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Stitching & Crafting Room:  Sewing Machine  |
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Leezard
True Blue Farmgirl
950 Posts
Elizabeth
Novi
MI
USA
950 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 22 2009 : 12:21:54 PM
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My mom's machine, that I've been using for a long time now, has finally decided to quit on us so we're looking for a new one.
What kind do you use? What do you like and hate about it? Have you seen any deals going on for machines right now? What do you use your machine for?
Thanks for all your suggestions!
http://ruby--slippers.blogspot.com/
www.leezard.etsy.com |
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EastTXFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
731 Posts
Victoria
Farmgirl #549
TX
USA
731 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2009 : 12:43:06 PM
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Elizabeth,
If you live close to a Hancock Fabrics they are having some really nice sales thru the end of the month. I use a Brothers that my husband bought me for Christmas a couple of years ago. But I am just learning to sew and did not need a real nice one. It has its moments. I have a hard time adjusting the bobbin tension right. But its ok to learn on.
Victoria
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
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Betty J.
True Blue Farmgirl
1408 Posts
Betty
Pasco
WA
USA
1408 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2009 : 1:00:50 PM
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I have a 1952 Featherweight, an 80's Kenmore, and a relatively new Viking. They are all nice and do what each was designed to do. I would like to have an embroidery machine, but the $$$ keep in the way. I will be content with what I have. I like the Viking because it starts right up on the very edge of the fabric without bunching it down the needle hole. Tension has never been a problem with me.
With any new machine I think I would like to resort to some sort of lessons on the machine selected.
Betty in Pasco |
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quiltin mama
True Blue Farmgirl
436 Posts
Heather
Crescent City
CA
USA
436 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2009 : 1:05:15 PM
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I use my Brother CS600i for piecing quilts together. I even do some free hand meandering on it, on smaller quilts, because the throat is very small. I personally feel that for around $170 it was a great buy. I use my machine A LOT. I can sew just about anything on it. I personally would love to have a larger home machine such as a BabyLock with a nice big throat but they are out of my price range right now.
my blog www.mountainhomequilts.blogspot.com
handmade quilts on etsy www.mountainhomequilts.etsy.com |
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Betty J.
True Blue Farmgirl
1408 Posts
Betty
Pasco
WA
USA
1408 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2009 : 1:09:01 PM
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Heather, I agree with you about the $$$. I have never used a Brother, but they seem to be really putting the Singers to shame. They are stylish, do a lot of stitches, but they do have a small throat.
My Viking is also challenged in that area and that is about all I do is quilt. In fact, that's all I do. I can't seem to get the meandering down though because my body just tenses up when I think of it.
Betty in Pasco |
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Caron
True Blue Farmgirl
535 Posts
Caron
Orange
Texas
USA
535 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2009 : 2:04:28 PM
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I just last week bought a Brother. I needed a REALLY easy to use machine because I am a very new sewer. So far I am really enjoying it.Using some coupons I had, it was $143.00 and is pre-programmed (computerized) so I don't have to make too many decisions. Ha ha!
Caron
Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways. For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee."
Ps. 128:1-2.
Farmgirl sister #254
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Edited by - Caron on Sep 22 2009 2:05:26 PM |
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farmallgrl
True Blue Farmgirl
483 Posts
Angela
Westminster
MD
USA
483 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2009 : 3:14:50 PM
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I have a pfaff quilt expression 4.0 and I LOVE IT! I will never buy anything but a pfaff from now on! I have a brother embroidery machine, but there always problems with it. My last machine was also a brother and it only lasted me about 3 years. I also have a 58 singer slant-o-matic which is still running nicely:)
Angela
Farmgirl Sister #337
Instead of telling God how big your problem is....tell your problem how big God is. |
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LakeOntarioFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
933 Posts
Brenda
North Rose
NY
USA
933 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2009 : 4:19:27 PM
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I don't know if they make them anymore, but I have had a Sear's Kenmore for 18 years now, and not a single problem, knock on wood! I grew up with my mom's Kenmore, and used it after I was married for years. After listening to her whine and complain about her Singer's and other hi-tech machines, I went with the Kenmore again. I am hoping it lasts me a good long time! Yes, I would love to have one of the fancy new embroidery machines, but mine does what I need it to do without complaining!
Hope this helps!
Brenda
FarmGirl # 711
http://theviewfromhere-brenda.blogspot.com/ |
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Lessie Louise
True Blue Farmgirl
1406 Posts
Carol
PECULIAR
MO
USA
1406 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2009 : 5:29:43 PM
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My 1951 Singer has been the best machine, there is nothing I can't sew on it. I have a "new" treadle I'm learning to sew on. I would love a quilt machine.
how sweet it is to love some one, how right it is to care |
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oldfashioned girl
True Blue Farmgirl
2391 Posts
monica
oatman
az
USA
2391 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2009 : 9:37:35 PM
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I am partial to older ones! I have a 1970's Sears Kenmore, a 1954 Elna Supermatic and a 1955 Singer Slant-O-Matic! Wouldn't trade any for the world! I do have a Singer Serger that is 5 years old that I really like too! I would not recommend newer Singers, especially for embroidery machines because I have talked to more than one owner of sewing stores and they say the Singers are terrible! One gentleman who has been in business 30+ years won't even sell Singers anymore because he had too many brought back in for repairs too often!
Monica
farmgirls rule!
www.justducky48.etsy.com
www.justducky48.blogspot.com
www.duckystreasurechest.etsy.com |
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Betty J.
