New post time at Gothic Charm School!

[cupcake_goth]

Of Cropped Heads, Thrift Stores, And Sewing. And Baggy Trousers.

The Finishing School of Flail and staxxy were wonderful beta readers. Because really, they always are, and I'm very grateful for that.

You lovely folks know the routine: please help spread the word about the new post! Thank you!

Comments

[theosakakoneko.livejournal.com]

It was a great post. Though I have to say I think White's basic machines are worth about their weight in sand, more or less, and not a penny more. Brother on the other hand seems to be quite nice. XD

[fidgetypaleone.livejournal.com]

This is probably way too much of a reply, but I've met people who never wanted to sew again after running into avoidable frustration.

After 25 years of sewing and some pattern drafting etc., I consider myself an expert sewist. While I was in nursing school, I worked for a family friend in a sewing machine shop, selling machines and teaching classes. After all these years I have one fancy schmancy machine that I love, and one machine that I purchased used for 1/6 of what it sold for new.

The shop owner that I worked for serviced machines, and included the first year of parts and service free with purchase, so he was careful to sell quality machines- because he would wind up paying for any broken parts in the first year.

I think it's important for a beginner to have a machine that's easy to use, decently priced, and unlikely to need costly repairs. A frustrated beginner will often not try again. Plus, if someone finds sewing isn't for them, they can sell a decent machine to someone else.

Unfortunately these days, White and Singer no longer manufacture their machines, they contract out and re-brand machines, so it's possible to get a good machine by these brand from years back, but it's hit or miss now.

Brother makes 2 lines: Brother Pacesetter, which is only sold through dealers (sewing machine shops) and Brother, sold at big box stores (when I worked at the sewing machine repair place, the repair guy would often open up the machine and advise people to return it to the store, because the parts for the "bargain" machine were often more expensive than the machine was purchased for)

I know that Baby Lock, Brother Pacesetter, and Janome make some quality, easy-to-use, bottom-of-the-line models. Viking and Pfaff make good machines, but they're more expensive and probably out of the range of beginners. Both of my personal machines are Elna.

Another strategy is purchasing used machines from a reputable source (so you are able to test that it works, etc.). Repair shops often have machines that have been traded in or machines that were never picked up after repair. I saved quite a bit of money by purchasing a used model made several years back.

Some last advice to help new sewists avoid major frustration: Choose the right sewing machine needle for the fabric and then change the machine needle after 8 hours of sewing - they get dull and then start making holes or runs in your fabric.

Spend slightly more to get quality thread - if it come in a bin 3 spools for $1, it's likely to break and jam in the machine. It's not a bargain if it doesn't work well.

Use sharp scissors to cut fabric and trims and don't use them for paper - paper dulls scissors and then they don't work well for fabric and trim.

[theosakakoneko.livejournal.com]

Elna is such a good brand. I heard they don't make them anymore? Both my mother and grandmother's machines are Elnas.
I use a Brother "Enthusiast" machine; it's computerized and does embroidery. It's probably the cheap side of Brother...but it's worked out excellently for me thus far! I used to have a cheapo White which caused me more headache than I like to remember.

[fidgetypaleone.livejournal.com]

(tangential conversation)
You are correct. Elna was once a Swiss brand & made there. Then, the company was sold out of country, but there was still a Swiss engineer, hence "Swiss design". I guess the one Swiss guy retired and the machines are now made by Janome. (Including my Quilter's Dream Pro that I love)

[staysonpaper.livejournal.com]

Another possible sewing machine recommendation would be to look for a vintage Singer on Craigslist or some such. They can be quite cheap (I got mine for $50 including a cabinet), and they are TANKS. For the price of a single servicing, they'll go and go and go. Mine is a 201, I believe from the 1930's, and I adore it. (Plus, they're prettier than new ones!) I bought it to replace the new, cheap machine I bought from Wal-Mart when it died after less than a year of use, which is why I bring it up.

Sorry to jump in offering advice, it's just something I have thought a fair bit about in my day.

[m-cobweb.livejournal.com]

I've got an old Kenmore that my grandmother gave me for college graduation many *ahem* years ago, and it's still doing fine. It's a real workhorse.

[tinkerbell86ca.livejournal.com]

Ooooo! I wish I knew how to work my grand-mum's sewing machine! it's from the 1930s, pea soup green, and a MONSTER! I think it weighs almost as much as a normal 13 year old girl.

And darn you! Now I want to go thrift shopping for summer cloths! . . . Well, I'll take your advice and make it an outing with a friend! Yaaay!

!

[munin-and-hugin.livejournal.com]

I wandered over here from a comment you left at Cleolinda's page, and find that you are the author of the wonderful little book I just finished devouring! (Wow, is the internet a teeny tiny place...)