singer vs bernina
Julie Kadashevich
I am using an old faithful 20 year old Singer 247 (no fancy settings
or options, just straight and zig zag). One of these days I might need
to buy a new sewing machine. What can a fancy expensive sewing machine
do that my Singer cannot? Can I expect it to last it over 20 years like
my Singer?
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Julie Kadashevich (kad...@ftp.com)
Pamela Hubbard
new, never any problems, never needed servicing, it sews anything
perfectly. Does that answer your question? Bernina has a EXCELLENT
reputation for durability and reliability that they have truly earned.
Pam Hubbard, mahu...@msn.com
Judge Yohn
I think you can expect a good machine purchased today to last 20 years,
as your old Singer has. Sewing machines are still built to take a lot
of use; however, I prefer Bernina's because they use a lot more metal
inside the machines for gears and such -- some others really go
overboard on the plastic insides, which do not wear as well.
Fancy machine can do a whole *lot* of things
the Singer can't, but what these things are varies somewhat with brand
and mdoel of machine.
In terms of Bernina (which I have and truly love), the
computerized model 1260 offers such things as automatic buttonholes
exactly the same size as the first buttonhole you make, preset length
and width settings for each of the many stitches offered (so you can
press a button for the stitch and immediately sew -- no need to check
width and length unless you want to override the defaults), many
automatic decorative stitches, a decorative alphabet (you can program
in someone's name, then automatically stitch out the whole name),
stitches specifically designed for sewing stretch fabrics, a knee
lift (great for applique, so you can lift the presser foot to turn
your fabric without either hand leaving the fabric), ability to have
the needle always stop in the uppermost position or the down position,
ability to change that up/down position by tapping your heel on the
foot pedal, etc. ad nauseum. It really is a tremendous pleasure to
sew on a machine of this quality!
Bernina's 1630 has the capability of hooking into a PC, but I
personally do not like the ball tracking/menu system of this machine
and regard the 1260 as the truly "classic" Bernina.
Viking 1+ also can be hooked up to a PC, so you can draw your own
embroidery designs (or scan them into your computer), digitize them,
and then let the sewing machine sew them out for you. It is not
the precision sewing machine the Bernina is, however.
Mary
Qframe
has served me well although it has had to be rebuilt once. Seems that
those types of Singers have plastic insides that eventually crack up.
Have had my Bernina for 2 years and love it. Berninas have metal guts
that I'm told will hold up over the long haul. We'll see. Also have a
Babyllock serger 848D which I've had for 5 years..It's been great too.
RosellenE
does the repair work loves machines and will do anything to keep one
going. However he has told me that the Singer of about twenty years ago
is a disaster. The gears are made out of plastic. And when one goes
the restof the machine is not worth repairing because the rest will begin
to break within a year. Singer no longer provides parts for some The
old Singers were made of metal and they are still wonderful machine.
Singer is no longer made in the USA but in four countries in Asia.
Quality control is not always there.
Bernina is made in Switzerland. The Pfaff in Germany and Viking in
Sweden. All countries known for quality of manufacture.
Do not forget the dealer either. Will they stand behind thier machines.
We had a serger that came in last week. She got a"great" value at a
liquidating House of Fabric. When it did not work she took it back and
they would not take it back because they were going out of business. So
much for service.
Julie Kadashevich
>
>I work in a store that has a sewing machine repair service. The guy who
>does the repair work loves machines and will do anything to keep one
>going. However he has told me that the Singer of about twenty years ago
>is a disaster. The gears are made out of plastic. And when one goes
>the restof the machine is not worth repairing because the rest will begin
>to break within a year. Singer no longer provides parts for some The
>old Singers were made of metal and they are still wonderful machine.
>Singer is no longer made in the USA but in four countries in Asia.
>Quality control is not always there.
to oil and clean - not a single plastic part and it works like a champ!!!!
And it was one of the cheaper models - cost me $110 in 1976. So either it is
model dependent... or a guy is trying to make sale.
--
Julie Kadashevich
(kad...@ftp.com)
Cathy Artigues
>Bernina is made in Switzerland. The Pfaff in Germany and Viking in
>Sweden. All countries known for quality of manufacture.
It's been about five years since I researched this, so things may have
changed, but at that time most Pfaffs and Berninas were made in Asia.
Only the expensive machines near the top of the line were made in
Europe. I was in the market for a good mechanical machine and ended up
with a Pfaff Hobbymatic 955 (from Japan, I think) which I love.
