New Sewing Machine

[anothermom]

Need help choosing a new machine. The one I am using is at least 30 years old. My dad bought it for my mom. I have had repaired twice. Now the bobbin won't wind, even though the place said they fixed that also. I am not a quilter, I make clothes, curtains, Christmas stockings, and alter clothes, and do other type of creative things.
The machine I have came from Montgomery Ward, so who knows who the actual manufacturer was.
Any help will be appreciated, I think this one is on its last legs.:cry:

[moonshadow]

What's your price range?

[gardengal]

I have a Brother that was bought in 2002. I've sewed prom dresses, bridesmaids dresses, curtains and many other clothes on it. Last year I had dh give it a cleaning and oiling. It wouldn't run right afterwards. It would do a straight stitch so so, but would bind up if I tried to do a zigzag stitch. He bought me a Janome for our anniversary in March. Reading the book on the Janome made me figure out what I think he did to the Brother. I think I could get it working again, just haven't pulled it out to work on it. The Janome runs great. Makes button holes so easy(my dresses button). I like it better than the Brother. Both machines were under $100.

gardengal

[packyderms_wife]

I have a Brother that was bought in 2002. I've sewed prom dresses, bridesmaids dresses, curtains and many other clothes on it. Last year I had dh give it a cleaning and oiling. It wouldn't run right afterwards. It would do a straight stitch so so, but would bind up if I tried to do a zigzag stitch. He bought me a Janome for our anniversary in March. Reading the book on the Janome made me figure out what I think he did to the Brother. I think I could get it working again, just haven't pulled it out to work on it. The Janome runs great. Makes button holes so easy(my dresses button). I like it better than the Brother. Both machines were under $100.

gardengal

When he worked on your brother did he take the plastic housing off to clean out the lint from the gears etc., or did he used canned air? Never use the canned air on a machines innards it'll cause the lint etc., to be forced into the gears etc.

IF you google how to clean your sewing machine there are many great sites that tell you how to do so.

I have three Janomes and 5 singers, lots of machines to keep running.

Kimberly

[Purity]

I have a Pfaff and I love it.

My stepmother had a Pfaff, now 40+ years old and it still works perfectly for my stepsister. :-D

[danwelliver]

Singer and Pfaff are now owned by Viking. I had a computer singer machine, a Quantum 9920. It can sew words alphabet etc. I think I gave about 600 dollars for it. The tension was too tight from the factory. It always breaks the threads. My friend the singer man has a lot of trouble with the singer factory now, customer service issues, that seem never to be resolved.

The factory where I worked used Janome machines. The main reason was that they would featherstitch 7 millimeters wide. The basic life of a highly abused Janome machine is about 500 hours. If you don't beat on it it may last longer than that. The kenmore machines are made by Janome. I think you can get one that will sew alphabet for about $450.

Brother makes Baby lock, Janome makes kenmore, etc. There are really about only 6 unique manufacturers of sewing machines now. Unless you count the chinese companies.

A lot of the dealers have gone out of business in East Texas. They got old, died , went to the nursing home, etc. My friend in Kilgore is 87. Dealer support is a bad problem. There really isn't any guarantee that there will be a dealer to support your machine after you get it.

If that isn't enough of an idea PM me.

[anothermom]

to everyone for their input. I had no idea what price range to look at, because, as you can tell from my original post, haven't had a new machine in 30 years, and I know that one cost almost $200.00.
Danwelliver-thank you for the input, I always trust the opinion of the people that have to repair things-they usually know what works and doesn't.

I am considering one of the Janome machines, now to get my mom and my husband to chip in for one, and I will be looking at a mighty fine birthday/Christmas present.:smile:

[Limner]

I have an early 90's Viking, and other than having to use that expensive Gutterman thread, it's a wonderful machine. If I don't use Gutterman thread it coughs and sputters and throws up a thread ball and demands a week long stay at an expensive repair shop.

I've sewn LOTS of garb to wear when we play in the eighteenth century for a large family (and some to sell), powwow garb, jeans repair, curtains, wedding stuff, and most recently, baby diapering items. LOTS of flannel diapers......

