Need advice re: sewing machine
Ron M.
specific advice on selecting a sewing machine. This one is for our
daughter - she's a sophomore in college, majoring in textiles/fashion
design. Of course, she needs to learn sewing, and is ready to get
started. She has virtually no sewing experience, but is "chomping at
the bit" to have her own machine and get started.
Of course, she's mainly interested in just creating neat clothing, not
making quilts, curtains, pillows, etc. She's a hardcore fashion
addict, and will spend hours just staring at fashion catalogs,
studying how different clothing articles are designed, put together,
and so on.
We can't afford some high-dollar machine right now, and I'm assuming
that in a few years, after she gets more professional in her work,
she'll know what she *really* wants, anyway. But for now, just to
"learn how to sew basic clothes" from patterns bought down at the
fabric store, what would be a good machine for her to start with? For
example, how about a Brother XR-35LCD? Here's a web page showing this
machine:
http://www.sewingmachinestore.com/brotrx21stit.html
Note the additional accessories that can be added. I have NO idea what
these are, as I personally know nothing about sewing. Would this be a
good choice for her, perhaps with some of these accessories? Any
input or advice would be profoundly appreciated.
R.M.
CN Haynes
machine herself for the functions she would more typically use (buttonholes,
hem stitch, some overlock stitches). She may very well do with a good used
machine (most dealers sell used machines with warrentees).
There is an online review of many of the machines:
http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00130.asp
I like this because it gives a suggested retail price. Though I do note
that I did buy one of the machines on the list for considerably less than
what is listed on their chart
(http://www.sewingmachinestore.com/brotpcbesbuy.html )
"Ron M." <rmor...@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:d7fc3008.02101...@posting.google.com...
Ron M.
applicable here, as she has ZERO experience with sewing machines. I
don't think she's ever even been near one, much less knows what an
"overlock stitch" is.
"CN Haynes" <cnha...@my-deja.com> wrote in message news:<M93q9.20930$Fz.5...@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.net>...
Charlie
anyone.
What's she doing taking a textiles / fashion design course if she has never
used a sewing machine before? I'd have thought that you would have to have
some experience! I'm not being funny, but it's taken me years to learn
basic things like sewing straight and how to cut things properly!
--
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Kate Dicey
to take some sewing lessons before buying a machine. How can one get ON
a textiles course without having done some in school, and at least got a
good A Level in Textiles or the equivalent? That would mean she at
least knew one end of a sewing machine from another, though it includes
nothing like the wonderful wads of practical sewing I did at school.
Kate XXXXXX
Charlie
Fortunately we have a very good art department and lovely teachers. All the
similar uni courses over here need either A-Level Textiles or A-Level art
and design with GCSE Textiles. I'm sure elsewhere can't be that different!
Milhous: We got to spread this stuff around, lets put it on the Internet
Bart: No, we have to reach people whose opinions actually matter
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"Kate Dicey" <ka...@diceyhome.free-online.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3DA95FE7...@diceyhome.free-online.co.uk...
Fittingtips2
Design students (not from our school) who can't produce the garments they draw.
They come to me to teach them to draft and sew. One student was second yearat
her school and didn't understand how to draft a skirt facing and rotate out
the dart.
In her defense I must say I have never seen a student with such a wonder sense
of fabric. Her choices were incredible! She couldn't sew
Currently in my Beginning Class I have a future design student. Her mom told
her if she wanted to design she needed to know how to sew - wise mom. Early on
she told me she didn't know sewing would be so hard. I don't yield on seam
allowances and pinning correctly so the seams come out the same length.
Karen
Kay Lancaster
> This is fairly common advice - "try it out first," but really isn't
> applicable here, as she has ZERO experience with sewing machines. I
> don't think she's ever even been near one, much less knows what an
> "overlock stitch" is.
A really good dealer (and there are some absolutely fantastic dealers
out there) will spend the time with her to show her how to use the
basic machine functions, will talk with her and show her samples of
incorrect and correctly made stitching, and will have *her* sew on
fabric samples with different machines.
