a waste of money & am I better investing in a superioe model ?

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Maybe it's because ................

n · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:01 pm Post subject:

Can you borrow one first?

Go to somewhere like John Lewis where they will demonstrate.

Before you go, make up bags of fabric, half a dozen bags each with different weights in, eg towelling, lycra, silk, velvet, wool, textured stuff. About 6 inches square. Each bag must be the same. 6 different fabrics per bag.

Ask the demonstrator to show you how each machine performs of each fabric, label the bags so you can look at them when go get home.
They will demonstrate on cotton fabric... ANY machine can sew it. You need to know how they sew the tricky stuff.

I did this when I bought an overlocker, years ago, freaked the demonstrator out a bit to begin with, but I think she enjoyed the challenge.
All you really need is straight, zig zag and stretchy, buttonholes are nice... if you plan to do that kind of sewing. Make sure it will do a twin needle, that lets you hem Tshirts and things like that, anything else is a bonus. Better a good basic than an all-singing, all-dancing cheapo.

Most useful non stitch related features?
1. A light which comes on when the bobbin is about to run out!
2. A fast/slow option which can over-ride the foot control if you are learning... no matter how terrible your foot control is, it will only ever go at a slow regular speed.

John Lewis (I think) also give a 2 year warranty on all electricals, not the one year you get anywhere else.

Insist that you are able to try it. It's like driving a car, you need to "feel" it, and you would never buy a car without driving it first.
Sorry if this seems like a list of instructions with no chat, I'm in a rush.

n
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The Yarn Yard

Sprite64 · Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 2879

Wow - great advice N Smile

I got a Janome for Crimbo last year and it's fab. I went with my OH to choose it - we have a nice sewing machine shop locally and they were quite helpful although I didn't try it out myself as I'd only ever done a bit of sewing at school. It's hard when you are buying equipment, especially if it's to do something new. I 'm ashamed to say I haven't done nearly as much sewing as I intended to but my machine has plenty of features to keep me going for years (forever probably!). I think sometimes buying cheap can be false economy - if you buy something too cheap and it is poor quality then it might put you off if you see what I mean. Guess it also depends what kind of things you want to make (but I won't be much help there!). Good luck!
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Sharon

Xt!n@ · Joined: 12 Nov 2006 Posts: 112

Thanks N ,
Your advice is brilliant !
John Lewis seems like a great place to go esp with that 2 year warranty .Thanks .I particuarly like very sage advice of a good quality basic than an all singing all dancing cheapo .
Thanks .
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Maybe it's because ................

ChattyJo · Joined: 13 Dec 2006 Posts: 280

There is some brilliant advice there for you. I upgraded my sewing machine about 3 years ago and went for one of the electronic ones which means that it sorts out all the tension for you. I didn't need anything too fancy although I ended up with a Brother Quilting Machine - so it does bigger projects.

The most fantastic part is that it threads my needle and cuts the cotton when I am done. Until I had used it to make about 50 Beanie Chicks for a school fayre, I didn't realise what an excellent feature this was! Most of the new machines knocked socks off my ancient one.
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bagpuss · Joined: 26 Aug 2007 Posts: 28 Location: Cambridge UK

Great advice, my mum and I are both ex-employees of John Lewis and love shopping there, so this was where my parents were wanting to go to buy mine.

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Ravelry id: bagpuss