[gardengal]

Packyderms wife,
My Brother has a screw on the front that says for button hole adjustment. He turned it thinking that was for bobbin adjustment! I'm beginning to wonder where my oldest son gets his dyslexia from? I think I can re adjust it, just haven't taken the time to play with it. He did take it apart to clean, no canned air.

gardengal

[gardengal]

I've got a sewing machine that I bet most of you haven't seen. It's a Morse, made in 1955. Here's a picture of one that looks like mine, except mine is dark gray in color. It has the motor on the outside with the belt on the outside. I'm keeping a hold of it in case the grid goes down and I need to turn it into a treadle.

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/morse-super-dial-1955-vintage-sewing-machine

gardengal

[Purity]

I've got a sewing machine that I bet most of you haven't seen. It's a Morse, made in 1955. Here's a picture of one that looks like mine, except mine is dark gray in color. It has the motor on the outside with the belt on the outside. I'm keeping a hold of it in case the grid goes down and I need to turn it into a treadle.

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/morse-super-dial-1955-vintage-sewing-machine

gardengal


Awesome! I've seen them and a friend's mother had one (long ago). Oh, yeah, hold onto it!!! I'd love to have one someday. :-D

I have a couple friends who do still have the old treadle machines handed down from grandmas and great-grandmas, lucky eh?

[hisbluelady]

Not an expert at all, I have 3 Singers (my grandma's treadle, my mom's portable electric from the 50's, and my electronic one from the 80's) and a Babylock serger (which I LOVE!!) But I do know that some can be put on a treadle if you need to be off grid, and some can't. My mom's can because it has a belt, but the newer electronic can't. I don't even know if any newer ones can, but thought I'd throw this out there in case it's an issue.

[gardengal]

That's why I'm keeping the Morse. It has the belt on the outside that runs from the big wheel to the motor on the back. I'm thinking it could possibly be converted. I've done searches on changing machines to treadle and have the papers printed and filed in a notebook. 8)

gardengal

[silvertop57]

I have my grandmothers old Sears sewing machine its a treadle hidden in a Library table. It has the machine hidden in the top and the treadle folds up underneath the bottom shelf. It has a removable top that hides the machine when not in use. I used this for years until I got my first electric in 1978 and I am still using the singer. Somehow in one of my moves I lost the rod that connects the machine to the treadle and cant use grandmas anymore as I have never been able to find another rod and have never even seen another of these machines. Maybe someday I can have someone make something that would work. It was great because you never had to worry about a belt. the other half of silvertop57

[lschroeder106z]

to everyone for their input. I had no idea what price range to look at, because, as you can tell from my original post, haven't had a new machine in 30 years, and I know that one cost almost $200.00.
Danwelliver-thank you for the input, I always trust the opinion of the people that have to repair things-they usually know what works and doesn't.

I am considering one of the Janome machines, now to get my mom and my husband to chip in for one, and I will be looking at a mighty fine birthday/Christmas present.:smile:


I have heard good recommendations for Janome. We have a Hancock Fabrics that sends out coupons for customers registered, sometimes you can get 40% off one item, including sewing machines, good luck.

Linda

[SheWoff]

I have a 1980's Viking, a Brother, a 1960's Singer in the cabinet and a Singer Featherweight that can convert to a treadle in the original cabinet. I do my heavy sewing on the 60's Singer since it was made for that. I do my quilting on the Featherweight and that works great. But for curtains, clothing, etc...I use my Viking. I absolutely love it! It was a little pricey and can't really remember how much it was (around 1000.00?) but I have gotten every penny's worth back out of it. If you do any serious sewing please consider a good machine that will last you another 30 years or sew. :-D Just remember, costly doesn't always mean its good.

She

[danwelliver]

Is your Morse red? I have seen a red one

[gardengal]

Mine is an ugly dark gray. I have seen pictures online of them in blue and hot pink. Mine is called a Fotomatic. It has an area on top with a little see through door that you drop a little button cam into for different stitches. According to the booklet with it, I'm missing a bunch of cams. It also only has one needle with it and a couple of bobbins. My dd had gotten it at a yard sale when she lived in Tacoma WA. When she was getting all of her stuff out of now ex husband's storage, she asked me if I wanted it. I jumped on getting that machine.

gardengal