2024 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

PollyWollyDoodle

Well, the bad news is that my sewing machine is not repairable.  That is to say, it could be repaired but the cost of a new motherboard plus the servicing charges would be close to the cost of a new machine.  

My 110+ year-old hand crank is looking smug and saying nothing ☺️

However, much as I love that machine, an electric one which does buttonholes, zigzag etc is essential to me. Sewing is really important to me (even though I never do quite as much as I want) so this will qualify as a ‘rainy day’ purchase.  I think it’ll be another Janome as I’ve got quite a few specialist feet that I want to go on using.  Just wondered if anybody has bought a new machine recently, and if you’ve got any recommendations?  

Most models will cover the basics, ie needle up/down, reverse, lock stitch and have a variety of different stitches of which I’ll probably only use three! 

Sarahspangles

I’ve liked, but sorry to hear that. I hope you find a good one.

I was impressed to see that a local sewing group had arranged a demo from a local sewing machine repair man to show how to do basic servicing. Not that a motherboard can be serviced. I wish I’d gone, I know I need to use the Singer oil but not how much…..!

I saw the event because I was looking at local art and craft groups, thinking forward to retirement. There are a few but quite far to travel. I will have to investigate the ones that don’t have an online presence. I was enjoying our local Art Club but it’s been infiltrated by A Dreadful Woman.

Laura_Elsewhere

@PollyWollyDoodle my 1902 Singer has an attachment I bought for a fiver at a jumble-stall which means it does buttonholes- it’s wonderful and very efficient. Because the needle cannot move side to side, the little device moves the fabric from side to side, as well as forward for the specified distance and then across for the chosen width and then back and then across to where it started. 

There is a related device that does zig-zag stitching- I keep meaning to find one.



So perhaps save the money and keep using your old hand crank machine?

The person to ask about *anything* to do with old hand-crank or treadle machines is Helen Howes who knows more than almost anyone since Mr Singer, imo... https://www.helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk/
She also sells parts as and when she can get them. And is very nice  

Laura_Elsewhere

Sarahspangles said:

I’ve liked, but sorry to hear that. I hope you find a good one.

I was impressed to see that a local sewing group had arranged a demo from a local sewing machine repair man to show how to do basic servicing. Not that a motherboard can be serviced. I wish I’d gone, I know I need to use the Singer oil but not how much…..!

I saw the event because I was looking at local art and craft groups, thinking forward to retirement. There are a few but quite far to travel. I will have to investigate the ones that don’t have an online presence. I was enjoying our local Art Club but it’s been infiltrated by A Dreadful Woman.

If it helps, my 1902 Singer ran perfectly from 1980 when I acquired it until 2015 without any oil whatsoever because I just never got round to bothering to use any, ahem, ahem, *::looks mortified::*. I have apologised profusely to it...

I use light machine oil in a fine-nozzle bottle, just cheap stuff from online- and I do now apply it to half a dozen specified points, following the instructions in the manual- literally just hold the bottle tilted, and let one drop fall and straighten the bottle back upright. I do that every time I use the machine after a break even of only a week, and if I'm using it repeatedly I oil it every day before use. 

TC77

Hope it's ok to pop in as I haven't caught up having been absent for months but wanted to declare my spends this year,

2 macs - I short and 1 abit longer 14 and 11
2 hoodies, and 4 t-shirts , all seem to be 5 (but haven't worn one t-shirt so a lesson learnt) 20
I pair jeans  5
Trainers 5
2 x jumpers 10
Total 65 assumed jeans like men's trews (basic).
I haven't counted 2nd hand or the seconds sold in my charity shop (would be far more) but will next year. Have to see if I can stick to no more purchases, although I am passing many items on so want to see these and CS seconds as swaps. Putting it down makes me more accountable and this morning thought I had bought less then thing kept popping into my head as I remembered I had bought hoodies and extra t-shirts.
Hope to pick up on knitting and sewing as so many of you do.

PollyWollyDoodle

Thank you for the link to Helen Howes @Laura_Elsewhere, that’s a really interesting site and very useful if I ever need any spares.  

I can do most things on the Frister & Rossman, and it’s much better at handling heavy fabrics like denim or upholstery-type. I’ll never part with it.  However, I would prefer to have another electric machine for every day stuff. It took me a while to get used to not having to turn the handle and having both hands-free for the fabric! But I like some of the conveniences like being able to finish with the needle up, ‘locking’ the end of seams etc. so I am going to replace it.  

