Sewing machine advice
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| 1 | I have a super keen teen daughter who loves to sew and our machine is a basic, cheap $249 machine. I'd like to get a better one so she can use it more confidently as our current one might be on it's last legs. It doesn't like thick fabric even with different needles etc... What would you recommend as she is doing a polytech course involving sewing next year? Able to spend up to around $600. I don't even know where to start! Thanks heaps! benmaria - 2021-04-21 17:21:00 |
| 2 | Not sure if this will help... Have just begun sewing again. Purchased a 1960s machine, as older and heavier in weight - you know how things were made better back then, apparently! I would suggest looking on youtube. Evelyn Wood has many tutorials on sewing, machines etc etc. Quite likely she will have one on different types of machines. Overall though, I think the machines of old are rather sturdy. biscuitd - 2021-04-21 17:36:00 |
| 3 | Check out this thread: https://www.trademe.co.nz/Community/MessageBoard/Messages.as lakeview3 - 2021-04-21 18:24:00 |
| 4 | https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/crafts/sewing/other/ A good starter IMO lakeview3 - 2021-04-21 18:26:00 |
| 5 | I would look, at new Janome or Juki. Good value for money and they come with a good assortment of feet. mica3 - 2021-04-21 19:00:00 |
| 6 | mica3 wrote: can’t beat a bernina for a beginner, just gotta say! So easy to thread! And trust me, I have helped some beginners! My intermediate teacher had the good fortune to have me in her class as I had been sewing since I was about 7 and I could untangle, unjam and rethread berninas at the drop of a hat! Needless to say I often took my sewing home because I spent most of the class helping everyone else! lakeview3 - 2021-04-21 19:22:00 |
| 7 | This message was deleted. kittycatkin - 2021-04-21 19:58:00 |
| 8 | Thanks for the great suggestions! I'll have a look through them :) benmaria - 2021-04-21 23:01:00 |
| 9 | A new machine will also have a warranty so if anything goes wrong, then it can be repaired or replaced. I'm a Janome girl and have had a Janome now for over 30 years. Brands are a personal choice thing but once you find one you love, you tend to stick with it. kiwimade64 - 2021-04-22 07:31:00 |
| 10 | I learnt on an old singer, [a converted treadle machine] then bought a Toyota [yes I know] when I got married as it had large cams for the fancy stitches, and was cheaper than Bernina and Elna, but have used a Bernina for the past 40 years. voyager4 - 2021-04-22 09:39:00 |
| 11 | This message was deleted. kittycatkin - 2021-04-22 15:35:00 |
| 12 | If you are in Auckland, you could go to sewing machine repair shops for a good second hand machine of better quality for the money you have than buying an inferior but brand new machine. There are a few machine repair shops to choose from. jhan - 2021-04-22 16:27:00 |
| 13 | kittycatkin wrote: they don’t jam easily at all. It’s usually an inexperienced operator threading it incorrectly (although how they manage that is beyond me because they are so easy). Or the other times it’s when they snap a needle for sewing too fast through too thick fabric. Then you need a needle change and rethread. I could do all of this at a very young age. My machine is older than me and still going strong. Sewn kilometres of fabric on that thing. Love my bernina. lakeview3 - 2021-04-22 16:34:00 |
| 14 | Oh and get an original bernina, not a bernette. lakeview3 - 2021-04-22 16:34:00 |
| 15 | I would advise getting a second hand industrial machine. They can be bought real cheap and just do straight stitch, and just sew real nice. Try to get one which isn't so ancient that it doesn't go reverse. My one doesn't and you have to turn the whole job around which is inconvenient if it is enormous. tygertung - 2021-04-22 16:41:00 |
| 16 | tygertung wrote: what do you sew with yours? Clothes or car upholstery? Lol lakeview3 - 2021-04-22 17:19:00 |
