OS home sewing

Bennifred

If you are still nervous about the actual making of things, how about doing an evening class - there some really good ones about, both for dressmaking and also soft furnishings/ curtains. Could really help you with your first project

pavlovs_dog

what i cant understand is why sewing machines are still so expensive, especially when electrical goods are getting ever cheaper to make. lack of demand i suppose

are the mini ones any good? just for basics/finding out if you like them? i know superdrug had them for about £10

something like

http://www.tiscali.co.uk/readeroffers/january/sewingmachine.html
http://www.woolworths.co.uk/wwstore/product.jhtml?product=50313097&op=details
http://www.sales-services.co.uk/html/mini_sewing_machine.html

nearlyrich

I have a sewing machine which I bought in 1982, it is a Toyota and it's never been any trouble. I really only use it for turning up trousers these days but I used to do a lot of sewing for myself and the children when they were small.

There used to be loads of places to buy cheap material around here, mill shops etc but they seem to have closed down or gone very expensive.

We bought my mum a sewing machine for her birthday a couple of years ago, it's a Brother and it cost about £100, it has lots of different stitches etc. She had an old one that just did straight stitching, she is really pleased with the fancy one.

chickadee

I do quite a lot of sewing too, when I have time.

I bought my sewing machine in 1990 to make my wedding dress with. I had gone round the wedding shops trying on frocks and couldn't justify spending such a ridiculous amounts of money on it, so I worked out that I could make one and, even counting the £179 I spent on the sewing machine I would save money.

My sister made the bridesmaids dresses (she still takes commissions for making bridesmaid dresses).

All the dresses looked fabulous and I know they were unique.

Interestingly, I still have my trusty sewing machine but not the husband!!

:rotfl: :rotfl:

pavlovs_dog

further to my previuos post, whilst browsing on tescos.com, i found this, and being an easily excited person :j , i got very excited, because it is the first real, full size sewing machine i have seen that is the "right side" of £100.

Description
This great priced Classic KPN400 Sewing Machine is value for money and easy to use.

This machine has 21 Automatic stitches and 4 manual stitches including Zig zag blind hem overlock feather and straight stitch.

Stitch length and width contro and
Four step buttonhole.
Automatic clutch for bobbin winding.
Soft grip dial selector.
Electronic foot control.
Clip on feet.
Built in handle.
Built in light.
Dust cover.
Approx size (in cms) 39 x 29 x 17

Approx wt. 7 kgs

Comes with comprehensive instruction book and accessories.

Manufacturers Guarantee Period: 2 Years Manufacturers Warranty
Delivery
In stock in our warehouse, normally delivered within 3-7 working days after you have received your order confirmation email.

Order confirmation emails are sent after security checks have been completed which can take up to 48hrs.

an ideal christmas pressy to yourself, or something to save the pin money for perhaps? :xmassmile

Agapanthus

What's all this about sewing not being manly? We have several examples of needlepoint and tapestry that were done by my father-in-law. He was a surgeon and liked to keep his hand in! (A colleague of his used to do embroidery on the bus to work and attracted several private patients who were impressed by his skill with the needle.)

Seriously, I know several men who sew: it's only engineering with fabric. Keep encouraging them, I say!

THIRZAH

I'm still using the sewing machine that my Mother got for a 21st birthday present in 1955!

zar

Agapanthus wrote:

Seriously, I know several men who sew: it's only engineering with fabric. Keep encouraging them, I say!

Absolutely! - love the engineering idea :rudolf:

I have never learnt how to sew so my DH gets landed with things like sewing buttons back on. His mum is very good at sewing and taught him, my mum can sew but for some reason never taught me. I'd quite like to learn the basics. I bought an old sewing machine at a village coffee morning in the summer because it was pretty. Its a handcrank Singer one. We played with it with an old hanky and it works beautifully but haven't used it properly yet...

calleyw

Agapanthus wrote:

What's all this about sewing not being manly? We have several examples of needlepoint and tapestry that were done by my father-in-law. He was a surgeon and liked to keep his hand in! (A colleague of his used to do embroidery on the bus to work and attracted several private patients who were impressed by his skill with the needle.)

Seriously, I know several men who sew: it's only engineering with fabric. Keep encouraging them, I say!

My husband cross stitches says it is very relaxing. Think he has a bigger stash of cross stitch kits then me :rotfl: And I was the one that got him interested in it in the first place.

Yours

Calley

Rebob

Mum bought me my sewing machine about 18 years ago. It has made many curtains in its lifetime. The ones in the lounge cost about £60 to make but some similar ones in a local furnishing store were £200 so in one go a machine can pay for its self. I have also made various fancy dress outfits for ds over the years. Even if you don't have a flair for making things, a machine really helps for repairs on soft furnishings and clothes.