Machines too computerized?
 

Is there a such thing as a machine being too computerized?

For example, say you like to FMQ and leave those feed dogs up, stitch length set to 0. But perhaps you have a Pfaff Performance 5.2. There is a specific setting for FMQ on those machines and the feed dogs automatically drop when you engage that setting.

Does that mean you cannot FMQ leaving those feed dogs up and adjust the stitch length to 0 if you wanted to? Or can you just not choose that setting, set your stitch length to 0, attach the foot you want and proceed to FMQ ala Leah Day?

I'm wondering if there is a point where a machine is "too smart"? Is there a time where too much control is taken away from the user to the detriment of a sewing or quilting project? The FMQing example was the first I thought of, but I am sure there are others where there are auto settings that perhaps aren't giving the best result - and maybe the user can't over ride them.

I can't tell you anything about the Pfaff Performance 5.2, but I agree, some new machines aren't very accomodating to the user's wishes. A friend has a new washing machine that she absolutely hates, just for those reasons. She says once a cycle is started you can't stop it and open up the lid. You can't start the machine in the middle of a cycle as you may do when you've hand washed an item and want top spin it out in the machine and air dry. She says the door remains locked too long after the washing is complete, too, a source of frustration if you are there waiting for it. Next time I need a washing machine, you can be sure I won't buy one that insists on being the boss.

i have a brother with a fmq setting just push the button I use a floating foot but I can fmq with the feed dogs up or down with a hopping foot and i also started using the piecing setting following the edge of my foot which is 5.5 on my machine have the machine for 10 yrs never used that setting now I love it I don't use my quarter inch foot anymore and if I need a scant 1/4 I just set it on number to the right 6.0 something I can't do with the 1/4 inch piecing foot. sewing machines have come a long way the machines brother and babylock just released are supposed to be way over the top mostly focusing on the embroidery. i do like the features on my computerized machine but don't have any desire to get a newer machine right now.

The new Eversewn Sparrow X does embroidery by wi fi. You need a wireless device like a phone, tablet, ipad, etc.

I had one of those fancy Viking computerized one that I couldn't get the feed dogs to lower. It had other problems also and I couldn't find anybody to fix it. It was only a few years old, but they all said it would cost more than it was worth. I bought a cheap mechanical Singer Heavy Duty one at Walmart and have been a happy quilter since! I refuse to have a machine that won't cooperate!

One of my favorite quotes is from Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park
"They were so busy knowing they could, they didn't stop to think if they should..."

Cars are too complicated, remotes, USPS online, weight/money/exercise/news apps...all too complicated when they don't need to be.

I took a class on FMQing and did it both ways. feed dogs down and up. Seemed to make no difference on my machine.

I do agree that some of the new features aren't always good. I've heard about machines with sensors to tell if you bobbin is low (which is an awesome feature) have the sensor go bad so that the machine thinks there is no thread in the bobbin and won't run (which is really bad). I prefer when there is an override for the machine's setting so that if I want to do things manually and my way I can. This probably explains why the only new machine I own is a Juki 2200 QVP Mini which has minimal electronics and features. :D

I like that quote, KalamaQuilts! I was just thinking about it today, and happened to be looking at a Performance 5.2 - and that is when I wondered about machines being so computerized that the quilter loses some control.

And I agree cashs_mom - I hate giving up control - because of exactly the example you gave. A problem created where there should be none!!

Just for grins on the 5.2, I asked if I could try FMQing on this machine with the straight stitch set to 0. With the foot they had in the store, no - it did not work. The machine did FMQ well on the correct setting - but my thinking goes to - what if it didn't? I have a couple of machines where I think the stitching is just a bit better doing it this way (feed dogs up).

At any rate - this just got me to thinking and I wondered what others take on it would be! :o

I think that way too many things are too computerized, not speaking of machines in particular, although I do have 1 computerized machine, but it's not over done, personally, I wouldn't buy a machine that I considered over computerized. I was speaking of vehicles, recently drove a new Suburban for my job, and the wipers are always on intermittent and if the wipers "sense" rain, they start up, if it becomes heavier rain, the wipers will increase speed, but there is a minute or so, before they do so. I'm sorry, but I feel that if someone has a license, they should have enough sense to know WHEN and at what speed the wipers should be.

Pococellie I disagree with your comment about windshield wipers. Some people don't have sense enough to turn on their lights in the fog or before it gets light enough for others to see them.

I don't have computerized sewing machines.

I have found on some quilts it is nicer to have feed dogs up and lessen the pressure on the presser foot a little bit.

I have an Eversewn Hero, and the only two things I can think of that I am not crazy about have to do with the thread sensors.

It's annoying when empty bobbin sensor wont let me sew the last inch I need even though I KNOW there's at least a foot of thread left in the bobbin. And, I learned to ease fabric (like for setting a sleeve) by running it thru the machine with no thread. My Eversewn won't let me stitch without thread, so that's a more complicated and time consuming process.

Other than that, it is an awesome machine.

Yes, I caught that live stream yesterday with MSQC. You can just walk off and watch the stitching progress on you mobile device or tablet.

