HELP!!! My Sewing Machine Died!

[mieljolie]

Kate XXXXXX, I agree.  This was my objective the whole day.  I wanted mom to sit at as many different machines as possible to see what see liked.  The biggest problem was the selection, or lack of.  And, it was majorly frustrating that the Viking and Singer machine threads had been cut and the salesperson wouldn't (or didn't know how to) rethread them.  So, we didn't have the time to figure it out ourselves to try them out.  It wouldn't have really mattered much, anyway.  They were the same or more costly than the Janome at the other store.  So in all, the day was not a complete bust. But, with our deadline looming I was not a happy shopper. 

I did look up the specs on the Brother 1034D.  I think mom would like it if we could just find one.  It had many of the features that made her like the Janome.  She preferred tension dials over knobs and easy threading.  The dual feed dogs and differential feed that help make ruffles was also kinda cool.

We are still trying to work out a successful gathered french seam.  My other thought was to hem all the tiers and overlap the finished edge over the lower gathered tier (kinda like a tiny ruffle??).  But, I think mom just wants to wait and sew them when she gets a serger.  I don't think the skirt is going to see Scarby this weekend. 

[Kate XXXXXX]

Wish you were closer - I'd lend you mine for the skirt!  NOT gonna work from the UK, though...

Good luck finding what you want.

[mieljolie]

Thanks, Kate, for the offer.    I'd be there in a heartbeat, if I could.  We've been wanting to take a trip to Europe for the longest time.

[gem]

You have a functional straight-stitch machine right now, yes? I doubt your mom is going to wear a skirt so hard that it falls apart in one day of wear. Just put the thing together with the straight stitch, and finish the seams once you have your new machine. If you're really worried, pink the S/As.

[Maggiedoll]

What makes a sewing machine "dead"?  About the time when the tension mechanism fell off of my heavy duty Necchi, I learned a whole freaking lot about fixing them, and there seem to be sooo many issues that are expensive to have fixed, but all you need is a screwdriver..

[mieljolie]

UPDATE: Looks like opening weekend was just not in the cards for us.  We won't be managing to make it to the faire this weekend at all, anyway.  My mom's 10 year old Yorkie is ill. It's not looking good for him.  They may have to put him down.  Mom is crushed.

gem, my mom won't agree to leaving the edges raw.  That is the first thing I suggested, too.    She isn't having that.  She's putting a lot of work into sewing all the swatches together and would be sick if it frayed up to nothing before she got it finished.    But, thanks.

Maggiedoll, we've had trouble with the machine breaking thread routinely for a very long time.  After taking it in for service and inquiring on wefixit group, we are still stumped about the problem, which continued.  I tried everything recommended to stop the problem!  But, the other day solved the problem permanently. It's a long story.  But, you asked.  So, here goes.

Our machine is in a portable case with latches on the sides.  And, we like to leave the lid on it to prevent dust.  Well, let's just say the latches weren't latched properly when someone attempted to pick it up.  It did a face plant into the floor breaking several parts which caused it to finally up and quit running, so it's just not worth fixing it.  If ours was a Necchi or even an older Singer without plastic parts, I would probably try to revive it.  But, I think it's time to let old Bessie go. 

We're still looking for a serger.  With everything that is happening and mom's birthday around the corner, I'm thinking of just getting her the Janome serger we saw.  To heck with the price if it cheers her up.  Shhhh...nobody tell her!

[Maggiedoll]

All the plastic does kinda seal the "not worth fixing" part, but I still feel the superfluous need to ask if "quit running" means "motor doesn't go at all" (in which case I'd ask if there could be a loose contact in the wiring, which happened to me) or "motor goes but it doesn't sew" which is usually a timing issue from knocking the needle bar out of place, which this diagram shows you how to do pretty easily.  (It happened to me because my dog sat on my foot pedal.  I've heard people complain about it happening while sewing corsets too.) That probably doesn't help you now, but will most likely come in handy at some point.. Apparently repair places charge over $100 for that three-minute fix. 
When I stopped by a Janome dealer to casually inquire, the 1110DX was what they kept trying to sell to me for the "wonderful limited-time sale price" of $499.  I'm still set on the Juki MO-654DE, which has all of the features that the dealer kept trying to push, except for lay-in-tension, but I don't think I like the lay-in tension to begin with. And the Juki is $399 on allbrands.com, or $499 if you get the package with 8 extra feet, 12 threads, and 100 needles, which is what I'm leaning towards.  The Juki really seems like a better deal to me, and it gets all rave reviews. 

[mieljolie]

Maggiedoll, thank you for the info.  Very helpful.  I'm going to keep looking at sergers.  I didn't make it to the dealer in time to get the Janome machine mom was eyeing.  But, this will give me more time to research.

The great news is I found not one, but two vintage zig-zag machines since I posted!  The first one was a funny story. 

