Sewing in 21st century: embroidery software, etc.

[Irulan]

I learned at school on black 1940's Singer sewing machines at school in early1970's. Yes, they looked like the ones in antique shops.

It was actually an excellent way to learn...the machines felt very basic, steady and solid.

I'm still trying to get over the cost of patterns..

Those Singer Featherweights are collector's items now. People pay a lot of money for them. Quilters prize them.

If anyone is machine shopping these days, Janome makes excellent machines that are a great value.

[Savra]

I have a Scandinavia Huskavarna. It's the low end that you can't program to embroider. I love it. It was one of the more expensive ones but is smooth and I never have any problems with it. But my $100 Singer still works well too. Generally, Singer still sells some very affordable basic machines. And since most fabric stores sell patterns at at least 40% off - I wouldn't ever recommend paying full price. I do remember when making clothes used to make them less expensive. Not so much anymore since the fabric is expensive too.

[Deborajen]

I went in for a free demo of one of those fancy embroidery machines a few years ago. I think they gave me a package of needles as a "free gift" for watching the demo. It had all kinds of fancy built-in stitches, programs that could be added, etc. But it cost about as much as a good used car.

I don't sew nearly as much as I used to, but I still use my trusty Kenmore machine that I got for high school graduation back in 1980. It has a built-in buttonholer, zig-zag, blanket stitch, and several other versions of these stitches. It still runs great with the occasional cleaning and a little oil.

Back in high school home ec, we used to buy patterns for less than a buck. I almost hate to say it, but I used to sometimes make my own patterns just to save that buck. Hard to believe now - A buck barely covers a spool of thread!

[Bethany1]

Shootingstar,

Check out the TOL Babylock. There's a camera in there so you can align up everything perfectly. You can see it through the computer screen and adjust. Wish my Ruby had that feature installed.

Sewing machines have drastically changed over the years. My mom is terrified of a computerized sewing machine. She won't admit it, but she gets all confused.

I love my Viking Ruby sewing/embroidery machine. It's touch screen and I just go through the menus as needed and make the adjustments. It cuts the threads, the bobbin stops when it's out, the hoops move back when I need to change the bobbin, and all the other extras.

That being said, You don't need that fancy of a machine, but it's nice to have if you do a lot of sewing. There are so many great machines out there at different price points depending on your needs. The only thing I wouldn't do is buy a Wally World one. It's the same as buying a bike. You get what you pay for in a bike or a machine in a retail store.

It blew my mind looking at bike prices when I first starting shopping. It's just a bike right? 1000 dollar sewing machine gets you a lot of features. 1000 dollar bike is considered low end with components and the prices go up from there into the thousands for better bikes.

Patterns aren't cheap and a lot of the clothing fabric out there isn't cheap either. I don't worry about it too much since clothing drives me nuts. My mom can look at any pattern, draft it out and sew it up with ease. I can barely cut the pattern without it ripping. I hate tissue paper patterns. LOL.

I can design and make a queen size quilt, but a shirt would make me curse the entire time I was making it.

I did tell my mom that I want her mechanical Bernina someday. They don't make machines like they used to even if does everything.

[Irulan]

Whatever you do, do not buy at a box store. It's the same thing as with bikes. Great analogy. Those $289 Brothers they sell at WalMart and Costco as just crap. Another bet is a dealer. Lots of folks trade up for the latest whiz-bang technology and leave perfectly good machines for second hand purchase.

[malkin]

Are you shopping for a sewing machine?

[Irulan]

Who me? I have at least 6.