| 17 | Mum & I both have a Bernina. Mum's had hers since she was a youngster & it's still going great. OP - the issue with your machine not liking thick fabric could be a matter of adjust the pressure foot lever. You might find a help guide online for the model of machine you have. aquarian4442 - 2021-04-24 16:46:00 |
| 18 | I am a fan of Bernina, and bought a new one when I retired 6 years ago. Wouldn't have anything else, even though they are more expensive. A colleague bought an almost new one on trade me a few years ago. Until I retired I was a secondary school Fabrics teacher, and all our machines were Bernina. mak47 - 2021-04-25 16:20:00 |
| 19 | over the years I've had a few machines of different types.. when looking for a machine - don't buy unless you can try.. you don't have to have cotton in.. you just have to listen for a easy middle speed that doesn't sound stressed.. so you run the machine with no thread at not to fast & not to slow.. urbanrefugee54 - 2021-04-27 23:23:00 |
| 20 | I have a brand new Brother innovis a150, and a Bernina Record from the early 70's. I prefer the Bernina, and yes it is older than me. cradams - 2021-05-12 13:37:00 |
| 21 | I have 2 Bernina Records, one was my mothers, and I bought the second one articferrit - 2021-05-12 14:28:00 |
| 22 | I bought my first wee Bernina in 1969 then in 1999, after it had done miles of work, I traded it in for a later model in order to do quilting. It does not get a lot of work but my daughter who has a Janome has already got her name (and eye) on the Bernina. Great machine but now with a back problem I find it too heavy to lift. I would like to indulge in one of those sewing tables with the lifting mechanism - dream on Jean! arden22 - 2021-05-12 14:55:00 |
| 23 | lakeview3 wrote:
Both, well not car upholstery, maybe motorbike. I do other heavy duty type jobs too. tygertung - 2021-05-12 18:00:00 |
| 24 | This message was deleted. kittycatkin - 2021-05-12 18:53:00 |
| 25 | lakeview3 wrote:
I totally agree re the Bernina of the 60s. I wore out the motor on my old one after 50 years of VERY heavy duty work. I purchased another one here on Trademe after giving up the battle with a rather expensive modern one which I hated. starseeker - 2021-05-12 19:15:00 |
| 26 | I learnt on a Bernina, had another brand for a few years and went back to Bernina. I did a polytech course years ago and that meant lugging my machine there and back so if that is what she is facing, dont get a really old machine as they are heavy, unless she will be able to set up and leave. As someone suggested, look for a second hand machine that has been serviced. Much better to spend $500 on a good 2nd hand machine than these cheap throw aways. landylass - 2021-05-31 11:58:00 |
| 27 | kittycatkin wrote: rofl! Of course not! How old do you think I am??? lakeview3 - 2021-05-31 13:59:00 |
| 28 | articferrit wrote: yes mine is a record and I bought another exactly the same as a spare! So I also have 2 records and Mum has a record also! Love them! lakeview3 - 2021-05-31 14:00:00 |
| 29 | starseeker wrote: yes you can’t go wrong with one of those. Mine has also sewn kilometres of fabric but as mentioned above I also have a spare machine exactly the same. Hopefully they will see me out! lakeview3 - 2021-05-31 14:02:00 |
| 30 | i bought a new bernina forty years ago, I have had it serviced twice and a replacement foot button. its still going strong dorisday - 2021-06-01 20:03:00 |
| 31 | benmaria wrote: Approach the polytech. They should be able to give some advice on the features that are needed for the course and even give some suggestions or otherwise. They may even be able to 'put you onto' a suitable machine. People 'upgrade', loose interest etc. Don't rush into paying to much just yet. If you only have $600 you need to be careful. It isn't enough to purchase a new quality machine, but is quite a lot for a used one - so the last thing you want is to get a used one that has issues or features that aren't going to be used. brouser3 - 2021-06-02 07:56:00 |
