machine preferences

[shaunalee]

I've been buying inexpensive machines ever since I've been doing my own sewing...instead of turning my designs over to Maxine.  Im completely fed up with it and am going to buy something decent.  What does everyone suggest?  I need a pretty strong motor for the corsets, but I want pretty stiches for the trim.  Right now I'm looking at the Singer Quantum 9940.  Help.

[Cilean]

I would suggest you go out and see what is out there.  Singer is not the powerhouse it used to be, I hope I don't get beat up for stating that.  I would ask you to check out Bernina, Pfaff and Husqvarna if you want metal insides and stability and the ability to go through 4 thicknesses of fabric which we do when making garb. 

But I can say that it will FEEL good for you, bring some fabrics to sew and make a list of questions to ask the salesperson.  Check out if the machine has auto tension- it really can help you out  and look for if the machine has dual feed so it makes it easier to feed the fabric into the machine.

So my suggestion is to try a lot of machines on, just like you do with jeans you have to play with them to see which one fits your way of sewing!!

Good luck!

Cilean

[Pascal]

Cilean's pretty much on target -- try different machines to see what feels right.  Singer isn't really considered a premium machine anymore.  Bernina, Husqvarna (Viking), and Pfaff are the premium brands.  Heard good things about some of the Babylock's as well.  Lots of folks like higher-end Brothers and Janomes.

Don't disregard used machines -- many are as good or better as new machines.  If you consider used, I think you'll do best if you stick to the premium brands.

[Kate XXXXXX]

I'm a split personality these days!  I adore my now 10 YO Husqvarna Lily 550, and if I was buying this type of machine again (top of the line non-embroidery machine with 240 stitch patterns), Husqvarna would be my first port of call for trials.

But I also have a couple of delightful Bernina machines.  Again, a now 10 or so years old Bernina 1005, and a one year old Bernina 1150MDA serger.  If I wanted to replace the purely mechanical with utility stitches only Bernina, I'd be looking at the newer 1008.

If I wanted the embroidery, I'd again look first at Husqvarna and then at Bernina.  The only real reason to out Bernina second is that the Husqvarna has the slight edge FOR ME on control placement: feels like the things are tailor made for my small fingers!    One good reason to try before you buy...

Singer haven't made a machine that will stand the kind of use I give my machines since 1964...  Janome haven't yet made one that I'd give house room to, though some folk swear by them.  I have an old New Home that is built like a tank and will sew through brick walls...  

My best advice would be to read this, then make a list of all the fabrics and processes you want to use: http://www.cet.com/~pennys/faq/smfaq.htm

My personal list of essentials for the type of sewing I do (anything from silk chiffon bias cut evening gowns to outdoors gear for wearing up mountains, curtain making and minor upholstery to working on the hood of my friend's kit car!) would be:

Ability to sew through up to 8 layers of denim
Impeccable straight stitch
Buttonholes: keyhole & heirloom, preferably one step electronic
Impeccable blind hem with adjustable blind hem foot
Multiple needle positions for precision sewing
Eyelet plate for proper stitched eyelets
Walking foot
Roller foot for leather


I like lots of other features, but this is the priority list.

[Cilean]

Used Machines ROCK! In fact? There are a lot of people who are upgrading this month, also? Check out quilt shows or sewing shows, because the machines there? Will only have 10 hours of use but will be considered used so they must be marked down.  So do get to know the stores in your areas and make a deal.   I completely forgot Babylock, heck I am hoping to get the 6 needle embroidery machine from Babylock, so I should have put that in my message!! Janome is awesome as well, I have a very inexpensive one that I can travel with and while loud? It works just fine.

I was able to get my serger for 1/2 the price and it was new with only 2 hours on the whole thing.

Cilean

[verymerryseamstress]

Husqvarna, baby!  All the way!  I bought my first Husqvarna about a year ago and I have had NO problems with it, and I use mine as a workhorse.  About 6 months after I bought the sewing machine, I took the plunge and bought a Husqvarna embroidery machine and haven't looked back since.  I love both of them and the staff at Husqvarna has been INCREDIBLE to work with. 

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

My Janome 4900 Memory Craft is my workhorse after 2 years now. Great dog feed, decorative stitches, etc.

I have my eye on another Janome with a 9"diagonasl LCD Screen that embroiders as well as sews. It has hookups that can hook  to the computer and USB cable to download Blackwork designs from the computer. I will have to save for that puppy!!  $5,000 on sale!!!

[Will Gamwell]

Oooo!  I like this thread!  One of the xmas presents to my fiance last year was a Janome serger.  Not the best thing in the world, but haven't had a problem with it yet and it has seen quite a few projects in one year.

This year I'm planning on having a much larger budget and have looked at Husqvarna & Singers.  Still have to make time to take a look at Pfaff and Janome.  Looking for a sewing & embroidery machine.  Husqvarna is well in the lead so far.

