Stitching the pieces together
Comments
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I like my singer machine the best!
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I love my Pfaff!
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Paula - how old is your singer? My friends who have OLD ones - one even has a Featherweight adore them, and one friend has literally a collection of OLD ones, treadle (sp?). But the very newest "entry" level are getting very bad reviews, not reliable is the main comment I'm reading.
I'm giggling a little - how do you pronouce Pfaff? Will look that one up, but so far, I'm hearing Barbe telling me how much her students like Janome. Lerning SO much from all of you, thank you.
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Hi Sunflowers,
If you can find a Featherweight snap it up. Most people aren't willing to give them up easily. I have my Grandma's machine. All metal and weighs a ton. That is the machine I do all my upholstery on. It only goes forward but will sew over anything. My everyday machine is a Janome.
To pronounce Pfaff just drop the P. It's silent:)
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My mom has a treadle singer that she sews on at home and a featherweight (circa 1940) that she takes to classes. She got it from the place that worked on my machine for about $400 and loves it. I have a Kenmore (very basic with 18 stitches). It does well and is lightweight (about 10 lbs), I purchased a rolling sewing machine trolly to help take it to my quilt guild for sewing workshops. I had it for at least 3 years before it acted up and jumped timing and needed the repair shop.0
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The Janome is an excellent entry-level machine at a good, fair price. We all have our loyalties, but dollar-for-dollar, I'd rather see someone get a Janome over a Singer or Brother. Singer and Brother made "cheaper/less expensive" machines to sell to a market that the Janome already had covered.
The Featherweight Singers are antiques and will come with their own issues. Parts and repairs will be issues if you live in the middle of no-where.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Husqvarna's!! I sold them, too, and they were VERY expensive!! I brought in Janome to fill in the entry level and newbie buyers and they worked beautifully!!
I won a "Best In Show" that was sewed on my little $300 Janome! hehehehehehhee
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Barbe - jsut came back from my art class, and stopped by the sewing room - every machine was a Janome
Lots of quilters in there too...Found a place, an actual STORE about 30 miles from me, that sells sewing machines, and has classes too. I may start singing Jingle Bells a bit early this year. Thanks all.
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Sunflowers,
When you go to the sewing machine store ask if they have used machines. A lot of people trade up and there are a lot of nice machines to be had at really reasonable prices =:0)
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That is a good idea to see if they have a used machine, I know at Bill's shop, they service any machines that are traded in before they sell them.
Sheila
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When I first got into sewing I didnt want to spend alot on a machine. I bought a decent Singer and I have been happy so far. I know its a newer model, but for now it will have to do. When I get done paying for my fabric dyeing addiction I will check into different models. Thanks for the tip gals!
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Paula, there is nothing wrong with Singer!! Keep it going....
JO, the featherweights range in price from about $350 to $1,200 depending on their colour (tan, black etc) and the included parts. They are simple enough that anyone can fix them.
Re: used machines, you COULD be buying someone else's headache!! It may work for a while and then keep breaking down. Could be why it's traded in. If someone passed and it is for sale, that's different. I ALWAYS ask (like in buying a used car) WHY the person traded it in. If they hated it, I probably would.
JO, for rayon thread, try putting the spool in the freezer for a couple of hours or overnight. Make sure you have a thread spool 'pad' (the ring of felt) under your spool and you might have to 'miss' one of your hooks if it grabs the thread too tight. Also, make sure it is unwinding off the spool in the direction that your machine wants it to. Sometimes, it's as easy as turning your spool over. That goes for metallic thread as well.
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Good tip Barbe. Never heard of putting rayon thread in the freezer. What needle do you use for the metallic thread?
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HI HI
I am new to the thread and new to quilting. Due to lymphedema I had all sorts of problems but finally got the nine squares together and bordered and sewed to the back of the quilt and outlined each pattern through the three layers. I only outlined five when my hand blow up to look like popeyes, So a friend finished the hand sewing and will machine sew the border and finishing. I then took up crewel as it uses a large needle and it is going well.
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Butting in again to add to my favorites
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welcome dreamwriter! I have never heard of crewel, what is it? Feel free to post your pics anytime. We love them!
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Hello ladies! I am new and really excited to find a thread on here for crafters/sewers! I have been sewing for my kids for years and sometimes make stuff for people here in our miitary community. I think sewing is one of the things I MOST hope that I will still have time for besides just enjoying my family. I'll try to post some pics tomorrow because, well, we all love pics of what others have made, right?