Jingle, I do have to agree with you on the headlights, I see it all the time also.

Yes, to me, some machines are too computerized. After watching a demo of one of the new $20,000 machines out there, I wondered who wants it. It does everything for you. All you do is set the parameters and it finishes it itself. At least for embroidery. It had a quilting mode also where you could end up with absolutely perfect feathers or other complicated design. It seems to me that it does what digital photography does for photographs. Yes, it can be a great photo, but no one knows what is real and what is fake. So where is the challenge?

I have several computerized machines and love them all. If I have a problem it’s usually my lack of knowledge. Lucky to have a great dealer with well educated staff to call upon.

I have to agree with junegerbracht on loving my computerized machines. There is often a way to do things differently if I know enough about the machine and when I don't know how to do something, the machine knows how to do it :D.
As long as it doesn't learn to call me names when it gets mad at me, everything is good:D

I agree with your comments! I hate it when manufacturers try to rule us. It's true that some people don't have any common sense and may need to be protected from themselves, but give us a break!! We are not all doothless and stupid and I resent other folks trying to think for me. (That's my rant for for today.)

This makes me think of another topic that I wonder if people would find useful. What are those little things on your machine that you did not realize was a feature (or a consequence of a feature - such as bobbin thread sensors) - that you want others to know if they are considering purchasing said machine.

Because I have learned some things on a new purchase that I did not realize (from lack of experience in trying out machines OR I might have noticed vaguely, but for some reason didn't grasp the practical impact day to day). I love seeing reviews on machines, but just as important as the "I love" features, are the ones that are quirky, different, the buyer didn't realize, etc.

I think I'll post that topic!

Totally agree with you especially on laundry machine. I had a front loader and hated it for all those reasons so bought a good old brand, Speed Queen and LOVE. It. No more computized fir me. But I did hear they were changing some too so hope mine lasts as long as I do. LOL I. Would try looking for the best sewing machine with what features you want only and go from there. There are still a few machines out there without alllll the bells and whistles.

The advantage of being able to test drive a sewing machine is that you can choose a machine with the bells and whistles you want. Don't like some of that computerized stuff? Just go down to the next cheaper machine. I have computerized machines, mainly Vikings, and love them. I have a longarm so am not concerned with FMQ on the sewing machine. I also have a fairly new fangled washer, a Kenmore, and I love that it doesn't have the agitator in the middle. I can pause it to add another item. True, it is hard to do just a partial cycle, but mine has an option to make my own cycle, which I have not tried. But I do wish you could go into an appliance store and "test drive" before you buy.

I know what you mean! My sewing machine is still flexible enough to do what I want, but like a couple others here, I don't like my washing machine, because it can only be run with their pre-set programs which don't always do what I want.

Maybe it's a sign of me getting older, but I feel like most appliances don't gain much by being hooked up to the internet. I don't need my fridge telling me when I'm out of milk - that really doesn't improve my life in any significant way - and it's a security and privacy nightmare.

I have an extremely sophisticated sewing/embroidery machine and a Juki 2010 set up all the time. I use the Juki more often than I use the computerized machine. The Juki price is 1/10 of my fancy machine and it gets at least 2X the use. However, there are some things that the Juki can't do. I like to have both options. I do, however, believe that we often buy options that we never learn how to use. Let's face it, we are not going back to the days before computerized anything--even sewing. We can hang on to our Featherweights, 301's and even our treadles, but the next generation of quilters will use computerized machines.

A few years ago, I talked myself into purchasing a HV Sapphire for Quilting. Especially for FMQ. If I used the computer setting for FMQ, I had all kinds of problems! mostly tension, some setting issue with having the feed dogs down. When I tried FMQ with the feed dogs engaged, not as many problems. When I was moving/downsizing, I chose to sell that machine and have been doing all my sewing on my Kenmore. It is semi-computerized and is a workhorse. I don't get as much FMQ done, but it is a super machine to use for Quilt as you go! Much smaller throat size, but it will do everything I need it to do! I am not scared of the computer programming, I just like having better control!

I think it’s horses for courses, some love computerised, some done, choose what suits you best. I have both kinds and use them for different things.

I think I know which $20,000 machine you're referring to. I watched a video about it. After watching the video my first thought was "you really don't know how to sew, just need to know how to use the machine"! At the price of that machine it should come with an instructor that you take home with you!

[QUOTE=JJBlaine;8161082]I have an Eversewn Hero, and the only two things I can think of that I am not crazy about have to do with the thread sensors.

It's annoying when empty bobbin sensor wont let me sew the last inch I need even though I KNOW there's at least a foot of thread left in the bobbin. (QUOTE)

Here's something that works to override the sensor on some machines---I do this with my Babylock Serenade. If you have a vertical bobbin, open up the door to the bobbin area and let the light in. You should be able to finish stitching the remaining thread on the bobbin. The reason this works is that there is a tiny beam of light that shines onto the bobbin. If there is thread there to block the beam from going through the clear bobbin into the hole in the back beyond the bobbin case, then the machine knows there's enough thread. Once that beam of light shines through the bobbin into the hole behind the bobbin case, this trips the low bobbin alert. If you open that door and let in more light I think it drowns out that light beam. Alternately, and I'm not sure why, if you use some machines (with this light activated low bobbin sensor) in an extremely bright area, like in front of a bright window, the low bobbin alert is constantly on. One other thing; If you get lint on the light source the alert won't work at all. On my machine the light source is in a little bubble on the inside side of the door. I wipe it off all the time so the alert works.

