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The best sewing machine?
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michaela 2005-08-02, 01:21 #1
Member since May 2005 · 51 posts · Location: Santa Monica, CA
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Subject: The best sewing machine?
Hello all!

Karen promised me that if I finished my masters thesis, she'd buy me a sewing machine. As of 1 AM this morning - she owes me a sewing machine.

I haven't sewn with a machine since 1992, so obviously I am many years away from even attempting a corset, but I am very excited to start making clothing and accessories to go with my C&S corsets - I mean, I already do that, but by hand it's outrageously time-consuming and generally not as much fun.

So I ask you all - what's your favorite sewing machine for all-purpose use in the range of US$400-500? I will be sewing a range of fabrics from lightweight tulle to medium-weight vinyl and garment leather, and yes, I will also be getting a serger. Eventually I want to move up and get a squillion-dollar industrial model, but for now I'm very happy with something sturdy and tabletoppy.

Help?
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spiggymr7 2005-08-04, 22:35 #2
Member since May 2005 · 60 posts · Location: roanne near lyon
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Hi Michaela,
Years ago i used to get what we call here in france "a family-machine" you know this kind of stuff, who's always shaking and move on a table!
This range of sewing machine could be enough if you only had to do little sewing stuffs like hanky, windows pannel, and clothes repair.
But i was tired to always have to search for the foot pedal who always decided to go away!
i wasn't abble to buy a professional brand new one and no more a second hand;
so i turn my research on local auction and be lucky with this way as i used to got mine for peanuts!
Also in my country we got "emmaüs" did you know that? i'm not sure if you got this kind of association. people who want to do charity-donation give stuffs to them for free, then the association sell things for incredible ridiculous price. all the items are carefuly control and repair by voluntary people, so you're sure your sewing machine was ready to work.
A sewing machine was a many years investment and i really think you must choose you budget and your machine with this in mind even if you have to wait a little more to save enough money for.
i'm now so pleased with my industrial machine as i could sew a large range of fabric....
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michaela 2005-08-05, 00:32 #3
Member since May 2005 · 51 posts · Location: Santa Monica, CA
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Thank you!

This is definitely helpful. I have an interview with a well-known fashion design school next week, and was advised not to buy a machine until I had met with them - which I take to mean they have a preference about what machine you get.

I think eventually I will have an industrial machine, but for the short term I will need to start out with something smaller, only because I don't have anywhere to put an industrial in our little house! Actually, my landlord has a beautiful 1921 Singer that Miss Tori is going to help us repair and that should keep me happy for a good while, I think!  :)
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GrayWolf 2005-08-07, 10:01 #4
Member since May 2005 · 179 posts · Location: Bangor, County Down
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ah yes.. Singers :-D  There are some awesome old age singers in the fabric shops here :)
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miss_tori_jones (Moderator) 2005-08-18, 21:05 #5
Member since Apr 2005 · 191 posts · Location: Raleigh, NC
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don't I owe you a motor for your old singer?
[Image: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/Miss_Tori_Jones/13purpleandwhitecorset.jpg]Miss Tori Jones[Image: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/Miss_Tori_Jones/12BlackRoseinRedRight.jpg]
Yahoo Groups:CorsetConstruction
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michaela 2005-08-19, 15:27 #6
Member since May 2005 · 51 posts · Location: Santa Monica, CA
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ooooh, how was your vacation?

Let me ask Mark what we need and I'll get back to you. He seems to think the motor is fine but I suspect it's pretty old and should be replaced.

Thank you!
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miss_tori_jones (Moderator) 2005-08-19, 20:44 #7
Member since Apr 2005 · 191 posts · Location: Raleigh, NC
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the vacation was good.....enjoyed time with Mom and got her computer up and running (replaced hard drive, cd writer and modem)

Great...I think you have my email addy so you cna shoot me an email when you know what you need....I will see what I have for you.  I need to get rid of some of this "extra" stuff around here.
[Image: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/Miss_Tori_Jones/13purpleandwhitecorset.jpg]Miss Tori Jones[Image: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/Miss_Tori_Jones/12BlackRoseinRedRight.jpg]
Yahoo Groups:CorsetConstruction
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michaela 2005-08-20, 01:30 #8
Member since May 2005 · 51 posts · Location: Santa Monica, CA
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So glad you had a great time!

