help needed for sewing machine dunce

elsien

I've just bought a sewing machine - never been near one in my life before. I'm not planning on any complicated dressmaking, just basic hemming, cushion covers and things.
The machine is a Lidl special, which comes with a very basic guide indeed. Can anyone point me in the general direction of a simple guide as to when you use straight/zigzag stitches, and how to decide what stitch length, width etc to use - its just taken me 11/2 hours to sew a row that didn't have big loops everywhere due to my complete incompetence.


(My mum can sew, but being the grateful and patient daughter that I am, I'd probably end up committing matricide, so I'm looking for a book or internet site, if anyone knows of anything?)

Thanks

Craftyscholar

Hi Elsien

Try this site
http://www.thesewingforum.co.uk/
They are a really friendly crowd and love helping (just like MSErs)

elsien

thanks - just had a quick browse, and it looks hopeful - may not have to take a hammer to the machine just yet, after all.

Addiscomber

Craftyscholar wrote: »

Hi Elsien

Try this site
http://www.thesewingforum.co.uk/
They are a really friendly crowd and love helping (just like MSErs)

Some of them ARE MSErs :rotfl:


This might be helpful too http://sewing.about.com/od/beginner1/Beginners.htm

Lizbetty

I'm exactly the same as you, my mum is fab at sewing (almost put 'fab sewer', but doesn't look right somehow..!!!), and because she did it, I never had to. Dh was in the RAF (and has even been on IRONING courses) so he does all the sewing buttons on and suchlike, I'm still not sure how to finish those off properly.

Interested to hear that you can get machine from Lidls - do you mind me asking how much it cost? I'm hoping to learn how to make my kids clothes from my old clothes, but not wanting to fork out too much for a machine in case it ends up with the very old hardly used soda stream in the garage..

Good luck with your new hobby!

Luce

LizD_2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dressmakers-Handbook-Rene-Bergh/dp/1853687103/ref=sr_1_6/202-5072820-8251846?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174576658&sr=8-6

I've got this one, Got mine from a charity shop for a couple of quid. Doesn't concentrate specifically on machines, but covers the basics. Also try Sewing For Dummies, a bit American, but worth a look.

MollyMoo_2

Hi, I bought my sewing machine from Lidls a few years back when I got married because the removal men totally demolished my old one (passed down by my mum).

If your machine is the same one as mine then In my opinion its not that easy to use.

The loopy stitches you talk about mean you havent got the tension at the right gauge for your material:)

Addiscomber

I can understand folk not wanting to spend out mega££££ on a machine that they are afaid might not get used much. I don't know anything about the Lidl machines, but my opinion you might be better off visiting a sewing machine dealer and looking at the used stock. Some cheap modern machines are very lightweight and not very strongly built. I think you would get better value in a good well known make used machine. There are a frightening number of non MSE ladies who just must have the latest model and they trade in ones that are only a couple of years old. Lidl will have no-one to help you when your machine goes wrong or servicing down the line, whereas the dealer will be able to help with that and with extra presser feet and other things if you get hooked.

elsien

"Interested to hear that you can get machine from Lidls - do you mind me asking how much it cost? "

The lidl one came in this week, has a 3 year warranty and was £39.99. It does have an address in Oxford, so I'm hopeful of some help if I do have any problems further down the line.

kittiwoz

The only thing about buying secondhand sewing machines is that because some of the modern ones are rather flimsy the older ones which are good makes hold their price really well. I have a Bernina 707 from the 70s with no fancy stitch patterns, just straight and two widths of zig and that's worth about £80 just because Bernina is a really well rated make and it is built like a tank and will last forever. So it isn't necessarily cheaper to get a secondhand one although it will almost definitely be better value. Plus if you did get a decent secondhand machine and then decided you didn't want it would still have a good trade in value whereas I don't think a secondhand machine from Lidl would be worth anything.