Sewing Machines - a different sort of egghead. - Page 2

DreadPirateRoberts · 08-20-2007, 06:38 AM

Mrs. DPR has a Bernina that she is very happy with, but I think it was slightly more than the $300 budget.

mousepod · 08-20-2007, 08:07 AM

Sorry to chime in so late (the move and all). Heather's advice on the subject:

A well-made new machine will cost more than your new computer. It's true that the less expensive models today are mostly made of plastic, have cheap wiring and aren't made to last. If you have one of the older Singers, chances are it wasn't made in China and it's absolutely worth getting the "tune-up". I still have my great-grandmother's Singer and it still works (yes, I also have a Husqvarna - but those are major commitments price-wise).

Prudence · 08-20-2007, 08:12 AM

This reminds me that when I relocate next, I should try to get my grandmother's old machine from my parents' attic. It weighs a ton. It's ancient. There are no special stitches. It doesn't even do reverse. It's probably indestructible.

Ponine · 08-20-2007, 08:30 AM

Lisa,
I've seen your machine, and I have seen what you sew.

Your machine is a workhorse, no question.

I have brand loyalty to Bernina, but I know that singers, esp the old metal ones, are worth their weight in gold.
Kevy, what did Susan get at costco? I havent looked there recently.

If someone will give your old singer a good cleaning, oiling, and make all the parts shiny cool.. go for it.
It does what you need it to do.
You dont need all the fancy bells and whistles, and if you do, you have myself, Gus Gus, Morri, and DP (and anyone I forgot) to bring our machines over in a bind.

You love that machine, and it loves you.

katiesue · 08-20-2007, 09:07 AM

I got one at Costco a couple of years ago - think it's a singer. Honestly I learned on my Mom's basic black Singer and I would have rather had that. Basic forwards and backwards is what I use the most. Maddy was all into learning to sew so I figured I could use all my 4H skills for something finally.

My mom also has a Husqvarna that she got somewhere in the mid 70's I think that does some fancier stitches.

Swanie got one of the more upscale models (a Brother I think) but since she's never really sewn before it was quite a learning curve to even do basic things on it.

I'd at least get an estimate on what it would be to get the old one cleaned/fixed before doing anything about a new one.

3894 · 08-20-2007, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

What would you buy if you had, oh, say $300 to spend on a new machine? Is that price way below the mark? Am I out of my mind?

Singers are durable and they get the job done. As a kid, I learned on my mom's which she had gotten as a teen in the 1930's. I got my own Singer at age 14 which I kept until two or three years ago - yep, that's decades of heavy use!

Now I have the biggest, baddest Swede on the block - the Husqvarna Viking. If you add a 0 to the price above, you kinda have it. I waited many years for this bad boy. It's like driving a Rolls Royce (not that I ever have but you get the jist).

Babette · 08-20-2007, 12:26 PM

Ooooh, get the old one serviced first. My buddy Mimi has her grandmother's old one. She serviced it and had the powercord replaced. She loves it. I have a newer cheapy one that gives me bobbin trouble all the time. I had to have my 1990s Singer serviced when I snapped the needle sewing through too much fabric. It works, but not very well. I have had two Singers in the past 15 years. They don't make them like they used to.

lizziebith · 08-20-2007, 02:20 PM

As a person who is constantly making costumes I say it depends entirely on the exact model of your Singer whether to pump any $ into it or not. Some Singers were great, others not so. I think $100 for a simple new machine is going to be perfectly adequate for your stated needs. So spending $80 to fix an oldie that may need constant care just makes no sense to me (unless it's one of those awesome REALLY old Singers). And don't spend $300 for the amount of sewing that you say you do. There have been good machines mentioned, but they seem like overkill for what you say you want to do.

Of course spend away if you see one that you just take a shine to...

3894 · 08-20-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babette

They don't make them like they used to.

I should have known. How very sad. This is like the one I learned on and this is very close to the Singer Futura I had for years and years and years.

I'm so out of it.

lizziebith · 08-20-2007, 02:56 PM

That first one looks like the one my mom had, and I learned on, too! Thing was great! I really miss it...

