The Sewing Room

upsy-daisy_3

Pennib your sock monkeys are gorgeous. I hope one day i can make one as beautiful!! Do you knit there hats/scarfs etc or buy them? x

Rikki

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

I got a call today about my machine. They confirm it is broken but they don't have the spare part in so they will either send me a new machine or I can upgrade (obviously at extra cost) if I prefer. Since getting the machine I have used it loads and would like to go on to sewing curtains and also trying quilting embriodery. Is anyone knowledgable enough to have a look and see what machine might be best for my needs? Here is the link to their site. I don't have a fixed budget in mind but I think mine was about £90 so I could add to that about another £150 or so. I've looked but my concentration levels make it difficult for me to read much at the moment.

I've heard good reports about this machine JANOME 110. It's an old looking style with a light aluminium body and not much more than your one at £169 plus the extra's like sewing machine bag, scissors and threads. I'd have thought you would have got them too. I'd certainly be asking if they were on offer.

shirlgirl2004

Rikki wrote: »

I've heard good reports about this machine JANOME 110. It's an old looking style with a light aluminium body and not much more than your one at £169 plus the extra's like sewing machine bag, scissors and threads. I'd have thought you would have got them too. I'd certainly be asking if they were on offer.

Don't think I'd get the freebies because I got them when I bought the other one and I haven't returned them. Thanks for the recommendation.

flossie217

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

Since getting the machine I have used it loads and would like to go on to sewing curtains and also trying quilting embriodery. Is anyone knowledgable enough to have a look and see what machine might be best for my needs? Here is the link to their site. I don't have a fixed budget in mind but I think mine was about £90 so I could add to that about another £150 or so. QUOTE]

It is very difficult to choose a machine for someone else so I'll pass on to you the advice given to me from 'thesewingforum'
Spend as much as you can afford on your machine. You will be surprised at how quickly to might outgrow it's basic functions.
(This is true in your case as you already would like to try quilting and embroidery.)
I had a budget of £200 and a sewing teacher recommended the Janome 525s - £229. She said that the machine handles everything the students ask of it and they are steady, reliable machines.'
I managed to find a little more money and plumped for the SMD/Janome 5124 - £269. I'm really pleased with it and it handles multi layers of fabrics effortlessly. I specifically chose a machine with a seven piece feed dog knowing that I wanted to have a go at quilting.
I suggest you make a list of the things you want from your new machine and the projects it must work for you. Tomorrow when you can think a bit clearer have another look at the website. Choose a couple of machines you are interested in, then phone them for a chat about what they think would be a wise purchase for your needs. Make sure you choose at least one right at the top end of your budget, they may be able to come up with a good deal for you.
Please let us know which machine you decide upon, I'm quite excited for you. I'd love to have the money to upgrade as I would like more embroidery stitches.
Good luck and happy shopping.

flossie217

Forgot to say that I have heard that the Simplicity machines by Janome are supposed to be good.

shirlgirl2004

Thanks I had noticed the Janome simplicity dm3000 but also wondered on the Brother Innov Is 350SE. Not sure that Brother is a very good make though. I just liked the idea of script on it I wouldn't use anything other than straight and zigzag otherwise. Will have a look at the 5124 if they still have it. Recommendation always helps.

pennib

upsy-daisy wrote: »

Pennib your sock monkeys are gorgeous. I hope one day i can make one as beautiful!! Do you knit there hats/scarfs etc or buy them? x

Thank you, yes I do knit their outfits. It's quite theraputic.:)

pennib

Wam73; your bag looks so nice, what a shame. Never mind we all learn by
our mistakes and as long as it doesn't put you off making anything else.

Savvy_sewing

All this talk of machines is above my head! oops.
My sewing machine is a Silver 502, Had it since 2003.! This is the new one!
My overlocker is a mylock, and its at least 17 years old.
My spare machine is around 30 years old. Its also a janome combi!
I will hasten to add, that I dont do embroidery on a machine, just the odd fancy stitch, and I havent quilted much. But I have sewn everything I needed.
If I wanted a new machine, I want one that has all the disney characters on it, but at over £2,000 I think not in this life time!.

I have made literally hundreds of wedding dresses, (adveraged over 300 a year when I was at the height of my buisiness, on home machines, the combi and the overlocker. with an old singer sewingmachine as back up, but i leant that to someone who wanted to learn to sew, and never saw it again!).

I have also made curtains, leather waistecoats, and complete sofa and armchair covers.
N

danemi1

don't know if anyone remembers me asking about putting a shaped piece of fabric onto my daughters denim jacket and being worried about it fraying and someone on here kindly said about bondaweb - thank you and on those lines I have just found this tutorial
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheCraftyGemini#p/u/1/k1OahzmtM50
have been looking at all kinds of tutorials since I got in from work - think I am hooked!