I'm thinking of getting an electric sewing machine, budget around £140, can anyone make any recommendations? I need it to do all thicknesses of fabric and would ideally like a drop feed and wide choice of stitches.
Thank you  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
 |
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I'm thinking of getting an electric sewing machine, budget around £140, can anyone make any recommendations? I need it to do all thicknesses of fabric and would ideally like a drop feed and wide choice of stitches.
Thank you "
You'll struggle to get all those features for that money. Have you looked at an old second hand Singer? They sew through multiple thicknesses like a tank.
For those features I brought a Brother NX-400 about ten years ago, which cost me about £900. You might be able to get get something like that second hand, although newer Brother's don't always last very well if they're not looked after properly. However I do make gambesons on it, which is multiple layers of fabric, as well as quilt and sew leather. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"I'm thinking of getting an electric sewing machine, budget around £140, can anyone make any recommendations? I need it to do all thicknesses of fabric and would ideally like a drop feed and wide choice of stitches.
Thank you
You'll struggle to get all those features for that money. Have you looked at an old second hand Singer? They sew through multiple thicknesses like a tank.
For those features I brought a Brother NX-400 about ten years ago, which cost me about £900. You might be able to get get something like that second hand, although newer Brother's don't always last very well if they're not looked after properly. However I do make gambesons on it, which is multiple layers of fabric, as well as quilt and sew leather."
Thank you! I've always had second hand you might even say vintage  so didn't really have any idea. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
You might have some luck looking on costume makers groups on Facebook. We sew all kinds of crazy materials to other crazy materials, so there are often threads discussing various machines that are available at various prices. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"You might have some luck looking on costume makers groups on Facebook. We sew all kinds of crazy materials to other crazy materials, so there are often threads discussing various machines that are available at various prices."
I'll go and have a look on FB in a minute. Thanks again |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *rsIdiotWoman
over a year ago
Bedworth |
If you're interested in a janome then go take a look at the John lewis own brand machines. They are made by janome and the only difference is the price!
My tutor on the sewing course I did pointed me to go take a look at them, I ended up with the same machine I'd been learning on at a much lower price |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *ezebelWoman
over a year ago
North of The Wall - youll need your vest |
I learnt how to sew on my Mums old Singer sewing machine. I keep seeing the exact same model in museums these days 
Bet it would still be going strong though if we still had it... |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *rsIdiotWoman
over a year ago
Bedworth |
"I learnt how to sew on my Mums old Singer sewing machine. I keep seeing the exact same model in museums these days
Bet it would still be going strong though if we still had it..."
My niece is learning to sew on my grandma's old hand cranked singer....... I'm very envious, I had no idea my mum had still got it |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"If you're interested in a janome then go take a look at the John lewis own brand machines. They are made by janome and the only difference is the price!
My tutor on the sewing course I did pointed me to go take a look at them, I ended up with the same machine I'd been learning on at a much lower price "
Thank you, on my way to look now |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"I learnt how to sew on my Mums old Singer sewing machine. I keep seeing the exact same model in museums these days
Bet it would still be going strong though if we still had it...
My niece is learning to sew on my grandma's old hand cranked singer....... I'm very envious, I had no idea my mum had still got it"
That's what I'm using now and there isn't anything wrong with it at all and it's beautiful to look at. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"The 'boss' has an 18 yr old singer brought new and its still going strong, cost around a £100 then..
I suspect that it might be a little more than £100 now "
Yes, when I saw the £900 tag it was a  moment but then again you get what you pay for I guess.. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
My mam bought me a brother sewing machine back in the 80's it was quite expensive at the time, fab machine it's still going strong. I've had it 30 years now. We both used it over the years we've sewn everything.
Claire |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
I've recently been given my nans old singer g105. Took me a while go work out how to use it but have recently quilted my advent calendar that I made last year. Love it.
Have downloaded some cool patterns for bags I'm going to attempt in the new year.
Doesn't help.you op but I just wanted to join in the sewing machine bants |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I learnt how to sew on my Mums old Singer sewing machine. I keep seeing the exact same model in museums these days
Bet it would still be going strong though if we still had it..."
