Do I need a new sewing machine?

soba

Hello all, do you think it's time I treated myself to another sewing machine? Got my old one out of the cubby hole last week as I fancied trying to make a pair of curtains for the living room. After digging through a mound of coats and shoes I managed to drag it out. I mean drag because it's almost too heavy to carry. It's all metal and sits on top of a wooden box kind of thing. It's about twenty five years old. It's really hard to wind a bobbin and the pin that the thread sits on has been bodged (again) by my dad. The foot pedal gets hot enough to inflict third degree burns, and now to add insult to injury it won't even sew in a straight line as the material seems to be feeding under the needle a bit wonky!
I'm no sewing expert but think I may put a newer, lighter model to more use. Looking for something that goes backwards and forwards, and does zig-zag and preferably sews in a straight line. None of this buttonholing malarky or embroidery stuff.
Wadya think?

Greenwellies_2

Hi,

I'm sorry this did make me smile, the delights of having an 'old faithful'

I have a sewing machine circa 1960. It was a friends Mothers, and when She passed away, they thought of me. I put it in for a service and its fine now. I can't remember how much the service cost, but as a gadget lover, I know that the more basic the item, the longer it'll last!

My mum has a 1980's machine and it too has it's faults, it can be a nightmare to thread, the bobbing gets stuck.....

Perhaps you could call a servicing shop, get a quote and compare that against a second hand machine that they may have??

HTH

Greenwellies

chickadee

Soba,
I think the fact that the pedal gets hot would be enough of a hint for me to get a new machine. There is no point getting electrocuted just to sew a pair of curtains is there? Modern machines run so smoothly and even the most basic can do zig zag and buttonholes. You will wonder how you managed with your old one. A new one needn't be too expensive either.

Have I persuaded you yet?

(I don't work for Brother by the way!) :rotfl:

soba

chickadee wrote:

Soba,
I think the fact that the pedal gets hot would be enough of a hint for me to get a new machine. There is no point getting electrocuted just to sew a pair of curtains is there? Modern machines run so smoothly and even the most basic can do zig zag and buttonholes. You will wonder how you managed with your old one. A new one needn't be too expensive either.

Have I persuaded you yet?

:rotfl:

You have, you have!!

Forgot to mention in my original post that the curtains I made are about an inch too short, so I'm blaming that on my sewing machine as well!!

Izzy.

Check out how much it will cost to service it against the cost of a new one. If you can afford it go for the new one. I got rid of an old machine last year and I love my new one.

LizD_2

Have it serviced, if it is a good one like a Singer. My mum has a old Singer hand machine that's been converted to a motorised version, and she swears by it!
The beauty of this type of machine is there's very little to go wrong and parts can be replaced easily.

soba

LizD wrote:

Have it serviced, if it is a good one like a Singer. My mum has a old Singer hand machine that's been converted to a motorised version, and she swears by it!
The beauty of this type of machine is there's very little to go wrong and parts can be replaced easily.

The machine was made by 'ALFA' and I think the man in the shop where I bought it mentioned that it was made in Spain, so not sure if it's possible to get it serviced now. It was done a few years ago, but I think it cost quite a bit then and I'm thinking it's probably going to be cheaper to get another one.

Katinkka

I'd get a new one. I can recommend this site for good discounts. https://www.sewingmachinediscount.co.uk

I have two janome machines which are reliable as well as having lots of fancy stitches.

tootles_2

Have your old one services by all means, but I think on the whole a new machine will benefiit you. Look for one with straight and zig-zag stitch and also things like stretch stitch and an overlocking stitch, most these days also come with a buttonhole built in as standard, its amazing what you can find yourself doing with a modern machine. You will soon find that you use the the extra stitches, I have had Janomes for many years and have never had a problem with any of them. Bernina are very good machines, but they are now made by Janome under licience, so why pay extra for the name...... I had a Bernina years ago and it was a workhorse, I made all my childrens clothes and most of mine on it too, I kept it for a while after I bought my first Janome, but did eventually sell it.... for more than I paid for it.......

A new machine will be lighter and if you get a freeearm model it will give you more flexibility, you will find yourself using it more because it does not take so much effort to haul it out from the cupboard under the stairs...... believe me I know......... I have 2 machines a sewing machine and a specialist embroidery machine, both Janome's.

soba

Katinkka wrote:

I'd get a new one. I can recommend this site for good discounts. www.sewingmachinediscount.co.uk

Thanks for that, just taking a look now.