Tough cheap machine???

P.S. can you please send me your email address to mmeahan at sonic dot
net? If you're this local, I have an idea for you.

Look for a pre-owned Pfaff. I had a
wonderful mechanical Pfaff #1222SE. It
did what you require. PAT

duh wrote:

I know this type of discussion usually starts a war, but just looking at
possible options. I had to take my Janome 5124 in for adjustment today.
I was sewing a backpack and going through thick fabric layers.

The machine has not been adjusted in 5 years, so it might not have been
the fabric throwing it off. It has served me well with my shirts
though. But its supposed to be able to handle heavy duty work too.

I'm looking for an inexpensive ($300) machine (yeah, I know, dream on),
with straight stitch and zig-zag. I want strong and durable, and not a
lot of bells and whistles.

I usually sew my own shirts, but am venturing into some outdoor gear.

I was in JoAnns today, dropping off my machine for repair, and the woman
kept trying to show me more and more expensive machines (all Huskys),
even though I kept telling her I wasn't willing to spend that. Kept
saying "This tells you what foot to put on, etc", like being a guy, I
must need a bunch of help.

Seems I remember Pfaff has some rugged basic machines, but can't
remember the models.

On Sun, 30 Jul 2006 17:23:11 -0700, Taunto wrote:

Is there some trick with straight stitches that will emulate bar tacks,
like maybe multiple parallel lines close together. Do these old 401s
stitch in reverse?

Well, you can hand-guide a bar tack: stitch in one hole, raise the
presser foot just enough to slide the other hole under the needle,
lower the needle by turning the handwheel so that you can make a
last-minute tweak to hit the hole exactly.

Or if the reverse stitch is on a lever that also controls the stitch
length, you can adjust the stops so that the forward and reverse
stitches are exactly the same length and bar tack by flipping the
lever up and down.

But I make all my bar tacks by hand -- except when making
machine-worked buttonholes. Hand tacks look neater, hold better, and
mess up the fabric less -- and most of the time it's easier to make a
few stitches by hand than to position the garment in the machine.

Oh, there's another exception: when I'm sewing on a patch pocket with
zig-zag, I'll make a few zero-length stitches to begin and end the
stitching. But if I sew a pocket on with straight stitch, and if for
some reason I don't want to make a little loop to begin and end -- for
me, at least, the loop always works out badly when I'm sewing knits --
I'll make a hand bar tack to finish the ends.

Joy Beeson
--
http://joybeeson.home.comcast.net/
http://roughsewing.home.comcast.net/ -- needlework
http://n3f.home.comcast.net/ -- Writers' Exchange
joy beeson at comcast dot net

Taria wrote:

at that price you want to look at used machines. An old Singer
401 or 500 would be great tough machines.
Taria

And a long way from crap!


--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Kate Dicey wrote:
Taria wrote:

at that price you want to look at used machines. An old Singer
401 or 500 would be great tough machines.
Taria


And a long way from crap!


Kate's back!!

--
Joanne
stitches @ singerlady.reno.nv.us.earth.milky-way.com
http://members.tripod.com/~bernardschopen/

woohoo! welcome home Kate : )
Taria

Pogonip wrote:
Kate Dicey wrote:

Taria wrote:

at that price you want to look at used machines. An old Singer
401 or 500 would be great tough machines.
Taria



And a long way from crap!


Kate's back!!

Taria wrote:

woohoo! welcome home Kate : )
Taria

I had a great time. Very relaxing, *and* I got some sewing done (an
alteration for a customer - yes, I know! I don't do alterations! But
this was an emergency); a customer skirt and top cut, and the major
seams sewn on the fabric and linings, and some quilty things!

As for sewing machines: tough doesn't come cheap, but it does come
inexpensive and pre-loved. You want new, try the Bernina 1008 at about
£400 (I've usually seen it at £450 ish, but also as low as £379), or go
for a slightly used commercial (NOT for a new sewist, though!). If you
want domestic but tough, the 1008 or a well cared for pre loved older
machine.
--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

IMS wrote:
On Sat, 29 Jul 2006 19:34:50 -0700, duh wrote:


I know this type of discussion usually starts a war, but just looking at
possible options. I had to take my Janome 5124 in for adjustment today.
I was sewing a backpack and going through thick fabric layers.

The machine has not been adjusted in 5 years, so it might not have been
the fabric throwing it off. It has served me well with my shirts
though. But its supposed to be able to handle heavy duty work too.

I'm looking for an inexpensive ($300) machine (yeah, I know, dream on),
with straight stitch and zig-zag. I want strong and durable, and not a
lot of bells and whistles.

I usually sew my own shirts, but am venturing into some outdoor gear.

I was in JoAnns today, dropping off my machine for repair, and the woman
kept trying to show me more and more expensive machines (all Huskys),
even though I kept telling her I wasn't willing to spend that. Kept
saying "This tells you what foot to put on, etc", like being a guy, I
must need a bunch of help.

Seems I remember Pfaff has some rugged basic machines, but can't
remember the models.


Why not go top of the line used...a Singer 401 would certainly fit the
bill.

I'm thinking along those lines. 401 or 500, but money is an issue. I
got my Janome back Friday, will see how it does me. I'm running it a
bit slower through the thick stuff now.

Boy, you think clothing patterns don't fill in all the details in the
pattern instructions, try backpacks. After I get the first one done,
perhaps I'll know a whole bunch more.

Hopefully I'll do better than the pair of pants I tried to sew once.
Got all the way done except for the waistband, realized I cut something
out upside down on the band, and then just lost all momentum. Still in
a bag around here somewhere.

Besides, I can find pants to fit me. Shirts I can't.

Taunto wrote:
IMS wrote:

By the way, Duh and Taunto are the same person. Just two different
machines.

IMS wrote:
On Sat, 29 Jul 2006 19:34:50 -0700, duh
wrote:

I know this type of discussion usually starts a war,
but just looking at possible options.

Why not go top of the line used...a Singer 401 would
certainly fit the bill.

Seconded!!! I'm still sewing everything from heavy denim and
upholstery fabric to wedding satin and organza on my Singer 401A,
bought new in 1961. I have acquired two more just like it, to be
sure I *never* have to be without one.
;-)

Beverly, back from nine glorious days at the Oregon coast.