The Sewing Room

cuddles123

Woohoo - just received an early birthday pressie from OH - a very large self healing, double sided cutting mat and a large Quilters Rule

I chose them, and they really are the business
My old ones are very small and I'll use them for paper and card I think.

23rd spiral

I had a lidl machine and had huge problems with it. Was told that the timing goes easily. I took it back and got a refund. However I know some people who love the cheap machines. Suppose you get what you pay for.

rufusdog52

Tamster150 wrote: »

Have you tried http://www.fabricland.co.uk/
Warning - migraine inducing site lol!
If not what about using calico?

Hi Tamster, have you used this site before and if so what are their pp rates like please? I had a look at it and they have some lovely fabrics and cheap too but I couldn't see anything about pp prices. Rufus x

Georgiabay

dizzytina wrote: »

Hi guys,

I love the monkeys pennib and tellmeits friday. She grinch those hello kitty and betty boop pieces are amazing well done:T.
Things have been a bit manic this last week with a halloween party then my little girls birthday and party so i haven't had much chance for sewing. i did make 22 personilsed organza party bags with each childs name on for DD party.
I put tissue paper in each and then the contents inside the tissue paper.

I have also made a pump bag for my aunties granddaughter

and a matching crayon roll



and i sewed some organza bags and added toppers to make some stocking filler bags of sweets.

Wow, and that's you not doing much sewing! You certainly put me to shame.

amyp78

Hi!

Im a novice newbie sewer, going to buy my first machine this week and booked myself onto a one day course to learn the basics.

I'm hoping ot sew some clothes for my DD's build-a-bear and some easy xmas gifts (although I might be being a bit too ambitious lol!):rotfl:

Amy xxx

amandada

rufusd!!!2 wrote: »

Hi Tamster, have you used this site before and if so what are their pp rates like please? I had a look at it and they have some lovely fabrics and cheap too but I couldn't see anything about pp prices. Rufus x

I've used them before. They charge p+p at cost, which obviously don't know till they've cut and packed the fabric.
I recently bought 4m of cotton fabric and postage was about £2.70

deedledee_2

23rdspiral wrote: »

hi every one, i just got back from lidl's and picked up the leaflet... from Monday 15th they've got their sewing stuff back in :j :j

:huh: has anyone bought one of the sewing machines before?? from Silvercrest. it's £59.99 and has 33 stitches, backwards 4 step button hole. Which makes it on a level with my 15year old ELNA, i've less stitches but have a 2 step buttonhole...
i'm thinking it might be good for my mum... her machine is from the 1950s and whilst a great colour, that's about all that can be said... it doesnt even go backwards!! we've looked at the fancy embroidery ones and whilst she's intrigued she's also scared, and i need to be carefull i wouldnt be buying her one that i'd secretly like!!

I bought a sewing machine from Lidl's before but it was called a Lervia I think and it turned out to be a dud :mad:.

When I got it, it worked perfectly and I was thrilled with it but after a few months the thread kept puckering no matter what I tried and then it started making clicking noises and in the end the needle wouldn't even more.

When I enquired at my local sewing machine shop to see if they could repair it, they said they wouldn't even look at those types of machines as it wouldn't be worth it, which is a real shame. I imagine that the Silvercrest one will be of similar quality.

After that bad experience I decided to spend a lot more and buy a machine that should last me a good few years and bought a Janome. Had it nearly 2 years now and haven't had any problems with it. :T

amyp78

23rdspiral - Have a look at TJ Hughes (can buy online) and Argos, they have some great discounts on known brand sewing machines some under £100!

LJM

yes i did notice that argos had some good sewing bits in myself, have a couple bits marked as hints for hubby for me for xmas lol

23rdspiral

Thanks everyone for your quick replies. I really appreciate your advice and experience. I think you're right that whilst it seems easy to get mum a non-scary not expensive machine, in the long term it's a false economy.

Cuddles - seeing it written like that makes me think mum deserves better than a cheep machine that might be more trouble than it's worth. my nan got me a then expensive Elna when i was 15 and it's still going strong. (so strong i can't justify one that does embroidery but that's another matter!)
Deedledee - although a different brand, what you said about being fine at first then not and importanlty not being worth repairing makes a lot of sense.
Amyp78 - briliant!! i've asked mum, with dad's help, to look at the specialist websites before but she wont. she just wimps out and says she doesn't understand either the sites or the machines. BUT she's right now as i type she's aparently happy looking at TJHUGES and ARGOS - i guess because they are names she knows they are less scary?!? :T

so i've told dad we are going to get her a good machine she wont outgrow. it can be combined from me and him for xmas and her birthday.

(then my other half threw a spanner in the works and suggested we give her mine to try for a while and i get a fancy one! :rotfl::T)

23rdspiral

rufusd!!!2 wrote: »

Hi Tamster, have you used this site before and if so what are their pp rates like please? I had a look at it and they have some lovely fabrics and cheap too but I couldn't see anything about pp prices. Rufus x

i did a bulk order with an inspiring but astray-leading friend and we were nervous of the p&p price. if you phone your order they can give you a good estimate. we needn't have been nervous. it came to about £8.00. i think but then we did order about 20 meters between us! (dresses, we're going to make dresses.)