[Kate XXXXXX]

Forget Singer.  They've only sold one I'd actually pay money for since 1964, and they stopped doing that over a year ago...  They don't make machines any more any way, they just buy them in and badge them.

[PurpleDragon]

I have 2 machines,  one is a newer model (less than 5 years) Brother, and the other I don't know HOW old it is.  It's one of those 1960's era Singers in the cabinet.  I haven't used it as yet, but it was given to me about three months ago and everything appears to be in working order with it, so we shall see when I break into sewing a new outfit for myself or my wife for faire.  (though not likely to happen anytime soon with recovery from the Hurricane that just wollaped us here in Houston).  Personally I like the old Singers, or if I could find one I would love to get my hands on an older model Pfaff, now there is a workhorse.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

I have a Pfaff machine that is older than I am by a  few years. All metal parts, black, does straight and zig zag. The Germans know how to make good machines.

I will also look at the Husqvarnas as well when it comes time for the Embroidery machine purchase.

[der idee_mann]

I agree these would be my top choices as well, Bernina is top choice for many of my friends, I tend to lean toward the Husqvarna myself, My mom has an old Pfaff (was my grandmothers) and I hope to get that when she's tired of sewing ... you can never have too many machines 

I still have an really OLD 'Babylock' 3 thread - all steel - weighs a ton - have to special order needles for it but it is still much better then the new 4 thread singer plactic thing  I just recently bought ... I'm afraid I might break it ... what happened to the workhorse singers.

I would suggest you go out and see what is out there.  Singer is not the powerhouse it used to be, I hope I don't get beat up for stating that.  I would ask you to check out Bernina, Pfaff and Husqvarna if you want metal insides and stability and the ability to go through 4 thicknesses of fabric which we do when making garb. 

But I can say that it will FEEL good for you, bring some fabrics to sew and make a list of questions to ask the salesperson.  Check out if the machine has auto tension- it really can help you out  and look for if the machine has dual feed so it makes it easier to feed the fabric into the machine.

So my suggestion is to try a lot of machines on, just like you do with jeans you have to play with them to see which one fits your way of sewing!!

Good luck!

Cilean

[Pascal]

...  I would love to get my hands on an older model Pfaff, now there is a workhorse.

Was scanning Craigslist the other day and found a lady in Katy selling a great-condition Pfaff 130 for $25!  Needless to say, it came home with me!

[Miranda]

 I would AVOID any "Craft Super Store" machines, I.E. the Singers and Whites sold at Joann fabrics.  They just don't stand up to the rigors of "Real Sewing" and are really intended for the "pull it out once a year to dress the child up as Tinkerbell at Halloween Set."

If you can get your hands on a Singer from the 50's or 60's, they are solid, straight forward, and great for simple seams.  You can generally find them at yard and estate sales.  I learned one of these when I was 9 years old, so they are truly so simple a child could use one.

If you are after bells and whistles, I agree with the used machine people.  I've had the best of luck with my Bernina which I got used at a sewing machine/quilting store. I have had fairly decent luck with the Brother Line.  Babylock usually does well, and Janome makes a good machine as well.

[gypsylakat]

the singers at joans are the loudest things ever, and the salesguy was pushy, my bf's mom bought one and has used it once, i've decided i much perfer her older machine. I have no idea what it is but i like it... I have one i got for free from my gs leader, and really need to have it serviced! The tensions are all wonky and thread breaks constantly lol. I really wasn't happy with the singer layout or anything, it was a middle line model, i had to talk her down from buying the expensive professional one. THere is no reason SHE would need to sew 8 peices of leather or 20 peices of denim. (or whatever it was)

[mieljolie]

...THere is no reason SHE would need to sew 8 peices of leather or 20 peices of denim. (or whatever it was)

But, you know, now that you talked her out of buying it, she will find a project she just has to make that requires sewing 8 pieces of leather and 20 pieces of denim!!  Hehe  Then, it's all your fault. 

This is why I don't help friends purchase computers!

Maybe this comment should have been posted in "Murphy's Laws of Sewing" thread.

[gypsylakat]

Lol, no she won't find a project like that, because she'll make me sew it and I'll creatively talk her out of it.

[Bugsy]

I have a Singer touch and sew, I love it.  Before that, I had Brother ..... something, it was old, but worked really well too.

[Sweet T]

Greetings all,

I love my Husqvarna most because of the bobbin. I love that it drops in from the top, needs no casing of any kind, and has the see through cover that lets me see when it's getting low. The power is also fabulous.

Regards,
Sweet T

[RumbaRue]

When I was starting to make costumes I asked around to all the professionals I knew who were in the film business and they all said Bernina.

Bernina is made in Germany and is all metal. They are heavy and they are expensive, but worth the money.

