The Sewing Room

emzeebabez

Chillout5892 wrote: »

Hi there emzeebabez

Hope you don't mind me posting in your the sewing room. I've visited a few times, but never introduced myself.

I would be cautious of the plastic sewing machines sold at about £60. The reason is that their working parts are also made of plastic. This makes them unrepairable. These machines are sold as a (passing) hobby tool. The interior working parts have to move in a rapid fashion and speed creates heat and friction. Heat warps plastic and makes it brittle, increasing the chance of small pieces snapping off, and they will. Sewing machine menders do not repair inexpensively made plastic machines, because they do not contain standard parts.

I think of a sewing machine more as a household essential. In the same way as buying a computer, increases your horizons as to what you can do now you have it, a sewing machine, once mastered will make possible projects which once you would never have considered to ever be within your grasp.

It may be difficult for you to tell the difference between a plastic bodied machine with metal engine parts, and a plastic machine with plastic parts. With new machines, it's price. Once you get to about £120+ you're on safer ground, but check with the vendor. Another problem with lighter sewing machines with plastic outer cases is that although they are easier to move around, they can become unstable at speed as they can vibrate. You can't hold a machine still and sew in a straight line at the same time. Neither do you want to reduce your sewing to 10cms strips at a time.

As keeping costs low is important to you, if there is a sewing machine shop near you, I would recommend you visit and ask if they sell reconditioned secondhand machines with warranties. You will be able to purchase a used machine of a much higher standard for a similar price to a plastic disposable hobby one.

Most sewing machine sellers and committed sewers. A few visits to the shop showing enthusiasm for sewing, and you'll make a friend and they will be far more helpful and likely to meet your needs, rather than try to meet their own. Of course they will try to sell you one with complicated embroidery electronics. Think carefully, are you really going to use those functions? More than 5 times???

The least you need is a machine that can work in reverse, has a buttonhole function, does basic zigzags, a good light and winds bobbins. Make sure you can open it up to,
1. brush out the fluff that it creates and collects from the fabric it sews, and
2 easily oil the moving joints.
These are essential acts of maintenance for all sewing machines owners.
If you don't clean them out the the fluff, it may ignite!!! It's happened to me.

I bought my 'Aisin' which was made in Taiwan about 20 years ago for £40 from a shop once they realised I wasn't going to buy a computerised Neff. (Aisin was bought by and later sold as Toyota.) It is a basic 'landrover' machine. Easy to take apart and maintain. As well as the basics it has 4 stitch sizes, a zigzag width control, needle position control (left, centre or right, handy for putting in zips) a twin needle function and options for blind hemming, stretch fabric blind hemming, overcasting and overlocking (well sort of). But best of all, it got an extension table. I really don't need any more. It's made countless curtains, clothes and bags and furniture covers.

It's used frequently. Built in 1972, it's easily got another 20-30 years in it if not longer, if it's looked after. The problem for manufacturers is that machines built before the 90s could last a life time, literally. Passed from one generation to the next, with standard replaceable, parts it became increasingly difficult to sell new ones. Hence the introduction of disposable machines. I'd get a good secondhand one while they are still available.

Hope this information helps.

I dont mind at all! thank you sooo much for the information and time taken to write all of the above! My nana does have a singer pedal machine that I absolutely adore and have already said I'd happily take it off her hands
I've went and bought the brother BC2100; it was more than I was originally going to spend however with Christmas coming up it I have received money to go towards it
I cant wait to get started, really cant.. and all these books everyone posting eeeek I'm going to need a new book cupboard before i even start sooo many pretty things!
Appreciate all the help and i'll be on the sewing room all the time as well as updating my blog with my antics!
Em

amymac

danemi1 wrote: »

only just found out about this book - bag making bible - have folk on here already got it - is it worth getting?

A friend of mine - different style but worth knowing - absolutely and totally loves quilt yourself gorgeous - she is a sewing teacher at a senior school and has been helping me when I see her (only occasionally) but she has recommended I get hold of a copy as it is sooooo good = on my list for Santa and now I am thinking about adding this bag one too if you lovely ladies think it is good

I am waiting for the bag making book - it has been mentioned on here but it was also recommended to me by a very experienced sewer, the lady who organised our trip to the Birmingham quilt exhibition in August.

I love crafts and would say I am good with my hands and at working out how to make and adapt, but I could NEVER claim to be artistic. So I love to have good books where I can get lots of ideas on shape, colour and design from as well as the techniques. So thank you for the mention of the 'Quilt Yourself Gorgeous' book - checked it out on Amazon and the paperback version is £7.50, post free. Too good to miss, just had to order it!

EmDools

The idea of the Bag Making Bible is not to give you a load of patterns to make but to introduce you to how you can design and make your own bag.

The author of the book Lisa Lam has a website which she has for sale some PDF pattterns with instructions. I bought the Highbrow Hobo instructions and just from these instructions alone gave a very good basis from which to make your own bags. She also has some free online tutorials on her website for example how to do piping and inserting zipped pockets etc.

I had this book on order for a while and it arrived at the start of September before it sold out again. For me this book gives good ideas for bag designs which can then be modified to suit your personal style.

amymac

EmDools wrote: »

For me this book gives good ideas for bag designs which can then be modified to suit your personal style.

I'm pleased you feel that as it's exactly what I was hoping it would do!

pennib

Nooo don't post anymore books got a bookcase full as it is:o

Georgiabay

Nice to see you back pennib. :wave:

I've been to the cb this morning on the look out for sewing supplies. I only got a pair of curtains which I thought would be ideal for lining a bag I've got in mind to make but when I got them home I don't think they go.
Oh well, they were only £1.50 and they're 102" x 59" each and lined so I've plenty of fabric for something!

amymac

Hello Georgiabay!

As you can see I made it to the sewing thread that you recommended and they've got me spending money already . I've got lots of new sites in my favourites for all sorts of tutorials, fabric shops etc so going to have to get some order in there to find anything again.

No sewing this afternoon. Funnily enough I tend to be an evening sewer, that maybe comes from waiting 'til the kids are in bed. They are all left home now and I still seldom sew til after tea is past.

Off out to look for sloes, gin is waiting in the cupboard!

tiamai_d

Can I join?

I bought myself a sewing maching a few months ago, don't get much time to use it now (college, 3 kids, loft conversion) but I enjoy it even though my stuff isn't always the best.

So far I've made a couple of dresses for DD, a bag that I use for college (I made the pattern up all on my own and it looks like it! But hey, it holds my stuff and hasn't broke so far) and several uncompleted fairy outfits.

I also have a bit of an absession with tutus at the moment

pennib

Here is a little stray monkey that I found in a drawer, been away for a couple of weeks so trying to read through all the various threads.
clicky thumbnail.

amymac

She's lovely Pennib. Your little monkeys usually have a name. Does this poor wee stray not have one?