Can this be why, as I believe, the world is becoming dumber? No one has to think or reason or figure anything out anymore because computerized machines are doing it for us? Whether we want them to or not?

Yes, I've officially pinned on my Old Fogey badge! :)

I guess I love my computerized machine because it's the first thing I bought when learning Emb/Quilting...bought myself the Husq SE. I love the auto lift for pivot, I love when it tells me bobbin needs filling and yes it allows me to use all the thread in the bobbin just by me cont'ing to hit the foot...it will go for a few seconds beep and stop each time but no waste. I love when I need too just push a button and don't have to use the foot pedal. I love when it auto stops and tells me why...ex Thread Break, refill bobbin, change thread when embroidering, how long each color stitch out will take on emb's.
What annoys me is my new smart Thermostat which lights up every 6 mths to say change the filters when they don't need changing...Or Frig water filer light goes on saying replace it and it still wks fine. I wait until the filters look dirty and water stops coming out because those replacement are expensive.
Also when we built our home which was a model I didn't want a garbage disposal...never had one didn't want one but I didn't have that option...So there it sits, never to be used by me, we have septic and they aren't usable...What I didn't think I needed but again no choice was Central Vac system...who needs that I have a vacuum...Well, now I find I can't live w/o that....so I guess you just have to give the future inventions a chance. Eventually you fall in love and can't live w/o.

I agree. If the machine & it's computer are doing all the work then why not just buy it? Where is the skill/talent in that. Makes you appreciate the extensive skills the older generation had when they could not afford to purchase fancy dresses and had to rely on their skill/ talent to create them. My aunts who were seamstresses used to think using a pattern was cheating. I can just imagine what they would think of the computerized machines out these days. I am a vintage gal. I prefer working on my skills in lieu of fighting a computer. 😄

What I don't like is the cassettes, CD's and my husband buys a new car -no cassette, no CD, no GPS. Sirius Radio only and another monthly bill. Bought 2 GPS's and they work when they want to. On the computer, I was saving to a disc and now my daughter said it all goes to a stick now. How do I get all those patterns onto a stick? I guess I hate change no matter what it is. Now I hear they may have Daylight saving time in the works that we will have it all the time like the Amish do. Progress??

As with most machines, the more features (bells and whistles) it has, the more there is to go wrong, and often maintain. I keep my machines as simple as possible so I can fix and maintain them myself. It's too pricey to get some one else to fix them, if you can find them.......

I sew with one group and most of the group sew on Featherweights, only a few use newer machines. I have a Featherweight, but prefer my 301 and New Home L-372.

My machine tells me when I'm almost out of thread. But if I ignore it I can often get another 6-8 inches sewn even though my machine reminds me again every 10 or so stitches.

I have a Baby Lock Rachel, and a Viking SE that don't remind me when I am low on bobbin. I have to admit that I am spoiled with the reminder on my Viking Diamond , and miss it on the other machines. I also miss thread cutters and needle threaders on my older machines.

I think there might be. BUT I don't have any computerized machines. I don't even use all the features of the machines I do have. I can FMQ on all my machines, with or without the feed dog drop. SewVeryEasy youtube channel has a great video on using flexible snow sleds for quilting. I just punched a hole with needle when I had mine cut to the right length and used a screw to enlarge the hole. Shaved off the back side and sewed away.

You've got me curious about flexible snow sleds for quilting, I'm going to have to look that up.

I'll admit there are certain things on my computerized machines that I really enjoy (needle down, thread cutters, needle threader, a pivot feature on a presser foot). In fact when one feature is on one machine and not the other, it takes me a few minutes to quit looking for it on the one that doesn't have it.

But I don't think I would want it so computerized that it doesn't really need me. And there have been times when I have been sewing on a vintage machine that it is nice to enjoy the difference in sound and feel, and to slow it down, being more cognizant of setting that needle down, using scissors to snip threads, etc. Not so much to go wrong on those vintage machines either.

My minimalist side sometimes fights with my other side that goes oooh and ahhh over some of these computerized features. It is very easy to be awed and think I need this or that when if I slow it down and really consider what I would likely use or not use - helps me to balance my decision (usually!).

My opinion is buy the machine that does what you want. If you paper piece a lot then a thread cutter is nice etc. I am definitely in favor of technology. I used to tease my grandchildren when I did them a favor saying "when I'm old you will have to drive me to quilt stores to pay me back" but now with safety protections in autos, uber and future driverless cars, I will be able to keep doing what I love.

It's all about options and bonding with your machine(s). I started back into sewing a few years ago and I love my machines with all the features. While some are not used every time, I like having them available if needed.

Our local dealer offers great classes and events. There is always something fun to learn.