The Sewing Room

annie-c

cte1111 wrote: »

I'm thinking of buying my first sewing machine, which I would like to use to make curtains, cushion covers and maybe when I get the hang of it clothes.

Does anyone have recommendations please? I'm very drawn to the brightly coloured ones like these:
http://www.grattan.co.uk/Pink-Sewing-Machine-P608/productdisplay.stm?An=673&Ntt=sewing+machine&A=43T908_&N=0&Nty=1&Nao=0&Au=P_MasterItem&Nu=P_MasterItem&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&Ns=P_Colour%7C0%7C%7CP_Size%7C0&Ntk=PRIMARY
http://www.johnlewis.com/231292042/Product.aspx
http://www.overstock.com/Crafts-Sewing/Hello-Kitty-Janome-Sewing-Machine/4584360/product.html?cid=133635

However my Mum thinks that the ones in the £50 price range are often only suitable for very light materials and wouldn't be much use for curtains. What do you guys think?

You might just about make lightweight-medium weight curtains on a mini machine but I think they are best really for children to learn on and/or for light crafts, clothes repairs etc. This kind of machine is popping up all over the place since Janome/John Lewis started selling them, and they are a big improvement on the tiny machines that are sold by JML and on tv informercials, but they are still quite small and lightweight for tasks such as curtain making.

For £50 you could take a risk on one of the cheaper full-size machines that often turn up at Argos/supermarkets etc. Poundstretcher currently has one here (OOS online but plenty in my local store): http://www.poundstretcher.co.uk/hyundai-60-stitch-sewing-machine.html

The problem with cheaper machines generally is that if something goes wrong, they are not always repairable. But Poundstretcher is good at offering refunds within the 12-month guarantee so, if you could justify the £50 as being 'paid-for' by the savings on the first year's worth of curtain/cushion making and see any longer life of the machine as a bonus, then it might be a worthwhile way to get into sewing. I bought a £60 machine at Tesco 6+ years ago and it is still going strong, though I have upgraded to a computerised machine now.

Other alternatives would be to ask on freecycle if anyone is giving anything suitable away or to consider second-hand. Ebay is of course an option, but also some sewing machine dealers will have second-hand machines that they have taken in part-exchange, and may be willing to sell cheaply with some kind of warranty.

Georgiabay

Rufusdog, your jacket and bag are fantastic! You're very talented making them without a pattern; and so quickly.

hmo

i want to make a couple of gifts for teachers any ideas please, apart from tissue pockets and lavender sachets i cannot think of anything else.

xxvickixx

hmo wrote: »

i want to make a couple of gifts for teachers any ideas please, apart from tissue pockets and lavender sachets i cannot think of anything else.

What about a shopping bag, like the bags for life type thing? I'm doing snowman soup and mug for the ones at DS preschool but was wondering about making something special for his key worker too but haven't worked out what yet!

gingerandrubarb

xxvickixx Your innotab bag is amazing, you should definately get those on Etsy or Amazon or folksy or anywhere you possibly can They would sell out i'm sure x

ChocolateIsLife

Managed to finish the jewellery roll, complete with zips. Pretty pleased with how it turned out.


This is the shopper I made too, looks better in real life though, was pleased I managed to do a buttonhole on it!

Rikki

For those interested Kirsty Handmade Britian and missed this weeks episode it's being repeated now on Channel 4.

thifty

hmo wrote: »

i want to make a couple of gifts for teachers any ideas please, apart from tissue pockets and lavender sachets i cannot think of anything else.

Hi,
I'm a teacher and I think it's lovely you are thinking about making something handmade. Unfortunately I'm a secondary school teacher and no-one buys us things anyway as it's not cool to be seen to like your teachers!
I use loads of tote bags for marking and I never seem to have enough so that would be a good idea. Or a make-up bag or a jewellry roll or an apron - in fact I would be so overjoyed someone had bothered to make me a homemade gift I don't think I would care exactly what! hth

Savvy_sewing

Georgiabay wrote: »

Vicki that looks great!

Mooloo you are so lucky with your fabric, you must be like a kid in a sweet shop.

I certainly was. Alas I havent had much time to do anything as Thursday and Friday was full of Social workers and doctors. We had to take DGD to Hospital and stayed in on Friday. Came out yesterday but have to go back again in the morning. So no sewing for me these last few days.
Maybe will catch up later in the week.
Next weekend I am away on a crafting course to make Tree decorations with my friend. Its a WI course, over Friday/Sat/Sun so its a residential. All food included. But take your own fabrics. Well I have certainly got alot of those!!!
I have been very lucky this year with several offers of fabrics from people.
I have had another offer from someone whos granny has died, and the Mum wants the sewing stuff to go to someone who would appreciate it.! I shall be so excited when that arrives. It will be some time though, as it will be when her sister is visiting up in this area. But I was so thrilled to be asked if I wanted it.

The makes are all wonderful once again. Inspiration just flows from this site.

fatblackandwhite

I am so excited. Got my monkey pattern from Funky Friends Factory, got enough fabric to make tons of monkeys (aiming for three for three special children) and just dug my sewing machine out and found it is in perfect working order. All because of the inspiration I get from this site. Cant wait to post a completed make!