Sewing Machines

I have an ancient Elna 2006, pre-computer, that has served me well for costuming and fiber arts for 14 years. If I ever come into serious money I'm getting one of the programmable embroidery machines, so I can import my own text and designs.

Whatever you buy, make certain there is an authorized repair facility within reasonable driving distance. Proximity pays for itself, believe me, especially when you rely on the sewing machine for part of your income.

kaitie said:

The other day I found a Husqvarna Viking 116 on sale for $299 (and I can get it down a little less, even), and that one looks good, can handle heavy-duty, and seems to have the features I want. Thing is, I've also seen that one mentioned as being weak on button holes.

Sooo long post to say this is what I'm looking at. Has anyone had experience with these machines, or have one they'd recommend (or not recommend)? I'm really hoping to get something that will last me years and be a good, dependable machine.

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I have a Husqvarna Viking 415 "Freesia" and I love it. My sister and mom both have Husqvarnas and swear by them. I got mine maybe 10 years ago and have never had a problem with it. I'm not sewing a lot these days, and I'm not particularly good at it, yet I've managed not to mess it up, and can always figure out how to do stuff on it.

My teenager is now teaching herself to sew on it.

My wife still uses the Bernina she got for Christmas in the 1970s. Built like a tank. She has a newer one too with the screen, memory stick, and attachments, but the old dog keeps on working. Its 30-year warranty finally expired a few years back. If you can find a used one in working order, they can't be beat. I see them on ebay for about $200.

Judy sews a lot. The Bernina got quite a workout over the years, and other than for routine maintenance, it was never in the shop.

I have A Husky Viking 116 that's about 5 years old. I love it! It's tough enough to sew many layers of denim. I borrowed my school's fancy Singer sewing machine for my sewing class and I was appalled by how puny it was! Lots of fancy stitches, but couldn't sew some little girls's purses together! I'd recommend the Husky for general sewing and heavy craft stuff. Haven't used it for buttonholes. It sounds like it would meet your requirements. I haven't had any maintenance problems that I couldn't solve by untangling/dusting it/deep cleansing breaths/cocktails.

I do a lot of sewing - I trained to teach food and textiles, but specialised in textiles. Most, if not all, of my knowledge comes from owning a Singer 201K and a 30+ year old Elna and teaching textiles. For wear and tear a Bernina is amazing. The models in schools were easy to use and also easy to maintain. Elnas are good, excellent, brilliant machines. Both Elna and Bernina make good stitches - that is they look good, have good tension and the embroidery stitches on the pre-computer age ones are effective but not fussy. I've taught in two classes in the last five years that had Janome. In both classes at any time 30-50% of the machines were out of order for various reasons. I wouldn't have a Janome in my house! Singer - well, some people would tell you that the last good machine they made was the 201K - mine is about 55 years old and would need a good service to get it working again. I am not sure about modern Singers.

Before you buy a machine you might want to consider how much it weighs - so would you be able to life it easily - not just on its' own but in a case. Look at the way it is designed - can you get a sleeve at the cuff end round the arm with ease? What type of bobbin does it use and are they easily obtainable? A friend recently obtained a second hand machine and found the that universal bobbins did not work very well - basically they screwed up the tension. When she had the machine sewing you could hear the bobbin bouncing about! Always try out a machine, especially second hand, before committing yourself. Someone I was at college with managed to get an ex-dem one for half price - it came with loads of attachments and all the instruction manuals. Which leads onto instruction manuals - if you are buying second hand ask if the instruction manuals come with the machine - if you really want the machine and the manuals are not included check online to see if you can get them from another source.

One last thing . . . some time ago a friend phoned me to ask if I could come and look at her machine as it would not work. I went over, we had lunch and I looked at the machine. I know this will sound odd - but it smelt. I had a strange thought and asked if she had oiled it recently - she told me she always oiled it after she had used it. I asked to see the oil. She produced a a bottle of peanut oil. I was not there when she took it to be serviced and have the oil cleaned out . . . seems that the stuff had thickened and glued the machine up!

Kitty Pryde said:

I haven't had any maintenance problems that I couldn't solve by untangling/dusting it/deep cleansing breaths/cocktails.

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This is what I meant by "I've managed not to mess it up."