Another possibility: some dealers have beginning sewing classes,
as do agencies like community colleges and adult education or recreation
departments, usually with decent sewing machines. A few week's
of getting her feet wet in class will definitely help her machine
shopping knowledge and ability.
I presume from your email address you're in or near Austin, TX. I know
I've heard good things about a couple of fabric stores there, Silk Road
in particular -- they may know who has beginner sewing classes, who
the good dealers are, or even point her to someone who teaches privately.
There's also a program I've not seen called "sew young, sew fun", that's
meant for teenagers learning to sew. If it's available in your area,
tape it... I'll bet there are segments on basic machine use.
Another possibility: Margaret Islander has a series of videos showing
her methods of sewing (she has taken ready-to-wear sewing methods
and translated them to use on home sewing machines). The videos are
very well produced, and while they don't cover basic, basic machine
use, they'll take her through sewing basic garments (the shirts
and pants videos) and some of the "tricks" to various constructions
(the galaxy videos). She can check with her local library to see
if they have them or can interlibrary loan them, or perhaps someone
in her department can lend her some of them. I think the shirts
video might be a good first one for her to watch.
http://www.islandersewing.com
Kay Lancaster
Kay Lancaster
> I might be asking a really dumb question here, and I'm not meaning to insult
> anyone.
>
> What's she doing taking a textiles / fashion design course if she has never
> used a sewing machine before? I'd have thought that you would have to have
> some experience! I'm not being funny, but it's taken me years to learn
> basic things like sewing straight and how to cut things properly!
Actually, it's pretty common, according to Connie Crawford, who taught
draping, patternmaking and basic sewing at FIDM in Los Angeles for many years.
Quite a few students were shocked to find out that a basic sewing class
was required for anyone who wanted to design! Apparently, they figured
they'd make gorgeous sketches and hand them over to the patternmakers and
sewing crew without any need to figure out if a construction was possible,
or if fabric handled as they drew it. ;-) Hem? Seam allowance? What's
that??? ;-) Her Guide to Fashion Sewing with its pictures, a couple of
sentences, picture of the next step, a couple of sentences, etc., etc.
was developed for her design students who had to learn to sew.
Kay Lancaster k...@fern.com
CN Haynes
> applicable here, as she has ZERO experience with sewing machines. I
> don't think she's ever even been near one, much less knows what an
> "overlock stitch" is.
Then at this point she should scout about the sewing stores and take a
sewing course. Many fabric and sewing machine stores have beginning
lessons. Many of these courses are in the evenings or on the weekend for
those folks who work full time... this way she could fit it in while she is
taking textile courses. This is by far a better and quicker way to get
experience with a machine than to buy one and just try. This could prevent
many frustrating hours of trying to figure out why stitches are not coming
out right when you've done something like mis-thread or put in the bobbin
wrong.
She should really start out under the guidence of someone knowlegible BEFORE
buying a sewing machine.
Ron M.
"textiles" is NOT like majoring in "sewing." It's as much as Business
major as it is anything else, studying marketing, advertising,
accounting, retail management, etc. as well as clothing and
textile-related coursework such as organic chemistry, anthropology,
dyes, fabrics, construction, etc. This is heavy-duty college study,
not a "how to sew" class.
In any case, we're still uncertain about the machine choice.
Mechanical vs. computerized. 4-step buttonholing vs. 1-step. It goes
on forever. What we DON'T want to end up with is a machine where she
simply can't do neat work because of the machine's limitations.
We'd really like to keep it under about $500 - $600. Some online
places have a Brother PC2800 for about $499, and one place has a
PC3000 for $619. It's my understanding, though, that the factory
warranty isn't any good on machines bought this way, and dealers
wouldn't work on them anyway. On the other hand, if we buy one at a
dealer, these same machines are $900 - $1400, way out of our price
range. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
RM
Fittingtips2
I sew on a top of the line machine - I like the "bells and whistles", but I
could produce a garment of equal quality on a bottom of the line machine,
because I know how.
