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With some time on my hands and having clothing that will be needing alteration. Figure there's no time like now to learn on a machine. My hand sewing while nothing to write home about gets me by.
It's time to step up to a progressive press, so to speak, of the sewing world. Not looking to break the bank. Just an entry level unit to get my foot wet.
I use a Brother JX2517 from Walmart. It was $100 something. Great machine to get you going and should handle all your standard clothing requirements. Comes with a few bobbins, with more easily available at every fabric store; and the employees usually know which ones you need. Comes with a button hole, zig-zag, and one other foot. That bag I showed I made required sewing through more than one layer of the heaviest denim I could find at Hobby Lobby, AND a plastic backing at the same time. All I did was switch to a jeans needle.
That Brother machine is new enough and common enough that you can type the name into Youtube and find tutorials on how to wind and load bobbins, thread the needle, adjust tension, etc. It comes with instructions and an dish as well.
A sewing machine is like a press in that the functions are relatively universal. Once you get set up, if you decide to try a pattern to make some clothing, you can sometimes find a tutorial of that same pattern, and usually one of that same style.
Videos are key to learn how to assemble stuff the first time because you have to do it inside out.
If you are near any thrift stores, you can get a decent sewing machine for @$20.00. The metal ones (old Sears, Kenmore, Singers, etc) are the best.
Otherwise, I have had the most success with my Singer Curvy, which was about $100.00. You can get Singer-compatible products pretty cheap from Amazon. My Curvy sews easily through six layers of canvas without any problem.
Lots of handy Youtube videos, no matter which brand you go with.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HBARleatherneck
Between your post i'm leaning towards one of these. More so due to them having paperwork. I'm a sucker for documentation.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheGrey
Choice between the two?
http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/fuo/5552419037.html
http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/app/5539790668.html
Just because it is old, doesn't mean it is good. I have an old Singer that looks just like those in the Craigslist photos, but it has nylon gears and I can't get the zig zag stitch to work.
Looser Error ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
Stu, for you anything before 2001 is old.
Juki
yep. profession stuff ^ my neighbor makes all kinds of stuff with it. (auto/upholstery) Might be overkill for clothing though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Duman
As Irv said, if it has teflon gears it will wear out, or they will crack. If buying used take some jeans fabric and fresh needles and run it to see if it hickups.
An industrial or heavy duty older machine will be the ticket. Harder to learn on with a clutch motor but can run large needles nad handle heavy fabric.
Here is one on CL
http://denver.craigslist.org/for/5552761672.html
Also heard that the new Singer Heavy Duty machines are ok, but can't vouch.
Here's mine.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/TX...=w1698-h955-no
I'm going to go against Chris on having a machine built into a table. That is ideal if you have a dedicated sewing room/area; and those machines are certainly better. However, just for learning and the occasional project or repair, a light weight machine that is easy to move and store away will serve you better. You could buy a nice beginner Brother or Singer, then make some money back selling it if you ever decide to jump in with both feet and get the big machine.
I've got an old RICCAAR machine ? around here somewhere.. we've had it for years, it's the Mother in laws. Wonder if I can sneak it out and be rid of it. sucker is heavy, has to be all metal bits.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gnihcraes
Perhaps the location is on your tablets inventory ;)
I'm leaning towards this unit.
http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/app/5539790668.html
To me buying a piece of equipment is like buying a vehicle (motorcycle, truck, etc) Documentation, owners manual, personal history all factor towards their "value" .
For $100 with the accessories, owners manual table, basically a turn key operation.
All i want it for is hemming pants. At an average of $13-15 per with a 1-2 Week wait IF they actually return your call. Why Not.
Okay, I've taken a close look at that CL ad, and noted the accessories that come with it. What I'm NOT seeing is the foot pedal; contact the owner and ask him if the foot pedal is there, and just wasn't photographed or was lost among the accessories. The cabinet is a nice inclusion.
Bring a chunk of jeans fabric if you have any, and try it out. Be sure to try the straight stitch, the zigzag, and the reverse. The number of accessories and dials look very promising. You're going to need to change out the needle if you buy it; Amazon has far better deals on needles than the fabric stores. You'll also want to use new thread. Don't mess with the tension dials! I'll look online and see what I can find out about this machine.
Singer Heavy Duty machines like you see at Joann's aren't worth it. Plastic and nylon gears, cheaply made crap.
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Okay, I've been looking online and there's not a whole lot of information on this machine. It was made between 1962 and 1967, but I can't find much else about it to see if it takes special bobbins or has had tension issues.
Well-noted. Plastic and nylon were both cheaper, and prone to breakage (hopefully, after new mfg warranty was expired). It was the quintissentially American answer to durable machines on the used market eating into new-machine sales figures. For decades, Singer would buy back all used machines under contract, in order to rework them in their shops, or destroy, or at their discretion refit, in order to preserve new-machine and and new-model sales. With the polymer revolution, the idea was that something essential would break after the initial warranty was expired, such that they could fuck you on the repair, or hit you for a new machine.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheGrey
Economics is not about fairness, it's about tolerable cruelty.