The Sewing Room

pennib

Laura as a novice (have you done any machine stitching?) I would go for a simpler machine
and then if you get the sewing bug upgrade later on.

pennib

That's a lovely bag, looks very neat. I like the lining what you going to use it for?

Georgiabay

Thanks pennib. It's just to put some spare keys in. They were in a little Superdrug bag but kept poking through the sides so I thought I'd make something a bit more substantial.

Rikki

moneysavinglaura wrote: »

Hi Rikki - what is the advantage to this machine? I see iti s computerised, being as novice, will this help or should I go for a simpler machine?
Cheers
Laura

I would say it has an advantage but at the time I bought it, it was the next level for me.

It's strong enough for making curtains and cushion covers. Delicate enough for dressmaking with embroidery stitches for adding your own personal touch to a cuff, hem or collar. Where ever you liked really.
It also has two alphabet settings which I used for the children's clothes.
Mines still going strong after 17 years. :eek: I didn't realise it was that old. I wouldn't part with it and have never found it lacking or the need to replace it.

A good all rounder and not difficult to use, but maybe not a starter machine for some-one who has never sewn before.

And that's not my machine on eBay.:p

shelley_crow

I've just gone to use my sewing machine and the thread keeps popping out of the machine, it's very annoying because I'd got 1/2 way around a baby quilt and it went.

I've double checked that i'm threading the needle right, has anyone else had this happen?x

23rdspiral

hi everyone, sorry i've a quick, possibly very silly, question... i'd like to zig zag stitch the edges of some bunting. i've done this before, no problem, but now it wont work. and i just can't figure out why!

i've misplaced my manual so i cant check it and cant find it, or any other real help online.... (Elna 2005). but perhaps it isnt my machine and i'm just being a numpty!

~ the second stitch of each zig zag doenst hold, so i end up with a patchy line. i've tried the tension, lentgh, width ect but no combination is helping! i've checked the hole in the presser foot is wide enough to take the stitch and i think it is. what on earth am i doing wrong?! Please help!

moneysavinglaura

Rikki wrote: »

I would say it has an advantage but at the time I bought it, it was the next level for me.

It's strong enough for making curtains and cushion covers. Delicate enough for dressmaking with embroidery stitches for adding your own personal touch to a cuff, hem or collar. Where ever you liked really.
It also has two alphabet settings which I used for the children's clothes.
Mines still going strong after 17 years. :eek: I didn't realise it was that old. I wouldn't part with it and have never found it lacking or the need to replace it.

A good all rounder and not difficult to use, but maybe not a starter machine for some-one who has never sewn before.

And that's not my machine on eBay.:p

Thanks for your help, I think I'm going to go for the Tesco Singer machine given that I'm currently in a clueless state re. sewing!
Then once I've got the hang of it (hopefully!) I will be able to upgrade if neccessary to one like yours. At the moment I just need to make some curtains (and lots of) so hopefully it will be fine.

toffee65

Mooloo wrote: »

You will find that you can alter the tension on the dial on the front of the machine, usually, but also on the bobbin case. You can also make a difference with the Weight of the foot. There is usually a silver thing that looks like a nut and bolt at the top of the arm the foot is on. This can be pushed down to make it grip the fabric etc depending on the type of fabric that you use. The dogfeed also grips the fabric as it passes through between the foot and the plate.

Sorry, maybe I will have confused you with that. Wish I could do tutorials with pictures etc!
I will have to learn how to do all the technical stuff!! Sewing is easy. Machines are usually logical to work out. Its the computer and the photos that mess me up!!

Good advice there about remembering you also have to adjust the bobbin case screw...if anyone does do this when you fiddle a tip here is to turn the screw by a quarter at a time and recall how many times. Then if that doesn't work or you go too far you always know how far to set it back to. I'm a sewing machinist by trade...not many of us about these days. Good to see you lot getting back into it.

I know what you mean about how to tell someone how to use/fix a machine in words is so much harder than showing.

dizzytina

Evening everyone,

Love your sock monkey Pennib and Vicki and your bag Georgiabay.

Sorry i haven't had much time to log on this week. I have almost finished the tutorial i promised to post on the childs pump bag so i'll put that on my blog this week. I have also made a quick bag.

flossie217

Hi everyone. I'm enjoying seeing all you are making.
I found this and thought some of you would enjoy watching some of the videos for ideas. I especially like the video on making an apron from a tea towel and thought it would be good for beginners as it is all straight line sewing - also good for Christmas pressies.
http://tutorials.missouriquiltco.com/