Does Anyone Sew?

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dhettish
dhettish Member Posts: 501
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer
Does Anyone Sew?
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  • dhettish
    dhettish Member Posts: 501
    edited March 2008

    Hi,

    I am looking for a new hobby. One that does not require a lot of energy until I can get back to my active self. I want to learn how to quilt and have located a shop that teaches classes which are not expensive. But you have to own your own sewing machine.

    My question is what is a good sewing machine for a beginner? Martha Stewart recommends Singer Confidence and it is $399 on the internet. That is a little more than I wanted to spend. Does anybody have any advice. Please keep in mind, I will be using it to learn to quilt.

    I love cats and found a web site that sells only cat fabric and can't wait to get started on some cat quilts and quilted handbags.

    Debbie 

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  • beth1225
    beth1225 Member Posts: 1,061
    edited March 2008

    Debbie, repost this on the Craft Thread. I think it is in Moving Beyond: Time to cirlce the wagons Forum.  Somebody there might know.  At least it gives you 2 chances to get an answer.  Have you checked out what machine the class teacher recommends?  I know nothing about buying them as I still use the one my mom has from when I was little (i'm 48!).  It is a Kenmore and very simple.  Simple is somtimes better, JMHO.

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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited March 2008

    I quilt and I purchased a Kenmore last year. It is a basic machine with a few decorative stitches. It will be a good machine to start with. Here is the link http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02015343000P?vName=Appliances&cName=Sewing+Machines+%26+Accessories

    I have never had an expensive machine, I started out piecing quilts on the Tredle machine that my grandmother had and that is what my mom still uses today to piece her quilts. It is best to start out on an inexpensive machine and if you like the quilting, you can upgrade to a fancier one.

    Sheila

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  • Texgirl
    Texgirl Member Posts: 211
    edited March 2008

    Granted, $399 is a hefty sum, but u will have your machine for years ..my old Singer is 34 yrs old and other than a few maintainence check-ups...it is still an excellent machine. I do my quilting and sewing on it and it is such a relaxing ( well, except when I wander off mentally and sew a wrong seam..%#!* )

    Have fun and enjoy !

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  • mke
    mke Member Posts: 584
    edited March 2008

    Look around for a used machine, craigslist or kijiji.  For years I've been using a Singer that is over 60 years old - works fine.  I've had it tuned up a couple times and had to replace one part.  It doesn't to anything fancy but would probably handle anything to do with quilting.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2008

    It's been so long since I've used my sewing machine that I can't remember what it is...Kenmore perhaps.  Anyway, our TV is using it for a TV table. LOL

    When I used to sew...well, that's all I wanted to do was sew.  When I was doing a "project" forget about the house. LOL

    Quilting sounds like fun.  I LOVE quilts.

    Shirley

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  • BarbaraS
    BarbaraS Member Posts: 67
    edited March 2008

    Debbie, I have been sewing quite a bit since diagnosed - it's great therapy, and putting together quilt blocks can be quite theraputic. 

    When I started back sewing some years ago - I bought a simple brother machine at WAlmart - and it was quite serviceable and under $400.  As I got better, it didn't do as I wanted it to, so I upgraded to a newer and much more expensive machine.  The newer Singer and Kenmore machines aren't the workhorses that they used to be - and they don't seem to last as long as they used to.

    Another option would be to look into a used one at a local sewing machine dealer.  All of the now major brands - viking, elna, pfaff, bernina, janome - usually have smaller, easier for beginners to manage machines, and the local sewing machine dealer sometimes has older ones that have been traded in that you can get for a good price.  Janome also makes one called a "Jem" that is very basic - only a few stitches to use, but the cost is also small.  The best thing about the sewing machine dealer is that they have classes (usually free with purchase) if you buy a machine from them and they should have a warranty and trade-up program.  The warranty is the biggest thing - it's hard to get any dealer to honor a warranty for a machine you've bought over the internet

    Barbara 

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  • Isabella4
    Isabella4 Member Posts: 2,166
    edited March 2008

    Hi Debbie.

    I am a very big sewer, when time permits.

    I have 4 sewing machines. A Singer. A Bernina, and a Toyota. The 4th machine is an industrial one, I use mainly for making curtains and bedding....I don't know what make it is, its not a well known make, but it wizzes along a lot faster than my others.

    The Singer cost me about £300...(about $600) the Bernina is a beaut, I think it is Swiss, and I payed £700 ($ 1400) for it. But the Toyota is the one I always get out first. I bought it as a spare when one of my others was playing me up, it cost me about £85 ($150)

    Its dead simple, sews well, is lightweight, and just does everything all the others do, apart from good buttonholes, at a fraction of the cost.

    If you are just going to try out sewing go for the cheapie, you could even get one on eBay at less cost!

    I just bought my DD a Toyota, I was forever asking her to bring mine back, she seemed to use it as much as I did.

    I have just read back and see you are wanting to quilt, I never quilt, so all I've just written could be piffle !!!!

    But for just a normal everyday machine, don't spend the earth, get a Toyota.

    On eBay UK there are absolutely loads of machines, a lot look like they are just about brand new, for a fraction of the cost of one from a shop.

    Sewing keeps me out of mischief, I just shut myself in my spare bedroom, on with the radio, and out with my machine, and I'm happy for a few hours, especially in winter when there's nothing to do in the garden.

    Isabella.

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  • Bren-2007
    Bren-2007 Member Posts: 6,241
    edited March 2008

    For quilting and simple projects I would recommend a machine w/o a lot of bells and whistles.  I like my old Singer. I used to do more advanced sewing, now stick to simple stuff.

    I think you'll have lots of fun with the quilting.  The time will fly by and you'll have beautiful projects when you're done.  You'll get addicted to buying fabric!!!!

    Have fun!

    Bren

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited March 2008

    Ah, Bren, you've hit on the real problem. The issue for Debbie is not what sort of machine, but what sort of shelving for all the fabric she's bound to gather. Chunks and hunks of this and that, saved scraps of every project ever attempted, gorgeous lengths of everything that catches her eye. So much fabric, so little time!

    Enjoy, Debbie!

    Binney 

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