Comments on: book: encyclopedia of sewing techniques

By: Jo Stoll

Jo Stoll — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:23:57 +0000

I too have an old Elna; the SU. The feed dogs don’t lower on mine, but it has a very simple plate that clicks in over the feed. I’m not sure why the available walking feet don’t work with the Elna…they just don’t!

By: soozs

soozs — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:58:12 +0000

I want that book!! It sounds fantastic.

On machines, I went through your current decision point about 6 years ago when my old hand me down workhorse went beyond repair. I bought the most basic Janome and I have been very happy with it. It does multiple stretch stitches (which I use a lot) and a dozen or so fancy stitches, it has a metal engine housing (hate that disposable plastic stuff) and no computer functions (which I didn’t want). It sews very nicely, it easy to thread and wind bobbins, never breaks down and only cost $300. I have a couple of friends with the exact same machine and they are similarly happy with it.

Over the last few years I have reflected on whether I made the right decision and if I had the choice again this is what I would consider.

The next model up from mine had two features which at the time I thought were a waste of space and I now realise would be wonderfully useful – the single touch needle up/needle down button (I never understood how many problems I had by commenting sewing with the needle in the incorrect position or how much time I spent lining the needle up) and the single touch double stitch button (which is much faster and neater than the back and forth at the beginning and end of each seam). These two extra features would have been and extra $100 and I really wish I had invested in them.

Now that I do some quilting I sometimes also wish I had a machine with a longer arm and stronger engine. My machine probably couldn’t handle quilting something really big (like a king size quilt) and the engine isn’t as strong as I would sometimes like when sewing heavy duty items (like leather or multiple layers of heavy felt). But to go up to a larger size machine is a much bigger expense – more than an extra $1000, and I don’t feel I quilt enough to justify the cost.

I’m not sure I would use a wider array of fancy stitches or embroidery functions etc – maybe I would if they were at my disposal, but I haven’t missed not having them. I do know I would probably need to read the manual every time I wanted to do something complicated and I’m a bit too lazy for that!

Good luck in choosing and I hope you’ll report back!

By: Katherine

Katherine — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:56:15 +0000

We have two sewing machines, an old singer and a newish fancy-ish Elna. I mostly use the Elna now, because it has a zigzag stitch and other finishing stitches that I use a lot, but I do have a ruffling contraption for my Singer – they haven’t changed since forever, they operate on the up-down of the needle combined with a set of ratchet gears and built in feed – as well as the most amazing buttonhole contraption that manages to sew a custom fit button hole on my straight stitch Singer Featherweight. Also you can probably get a feed-dog cover plate if you don’t want to drop your feed dog. Mine is a slightly domed plate that you just screw over the throat plate that is there when you want to use it. I would use my old Singer most of the time, except that the electrical cord has a break in it somewhere, so it only runs if I hold it just right. :-(

The stitches that I use the most on the newer machine are zig zag, blanket, blind-hem (wow!) and, um… hmm. Oh, the stretch stitch – like the zigzag it has built in stretch, but it sews a straighter line. Looks like __/__/__/.

By: Diane

Diane — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:43:14 +0000

Consider keeping your old machine and buying a modern version for fancy stitches. I have several oldies that produce a wonderful lockstitch, better than my newer Bernina. The old workhorses just churn along, are easy to maintain and rarely break down. For $700 or less, I also like my Singer Futura CE200 that has lots of fancy stitches and has an embroidery hookup to computers. The threading is a little picky (requires seating at the first junction) but once that is done right, it sews great. It seems like a good value for a machine that can transfer any image from any gif or jpeg into embroidery.

By: betz

betz — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 01:03:13 +0000

Wow, thanks for the review…that book looks great. I am in the same boat as you, using a sturdy old work horse machine but considering something new. It’s true there are probably so many things I could improve on with the proper tools and techniques!

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 00:55:33 +0000

Thanks for the book tip. As for a machine: I just upgraded to a Viking SE. It is probably more than you want but I just love it! It is a sewing and embroidery machine. What I especially like about it is that it has a sewing adviser and users manual loaded on the machine. I can also plug it directly into my computer for upgrades. I think that you probably would be happy with any modern machine…it is just so effortless next to an older machine (my other machine is 30+ and I converted it to a felting machine). Find a dealer and go and try out the machines and you’ll know what’s best for you after trying a bunch. Good luck!