At a large neighborhood garage sale event about 2 hours away from where we live, a lady at the very first house overheard me talking about sewing machines.  She said she had one in storage that we could look at after her sale that afternoon.  It was hers from high school Home Ec class.  So, the age seemed about right.  She didn't know much else about it.  We setup an appt.  The rest of the morning was a bust with only an 80's Brother that only sews in reverse.    We just about called it quits and headed home early, but something told us to stay and see the mystery machine in storage.

Fifteen minutes late, she drives up as we were getting ready to leave.  As she opened the storage door and started pulling out all kinds of things blocking the sewing cabinet, she was making small talk about her parents and how her mom had just passed and other details.  Out of the blue, my SO asked her where her parents lived and what her father did for a living and his name, etc...  My, was he getting a bit personal with her over a sewing machine!  But, he had put things together!  Come to find out, we knew her parents!  Her father, a contractor, had built some houses and commercial buildings for SO's family a few years before.  What a small world!  We bought the machine mostly because of all her trouble digging it out.  We didn't even test this machine before purchasing.  No manual or extras.  But, this Heavy Duty Japanese clone had such a cool retro style to it, I couldn't resist it.   

She kept the cabinet for sentimental reasons which was fine with me.  I was planning to put the machine in the portable case from the old fashion mate, anyway.  To my chagrin, I didn't consider the weight of an all metal machine!  It weighs a ton!  Not so portable, huh? 

When we got home, I opened it up, and the insides look brand new!  No build up or anything!  Just a light layer of dust on the back where it hung in the cabinet.  She must not have taken very well to sewing.     We plugged it in, and to my delight it runs beautifully annd quietly considering it sat so long.  I've since cleaned and oiled it thoroughly and rewired the damaged wire on the foot pedal.  Other than that, I've only had to replace the bobbin tire thingy and felt pads on the spool peg with parts from the dead Fashion Mate.  (I don't know the proper terminology for the parts.)  The feet are to my relief are compatible with my singer.  And, I also have a spare compatible belt and other parts on the fashion mate.  I did have to purchase some extra bobbins (It only came with one).

Remember when I said typed that all the machines we run into at thrift stores look like they've been sitting outside?  Well, I must eat my words.  Just a few days ago we stepped into our usually bargain haunts.  Guess what was sitting there right in front of us?!  A sewing cabinet with an extremely nice Japanese machine in it.  This one even has built in cams for fancy stitches, like blind hem, and a button holer!  Yay!  It came with a few basic presser feet, too.  Only problem with this one is the high shank foot style.  It's not as cute as the other, but it had more bells and whistles. 

If you're still with me here, I must apologize for my long-windedness.  I'm still up for any suggestions on a good serger.

[Kate XXXXXX]

Didn't you do well!

Good serger for a first timer is the Brother 1034D.  I love mine.

[mieljolie]

...Good serger for a first timer is the Brother 1034D.  I love mine.

We're looking for a dealer around us that carries Brother.  We'll have to check that model out.  (I despise living in the boonies. 
)

[Lorraine]

I have the Brother 1034D too, bought it off Amazon, was the cheapest place I could find it and the shipping was free. It is truly an awesome machine, I've run 4 layers of denim through it with no problems, and I use it on just about everything. The nice part is it has the little threading diagram drawn right on the machine, took me about 10 mins my first try, but now I'm down to about 3 mins to rethread the whole thing.

[Cilean]

Sorry about both losses (the puppy and the sewing machine)

Have you all tried Overstock? Not only do they have outrageous prices? They carry insurance!  Due to my friend having let us say issues with machines, she has broken 3 in the past 10 years, and I mean broke done gone, so we purchased one similar to this one for her with the 4 year warranty, so yep you guessed it not a year later? She broke it and sent it back and they fixed it and sent it back to her! No hassles!  Best Extra $79.00 we ever spent!!!!

http://www.overstock.com/Crafts-Sewing/Janome-115215-Computerized-Sewing-Machine-Refurbished/3644318/product.html

Good luck!
Cilean

[mieljolie]

Lorraine , this 1034D is a very popular machine.  I've been reading lots of reviews.  Just wish we could sit in front of one.  I'm talking to mom about trying Wal-mart.com.  It's free shipping sent to our local store.  I just need to verify the return policy at our store.  The policy on the site is kinda wishy-washy.

While visiting amazon.com I was reminded about side cutting presser feet that turn your zig-zag machine into a simple serger.  Has anyone tried one of these?  At under $20, it seems reasonable to give it a try.

Cilean, I'm looking into overstock.com.  I'm confused about why the Janome model they sell is only available through their site.  Hard to compare prices this way.

Thank for all the suggestions.  I'm starting to get a better handle on all the options.  So many things to learn about! 

[mieljolie]

BTW, if anyone is interested in seeing pics of the first vintage sewing machine I was telling about, I posted a few on my crafting blog just after I bought it.  I still need to get some taken of the second machine.