Lordy! this thread and made me think so much of college times! One event really springs to mind. Making my final garment I always sat opposite Sally. We got on well and had no problem helping each other out with problems. One day, making our final garments Sally hissed across to me to come and help her. I was very puzzled as she was crouched over the sewing machine. I thought she had got her hair caught in the sewing machine. She hadn't - she was so intent on holding the thin silk fabric steady as she machined pin tucks that she had not realized that she had her very long finger nails under the fabric - and they were stitched to the fabric. Now, that is a sewing machine to reckon with - the needle passed through her nails so smoothly that she did not realize it had happened until she took the fabric out from under the needle. She was crouched over the machine because she could not stop laughing! She needed help because the needle had,in places, gone through two nails as she was using both hands to steady the fabric. I also laughed as I carefully unpicked the stitches. But, as I have already said - what a machine! I can still see her looking at her perforated nails.

Shakesbear said:

Lordy! this thread and made me think so much of college times! One event really springs to mind. Making my final garment I always sat opposite Sally. We got on well and had no problem helping each other out with problems. One day, making our final garments Sally hissed across to me to come and help her. I was very puzzled as she was crouched over the sewing machine. I thought she had got her hair caught in the sewing machine. She hadn't - she was so intent on holding the thin silk fabric steady as she machined pin tucks that she had not realized that she had her very long finger nails under the fabric - and they were stitched to the fabric. Now, that is a sewing machine to reckon with - the needle passed through her nails so smoothly that she did not realize it had happened until she took the fabric out from under the needle. She was crouched over the machine because she could not stop laughing! She needed help because the needle had,in places, gone through two nails as she was using both hands to steady the fabric. I also laughed as I carefully unpicked the stitches. But, as I have already said - what a machine! I can still see her looking at her perforated nails.

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Oh goodness. This reminded me of that time i ran my thumbnail under while doing something similar. Unfortunately, my nails aren't very long, and i pierced all the way through the tip of my thumb.

You might say i noticed.

I sew with a brother these days, and its good and steady and reliable, but not really a workhorse.

I have no advice for a specific machine. I'm still using a Singer I bought in 1968. But, before you buy anything, make them let you actually change the bobbin. The bobbin has been the bane of my existence for all these years. It is down a 'rabbit hole' that my small fingers barely fit in, and it only snaps into place in one specific angle. If you are off by a millionth of an inch, it pops right back out. It was obviously designed by a man who never used a sewing machine.

MM

Al Stevens said:

My wife still uses the Bernina she got for Christmas in the 1970s. Built like a tank. She has a newer one too with the screen, memory stick, and attachments, but the old dog [the machine, not my wife!] keeps on working. Its 30-year warranty finally expired a few years back.

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She corrected me. It has a 40-year parts and labor warranty, which is still in effect.

My Mom once put a needle through her finger while sewing on her old Singer. She had to yell for me to come in with the big wire-cutters. Not a pleasant sight, but we managed with no more damage to her or the machine.

I spent a few bucks some time back and bought the service manual for my Elna. I can take it apart and do minor maintenance on it. But I'm a convert to the once-a-year trip to an approved maintenance facility. It's only $70, their guy is a freakin' genius, and he makes the old machine run like new. The Elna brings me a minimum of $700 a year from contract sewing jobs, so I owe it the love.

I have a sewing machine I don't know how to use and I've been considering trying to learn, but after listening to you guys, I think I'll learn something safer. Like lion taming.

Maryn said:

See, if you lived in my town I'd teach you. Sewing is easy. Making stuff fit, that's hard--but that's tailoring, not sewing. If I can sew at age ten, I think a simple PhD student could probably manage.

Maryn, who can find you tutorials

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There are a few females around here who have offered to help teach me.

It's easier to find a sewing partner than a romance.

Finding the time remains a killer.

But now I'm seriously scared of maiming myself. The cosplay club hasn't asked me to sign a waiver like the kendo club did... yet...

When I was a kid, a friend's mom put a machine needle through her thumb. It got badly infected. By the time she went to the doctor, it was swollen to twice its size and looked like a revolting zombie thumb. The doctor said there was a fair chance she'd lose it, but luckily she didn't. The sight of that zombie thumb has served as a helpful warning for me when I took up sewing many years later! Keep your fingers off the foot, lest you be horribly zombie-thumbed!

kaitie said:

It's not that bad. You're more likely to stick yourself with a pin than maim yourself with a needle.

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Or that time I was dancing with a drill...