sewing machine advice
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=29435
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Topic: sewing machine advice
Posted By: lizzle
Subject: sewing machine advice
Date Posted: 18 October 2009 at 3:29pm
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have decided the teach myself how to sew (can't be that hard right?), but I need a sewing machine. so a few questions.
have found some for under $300 - new and reputable brand, but am i better getting something cheap now, or am i better to buy a better one second hand? mum has had hers for 30 years! (tried to tell her she should give it to me and buy a new one - but she had the GALL to suggest I could buy the new one and then get the old one - honesly - some people huh!) also, am a wee bit hestitant to shell out cause I have a tendency to give up on things if I'm not good at them right away - that said, i have started making resin jewellry and although I am still crap and the resin gives me headaches - i have persued (am yet to sell anything yet though - or have anything worth selling) |
Replies:
Posted By: Andie
Date Posted: 18 October 2009 at 3:47pm
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second-hand gets my vote then! My machine is a Bernina, much older than me even - mum got it for her 21st. Reliable, does the trick. If you get an old one but a good brand you should be right. ------------- Andie |
Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 18 October 2009 at 3:50pm
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Are you able to borrow one to see if you will stick with it? I have an Elna, bought new for my 21st. I still wish I had my mum's 20 year old Bernina though! I think it might depend what you want to use it for - embroidery/fancy stitches/stretch sewing etc? Have you got anyone who can advise you about good 'old' brands?
I have just bought a new Brother overlocker - decided to go new and splash out a bit b/c it is a nice simple, get what you pay for machine. ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 18 October 2009 at 3:58pm
| Depends what you wanna make I think. For what i wanted i got a cheapo simple machine that does all that I need it to .. cost me about $150 new but I only needed something that did straight and zigzag and that was about it. I didnt care about the fancy stitching. |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 18 October 2009 at 4:05pm
| what would i need fancy stitching for? this is not rhetorical. |
Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 18 October 2009 at 4:12pm
hehe Liz, I'm watching this thread with interest, and have to admit I was wondering the same thing  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 18 October 2009 at 4:28pm
| Decorative is the only thing I'd use it for. But then I think those stitches are ugly haha |
Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 18 October 2009 at 4:50pm
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Yeah, decorative. I'm not into them personally!
If I was getting another one, I'd get one that was good at sewing stretch material. ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: QHX
Date Posted: 18 October 2009 at 5:06pm
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I have an old clanger Bernina from the 70's. It would not have cost more than $150 and it is wonderful. All I ever use is the straight and zig zag settings. I have had it for about 5 years and I do a lot of sewing with it.
My mother has my Nanna's old machine which is even older and it is also really reliable (though really heavy). If I were ever to replace my machine and I had an endless budget to work with I would still get another old reconditioned one. I like the simplicity and reliability. |
Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 18 October 2009 at 5:10pm
The only time I've used the decorative stitching was when I couldn't be bothered blind hemming something so used a decorative stitch so the visible stitching was a feature instead of a flaw  ditto that for overstitching the top of a bodice that wouldn't stay down without it but would have looked silly with a straight stitch.
Fliss, often the type of needle you're using has a big effect on sewing stretch fabrics... ------------- 
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 18 October 2009 at 5:33pm
| blind hemming?....overstistching?....oh....i have a lot to learn it seems.. |
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 18 October 2009 at 5:33pm
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I have never used the decorative stitching on mine! I use zigzag and plain straight ol stitches for everything lol!
For memory mine was $299 and it is fantastic! Its a Brother BM 2600 from Spotlight. I have to admit its blimmin handy to have around as I have repaired so many things lately, pre kids I would have just replaced them, but now I am far too tight  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 18 October 2009 at 6:26pm
| OOH, that is the one I'm looking at peachy. |
Posted By: Daizy
Date Posted: 18 October 2009 at 8:33pm
I like this thread I am 'planning' on getting one for Christmas - I have already planned all the things I am going to make with it
I was looking at the same one in Spotlight but am still undecided. I used to sew a lot and should know what I am doing (I even got a trophy for sewing in school )
Is it harder to get replacement bits for the older machines? ------------- 
 
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 18 October 2009 at 9:39pm
| mum is coming over tomorrow night - nana gave me her old machine and mum will see if she can get it working properly. if it is all good, might look at one later down the track. |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 18 October 2009 at 10:43pm
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Lizzle, the bernina shop has second hand machines at times but they also don't charge the earth for servicing machines.
I have my Mum's old 3 thread overlocker for sale, gotta get around to putting it on trademe. She said she'll just borrow the 4 thread one I bought 
Very much a green sewer here....How to is a great website lol ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 18 October 2009 at 11:48pm
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We have a Toyota (from Spotlight) and use it for Zigzag and straight. On the odd occasion I'll use others that looks like overlocking to save me time lol but thats about it too. ------------- Our Angel July 08  Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived 
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Posted By: Caro07
Date Posted: 19 October 2009 at 7:47am
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The only other stitch I use that isn't 'normal' is blanket stitching which *I think* is essential if you are going to be doing any quilting. $300 sounds like a really good price for a sewing machine and it is bound to have a good 'barely used' value on TradeMe if you don't get on with it. ------------- Caroline, SAHM to 2 boys, S (4 years old) and J (2 years old) 
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Posted By: kathamill
Date Posted: 19 October 2009 at 8:13am
sorry to thread hijack, but a tip. If your machine is mechanical (ie and old bernina (my fave)), not digital, then you can put the stitch type on straight, and put the zigzag dial on the widest setting, then it will sew stretch. |
Flissty wrote:Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 19 October 2009 at 8:44am
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I have a Brother BM 2600 too!!! LOVE LOVE LOVEIT!!!
Kel how much for the overlocker?? -------------   
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Posted By: Ant
Date Posted: 20 October 2009 at 11:37am
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A lot does depend on how much you think you'll use it. Some cheaper machines (or less reliable brands) get a bit clunky and don't run as smoothly. This will lead to lower quality seams and more tangles and broken threads methinks - not frustrations a new sewer needs.
My mum has a Bernina that must be a good 40 years old now - it still runs well. I've had my machine for about 15 years, and done a lot of sewing. It's a Brother (you dial through the stitch types - not select them electronically) and the stitches I mainly use are straight, zig zag, and the button hole stitch. There are some stitches (classed as decorative here I think) that are good for elastic or finishing edges, which I don't use, one because a zig zag often does just as well, and latter because I have an overlocker that I think looks better. But before I got it I used the finishing edge stitch the machine had (which is kinda like overlocking - it's a combination of straight and zig zag). Getting something that sews smoothly is important - I've tried machines that just go too fast, and that's hard when you're experienced let alone learning. You need to feel you have good control over the speed. Something that does an easy button hole is also important - they're horrid to unpick. Mine is a 1-step button hole, where it kinda measures the button size and does it for you (but isn't accurate for thick buttons), but a 4-step, where you measure the size yourself and go through the stages (often on a dial) is actually just as easy once you've done a couple and if you're paying attention to when to stop. Make sure you get a manual (or one is available) and read it. This is something to look for if buying second hand. It tells you the settings for the different stitch types and it's worth practising them and getting familiar with how stitch length and width changes things - because you'll need to tweak it for some projects. Finally - use good quality thread! Cheap stuff is fine for practicing, but your machine won't love you for it and you're more likely to have the thread break. Which, again is a frustration you don't need. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Mek267052
Date Posted: 08 June 2021 at 5:33am
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