So that's what I bought in 1990 with a discount at the Pomona faire. My Bernina is an older model - 1010, but it still works well (though sometimes it can be tempermental) and I buy the regular stock needles to use on it - though I have had some say that's bad and I should use only Bernina needles and such - uh the problem is the Bernina stuff is very expensive as opposed to the regular items sold. So since I'm not full of money, I go the cheaper route and things work perfectly fine.

If you have county faires near you where dealers sell all kinds of stuff, you might be able to find a Bernina dealer and you can almost always get a discount if buying.

[Kate XXXXXX]

Bernina needles, like those of Elna, and a few others, are made by Rhein.  They are exactly the same quality as Shcmetze, Klasse, and Groz-Becker.  There is no point in paying extra to buy them in a tiddly box with a fancy name on it.  Buy good needles in bulk packs of 100, and save money that way.   

[Rahne]

I've been watching e-bay as well, there are some great deals there on new and used machines.  I'd suggest going to the specialty store and trying them out and finding out about pricing and which models you like best. Then keep an eye on e-bay and see what pops up.   This is what I plan on doing.  I currently have a brother xr65 that I picked up for $130 at Wal-mart about 3 years ago. It was OK at first, but it is a bit temperamental and the bobbin has a habit of getting messed up, any way it is time to get something better.  I've been sewing almost non stop (except for breaks to go to work and to faire) since June.  The projects are getting bigger and more complex and I need a better machine to keep up with them.

[Lady Grape]

Since this is machine preferences can I find out which embroidery machines everyone prefers.  I made the mistake and went to a sewing machine store and now I have to much information on brochures about them.  I would like some actual user advice on ease of use and friendliness.  My only requirements are that I would like a machine that I can digitize my own patterns into.

Although I must say I want the Baby Lock Embroidery Professional.  Oh yea!!! But since this is not a business for me I think the cost and the machine are over my head.  It looks real pretty in the store though 

[Sweet T]

My Husqvarna is also an embroidery machine. Reasons why I like it:

1. Easy to convert from sewing to embroidery
2. Large hoop size
3. Software is user friendly
4. Great tech support

My problem:
There does not seem to be a dealership in all of New Orleans or surrounding areas.

[DragonWing]

Well reading all the responces to this thread I am now very interesed in buying a new machine. The on I have is a White and it can do the basic stitches but it won't go through leather. Darn it! 

Thank you everyone.    I may be buying a Husqvarna

[mollymishap]

I've been watching e-bay as well, there are some great deals there on new and used machines....

Yup!  That's what I did, and it was agonizing to put it mildly, but persistence and patience paid off and I got a used Husqvarna Designer I for a song on eBay...or maybe I should say "an operetta" since it was still a lot of $ and I had to save up for literally 5 years to be able to get it.  (I paid about $1,200 for it.)

And as to Lady Grape's question about digitizing, you need separate software for that.  A high-end embroidery machine should be able to accept your own design diskettes (or through a USB port), but you need to have the capacity to manipulate your designs on the computer and then transfer onto diskette/USB, etc.. 

The software I got was the 3D professional and it was another $2K or so.  I got it during a super-special around Thanksgiving time, and because the upgrade was due to come out within the year, I got a free upgrade to the 4D software when it came out.

So now you can see where I had to save up for years to be able to treat myself to those goodies.

And speaking of which: I LOVE the machine and the 4D software is much easier to use than the 3D was.

HTH and good luck!

[Danni]

I use a White from the late sixties, maybe even the early seventies. It was my grandmothers, and it still works like a champ, but it is INCREDIBLY loud! My mother has a Bernina (probably spelled that wrong, forgive me) and she LOVES it!

I find myself doing a lot of my faire sewing by hand though, covering grommets, hemming, etc. Call me old school! I think the only reason I haven't looked to up-grade is the sentimental attachment I have to my grandmother's machine!

[LaurenLee]

Well. I just got a $600 bonus at work (waaaay less than other years), and was ready to go buy myself a new machine, and now the transmission is slipping in my truck     So I think I'm stuck with my cheap Singer for another year... I have to do alot by hand because it won't sew through the thick canvas lining I use on bodices...    I got a quote for a Babylock Grace machine for $399, and I'm really tempted to let the truck slide (I can drive the old car for awhile instead).... and get the machine!

Boy it's a good thing I'm not doing the "food or machine" debate in my head, or I might starve!

[Kate XXXXXX]

Granny's old workhorse is probably much tougher and more able to cope with the thicker fabrics and greater weigh of garb than many a modern machine, other then the TOTL jobs from Bernina, Husqvarna and Pfaff...  Keep it going!

For going through the thicker layers of canvas, use a new Jeans needle in a size 90.  $600 would buy you a nice new mid range machine from these companies.  $500 would get you the darling workhorse Bernina 1008, and possibly the eyelet kit as well.  That would certainly cope with the canvas.