Cathy Artigues
arti...@sisna.com
Julie Kadashevich
>The old Singers are amazing. You can rescue one from a thrift shop, fix
>the tension, oil it up, and you have a sweet piece of machinery.
Last week in a conversation with my SO's grandmother sewing machines
came up, and she told me that her 100 (!!!) year old Singer still
works! Pretty imppresive, eh? :-)
--
Julie Kadashevich
(kad...@ftp.com)
Cheryl Netter
....
>
> The old Singers are amazing. You can rescue one from a thrift shop, fix
> the tension, oil it up, and you have a sweet piece of machinery.
>
> Marilyn
The machine that sews the best in my house is my mom's Singer from
the 1940's ( a treadle machine). She always kept it in perfect
working order.
I purchased an even older Singer head a few years back for $3.00
(forward stitch only). I suspect it was removed from the cabinet
so the cabinet could be turned into a piece of furniture.
It was filthy, but I cleaned it up and it sews fine.
--
cheryl netter
http://www.interealm.com/p/cnetter
DDuperault
<72420...@CompuServe.COM> writes:
>Hi, I have a old singer sewing machine that was my mothers. It
>must be at least 25 years old, so it doesn't have all the fancy
>gagets to it. It needs to be repaired, some days I can sew fine,
>other days the bobbin gets all tied up and the stitches are
>uneven. My husband wants to treat me to a new machine, I was
>thinking of buying a singer, because I thought they were the
>best. Now I am beginning to wonder. A new singer with some
>features runs about $300. Now I don't know what to do. Thanks,
>Pat
Pat,
Before you decide on a new machine take the old one in for a service
cleaning and tune up. It will cost you MUCH less than a new machine, and
might just be the kick you need to start enjoying it again.
If you still don't like it, ask yourself why. Is there some feature you
want or need? Or is it just the idea of a "new" machine that you're in
love with?
If you do decide to go shopping for a new machine, make a list of
features you want or need. Figure out what you can afford to spend. Be
open to all models, but be ready to make comparisons and decisions based
on the treatment you get from the various dealers and the "ride" you get
on the machines. Take sample fabrics and TEST DRIVE EVERY MACHINE you are
considering. You can't know if you are happy with the machine unless you
try it. It's like buying a car....
Take notes as you shop, then go home and wait at least a day. Think
about what you looked at. Which ones did you like and why? Which ones did
you hate, and why? How do they compare to what you have?
Dawn
Judge Yohn
actually called Bernette's to distinguish them from the
better quality machines. Bernina's are expensive, but there
are a number of them in the line -- currently I think the
1031, 1080, 1090S, 1260, 1530, and 1630. They probably
start at around $1,000.
Mary
Julia M. Sidebottom
In a previous article, kad...@ftp.com (Julie Kadashevich) says:
>In article <4h1ns2$3...@acme.freenet.columbus.oh.us>, Marilyn Root says...
>>The old Singers are amazing. You can rescue one from a thrift shop, fix
>>the tension, oil it up, and you have a sweet piece of machinery.
> Last week in a conversation with my SO's grandmother sewing machines
> came up, and she told me that her 100 (!!!) year old Singer still
> works! Pretty imppresive, eh? :-)
>
>--
>Julie Kadashevich
>(kad...@ftp.com)
>
>
Well I spent my patchworking and piecing today at my wonderful 1889
Singer Treddle. The stitch is perfect as I mentioned before and I just
"had" to use it!
these older machines were made to last! And they are work horses!
They may not have many bells and whistles for the most part but they just
hummmmm along and don't even miss a beat! This treddle machine was my
first sewing machine that I picked up for $3.00 when I was only 9 years
old. And I have had it close to 40 years now myself! And in all that time
<even through a fire> it has never missed a beat! I am still in the
clouds that after a 20 year wait I was able to get it back! All it
required was a good oiling and I tightened the belt a bit and BINGO!
That perfect stitch was back in business! And it is quieter than my
eletric machines are!
well I just thoght I would share this with you. Today I have only done
up 4 blocks... and I only have one more block to go to have all the
blocks I want for the Missouri Star Quilt that I will be finishing up
here real soon...
Now for the "joke of the day"... My SO said to me there is only one
draw back with my winning any of the exchanges or being in any other
fabric exchanges... I am making to many quilts! He cannot see why I am
making all these lovely quilts.... HA! They may not win any prizes but
they will labe keepsakes for my kids and their kids and the make the best
gifts for the very special people in my life!
Julia
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