The Sewing Room

twistedcandyfloss

annie-c wrote: »

To be perfectly honest, I don't know about the idea of spending more for a Tesco machine.

Something to bear in mind is that Tesco (and Argos, Asda, etc) tend to sell a wide range of machines at this sub £200 end of the market and few of the machines are built to last a lifetime. Tesco does what good supermarkets do and gets good deals and shifts things along quickly, but they don't buy in their stock based on long-term knowledge of sewing machines. Many of their machines do last for years (mine has!) but within this price range, it seems that if something significant goes wrong, it is often the case that replacing the machine can be cheaper than paying the service costs and spare parts. If you are within the warranty, Tesco will give you a refund, if not then there you go...

I have no huge experience of sewing machines but I used thesewingforum.co.uk to get advice on my recent purchases and you might want to look there too. The 'experts' on thesewingforum usually recommend that if you have £150-200 to spend you are best advised to buy from a reputable dealer who will offer a 5-10 year warranty, or to buy a better, higher spec machine second-hand. Few people would recommend spending £200+ on a Tesco machine because Tesco doesn't have the expertise either to select super-reliable machines in the first place or to repair them later.

I guess what I am saying is that I think for "£70" of vouchers, doubled up, you would be getting a bargain with any of the machines in your price range. My machine was 'half-price' at the time, reduced to £59 from £120, and for half-price it was a bargain, like yours would be.

But I'm not sure you will get a significant increase in quality by adding more money to your current fund - because most of the machines at the £150+ price range seem over-priced to me. If you had £150+ cash to spend I would actually be recommending that you switch to buying from a specialist vendor with a different range of machines.

I don't know if that makes sense, but thought I would just share my thoughts....

That all makes perfect sense, thank you very much.
I shall have a ponder on it all, but I think given that I'm practically getting the machine for nothing, even if it lasts me a couple of years its a good deal really. I can then get something a bit more substantial when when i'm more experienced. I shall probably go for the toyota too, so again, thank you.

Keiss, you can register as being self employed on HMRC website and I would suspect (from just looking at the form) that its pretty easy. They'll probably only tell you that you need to fill in a form. HTH

Keiss_21

Thanks twisted.....I probably over-think things and get worked up about it all.

I am working for the local college where I will be paying tax, but I have also just started working for myself, doing IT work for a local craft centre. I am also making things that I plan to sell at a couple of craft fairs in a few weeks time, so things are a bit complicated!!

Will sleep on it and have a look tomorrow online before ringing them.

Savvy_sewing

Keiss_21 wrote: »

Thanks twisted.....I probably over-think things and get worked up about it all.

I am working for the local college where I will be paying tax, but I have also just started working for myself, doing IT work for a local craft centre. I am also making things that I plan to sell at a couple of craft fairs in a few weeks time, so things are a bit complicated!!

Will sleep on it and have a look tomorrow online before ringing them.

If you just keep your books for the amount of money that you have coming in and going out, and then you just declaire it on your tax returns at the end of the year. If they want any more they will let you know.
You will be paying your Taxcode through your employment so I think that you would be given a different bill, or they would change your tax code for future business, but I would check just incase things have changed and I am wrong.

I have been given a huge stash of fabrics from the other granny of DGD2. Yipee So much to play with now!

hmo

Ailsb wrote: »

Hello all. I've finished making some bags and have some fabric left which I thought I'd make matching wallets with.

I have one cut out ready to sew but I can't understand the instructions - in fact I feel really thick as the instructions actually say "Place your exterior pocket pieces, one of exterior fabric and one lining fabric (5" x 2.5") WRONG sides together. Take your binding and sew it into place along one of the long edges. It's pretty easy, I'm assuming everyone can get this part". I can't get my head round what I need to do. :(:(

If any of you lovely ladies have the time to have a look at the instructions and tell me what I need to do I would be extremely grateful. The link to the wallet is http://www.noodle-head.com/2009/10/zippy-wallet-tutorial.html.

I'd give up and try another but I've cut the fabric and don't have enough left to do another one.

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give.

ive made this but cannot remember how i did it, but i think she has her main dark blue fabric and her lining white pattern fabric - wrong sides together with her binding white pattern fabric right side to right side with the white pattern fabric.

she is using it as bias binding so sewing along the fold line on the wrong side she will then turn it over so it overlaps her main dark blue fabric, i think:)

lolarosa90

Hi All,

I want to get into sewing again, buying my first machine Friday and I can hardly wait!

I was wondering where I can get cheap fabric from...? Either order online or a shop? I live in South London and work in Central London (where I spend 70 % of my life!) and would appreciate anyone's hints and tips for getting good quality fabric on a budget

thanks!

Rikki

I want to make a birthday card with the numbers sewn. I am stuck for ideas does any one have any or places to look for inspiration?

Tamster150

Mooloo wrote: »

I just bought a pair of scissors in Ikea this afternoon for £4.99 I used a pair of theirs at the material section, and they seemed fine. And as mine are a bit blunt now, I thought it was nothing ventured nothing gained.
I bought a metre of some beige/cream cheapy stuff, and 2 metres of plain black fabric, ready for linings and tote bags. If I ever actually get to the sewing machine again this next week. So much going on.
I wasnt supposed to go to ikea today, but the morning plans went a bit wrong, so I went for some inspiration for DGD's room, and the sewing room swap around. She will have more room and I will have about 2/3rd less! eek.

I bought some great fabric there last week with Santas on

they are prettty big, I was thinking of putting 2 or 3 santas on a cushion and then some santa bunting? It was £4.99 a M but I had to buy more than 1m so I didnt chop any Santas legs off (my boys would have been heartbroken lol)

Tamster150

lolarosa90 wrote: »

Hi All,

I want to get into sewing again, buying my first machine Friday and I can hardly wait!

I was wondering where I can get cheap fabric from...? Either order online or a shop? I live in South London and work in Central London (where I spend 70 % of my life!) and would appreciate anyone's hints and tips for getting good quality fabric on a budget

thanks!

Goldhawk Rd, which is just outside Shepherds Bush Market or Walthamstow Market are the cheapest & have biggest selection. There is a lovely designer fabric store in Battersea (I think fabrics galore?) I buy most of my bits in Fabricland Kingston (behind the phone boxes) or at a couple of quilting stores.

On the no-chat thread there is a list of online fabric stores.

tirlittan

I went to Fabric Land in Bristol couple of days ago and I was so disappointed! I didn't see any nice fabrics at all! Will have a look at the non-chat thread for online fabric stores..Any recommendations for nice cotton fabrics for bags?

lolarosa90

Tamster150 wrote: »

Goldhawk Rd, which is just outside Shepherds Bush Market or Walthamstow Market are the cheapest & have biggest selection. There is a lovely designer fabric store in Battersea (I think fabrics galore?) I buy most of my bits in Fabricland Kingston (behind the phone boxes) or at a couple of quilting stores.

On the no-chat thread there is a list of online fabric stores.

One in Kingston sounds absolutely perfect! Thank you so much! :j
I go to Kingston quite a lot, now I know where to drag OH on Saturday!

LR