I am going camping and am considering bringing along one of those inexpensive battery operated sewing machines to do some piecing. Has anyone used one? Have any recommendations?

Hi, I want you to know I just got chastised, I read your post and said to my other 1/2 'Here's a real addict' and then he reminded ME I had taken My FW on vacation TOO! 'Yah, but I had Electricty! I was picturing you in a pup tent
:lol: I want to Apologize, I live in a 'Glass' house :lol: And your Quilt will Be wonderful! 8-)

:-) yes yes i am a true addict i admit it. i am going to the desert where besides hiking and stargazing there is not much to do and my BF likes to hang out at the campsite - so i usually read and play guitar but hey i am behind on my piecing!

PS.. of all places this board is where i thought for sure i'd find someone whos' thought of this or who could give me suggestions - i am taking the silence to suggest i do need some help ... :-) "Hi my name is Yolanda and I am addicted to making quilts..." ;-)

Quilters on the vintage site love handcranks for camping. I can't speak from experience, but it'd sew a better seam if you can find one.

I'd purchase the battery operated one and unpack it carefully and try it out. You don't want to compromise your quilt with less than good seams. If it does well, then I'd go for it.

Take along a lot of batteries .

Are you thinking of the little hand -operated one? Keep your money in your jeans.

I didn't think of a handcrank - very nice! Actually I feel silly posting this and have decided to learn to crochet or bring along a swedish weave project I have waiting in a closet ;-)

How about a hand piecing project?

I bought one for my GD and we tried it out and then took it back to the store. Really bad stitches. I have been looking for a hand crank one to take camping.

Hi Yolanda,

Typically sewers are not happy with these sewing machines.

You could find out if your camping site is equipped with electric and take a 3/4 size machine depending on how long you plan on camping.

This might be a good time to start a hand project to take along camping. There are several great options. One would be the GFG, Grandmother's Flower Garden. It's a great take along. The Cathedral Window is another hand sewing project. It can be started at home by machine and then worked by hand when away from home, another take along.

There are several others that would be something to check into but I'm not able to put a name to them at this time. I'll repost if I think of them later.

I personally like to spend outdoor time with some sort of handwork. I like the quietness of camping. I like to do redwork type stitching and have several in different colors so I don't get bored. I'm also thinking of starting a GFG to use up small scrap sizes. There was a nice posting of someone who had a nice plastic container to take along her project as she traveled.

Good luck, enjoy camping.

Pam M

It's a good time for me to learn to hand piece huh? ;-) thank you - I really have wanted to learn to hand quilt .. I can bring a little piece and pratice

thank you!

thanks again to everyone for their suggestions -- i will take along hand work of some sort --- still feeling silly for my post

No need to feel silly. It was a good question.

I take one with me camping for my granddaughter I paid $20.00 for it at Rite aid In fact I now have two of them It sews like a dream. My Grandaughter sews on it and has made a quilt, pillows and stuffed dolls, Even an outfit one time I have used it while camping if I need to mend something too.

I have a hand crank and it is wonderful. Took all of 5 minutes to learn to use it. I actually like it better than my treadle, well maybe evenly.

Hey! Don't feel silly. I've never tried either the battery operated or the hand crank so I couldn't give you an opinion. You had mentioned learning to hand piece; keep your hand clean out in them thar hills! Personally, I like the idea about crocheting. I have one project that I take with me when I know that I don't have access to a machine. I've been working on it for years, but it does help wile away the hours sitting at the doctors office or my Greyhound bus adventures.

I take one camping & my DH runs the generator for me.

LOL we camp at a rustic campground generators are my pet peeve! Breaks up the sound of nature. No offense meant!

Where we camp there is no electric usual about 6 dif groups all together we only turn them on late in the evening to charge up our batteries in the trailer thats when 3 us sew.

I camp best at a Holiday Inn

I would rather mid day for generators as kids are getting put to bed in the evening Now where we camp it is very rustic no indoor plumbing and a lot of tents Vs campers so it may be different where you go. I still mean no offense I complain to myself only once did I mention it to a generator user He laughed but turned it off for the time being

I'm feeling the same way there!

I didn't take offense we try real hard to work around everyone we just go to have a good time and be with everyone. We have been doing this for many Yrs . If my Dad & mom go this yr 2 the reunion it is on 4th July it will be his 46th yr he is 93 & my mom is 83. They started this yrs ago w/ all Family. Hope yopu have a Great Time . I know we will.

