Yet Another Sewing Machine Question

I know, I know... Not another sewing machine question! But here goes...

I like my existing sewing machine (Janome 5000). However, it doesn't allow
me to do the mock hand applique stitch because I can't vary the blind hem's
bite size. I thought about trading in my machine for one that does, but
what I really want and don't have on my machine is JUST this feature.

Does anyone know of an inexpensive machine that allows the blind hem bite
size to be reduced to do mock hand applique? My local machine shop says
that it doesn't exist. They say I have to go with a $1500+ machine (Pfaff
or Janome) to get this. That can't be right...

Any advice would be helpful.

Gina in IL

On Fri, 27 Feb 2004 10:27:50 -0600, "Eli"
wrote:

I know, I know... Not another sewing machine question! But here goes...

I like my existing sewing machine (Janome 5000). However, it doesn't allow
me to do the mock hand applique stitch because I can't vary the blind hem's
bite size. I thought about trading in my machine for one that does, but
what I really want and don't have on my machine is JUST this feature.

Does anyone know of an inexpensive machine that allows the blind hem bite
size to be reduced to do mock hand applique? My local machine shop says
that it doesn't exist. They say I have to go with a $1500+ machine (Pfaff
or Janome) to get this. That can't be right...

Any advice would be helpful.

Gina in IL


My Husqvarna Lily 545 has the mock hand applique stitch and you can
buy an adjustable blind hem foot as well as adjust the needle
position.

Kate's site has lots of useful info on using the adjustable blind hem
foot - she has a slightly better Lily than me as its a 555. I'm sure
she'll chip in with more info!

I don't know if my Lily has any stitches that the 555 doesn't but mine
is the 'quilting' Lily and it does have some quilting and heirloom
stitches plus letters and pretty stitches like daisies and hearts.

Oh and I love my Lily btw!

Emma

Hello there I have a Janome excell ,I use the blind hemming stitch but use
the clear wide mouth foot as the proper foot can't be adusted and not always
do I want a wide stitch. Hope this helps a wee bit. trish in Sydney

Ohhhhhhh! Horse feathers! Yes you can buy an inexpensive machine that will
do the blind hem and you can adjust it to suit yourself. My old Singer -
bought in 1959, will do that, will do lots of other neat things *and* will
do a very nice straight stitch when your Janome isn't feeling well. You can
probably buy a "50's or 60's" Singer for $200 or less. Having a backup is
good. Polly

"Emma" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 27 Feb 2004 10:27:50 -0600, "Eli"
wrote:

I know, I know... Not another sewing machine question! But here goes...

I like my existing sewing machine (Janome 5000). However, it doesn't
allow
me to do the mock hand applique stitch because I can't vary the blind
hem's
bite size. I thought about trading in my machine for one that does, but
what I really want and don't have on my machine is JUST this feature.

Does anyone know of an inexpensive machine that allows the blind hem bite
size to be reduced to do mock hand applique? My local machine shop says
that it doesn't exist. They say I have to go with a $1500+ machine
(Pfaff
or Janome) to get this. That can't be right...

Any advice would be helpful.

Gina in IL


My Husqvarna Lily 545 has the mock hand applique stitch and you can
buy an adjustable blind hem foot as well as adjust the needle
position.

Kate's site has lots of useful info on using the adjustable blind hem
foot - she has a slightly better Lily than me as its a 555. I'm sure
she'll chip in with more info!

I don't know if my Lily has any stitches that the 555 doesn't but mine
is the 'quilting' Lily and it does have some quilting and heirloom
stitches plus letters and pretty stitches like daisies and hearts.

Oh and I love my Lily btw!

