blahel

I have been looking for another sewing machine for a while now and while i cant afford the 950 new I have found one used that I can stretch my finances to buy. Basically I need a machine that will sew through multiple layers of fabric. Amongst my many frustrations I was recently sewing a pot holder and put the binding on and when I went to sew the loop onto the binding my machine just did not want to do it. I also need a machine to occasionally hem jeans and to use on heavier materials with and also for sewing material where several intersections meet without the machine carrying on.
I have looked on ebay and decided on a machine and then read negative reviews so have not purchased anything.i have a bernina 180 so hoping that my feet off that would also fit the industrial one.
This would be a forever machine along with my bernina 180 so I am looking forward to hearing everyones opinions..good and bad especially from someone who actually has the 950.
I dont think I want to go the vintage machine route as have also researched those and I hope that the 950 would be a workhorse of a machine?

Prism99

I found a little info online about it:
http://thoughtsfromaseamstress.blogs...g-machine.html
http://www.serioussewing.com/2010/05...ewing-machine/
http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-...ard.pl?t=34143

blahel

many thanks for those links Prism99 but I have already been there! but thanks for going to all that effort it is appreciated.

Tartan

My Bernina 440 does sew through must materials but I don't know how that compares to the 950. I did try to hem jeans with it only once. Going over the folded welt part of the jean, the denim pulled the needle right out of the holder. Luckily I was going slow and stopped before damaging my machine. I hem jeans on my old Singer treadle instead of taking a chance of damaging my Bernina.

blahel

Thanks for your reply Tartan..i bet you got a fright when the needle got pulled out! I also worry about damaging my 180 by sewing bulky items but I do love sewing with it otherwise. There is a singer treadle also advertised ..how does that go with bulky seams? Is it hard to sew with a treadle?

Tartan

My singer treadle has to be helped to sew over the double welted seams but it will sew them. If you check on Youtube you should be able to watch someone use a treadle. One of our QB members has some great videos on the care and use of old machines, her QB name is Muv.

blahel

thanks again Tartan. i will go and check them out..