need small/travel sewing machine recommendation...

I know of several people who like the Janome Jem.

Penny S wrote:

ok, gang, I opened my big mouth when the RV writer in the local newspaper
recommended the sewing genie for RV travelers!! ( see my note to her below
this post...) and she called, and was really interested in what I wrote,
she'd had a sneaky feeling that it was as I described it.

Anyway, I told her that I'd see if I could come up with a list of smaller
machines that might be good for a RV-er... Obviously there's the feather
weight, but aren't others making "take to class" models?

any help needed, I'm trying to make her Weds deadline...

Penny S

*****

I really enjoyed your gift idea article and thought there were some fun
ideas in it, even for a die hard tent camper like myself. The 50's ideas
were a hoot!

I need to take issue with one suggestion that was very poor. You suggest the
"Sewing Genie". I am sorry to see this, as this item is considered in
many sewing circles to be a complete and total useless piece of junk, that
does not perform as advertised. It's a real disservice to promote a device
like that to unsuspecting users.

I am one of four authors of this FAQ,
What Machine Should I Buy FAQ:
www.cet.com/~pennys/faq/smfaq.htm

which is a compilation of 10 years worth of internet discussion on the
largest sewing newsgroup on the internet. news:alt.sewing. It is
unfortunate how many posts come up about these cheap gadgets not working.
( see the listing under "tiny tailor etc")

A better suggestion would be a small, compact, minimal featured "real"
sewing machine. There are several brands to choose from. I'm sure a call to
Quilting Bee, the Bernina Dealer, or Pacific Crescent Quilting, Janome, both
in Spokane, would offer up some ideas of a small compact machine, usually
designed for taking back and forth to sewing classes.

Sincerely

Penny Schwyn
448-0346

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Modification & Repair of Outdoor Gear & Clothing
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