Emma

I thought it might be helpful to tell you which model old Singer I have, but
she has gone visiting. Polly

" Pete 'n' Trish" wrote in message
...
Hello there I have a Janome excell ,I use the blind hemming stitch but use
the clear wide mouth foot as the proper foot can't be adusted and not
always
do I want a wide stitch. Hope this helps a wee bit. trish in Sydney

I'm doing a very happy dance right now... Someone from this group emailed
me and I tried my shell stitch which looks like the blind hem only opposite
side. It allows me to change the bite size!!! So I have to work on the
left side of the applique instead of the right, but that just may work out
fine!! I did an experiment and started yelling YAHOO, YIPPEE, and jumping
around for joy!!! My DH said it doesn't take much to make me happy. :-)

Gina in IL

Gina-

To be absolutely honest, I have an adjustable blind hem stitch and
PREFER to use a narrow zig-zag for machine appliqu=E9! You want to
adjust the zig-zag so it's quite "flat" with a short length..... then
zig ON the appliqu=E9's edge and zag OFF the appliqu=E9 and onto the
background. The blind hem stitch builds up a straight stitch alongside
the appliqu=E9 so you need to concentrate on keeping that stitch
straight and parallel to the edge. The blind stitch also adds quite a
lot of bulk and uses MUCH more thread! LOL And it's more difficult to
"un-sew", if that should be necessary, as well.

Try the zig-zag before you get all unhappy with that great machine which
you already have!

Leslie- who drives a Janome Quilter's Companion 4800... which can be had
for about $1100-1200 if you are skilled at dickering!

I have no idea why my pointy claws just shot out about "doesn't take much to
make you happy". No idea. But - tell DH *he* ought to know. Nahhhh, don't do
that. I just couldn't help myself.
Now - moving back to appliqué - if the shell stitch will do okay but is
for the "wrong side" (gulp), does your SM have a turn over, mirror image,
flip over sort of button? Some SMs will let you take any stitch and make it
sort of backwards to what the, sorry for this stupid computer word,
"default" setting is. So glad someone found you a solution. Polly

"Eli" wrote in message
...
I'm doing a very happy dance right now... Someone from this group emailed
me and I tried my shell stitch which looks like the blind hem only
opposite
side. It allows me to change the bite size!!! So I have to work on the
left side of the applique instead of the right, but that just may work out
fine!! I did an experiment and started yelling YAHOO, YIPPEE, and
jumping
around for joy!!! My DH said it doesn't take much to make me happy. :-)

Gina in IL

Hullo Gina
How interesting that this adaptation has meant that you are appliquéing
from the left. I am sure that you will find this beneficial for another
common-sense but not often thought of reason. When doing appliqué on
the RHS, the background fabric is in the shadow of the appliqué piece
(tiny though it is). When you are working the other way round, you have
the appliqué piece *and* the background fabric in full light. We were
shown this technique by one of my more inventive teachers!
..
In article , Eli
writes
I'm doing a very happy dance right now... Someone from this group emailed
me and I tried my shell stitch which looks like the blind hem only opposite
side. It allows me to change the bite size!!! So I have to work on the
left side of the applique instead of the right, but that just may work out
fine!! I did an experiment and started yelling YAHOO, YIPPEE, and jumping
around for joy!!! My DH said it doesn't take much to make me happy. :-)

Gina in IL



--
Best Regards
pat on the hill

Great I am glad you found this out and I will certainly go look for that
stitch on my machine.....but before your ever chuck that 5000 check out all
its =stitches and incarnations of those stitches....THAT is awonderful
machine!!!!!!!!!!

--
Mauvice in Central WI USA
remove no spam to reply-------PROUD MOTHER OF A JANOME 4800QC
"Eli" wrote in message
...
I'm doing a very happy dance right now... Someone from this group emailed
me and I tried my shell stitch which looks like the blind hem only
opposite
side. It allows me to change the bite size!!! So I have to work on the
left side of the applique instead of the right, but that just may work out
fine!! I did an experiment and started yelling YAHOO, YIPPEE, and
jumping
around for joy!!! My DH said it doesn't take much to make me happy. :-)

Gina in IL