08-20-2007, 06:38 AM	#11
DreadPirateRoberts Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,483	Mrs. DPR has a Bernina that she is very happy with, but I think it was slightly more than the $300 budget.
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08-20-2007, 08:07 AM	#12
mousepod You broke your Ramadar! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,635	Sorry to chime in so late (the move and all). Heather's advice on the subject: A well-made new machine will cost more than your new computer. It's true that the less expensive models today are mostly made of plastic, have cheap wiring and aren't made to last. If you have one of the older Singers, chances are it wasn't made in China and it's absolutely worth getting the "tune-up". I still have my great-grandmother's Singer and it still works (yes, I also have a Husqvarna - but those are major commitments price-wise). __________________ "Give the public everything you can give them, keep the place as clean as you can keep it, keep it friendly" - Walt Disney
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08-20-2007, 08:12 AM	#13
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	This reminds me that when I relocate next, I should try to get my grandmother's old machine from my parents' attic. It weighs a ton. It's ancient. There are no special stitches. It doesn't even do reverse. It's probably indestructible. __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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08-20-2007, 08:30 AM	#14
Ponine Virgin Ears Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,075	Lisa, I've seen your machine, and I have seen what you sew. Your machine is a workhorse, no question. I have brand loyalty to Bernina, but I know that singers, esp the old metal ones, are worth their weight in gold. Kevy, what did Susan get at costco? I havent looked there recently. If someone will give your old singer a good cleaning, oiling, and make all the parts shiny cool.. go for it. It does what you need it to do. You dont need all the fancy bells and whistles, and if you do, you have myself, Gus Gus, Morri, and DP (and anyone I forgot) to bring our machines over in a bind. You love that machine, and it loves you. __________________ There's something strange, There's something wrong. I see a change - It's like when love dies.
	Submit to Quotes

08-20-2007, 09:07 AM	#15
katiesue Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,678	I got one at Costco a couple of years ago - think it's a singer. Honestly I learned on my Mom's basic black Singer and I would have rather had that. Basic forwards and backwards is what I use the most. Maddy was all into learning to sew so I figured I could use all my 4H skills for something finally. My mom also has a Husqvarna that she got somewhere in the mid 70's I think that does some fancier stitches. Swanie got one of the more upscale models (a Brother I think) but since she's never really sewn before it was quite a learning curve to even do basic things on it. I'd at least get an estimate on what it would be to get the old one cleaned/fixed before doing anything about a new one. __________________ My life is so exciting I can hardly stand it.
	Submit to Quotes

08-20-2007, 12:26 PM	#17
Babette Snubbed Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: cupcake heaven Posts: 433	Ooooh, get the old one serviced first. My buddy Mimi has her grandmother's old one. She serviced it and had the powercord replaced. She loves it. I have a newer cheapy one that gives me bobbin trouble all the time. I had to have my 1990s Singer serviced when I snapped the needle sewing through too much fabric. It works, but not very well. I have had two Singers in the past 15 years. They don't make them like they used to.
	Submit to Quotes

08-20-2007, 02:20 PM	#18
lizziebith Wishing these titles could be longe Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Pearblossom CA Posts: 984	As a person who is constantly making costumes I say it depends entirely on the exact model of your Singer whether to pump any $ into it or not. Some Singers were great, others not so. I think $100 for a simple new machine is going to be perfectly adequate for your stated needs. So spending $80 to fix an oldie that may need constant care just makes no sense to me (unless it's one of those awesome REALLY old Singers). And don't spend $300 for the amount of sewing that you say you do. There have been good machines mentioned, but they seem like overkill for what you say you want to do. Of course spend away if you see one that you just take a shine to... __________________ $ DO \|\| !$ DO ; TRY TRY: COMMAND NOT FOUND
	Submit to Quotes

08-20-2007, 02:56 PM	#20
lizziebith Wishing these titles could be longe Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Pearblossom CA Posts: 984	That first one looks like the one my mom had, and I learned on, too! Thing was great! I really miss it... __________________ $ DO \|\| !$ DO ; TRY TRY: COMMAND NOT FOUND
	Submit to Quotes