Karen
Kate Dicey
machine because I know all the techniques, but all the bells and
whistles in the world don't help if you don't know how to put a garment
together. I LIKE my bells and whistles, and the machine does the
buttonholes quicker than I do by hand, but if I had to do them that way
I could!
Kate XXXXXX
Ron M.
at a local shop. Doesn't have a zillion gadgets, but seems to be good
solid basic quality, especially for clothing sewing. This is a special
anniversary Husqvarna, made in Sweden (not in Taiwan like some of
their other models). $499 with 5 year carry-in service plan, comes
with a bunch of free lessons.
R.M.
Charlie
> "textiles" is NOT like majoring in "sewing." It's as much as Business
> major as it is anything else, studying marketing, advertising,
> accounting, retail management, etc. as well as clothing and
> textile-related coursework such as organic chemistry, anthropology,
> dyes, fabrics, construction, etc. This is heavy-duty college study,
> not a "how to sew" class.
I understand what goes into a Textiles class. A friend previously studies
Textiles and Fashion Design. They we'ren't allowed to be on the course
unless they could sew! And frankly I'm not suprised they garments they
turned out!
jmka
It sounds like you're on the right track with the Husqvarna. Here is
my two cents worth. I do a lot of garment sewing and would recommend
you look for the following:
-A good buttonholer you can afford (essential for garment sewing !)
-Blind hem stitch
-She might like an overlock stitch for seam finishing. I now use a
serger but they are not necessary-I sewed without one for 35 years
-Personally I do not care about extra stitches and would not spend any
extra money for them. I have 21 on my machine and I only use 3
(straight, zig-zag, blind hem). For years I only used a straight
stitch.
I recommend going to a dealer in your area as opposed to a department
store or online. The quality of machines they carry tend to be
better, however I would not recommend a newer Singer. I sewed on
1940s model for years and it was great, however I now use a 15 year
old model that has been a piece of crap for years and I can't wait
until I can afford a new one. Our local dealer sells Janome and they
seemed like nice machines reasonably priced. I have been sewing for
years and the one I plan to buy is about $400. They might have a less
expensive one if you didn't want to spend that much.
As far as attachments for the Brother, I don't know if the serger foot
mentioned on the website would work but I would definitely recommend a
carrying case (I have a hard plastic one which I like). I never use
any of my attachments or extra feet other than the zipper foot which
should come with the machine.
I've never had a computerized machine myself so a mechanical one might
be okay. Our local dealer has close-out mechanical Janomes for
$150-200 that I was considering for my 16 year old daughter for
Christmas.
Good luck. Although I don't have any experience with a the Husqvarnas
I've heard they are good machines.
Olive
Kate Dicey
stitches, plus the possibility of flipping them vertically and
horizontally, and combining them into new patterns. I use quite a few
of them. I teach 7 & 8 YO's to sew on this machine, and they love it
(especially the boys!).
I have a Husqvarna Lily 550/555. It is a totally brilliant machine for
me, and was worth the extra money for all the decorative bits I thought
I'd never use to get the 10 different styles of fully automatic
buttonhole. (Then the first paying job I got after buying it was a
Christening robe in silk, with rows of self coloured embroidery on it
and a fancy scalloped edge! You live & learn... ) The stretch and
over-edge stitches were a nifty extra, but not essential as I was buying
a new serger the same day, too. They have proved very useful in the odd
small corner or tiny garment where the serger just wouldn't quite go.
Having played briefly with a Sophia in a shop, I would say you are on
the right track: this machine should last for many years. I have looked
at the Husky Star range (made for Husqvarna in the Far East, but solidly
done and nice to use), but prefer the Swedish made main Husqvarna Viking
range. It's a matter of personal choice as much as anything, so take
the user along to try them all out, and see what fits.
Here in the UK all Husqvarnas come with a 5 year guarantee as standard
(you don't pay for it as an extended warranty), and a whole day of free
lessons. If they don't cover it on the program, what you really need to
know are how to get the blind hem right and buttonholes!
Happy shopping!
Kate XXXXXX