" width="257" height="413" />Well, I couldn't help myself, I had to try at least one before bed
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Dream, you shouldn't be hand sewing with LE. That's why God invented sewing machines!!! You MUST learn to put your own pieces together and get that pic on here.
Use a METALLIC needle for fancy threads. It has a bigger eye, and is stronger so it has less chance of getting burrs. You can use it for some of the thicker rayons too. WELL worth the extra price! A normal needle can't handle the thickness and may give you silly stitches. I should have had that in the list for JO to try!
Very sweet dainty! I have THREE grandsons and am hoping I am around long enough to sew for a granddaughter!
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Dream - so good to see you here
LISTEN TO BARBE, she's the expert JO-5 - my friend from the Arimidex SE thread - WOW, you really are sophisticated about all this. I haven't even gotten my machine yet. But, Barbe, I think I wold spend a bit more for a nre one, than used, unles I buy it from the shop that refurbished it.
DaintyBamf - that is SO fantastic! The most wonderful outfit - did you make the hair scrunchy too? I'll bet you did. Inspiring.
As I walked out of my art drawing class this am, I saw the women coming out of the RugHooking class - and they had the most wonderful pieces on their portable hand looms. Adding that to my list. LIving in northern New England - we like anything that keeps us warm.
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I did rughooking on burlap, not a loom. You brought regular wool to the surface with a crochet hook. It was very wearing on the skin of my fingers so I put it off for years. Then one time when I was between jobs, I picked it up and finished the whole thing! It's about 5 feet long and is hanging in my front hall. I'll get pictures one of these days!
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Wow you gals just blow me away with your talent! I cant wait to get back to sewing. When the treatment hit me hard I wasnt able to do much so now Im ready to get back to it. I have sewn several handbags but I have given them all away. I did the same when I painted wood pieces. I loved doing it and the joy it gives someone makes me want to do it more.
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d
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Now why didn't any one tell ME to roll my 5 foot long (7 feet with scrap edge!!) canvas!!! Wouldn't that have been easier than bunching it up in my lap!! I enjoyed it Sun, but as I said, the burlap is very rough on your fingers, as is the pure wool you work with. I made my stitches VERY close together so my picture is stunning. I really must get a pic someday.....
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d
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I crunched myself into a recliner with the feet up to support the weight and all the balls of wool. One of the cats sat with me and we watched the Discovery channel 8 hours a day until it was done. I learned a lot about the desert!! The cat watched the TV the entire time! Even with all those balls of wool. I figure it was the insect action on the screen that held her attention. She never did it quite the same again.
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I took the plunge and am going to give the fabric dyeing a shot. I put my first order in and cant wait for my goodies to arrive. Looks like my sissys will get something dyed and seen for Christmas this year! I was alittle ticked with the Jo Annes website because it took them forever to approve my purchase. Has anyone had issues with ordering from them. This is my first order online from them and it was a nighmare. It finally went thru but I dont want to have this issue everytime.
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Thanks Jo! I will have to do that the next time. The bolt of fabric could only be ordered online and the whole process sucked. I will not be ordering online from them again, thats for sure!
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I also have had problems with JoAnn Fabrics. You can order faster from fabric.com and they guarantee their stuff. As a matter of fact, you can order from anywhere and get it faster than JoAnn's. If you contact them they don't contact you back..... I'm also interested in the fabric dyeing and will be watching to see your outcome Paula.
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Darnit I was hoping that it wasnt going to be an issue. Thanks sewingnut! I totally forgot about fabirc.com. I am on my way to check them out. I wasnt crazy about the way the whole order went down with JoAnns. I didnt care for the fact I couldnt print a confirm off their website. They did send me an email conformation, but I still want that piece of paper in my hands. I am excited about the fabric dyeing. I got a book and she has tons of recipes she used to get different colors. I like it because you use alot of the same colors just in different measurments. I was really surpised at that when I started reading the book I got. I would have never thought you could get a mix like that. I will for sure post my pics when I get the goods and can do it.
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Have you gals been to ConnectingThreads.com? They have a lot of nice patterns that are free. Also their fabic is reasonably priced AND it's not Joann Fabrics. I have ordered from them in the past and have been satisfied with the quality. Just thought I would share. Anyone else have a favorite site?
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