Try some hand applique.

I bought an old Singer portable to convert to a handcrank, so I can use it outside when it is just too nice to stay inside.

My idea of camping is in a 35' camper with a 10' x 20' covered porch attached to it. Have my own queen sized bed, a full bathroom and a full kitchen. I even have a sewing machine (singer 221) and spinning wheel (little gem by majacraft) just for the camper! I love nature, but on my terms :-)
Camping season coming soon, can't wait!

your better off trying to get a machine on freecycle in your area,or at a garage sale.
i would not bother with a battery operated machine. i bought one for my friends kid..and it was junk.

if you could afford to buy a machine for travel, get a janome "sewest- 509. They run between $99- $169" .
or look for a machine at walmart.

i take my sewing mchine with me whenever i go camping!

I think (but I'm not sure) they only do a chain stitch. It would put a lot of bulk on the back of the fabric and also would not be very strong. I have an old hand crank Singer that was the first portable sewing machine made. You should see if you could find one of those hanging around on e bay or somewhere. I tell my DDIL that she can take it camping with her. (She DOES NOT sew!) I also think you would have to take a truckload of batteries with you.

My significant other is into antique car shows. Personally, I can stand it for about 5 minutes but I want to be with him. Solution? Quilt while he gawks!

Here's a picture of his '62 T-bird (on the left) and a $80, 000 restored Tbird on the right. In the middle is me and my hand crank. It was wonderful to be able to do SOMETHING while there. Plus, IMHO, I pulled in the crowds because people were curious about what I was doing. The funniest thing was how many didn't know about hand crank machines! :-)

By the way, I made VERY sure that my umbrella, if it fell over, wouldn't come close to the $80K car!!! I also found it funny that the owner, who I'll call Mr. Old Grumpy, complained about my sewing taking attention away from his car! :roll: But, as I said, I was pulling in the crowds!! he he he

I do quilting all the time when we camp, but I have an dedicated project to work on only when camping - an all hand-pieced, hand quilted quilt. Yes, it is going to take me a few years, but in that time I will have an entire quilt that is entirely done by hand, not something that is done very often any more.

I have had this quilt project going for two summers now and soon to begin the third. It is almost all pieced together. I think I have only one more border to sew on. I haven't seen it or taken it out of its tote bag since our last camping trip last November. I am looking forward to getting out camping for our first time in 2011 in the next couple weeks. My camping quilting project will be pulled out again then. Can hardly wait!

Please don't feel silly for starting this topic. I've always wanted to know about those battery operated machines and now I do. I'm looking for a FW to use in the camper, but for now, my 301 will do. This year will be the first time, I'll be taking my sewing with me also the first year, we have a seasonal spot to park the camper all season. Can't wait!!

I went to Mountain Quiltfest in Pigeon Forge TN 2nd week of March and took a hand work class from Cindy Blackburg. She has developed stamps for her patterns that you just stamp on fabric. I have carried the fabric with me and worked on the Mountain BLossom blocks everytime I have a chance and have finished 4-blocks. Maybe you could check out something like that. It has both pieced blocks and embrodery. Very pretty blocks and is totally portable.

We have a camp without power or water. I have a battery operated machine and have used it for many years with no problem. You of course sew at a much lower speed than used to but it worked for me.

We have a camp without power or water. I have a battery operated machine and have used it for many years with no problem. You of course sew at a much lower speed than used to but it worked for me.

I did, I took one of those inexpensive machines camping and had a good time. It seems like if anyone has to stay in camp and watch the dogs while everyone else is gone doing, its me. So I took one of those battery operated ones, and it worked great. I was able to sew several blocks with it. It was actually fun and am thinking of doing it again this yr in case we stay up there longer than the kids and grandkids. There seems like there is always some down time and its great fun to have something like that to do.

Yolanda

You know what I am going to rent a camp site with electricity just to bring my sewing machine! So I would have to say that you have opened my eyes to a whole new option!

Thanks
TreeFrog

I used to have a battery powered sewing machine. Mine made a really nice stitch. I let my GD use it and she knocked it off the table so I no longer have one. I bought it for when the power is out. I am definitely not the camping out type of person. Now I hand piece everywhere I go when I have to wait somewhere like doctors offices.

I think its a great question, too, I always wondered about them!