Rodney

I haven't tried the newer plastic machines. Plastic has it's uses but I don't like it in my tools for the most part.
Besides, the vintage machines with all the attachments (and that I can work on myself) are too much fun for me to look seriously at the newer models. At times I think some of the fancy stitches would be nice so I might get one that takes cams. I doubt I would need more than that for my projects.
Rodney

J Miller

Rodney,

We have a bunch of machines that do decorative stitches. Both with removable and built in cams. 95% of our sewing is straight stitch. About 4% is ZZ and the last 1% is decorative or stretch stitch. For the most part you just don't need decorative stitching for normal sewing.

Joe

Cecilia S.

Rodney - an old Bernina has some fun stitches; but the funnest of all are the Elna machines. Their cams are amazing. Duckies! Flowers! Sailboats! Really fantastic.

And excellent machines, to boot. :-)

Macybaby

What gripes me is that manufactures are pretty much assuming someone will buy the machine, and then get tired of it and stop using it after a bit, and that it's not going to be used as a real workhorse. I suppose they figure if you want to really use one, you'll get a heavy duty professional model.

I've been out of the new sewing machine market for so long- at first I didn't understand all the adds referring to "industrial" with the older machines - I know they aren't any where near the industrial machines I sewed on 30 years ago. But then now you have to buy a special "jean" machine just to get one that will handle a few layers of denim. I am so behind the times!

J Miller

Cecilia,

Does the Elna have a cam that makes cats? Our machines make ducks, swans, flowers, trees, fishes, and all sorts of designs ... but no cats.

Our LSMG has a new Janome that does a cat design, but it's about $6,000 and I would never even consider that.

Joe

cmrenno

At $20 each you could buy 350!
What makes me mad is that the new sewing machines keep getting more and more expensive. Computers some down in price as do TV's and lots of other electronics. Sewing machines are a real racket. And I have friends that keep upgrading to the newest machines (that go up $2000 from the previous model! They were talking about a Janome that cost $12,000!)
And I come to the meetings with my $5.00 specials! And they look at me like I am crazy!

Colleen

ragquilter

I was thinking about hunting for an older machine that uses cams. I have 2 Pfaffs that I love but neither have a lot of stitches but they are work horses, don't care what it is, they sew it. I bought one of the plastics for some decorative stitches and overcast stitch. It can't maintain the decorative stitches on thick things (like quilts). If I find one that takes cams, are the cams hard to get? Do you think a Kenmore is as good as a Singer?

vmaniqui

my situation is the other way around. my wife complains a lot on why i need so many old singer sewing machines. i told her this is the real deal. i used my mom's old singer sewing machine when i started sewing and love it. i can sew anything with it. upholstery, denim, anything and it keeps on running. i have not asked my Mom if she still has it. she used to sew wedding gowns and any woman dresses before she had an operation. i bought my wife a husqvarna freesia and that's what she's using. she love it better than my machines. good for me as i can baby them all.

J Miller

ragquilter,

Many of the older Singers in the 400, 500, 600 and up series use cams. If you do some checking and stay to the machines with metal innards, there are lots of them, you'll be good to go. The cams are not hard to come by. GW and eBay have them quite often.

Are Kenmores as good as Singers? Yes. Especially the late 60s to late 70s machines. While Singer was going to plastic junque the Kenmores were still all steel. My Kenmore 158-15570 sews better patterns with it's cams than many of the Singers do. It's all metal except for the cams and sews quiet and smooth.

Joe

miriam

yes - I'm not anywhere near it yet...