Soo....Mark thinks the motor runs fine, but he wants
A. the manual
B. the "footswitch"
C. "brushes for the motor"
and D. if possible a belt. But this one is cool as is.

Whaddaya think - too tall an order? And I don't seem to have your email address, but if you send me yours via my LJ address, I'll reply.

Thanks a squillion. I'll name my first wonky sewing projet after you!  ;)
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miss_tori_jones (Moderator) 2005-08-21, 03:57 #9
Member since Apr 2005 · 191 posts · Location: Raleigh, NC
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A)  manual.....I thought I emailed it to you but if not I will be happy to email you the PDF file

B)  the "footswitch" - I think you are talking about the foot controller, so I should have one laying about

C) I can just send a motor since I don't have "extra" brushes laying about

D) I may have a belt but if not I can tell you where to get one.

tori_jones at earthlink dot net
[Image: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/Miss_Tori_Jones/13purpleandwhitecorset.jpg]Miss Tori Jones[Image: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/Miss_Tori_Jones/12BlackRoseinRedRight.jpg]
Yahoo Groups:CorsetConstruction
Elaina 2005-11-21, 14:40 #10
Member since Nov 2005 · 3 posts · Location: Dallas
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I know I'm a day late and a dollar short but...

I'm an avid collector of sewing machines.  I use them, I love them, I've even been known to pet them.  I own a 99-13, a 66 and a 201 Singer, and a 72 Monkey Ward and the Sears Big green ugly machine (it's from the 60's and it is UGLY).  Of them all, 4 are electric, one is a treadle. 

Usually unless the machine's been treated awful, the motors should be ok with a little repair at most.  My 99-13 (it's a small version of the 66) is crappy, and while it does fine seams, it doesn't do strong seams.  The original motor is still there, and it still works, and it was a motor on the outside.  This is not the machine I use for anything but a quick rip through of a seam or two, and really, my other machines do it better.  Since this is the smaller version of the machine I use the most, it is the one that I take for demos and classes, I usually french seam anyway, so the detail work is brought home and finished on the main one.  It was my first machine I bought 15 years ago when I was 15.

The 201 is an internal motor and many sewing enthusiasts swear it's the best machine out there.  I will admit, it does a variety of stitches, and it's fairly powerful.

TBGUM and Monkey Wards were gifts, and I seldom use them, they just don't do what I want.

My main machine is my treadle, non electric (it has a motor that was added later) and while it was leaky, the machine sat 25 years before I got it, and the first thing I did was pull it off.   This is in a cabinet, and it's the type used in the old days that you see with the women in corsets.

I use Singers, I prefer Singers and the old machines, pre 1970's were awesome machines.  I would run, far and fast, from a new singer.  That said, my corsets are only sewn on my treadle.  To me, an electric goes too fast to make the channels right, and the treadles seem to sew through anything with the right needle.  I've made more then one machine get hot trying to make a corset or sew pvc.  The treadle doesn't have those problems.

All that said, Elna makes the best machine out right now, and I hear many good things from people who sew not only corsets, but clothing as well. 

I do know I can sew as fast on my treadle as I can on an electric, and I get much finer stitches (not to mention my buttonhole attachment works with it) and there is a built in side table that allows for the old clothing with yards and yards of material to be sewn. 

There are also other concerns about feed dogs, shanks, attachments, feet, bobbins, and the type of sewing (ie. do you need zig zig stitching) to consider. 

LOL, sorry for the long post, ya'll!

Elaina
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BlaqueRose19 2007-08-30, 18:28 #11
User title: Work in Progress
Member since Jan 2007 · 15 posts · Location: USA
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For my corsets (made 2) I use a viking and it works fine for me.
" Lovely fabric Oh would you be mine ?!"
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