Do You Think That Modern Imported Sewing Machines Are So Disposable?
01-27-2020, 01:34 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 619
Interesting topic.I must confess I love sewing machines, loved them since childhood & I am now 80 years old.. I love vintage mechanicals, love inexpensive machines from big box stores & top of the line machines from dealers. I am fortunate to have some of each & use them all, depending on the project, my mood, my location. I take the lightweight plastic machines to Stitch Camp, always feel sad when the weekend is over & I have to pack it up. Recently I had right shoulder replacement surgery, am still in an immobilizing brace but I can sew pre cuts on my computerized machine that has a knee lift, auto threading, auto scissors, etc, I can't sew on my machines without those features for another 4 weeks.
We are fortunate to have so many choices. to my knowledge the only US made machines now are the large quilting machines, all of the regular machines are imported.
We are fortunate to have so many choices. to my knowledge the only US made machines now are the large quilting machines, all of the regular machines are imported.
01-27-2020, 02:06 PM
#22
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chula Vista CA
Posts: 7,364
Like Maire, I love sewing machines too. From the small little hand held items to the very large expensive ones. My DH thought I was crazy one year for Christmas I wanted this very small plastic sewing machine. It was advertised as a child's machine or quick use machine. It holds a bobbin for the top thread - but it is cute and fun to play with and very loud.
I fell in love with the FW and ended up buying three! Gave two away when I realized machines work best if they are used periodically and my sister was doing a lot of sewing and only had one machine, and my niece too only had one machine. But I have the machine my mother taught me to sew on - a Singer 15-91 in a cabinet. That's my favorite. But I bought the Janome MC6600P because it has the bigger harp, and then I got the Husqvarna/Viking Designer Topaz 20 because embroidery looked so much fun and discovered with a friend that it is! I have my great-great Aunt May's 1925 Damascus treadle machine - it is so fun to use. (And I read the Amish still consider an item made by hand if it is sewn on a treadle. So I have made a couple hand made quilts and used my treadle to put on the binding.) And one day I was watching HSN and they had this portable little machine which they called a "Quilter's friend" since it was light weight and came with the table - it was perfect to take to quilt group meetings so I had to have it. Still take it from time to time when I need more than a straight stitch from my FW.
I stay away from thrift stores or antique stores because the machines want to follow me home. I really want to up grade but believe I need a real reason to do it since they are so expensive now.
When people getting into sewing ask me what to buy I suggest they buy the most machine they can afford. A really good machine makes sewing more enjoyable and if it has more bells and whistles you are more likely to continue to grow.
I fell in love with the FW and ended up buying three! Gave two away when I realized machines work best if they are used periodically and my sister was doing a lot of sewing and only had one machine, and my niece too only had one machine. But I have the machine my mother taught me to sew on - a Singer 15-91 in a cabinet. That's my favorite. But I bought the Janome MC6600P because it has the bigger harp, and then I got the Husqvarna/Viking Designer Topaz 20 because embroidery looked so much fun and discovered with a friend that it is! I have my great-great Aunt May's 1925 Damascus treadle machine - it is so fun to use. (And I read the Amish still consider an item made by hand if it is sewn on a treadle. So I have made a couple hand made quilts and used my treadle to put on the binding.) And one day I was watching HSN and they had this portable little machine which they called a "Quilter's friend" since it was light weight and came with the table - it was perfect to take to quilt group meetings so I had to have it. Still take it from time to time when I need more than a straight stitch from my FW.
I stay away from thrift stores or antique stores because the machines want to follow me home. I really want to up grade but believe I need a real reason to do it since they are so expensive now.
When people getting into sewing ask me what to buy I suggest they buy the most machine they can afford. A really good machine makes sewing more enjoyable and if it has more bells and whistles you are more likely to continue to grow.
01-27-2020, 03:21 PM
#23
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 165
I have very expensive Bernina 880 upgraded to a plus with the embroidery module. My dealer is 1 hour away but their service department is fantastic! They have a program where they go through it thoroughly once a year then you get class tickets that equal the cost of it. They are pricey machines and many models are computerized but as far as I can tell are not “all plastic” on the inside. My 880 will last me for the rest of my life. I’ve already had it 5 years. We sell and service featherweights so they are also a favorite. I use them in the camper, at retreats and a monthly quilt group. I would never buy a machine without checking with others about the quality, responsiveness and attitude of their repair department. After using Vikings from a store for most of my sewing career, I switched to Bernina because the last Viking I bought wouldn’t wind a decent bobbin. It spent weeks in shop and then getting it back without solving the problem several times. The thing was a lemon and the store refused to stand behind it after all my years of patronage.
01-28-2020, 10:47 AM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 619
Like Maire, I love sewing machines too. From the small little hand held items to the very large expensive ones. My DH thought I was crazy one year for Christmas I wanted this very small plastic sewing machine. It was advertised as a child's machine or quick use machine. It holds a bobbin for the top thread - but it is cute and fun to play with and very loud.
I fell in love with the FW and ended up buying three! Gave two away when I realized machines work best if they are used periodically and my sister was doing a lot of sewing and only had one machine, and my niece too only had one machine. But I have the machine my mother taught me to sew on - a Singer 15-91 in a cabinet. That's my favorite. But I bought the Janome MC6600P because it has the bigger harp, and then I got the Husqvarna/Viking Designer Topaz 20 because embroidery looked so much fun and discovered with a friend that it is! I have my great-great Aunt May's 1925 Damascus treadle machine - it is so fun to use. (And I read the Amish still consider an item made by hand if it is sewn on a treadle. So I have made a couple hand made quilts and used my treadle to put on the binding.) And one day I was watching HSN and they had this portable little machine which they called a "Quilter's friend" since it was light weight and came with the table - it was perfect to take to quilt group meetings so I had to have it. Still take it from time to time when I need more than a straight stitch from my FW.
I stay away from thrift stores or antique stores because the machines want to follow me home. I really want to up grade but believe I need a real reason to do it since they are so expensive now.
When people getting into sewing ask me what to buy I suggest they buy the most machine they can afford. A really good machine makes sewing more enjoyable and if it has more bells and whistles you are more likely to continue to grow.
I fell in love with the FW and ended up buying three! Gave two away when I realized machines work best if they are used periodically and my sister was doing a lot of sewing and only had one machine, and my niece too only had one machine. But I have the machine my mother taught me to sew on - a Singer 15-91 in a cabinet. That's my favorite. But I bought the Janome MC6600P because it has the bigger harp, and then I got the Husqvarna/Viking Designer Topaz 20 because embroidery looked so much fun and discovered with a friend that it is! I have my great-great Aunt May's 1925 Damascus treadle machine - it is so fun to use. (And I read the Amish still consider an item made by hand if it is sewn on a treadle. So I have made a couple hand made quilts and used my treadle to put on the binding.) And one day I was watching HSN and they had this portable little machine which they called a "Quilter's friend" since it was light weight and came with the table - it was perfect to take to quilt group meetings so I had to have it. Still take it from time to time when I need more than a straight stitch from my FW.
I stay away from thrift stores or antique stores because the machines want to follow me home. I really want to up grade but believe I need a real reason to do it since they are so expensive now.
When people getting into sewing ask me what to buy I suggest they buy the most machine they can afford. A really good machine makes sewing more enjoyable and if it has more bells and whistles you are more likely to continue to grow.
