The Sewing Room

Tamster150

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

I should imagine the industrial sewing machines were run off 3 phase... which is basically wired into the socket, rather than a plug( ok its a bit more complicated than that..lol...) we have a 10kg tumble dryer in work, which is 3 phase...basically its wired in like an electric cooker/oven

I think iw would get a bit more use out of it than just doing my handbags.... as i get bike leathers in now and again, and some of them do need a bit of repair work....

so i am sure i could find work for it...lol...

what the problem is, the blankets are thick, plus the canavas belts etc...which with this combination... the machine just cant cope with it.....

Will have a look to see how i could use the eyelet to attach the belt to the bag

What about one of the old treadmill singer type machines or hand machines. Cheaper than an industrial machine I am sure. The older machines are all sturdy metal - no plastic bits to snap. I have a 40+ yr old Bernina and that seems to cope with most things! (although I think your bags would be pushing it lol)

Tamster150

Florenceem wrote: »

Hi, I have an industrial machine that is playing up at the moment. Can anyone tell me how to fix it please? I am unable to stitch at speed without the stitches being really small. I have tried fiddling with the stitch dial and changing the needle. Any ideas please?

I just had my machine serviced because the faster I went, the smaller the stitches got. I didnt have to pay for any parts/repairs so I imagine it could be something that you could fix yourself. Someone might be able to help you on "The Sewing Forum"

annie-c

pinkpig08 wrote: »

Hello
I'm looking around for my first sewing machine (complete novice, never used one before). I've come across this website. Have any of you used it before? They have an Elna Sew Fun ex-display for £89 which I think is reasonable? I don't want to spend too much in case I don't get on with it, but I don't want a rubbish mini machine which will hardly do anything!

I'm starting off by hand and going to get some bits to make a sock monkey today - I have no resources/accessories/eqiupment at all! Well, except a pack of needles and some white cotton!

Thanks for any help

I nearly bought from this company last month, but after a really odd, rude response from their online chat facility, I decided to google them: "Coopers Sewing Machines" and found lots of very bad reviews.

I looked on TheSewingForum.Co.UK (a fab dedicated sewing forum) and found excellent reviews for Sewing Machines Direct at https://www.sewingmachines.co.uk. I decided to go with them and had excellent service. I ordered my machine at 4pm and it arrived the next day. The sales are dealt with by a very professional, friendly man called Russell, at their Wrexham outlet and he answers emails very promptly. Also, you get lots of useful free gifts (scissors set, loads of thread and a sturdy padded machine carry case) regardless of what type of machine you buy.

Coopers have lots of 'warning signs' on their own website, if you look carefully. They show a stack of free gifts ("worth £120"), but don't specify what exactly you will get. They refused point blank to tell me via the online chat, and when I rang they said it would only be the free scissors, "worth £40" (with a £250 machine). At Sewing Machines Direct, you get the whole lot of free gifts, even with the cheapest machines.

Coopers also offer a free 30 day trial, but if you read the small print, they state (quite bluntly and rudely) that you have to request a free trial in writing before you buy, and you cannot have a refund, only an exchange for another machine. They also offer a 15 year guarantee but are vague about who pays for delivery/return etc. SMD offers a 5 year guarantee with all returns costs covered.

Coopers also have an extensive testimonials page, but the testimonials are not exactly glowing, if you read them carefully.

Also suspicious is that Coopers previously had a website in their own name, but closed it down and started again in 2008, probably due to the bad press they had received http://www.coopersewing.co.uk/home/homecooper.asp

Russell at SMD doesn't offer machines quite as cheaply, or with as long a guarantee, but he does have some sub-£100 models, and if you consider the free gifts you are getting, they compare very favourably against most of the competition. Also the testemonials are genuinely glowing, and you can cross-check them against what people say on The Sewing Forum.

BTW, I don't work for SMD, I only discovered them last month, I am just a very happpy customer. :T

exetergirl

Rikki wrote: »

Just wondered if you'd had a go yet.

If you are really unsure about cutting the dresses yet, practice on an old T-shirt.

Not yet- will have a go this weekend

gingerandrubarb

Hi Ladies :beer:
Does anybody have a blog? I'm on a blog hunt today :T I also got a bit of good news this morning and i am sooooo happy :j I won a Gutermann thread box from Sew! Magazine!!! :j:j:j

hart44

gingerandrubarb wrote: »

Hi Ladies :beer:
Does anybody have a blog? I'm on a blog hunt today :T I also got a bit of good news this morning and i am sooooo happy :j I won a Gutermann thread box from Sew! Magazine!!! :j:j:j

Wow how luck is that :T I have been trying all the comps but nothing yet but it must be my turn soon :rotfl:

I have a blog if you click on my name on the side and go to homepage but I need to update must do it tomorrow
A lot of the ladies on here have some nice ones too

shannor

pinkpig08 wrote: »

Hello
I'm looking around for my first sewing machine (complete novice, never used one before). I've come across this website. Have any of you used it before? They have an Elna Sew Fun ex-display for £89 which I think is reasonable? I don't want to spend too much in case I don't get on with it, but I don't want a rubbish mini machine which will hardly do anything!

I'm starting off by hand and going to get some bits to make a sock monkey today - I have no resources/accessories/eqiupment at all! Well, except a pack of needles and some white cotton!

Thanks for any help

I recently bought my overlocker for http://www.sewingmachines.co.uk/index.htm and the service was great, next day delivery, a text before they arrive and Russell was really helpful on the phone about which machine to get. Would certainly use them again.

Sheila :j

Rikki

I've made a hat for gardening in. Not very easy to photograph but I'll have a go.

gingerandrubarb

Hart your blog is fab and i have followed you, i Looooovvve that fabric you got from Ebay. Who makes it? I do all of the comps on the Sew mag website. They have all of their mags listed so it takes 2 seconds to enter them all :T
Heres the link if you want to give it a go : http://www.sewmag.co.uk/?utm_source=lets_knit&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=nb

That link if for the Make jewellery, Sew magazine, Let's knit, crafts beautiful, Lets make cards, :T

nykied

gingerandrubarb wrote: »

Hi Ladies :beer:
Does anybody have a blog? I'm on a blog hunt today :T I also got a bit of good news this morning and i am sooooo happy :j I won a Gutermann thread box from Sew! Magazine!!! :j:j:j

I've got a blog but I'm not so hot at updating it