We had one of those. It was pedal powered at first,then my dad fitted a motor to it. I made loads of stuff on it when I was a child |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"What are you making OP? "
At the moment I'm thinking of making some heart shaped hanging Christmas decorations and it's quicker by machine but I've made all sorts from a denim jacket to baby clothes and cushion covers etc. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"What are you making OP?
At the moment I'm thinking of making some heart shaped hanging Christmas decorations and it's quicker by machine but I've made all sorts from a denim jacket to baby clothes and cushion covers etc.
 "
This is a bit of a change from fuck, suck or duck |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
A second hand good quality machine has always got to be a better buy than some of the newer cheaper ones.
For an all round robust machine, an older type metal cased Bernina would be a good buy, the same type they use in schools, in 10 years of use and abuse by teenagers , not one of them has ever been damaged beyond use.
I use an old Viking for tough jobs like sewing upholstery fabric and a newer electronic Viking for fiddly stuff |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"What are you making OP?
At the moment I'm thinking of making some heart shaped hanging Christmas decorations and it's quicker by machine but I've made all sorts from a denim jacket to baby clothes and cushion covers etc.
This is a bit of a change from fuck, suck or duck "
No doubt it's pissing off the hardcore Swingers that think about nothing but sex 24/7.
Oops I bumped it again.  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"What are you making OP?
At the moment I'm thinking of making some heart shaped hanging Christmas decorations and it's quicker by machine but I've made all sorts from a denim jacket to baby clothes and cushion covers etc.
This is a bit of a change from fuck, suck or duck
No doubt it's pissing off the hardcore Swingers that think about nothing but sex 24/7.
Oops I bumped it again. "
Ya devil!
Next thing you know we'll be swopping Christmas gingerbread recipes |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Just saw a singer machine in aldi, all bells and whistles for 160. Not sure if it's in all though. "
Unfortunately... new Singer's have a terrible reputation. They rattle themselves apart.
Far better to go second hand. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"The 'boss' has an 18 yr old singer brought new and its still going strong, cost around a £100 then..
I suspect that it might be a little more than £100 now
Yes, when I saw the £900 tag it was a moment but then again you get what you pay for I guess.."
I bought mine because I got a place on a tailoring diploma at the London College of Fashion, before deciding not to follow my Grandfather onto Saville Row... clothesmaking is in my blood, so it didn't seem like such an extravagance. Now I use it for making costume for fantasy roleplaying and dystopian sci-fi... |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
I remember my grandma,s singer with a foot treddle, getting that up the Staircase would have been no mean feat There used to be some little boxed Drawers one either side and all I have Now Is a little pair of embroidery Scissors from out of one of the drawers Apparently their victorian but need Replateing I,ve cleaned them up a bit And they cut quite well the handles on Them are In the shape of a Oryx,s antelopes horns. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"I remember my grandma,s singer with a foot treddle, getting that up the Staircase would have been no mean feat There used to be some little boxed Drawers one either side and all I have Now Is a little pair of embroidery Scissors from out of one of the drawers Apparently their victorian but need Replateing I,ve cleaned them up a bit And they cut quite well the handles on Them are In the shape of a Oryx,s antelopes horns. "
I have the same old Singer desk thing with the little drawers I use it with my electric machines and for cutting metal on.... hope its not valuable |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I remember my grandma,s singer with a foot treddle, getting that up the Staircase would have been no mean feat There used to be some little boxed Drawers one either side and all I have Now Is a little pair of embroidery Scissors from out of one of the drawers Apparently their victorian but need Replateing I,ve cleaned them up a bit And they cut quite well the handles on Them are In the shape of a Oryx,s antelopes horns.
I have the same old Singer desk thing with the little drawers I use it with my electric machines and for cutting metal on.... hope its not valuable"
It just goes to show The quality of the stands they were Built to last probabily cast Iron? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
i maybe male but even i have a singer sewing machine as my mum had one for years, though i did buy mine for 50.00 i got everything with it and extras including the info book with it as well
i have 3 singer books
538
5122
these have the info for repairs and caring for your machines and also stitches that you can do with your machines |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
» Add a new message to this topic
