I love to sew and have been using the same machine for forty plus years. It doesn't do fancy stuff, but I'm not fancy. A few years ago I came across a hand crank Singer sewing machine. It didn't have a needle or an instruction book, but I fell in love with it.
After I got my "treasure" home, I found my hand crank sewing machine uses the same needles as the new ones. (I purchased the needles at the Dollar Store!) The manual is free on the Singer site.
This hand crank machine locks the stitches better than my trusty forty year old, sews through multiple layers of fabric without missing a stitch. Best of all, I can sew outside or at a civil war reenactment. I have made several friends while they sat and watched me sew. Yes, I let them crank if they ask!
Next time you see a machine for sale, give it a try, you might be surprised at how much pleasure you will receive. Oh, I paid $35.00 for mine in an antique store.
By Tedebear from San Jose CA
There are a number of reasons to purchase a vintage sewing machine even if you already have a newer model. The older machines were typically built to last for generations. Check the machine for broken or missing parts and run down a list of typical functions, such as does the wheel turn, before deciding.
I ordered a Janome HD 3000 sewing machine from Walmart World. They sent me a Janome New Home HD3000. Is it the same machine or is one an older model?
This is the link to the Janome HD 3000 from the Janome website: janome.com/
Please share your ideas about what sewing machine model to buy and where for a newcomer to sewing. Also, I have gone to a few stores and the price of fabric is very daunting. I am on a fixed budget so any suggestions would be appreciated.
Right now, the only place I have purchased some fabric was from a flea market. The retail stores are just too expensive for me to try since I am a novice. Thanks for your help!I kind of went thru the same thing recently. Altho I've been sewing for close to 50 yrs, I wasn't what you'd call expert; I was just using my machine to repair blankets, etc. & for very basic clothing alterations such as hem shortening, etc. Well, my 40-yr-old Singer died recently--and a machine that old can not be repaired a lot of the time because they can no longer get parts--and so had to shop for a new machine. What I learned was 1) Singer is no longer as good a brand as they used to be (and of course, what brand is, sigh); 2) If you go with a real basic, beginners type machine such as some that Brother, for instance, makes, you may not be getting some of the features you want. For instance, my old dead Singer would do reverse stitching--good idea to do when you start & finish a seam because it reinforces the seam--and it would handle slightly heavy-duty fabric such as denim, like jeans, and a thicker blanket or bedspread. Well, a lot of the simple, beginner-level machines that I looked at like the Brother do not do reverse stitching or can handle even slightly heavy-duty fabric like denim, etc.
Janome makes several 'entry level' machines that are very beginner friendly - lol, this is coming from a vintage Singer repair tech and sewing teacher:) Personally I love my Talent 3321 but it can be a bit fiddly. Still, I do recommend it for advanced beginners as it has some really fab features at a very reasonable price.
The most important thing in purchasing a first-time machine is to be sure you're buying one with a 'top drop-in' bobbin system! Nothing puts a new sewer off faster than that ultra-frustrating side or front load bobbin system that seems to think all sewers have eight arms - to load the blasted thing correctly you have to pull out a teeny lever on the case at the same time you're holding your wrist and arm at an awkward angle to fit it into the machine...save yourself and be sure to buy a machine with a bobbin that loads from the top of the machine just in front of the needle area. Janome calls this 'jam proof' and they're right, it generally is!
For fabric - I live in the UK where our second hand and thrift stores are called charity shops (because most are operated by charities like British Heart, British Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc) - and I find the absolute best fabrics in the charity shops! Men's shirts, fleece winter clothing, women's skirts, blouses, dresses, even bed bed sheets and blankets - all of these items can be carefully unpicked and the resulting fabric lengths used for new projects. And the buttons and zips saved for reuse as well! I find a lot of gorgeous vintage fabrics in those shops - and you will too:)
Thank you Lynn, I will definitely look for the machine you recommended. It is rather daunting because of so many models to choose from which is why I posted the question trusting someone like you would respond. I did recently find a store in Florida called Hobby Lobby and I will soon be going there. They posted a coupon for 40% off one item, so I will get some material (cotton blend approx. $4 a yard) for a first time project I want to try. I have been going to quite a few flea markets but haven't find any material there, strange huh? They had loads of other craft supplies, but not material. I should be able to afford the machine you recommended next month, so I will definitely keep searching for that one.
If your sewing machine is beyond repair, it may be time to buy a new one. This Brother sewing machine is easy to use and jam resistant.
I just bought the Singer handheld sewing machine from Walmart. I've put rechargeable batteries in it. Well, it won't turn on! This is the second one I have bought that has done this. The first one came on and worked for 4 seconds. This one won't even come on.
Am I using the wrong batteries?
By Amber L.
It's probably not you. Sometimes retailers are shipped a 'bad lot' meaning that particular job lot is dodgy. The problem could be anything from a faulty wire caused by human/machine error on the production line to one or more of the components having been manufactured incorrectly long before ever reaching the production line.
Unfortunately this happens a lot with mass produced items destined for the discount big-box stores because the whole marketing scheme from the retailer's professional buyer to maker (and all the little guys in-between supplying components) is designed for one thing only - making money. There is no quality control, there is no interest in making a quality product. They just want the most money for the least quality.
Take the handheld back to Walmart where CustomerService will tag it and throw it in a bin to go to Big Lots or to be recalled - yes, if enough numbers of a faulty product are returned most retailers will pull the product and very discretely post a notice they're recalling/exchanging.
And if you really need a handheld sewing machine, find a local Singer (or other maker) sewing centre and buy from them. Well worth the extra money because those handhelds will have been built to a higher standard - because the retailer's professional buyers have insisted on a quality item up to their brand standard.
Personally, if you've found a need for a handheld machine, you probably really need an inexpensive starter full size sewing machine. Singer makes several ranging in price from $99 to $350 (£69-£250). Janome and Brother also sell good quality entry level machines.
*The important thing if buying a 'real' sewing machine is to be sure to purchase a 'top drop-in bobbin' machine, the side and front loads will put you off sewing nearly for life because it's so hard to seat the side and front load bobbins.
**Don't waste your time with one of those 'mini' machines. You can get some performance from them, and they are great for someone who already knows how to sew and is trying to teach a total newbie or child but otherwise they are frustrating and tend to break soon after coming into your home.
Not worth it, but make sure the batteries are put in correctly. I burned mine up by having the batteries in wrong. I wish they would devise a better way of marking the direction for battery placement. The symbols are so hard to see.
A few weeks ago I told you about my new Brother sewing machine. I just noticed something wonderful about it. I can't believe I didn't see this before.
I just recently bought a Brother Project Runway sewing machine. It is computerized, has 80 stitches, automatic needle threader and many other features. It is much heavier than other table top machines I have had.
Where is the best place to buy a biomass pellet machine?
Scott from Lynn, MA
I would sort of back track the pellets from your local source of pellets by asking him who is the guy he buys his pellets from. Then contact that source and find out where he bought his machine if he has one. Keep back tracking and you will find out where to buy a machine.
Try to find a trade publication for recycling? waste management? and see if any are listed there. Or Google it.