True Blue Farmgirl
1408 Posts
Betty
Pasco
WA
USA
1408 Posts |
Posted - Sep 23 2009 : 07:44:48 AM
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I purchased a Singer Golden Touch n' Sew back in the 60's. Paid the princely sum of $400+ for it. Was the biggest mistake in my life. I had to fight with that thing to get it to work. Was a real pain. I have since found out that Singer was sold around that time to a company that wasn't particularly interested in sewing machines--big loss to them. I left the machine with my ex when I moved out. Have no idea what he did with it, but the garbage was the best place. Now my Singer featherweight--wouldn't trade it for anything, well except maybe a new bobbin winder!
Betty in Pasco |
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Leezard
True Blue Farmgirl
950 Posts
Elizabeth
Novi
MI
USA
950 Posts |
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Beverley
True Blue Farmgirl
2707 Posts
Beverley
atlanta
Michigan
USA
2707 Posts |
Posted - Sep 23 2009 : 5:12:39 PM
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I have had a brother, viking, bernina and a jenome. the one I like the best is the Janome. It works really well. It is just the small one you can carry around with you but it has 60 stitches and does the quilting too. can't say enough good stuff about it. I also have a brother embroidery machine and like it as well. Get a good one from a dealer and get lessons. that is my best advice.
Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat a dog....Charles F. Doran
beverley baggett Beverley with an extra E...
http://bevsdoggies.googlepages.com/ |
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SuzieQ
True Blue Farmgirl
175 Posts
Suzie
Texas
USA
175 Posts |
Posted - Sep 23 2009 : 6:30:05 PM
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| check on Ebay. I got a 1952 Featherlight for $100 and it works like a dream and I have a Hyscuvira (bad spelling) and love it. The Featherlite is wonderful to take to sewing or quilting classes. |
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Singing Tree Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
Cari
Chase
Michigan
USA
196 Posts |
Posted - Sep 24 2009 : 12:01:22 PM
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I have a treadle, a Phaff and a Janome.
When I started quilting I bought the basic Phaff and it worked great for me until I wore the motor out, too much machine quilting I guess.
Then I bought a Janome 4623 LE Plus. When I do machine quilting the tension is never perfect. I have be careful what color fabrics and thread I use because other wise it will show. I don't know if it's just a fluke lemon or what. Otherwise it's not a bad machine.
Cosumers Reports did a comparison on sewing machines recently.
All of creation sings Your praise! |
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Diane B Carter
True Blue Farmgirl
1270 Posts
Diane
Blasdell
N.Y.
USA
1270 Posts |
Posted - Sep 24 2009 : 3:05:56 PM
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I have a singer simple. I don't sew that much but always wanted to, I think I would take lessons and buy one from a place that if I did have trouble with it I could take it there. I brought the one I have at Wal-mart and I broke the reverse switch on it. I found out that is a very important part.
Hope all your days are Sunnydays.
dianebcarterhotmailcom.blogspot.com |
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Celticheart
True Blue Farmgirl
811 Posts
Marcia
WA
USA
811 Posts |
Posted - Sep 25 2009 : 10:52:46 AM
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I have 2 Kenmores.....1 is 30+ years old and weighs a ton, the other is about 10 years old. I love them both. The older Kenmore sometimes has tension problems but I can deal with that. My Mom has had, Kenmores, a really nice Viking that she finally gave to my sister because she just couldn't get it to work right, a Brother and now she has another Kenmore. My daughter has a Europro and a Brother(from my mom) and my daughter-in-law has a Janome she loves. My sister has a Babylok---now that's a nice machine. If I get a new one I think I'll get either a Janome(who also makes the Kenmores, they even look the same) or one of those Babyloks.
It's not about being perfect, but enjoying what you do. Set aside time to be creative.
Robyn Pandolph
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homergirl1957
True Blue Farmgirl
111 Posts
cathy
tieton
washington
111 Posts |
Posted - Sep 27 2009 : 10:59:40 AM
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i have a 1938 featherweight and a bernina electronic 300. i love both of them but if there was a fire i would grab my featherweight first!
in the midst of difficulty lies opportunity.-a. einstein |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13863 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13863 Posts |
Posted - Sep 27 2009 : 1:45:09 PM
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Boy, I wished I had grabbed my Viking Husqvarna machine when our house DID burn down in July 1994!!! It was GREAT!!!!!
CJ
...from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665 |
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Bonnie Ellis
True Blue Farmgirl
2474 Posts
Bonnie
Minneapolis
Minnesota
USA
2474 Posts |
Posted - Sep 27 2009 : 6:47:36 PM
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Maybe you should find a dealer that carries all kinds of brands if that is possible. Plan to spend some time looking at the differences in them. If cost is a factor, a used machine that is guaranteed may be a good deal. Each brand has their own features, but if you are looking for simple, durable and lasting, ask your dealer what he has in your price range. A good dealer will work with your needs. Good Luck. I have had
Singer, Sears, and now have a viking. My Viking #1 is a wonderful machine. Don't give up. you WILL find the right one for you.
Bonnie Ellis
grandmother and orphan farmgirl |
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Faransgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
895 Posts
Beth
Houston
Texas
USA
895 Posts |
Posted - Sep 29 2009 : 6:49:07 PM
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I have a Viking Husqvarna 1100. I have had it for 14 years and I love it. I use it for everything. I make clothes, quilts, costumes, purses, I have even used it to mend tack. It is about to stop working and I don't know what I will do when it does because I love it. Before I got it I used my Mom's Kenmore, no telling how old it was. If my Viking goes I will do my best to get another one.
Farmgirl Sister 572
May the force of the horse be with you. |
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knitnpickinatune
True Blue Farmgirl
1140 Posts
Sherrie
Gardena
California
USA
1140 Posts |
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Stitching & Crafting Room: Sewing Machine |
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Sewing Machine