| 32 | I have 4 Berninas at the moment but only use 2 of them,the 830 and 812, would not be without them. One of the other ones is a 510 but still goes. dilligaf_dah - 2021-06-02 15:09:00 |
| 33 | dilligaf_dah wrote: ooh yeah the 830 was a goodie. I have 2 X 730 records. Heavy AS! lakeview3 - 2021-06-02 15:29:00 |
| 34 | Try SewIt in the Main South Road, they have lots of machines, mainly Janome, Singer and Brother. They can show you the models in your price range and will let you test them out after showing you how the work. Their customer service is excellent. catdog68 - 2021-06-02 16:37:00 |
| 35 | My first Bernina was a 730 heavy but fantastic. It had 2 speeds normal and slower. Taught my mum how to use it. (she had the old treadle Singer - which I still have). the 730 was an excellent teaching machine. dilligaf_dah - 2021-06-03 08:06:00 |
| 36 | brouser3 wrote:
Best advice above. Check with the Polytech. Edited by shanreagh at 10:45 am, Thu 3 Jun shanreagh - 2021-06-03 10:45:00 |
| 37 | Janome has a sale on at present with some good prices. camper18 - 2021-06-06 20:52:00 |
| 38 | There's a Janome you can get for $599 and it's a great machine. Shouldn't be too heavy - the heavy ones are awful. It's not the most 'basic' one either so should be great for the girl. I personally wouldn't get an 'old' one - the technology and workmanship has progressed so much since those old ones were made - best to go for something a bit up to date!! Let us know what you decide. yapper - 2021-06-07 15:36:00 |
| 39 | Another vote for the old Berninas. I have a 930 record Electronic, brought it secondhand about 30 years ago. It has done a lot of horrible stuff including lino, leather, vinyl, plastic, netting, lace, loads of curtains, garden stuff, mending and clothing. Love my machine. zirconium - 2021-06-07 16:09:00 |
| 40 | I have three machines. The one currently use is a newer Janome and quite frankly I am disappointed in its performance. Last time I had it being repaired, a month ago, my guy told me they were basically crap (the newer ones). Luckily I have a 1980 Elna Stella and my Mum's Husqvarna from the 60's to fall back on. I have my own Elna Stella to my daughter over 10 years ago and its absolutely fine, she uses it every day. I gave her my old overlocker too. The old heavier machines were built to last, especially the Swiss made ones. And they can be repaired too. The newer, lightweight plastic ones are all made in China or similar and basically you have to throw them away when they need a repair, as per my sewing machine guy. brightlights60 - 2021-06-07 21:56:00 |
| 41 | I'd recommend a second hand industrial especially if she's doing sewing at polytech, she needs one that is upto indusriall standards and speeds anyway. exhibit-b - 2021-07-08 00:00:00 |
| 42 | lakeview3 wrote:
That's my sewing machine! Well it was my mother's bought in 1971 - still works very well indeed. lissie - 2021-07-12 17:49:00 |
| 43 | Once machines started having plastic parts inside their longevity was drastically reduced. Also some oils have a devastating effect on plastic parts. Many of the early/mid 20th century machines have barely been 'run in'. They are mechanically the same as the 'commercial' machines of the day, just the motor set-up and how they are set into a table or case is what makes them different. Look at the 'industrial' machines - the point of difference is the lack of plastic in the head unit which means they will last forever in a standard domestic situation. That is unless you want something with electronic this and electronic that, which very few people acutally never use after the initial 'play' when they get the machine home. Edited by brouser3 at 3:31 pm, Tue 13 Jul brouser3 - 2021-07-13 15:27:00 |
| 44 | brouser3 wrote:
This. Have sewen for nearly 45 years (since my teens). One machine I have had since I was 19, I gave it to my daughter. An Elna Stella TSP. I found another for $2 in a garage sale took it to my sewing machine guy and he said "where on earth did you find this, its mint!" So I paid for a service $89 and she has it she also has my old overlocker. brightlights60 - 2021-07-13 15:38:00 |
