Ask the lazyweb: Sewing machines?

[dianec42]

So I'm thinking of getting a new sewing machine. (This business of moving to different countries and selling off all our electrical stuff has really got to stop.)

I did some poking around on joann.com and I think I want the Singer 7462 (amusing and overwhelmingly positive reviews on joann.com here).

I don't mind buying it on-line if the price is right; but I would really like to play with one in-person first and make sure it doesn't feel horribly wrong. Sadly, it's been about 20 years since I shopped for a sewing machine in the US, and I can't actually remember where the heck you buy sewing machines other than Sears. (I checked sears.com and target.com -- I'm not THAT lazy -- and neither of them carries the 7462.)

So, um, help? Does anyone have any amusing anecdotes about Singer sewing machines and/or useful suggestions on where to go play with one?

Thanks in advance, O mighty group mind.

Comments

[dieppe.livejournal.com]

Well, we've been through 3 sewing machines so far. The first one we got from JoAnn's, and it was broken so we returned it. The second one we got from Sears, and it was some sort of Sear's brand which for the life of me I can't remember. It would overheat after a few minutes of using it, so we took it back and said "WTF? Money back plz!"

I think she ended up with a Singer, which so far is turning out decently That's all I know. :)

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Was the Sears brand one a Kenmore, by any chance? My old old one was a Kenmore, and it was all right, but none too studly. (My insane husband wants a wool pirate coat, so I'm thinking studliness is a requirement this time around.)

[anneb.livejournal.com]

My Kenmore handled a wool Kinsale cloak (with fleece lining) and some very heavy insulated bedroom drapes.

I dunno who was making them the year I got mine.

[madbodger.livejournal.com]

There are lists on the web that let you look up the actual manufacturer from a Sears part number. The recent Singers have a bad rep in the reliability department. Apparently there is still decent stuff to be had from Viking, Pfaff, and Bernina. If you want an old Singer (1951-1952), I have a spare.

[usqueba.livejournal.com]

Was the Sears brand one a Kenmore, by any chance
Yes. It was the low-budget one. I don't know anything about them. Maybe we just got a lemon and Kenmore is fine ::shrug::

[siderea]

I'm a Singer fan, myself. I conveniently live near a Singer store. No kidding. http://www.singerco.com/locations/

[cahwyguy.livejournal.com]

Give my wife (Karen) a call - 818 772 5098. She's an expert on sewing machines.

[anneb.livejournal.com]

When I got mine, I went to the fabric store and asked people two questions.
1) What is good?
2) What do you use?

The answer to question one varied a lot. The answer to question two was universally "Kenmore."

I went to Sears, test drove what was there, and walked off with one on $100- end-of-model-year special. I love it to death.

Now, it's been ~10 years, but the interrogation technique might still work. See what people are using that they've gotten more recently.

[qidane.livejournal.com]

I keep looking at the Futura:
http://www.singerco.com/futura/qfutura.html

As far as I can tell it is sort of like a USB plotter with thread instead of pens. Bit pricy - and even dearer over here. So far have been saved by the fact the software is windows only, but with new intel macs...

Oh your old sewing machine is still working nicely by the way. Thanks.

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. There is a shop downtown that carries the Futura. I just got my bonus, but it's not enough for a Futura *and* any Windows-capable laptop that I'd be willing to use.

stuartc is now being evil and suggesting this would work with his old Vaio. I suppose I could always use the Ventrilo server PC...

Oh and it does TWO different kinds of one-step buttonhole. I think I have to go play with one of these now. Darn you!

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

*spends the next hour browsing joanndesigns.com for all the pretty patterns you can buy for embroidery machines*

DAMN YOU!!!

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

I have to ask, how on earth did you find out about the Futura? Singer doesn't seem to have done any marketing on it whatsoever... they are not in the shops at all over here. (I finally snapped and have ordered it from Amazon.)

[qidane.livejournal.com]

I was reading a thread in a forum about embrodery software looking for some cheep software that would work on the Mac. I found a discussion on how the Futura worked under Virtual PC version 6 but not version 5 (or was it 7 and 6).

Oh I found some open source code to manipulate sewing design files:
http://embroidermodder.sourceforge.net/
But still no Mac software under the $5000 mark...

[qidane.livejournal.com]

Oh I suppose I should add why I was trying to get embroidery software when I had no machine. It was for http://www.frogmarch.com/ as we had a logo and the local shirt printing shop were cheap to stitch designs but the setup charge for digitising you design prohibitively expensive. They did say they could use some design files that you had from other companies. I did the design using a 30 day trial of some PC software - put it onto a floppy and took it along to them. It worked ok. The trial software I had did not do type so he added the lettering for me. (Well the trial did do letters but only A, B and C in any one font!)

(http://pics.livejournal.com/qidane/pic/0009kx7k/g1)

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

I do love the Frogmarch logo! I remember seeing one on a fleece of Toby's (if I recall correctly) and admiring it.

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

But still no Mac software under the $5000 mark...

That's crazy. Like I said to the lady with the $6500 Husqvarna machine: "I could buy the Futura AND a really nice Windows laptop for that kind of money." If you don't consider "nice Windows anything" too much of an oxymoron.

[bedfull-o-books.livejournal.com]

My friend Tom has a Web site (here it is: http://www.tomfarrell.org/textiles/)

He has also written a book on how to buy a sewing machine. It's really cool, and features a photo of my sewing machine. (Whee. I'm famous.)

If you lived in Mass. I would point you towards Marie's. But alas you are not....

Sewing machines purchase

[(Anonymous)]

My advice...stay away from Singer. The company has really not done much in the last two decades and the old saying "buy Singer" is really gone out the door. Their support is not as easy and really and truly, the last time I test drove one, I backed out the store very quickly. I would advice to check into Brother/Babylock machines. They are quite nice, good support and easy to find dealers and parts everywhere. Bernina I would also advice to stay away from. Just my 2cents worth. Hugs, Sadia
http://www.sadiasews.com

Классный блог!

[beltranyhyw.livejournal.com]

Неплохой пост, но много лишнего. (http://7wp.ru/)