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Stitching & Crafting Room:  Sewing machine shopping??  |
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AliShuShu
True Blue Farmgirl
150 Posts
Alison
Charlotte
NC
USA
150 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 22 2007 : 08:14:18 AM
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ok... i've finally been given permission to buy a new sewing machine!! i'm very excited but have no idea where to begin, so i thought i would start with the masters... farmgirls, help!
my mother was a great seamstress, sewing her own as well as mine & my sister's clothes through high school and beyond, but she never had the patience to teach me the skills... so, after she passed 14 years ago, i asked my father to teach me how to sew on her old machine... and he did! i do simple things... skirts, hats, curtains, patchwork bags (these were a bit sloppy).. mostly things with straight lines... but i want to learn how to sew well... i would love to tackle a dress or more complicated patterns.
i have been using my mother's old machine for years and my dad wants it back, so i'm in the market for a new sewing machine... one that goes beyond my current, basic skills, because i want to learn more and not have to replace my machine for a very long time. (i'm planning on taking some lessons along with my new machine)
so, how 'bout it, farmgals!!! give me your recommendations on sewing machines that are on the market now... what to look for... what to avoid... give me the good & the bad...
also, give me your suggestions on where to buy... online? local stores? should i purchase a warranty?
thanks in advance for your help!
Alison
I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the cool of the day. ~F. Frankfort Moore, A Garden of Peace
Namaste'
www.shumusings.com |
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Canadian farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
482 Posts
Lori
Ontario
Canada
482 Posts |
Posted - Oct 22 2007 : 09:29:18 AM
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I was just talking about this the other day with a co-worker! I am currently using my mom's old Kenmore from the 1970's. It hasn't got a free-arm, and I would really like to replace this machine with a newer one with this feature. A few years ago, I bought a newer Kenmore from a relative, but I burnt the motor out of it!
When I someday get to buy a new one, I'm going to get a Pfaff from the sewing/quilting shop here in town. They sell the floor models for quite a good price, and what can be wrong with a demonstrator model? People just sit down and use it for the sewing classes, it's not like it gets abused there. Also, the people at the store are good at matching you with the right machine, based on what you will be doing, and how much you want to spend. I don't need a lot of fancy computerized touch pad stitches (more to go wrong).
They also give free lessons at the store when you buy a machine.
Lori
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AliShuShu
True Blue Farmgirl
150 Posts
Alison
Charlotte
NC
USA
150 Posts |
Posted - Oct 22 2007 : 09:57:38 AM
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the one i'm using right now is also a 1970's model kenmore! it was quite the splurge back when my mom got it new... my dad talks about how she had to have everything that went with it as well as the best cabinet they had for it.
it is a workhorse and nothing wrong with it... its just that my dad would like it back... he uses it too and has fond memories of it... thanks for the info.. i was thinking you got free lessons when you buy the machine from a local store...
Alison
I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the cool of the day. ~F. Frankfort Moore, A Garden of Peace
Namaste'
www.shumusings.com |
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Bonne
True Blue Farmgirl
3003 Posts
Bonne
Littleton
CO
USA
3003 Posts |
Posted - Oct 22 2007 : 2:02:37 PM
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I'd keep an eye on craig's list. You may find a "vintage" machine in good shape. Sometimes those are the best ones. I use my Simplicity Frontier serger to do most of my stitching now, and use a cheap Brother or one of my treadles just for topstitching work.
 http://bonne1313.blogspot.com/ Blog
http://www.bonne1313.homestead.com/soap.html Soap
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Stitching & Crafting Room: Sewing machine shopping?? |
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Sewing machine shopping??