I believe sewing is essential to my mental health - it’s my ‘happy place’ even though I often spend a lot of time unpicking what I’ve just sewn!  

dND

PollyWollyDoodle said:

Well, the bad news is that my sewing machine is not repairable.  That is to say, it could be repaired but the cost of a new motherboard plus the servicing charges would be close to the cost of a new machine.  

My 110+ year-old hand crank is looking smug and saying nothing ☺️

However, much as I love that machine, an electric one which does buttonholes, zigzag etc is essential to me. Sewing is really important to me (even though I never do quite as much as I want) so this will qualify as a ‘rainy day’ purchase.  I think it’ll be another Janome as I’ve got quite a few specialist feet that I want to go on using.  Just wondered if anybody has bought a new machine recently, and if you’ve got any recommendations?  

Most models will cover the basics, ie needle up/down, reverse, lock stitch and have a variety of different stitches of which I’ll probably only use three! 

Oh Polly!  I'm praying that mine have survived all the jiggling about they have had with removal and storage.  They're nothing special, a cheap modern Toyota for everyday sewing and a very old flatbed, (Jones I think), bought when I was 21.  I'm 70 very soon but it weighs a ton and therefore means it doesn't move when I sew heavy stuff like curtains.  Not that I've sewn much for years and years.  That's another thing I need to rediscover. 😁

PipneyJane

Oh @PollyWollyDoodle !  I am so sorry about your sewing machine. 

If possible, may I suggest that you choose a model that is 100% mechanical, next time?  That’s the reason why our mothers’ sewing machines are still useable, while more modern ones die after a few years.  More modern machines also tend to have plastic parts, so aren’t as robust as, say, a 1960’s Singer.

@Nelliegrace , thank you for the fascinating link to the Women’s Land Army site.  I’ve saved the socks pattern to a Word document and will probably do the same with the recipe book which was linked at the bottom of the page.

Thank you, everyone, for the information about sewing machine needles.  You will be proud of me.  Yesterday, I gritted my teeth, buried my coupons in the bottom of my handbag and marched into Hobbycraft, determined not to buy anything except denim needles. While I looked at the yarn on sale, I only bought sewing machine needles.  I did notice that they are selling two own-brand, recycled yarns: one “wool” and one acrylic.  (The former does not say “pure wool”, while the latter boasts that it used to be plastic bottles.).  Fortunately, nothing tempted me.  Success!

- Pip

thriftwizard

Sad for you, @PollyWollyDoodle ! But if you can track down a secondhand Bernina 1008, they are the bees knees; all mechanical inside, so pretty bomb-proof, that's the model they made for schools & colleges. It does just about everything you could ever really need. We bought one when I was home-educating the girls & it's still going strong without complaint, having outlasted two big computerised beasties of mine, though my current Big Bernie does feel just as solid. But cost an arm & a leg, even secondhand. 

Nelliegrace

We went to the country market town this morning. Sadly the poultry and produce auctions closed a few years ago, we used to buy ducklings and young quail there. The useful stall holder found me a bottle brush, shoe brushes, and two tins of shoe polish, all at very good prices. I didn’t plan to buy socks, but the stall in the market hall was quiet, so I stopped for a look. Perhaps sales are low this week after all of the school uniform has been bought, or the mild weather makes people forget to shop for winter. We chatted for a while and I asked if they had any warm socks for boots, and they found me half a dozen pairs! I paid a little extra for them, but times are hard for the market. He said there had been more thefts recently, people just taking things and not paying for them, which is mean as the market traders are there all day, in all weather. I used DH’s coupons for his socks and three of my coupons. I shall put them away until we need them. 

The stall where I bought my good quality, cotton interlock vests, two years ago, had very few available, and only in tawdry, synthetic fabric. It looks pretty, but will it be comfortable, and will it last? I think not. 

There were some flower bulbs for sale, but not many being bought. Perhaps people are more concerned with growing vegetables. 

The game butcher in town was doing good business selling homemade sausages, and faggots, other off ration meats, and pies, but at such a price! We were lucky and got a bit of fresh fish for dinner. 

Coupons used,
6 on cotton yarn,
5 on a pair of shorts, in the sales, for next summer.
3 on 3 pairs of socks.
I wasn’t going to buy any new clothes this year.