Our community is a grad student and family area and it's move out time for alot of families of grads that are leaving. We had a big garageless garage sale as they put it. I got the george for $6, an electric hand mixer $10, we got an entertainment center for $20 and J-man got half a band (guitar, amp, mic stand and guitar stand) for $100.
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » General Chat
Humm, buying a sewing machine.
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About sewing machines......I haven't done any sewing since I was a girl but want to start again with making a few simple items for starters and basically learn sewing from scratch all over again after so many years.
I've got my mom's 40 year old Singer Golden Touch and Sew machine which was always nothing but trouble needing repair, especially on the tensioner. That I would trade in and happily say goodbye to.
I've also got a 35 year old Kenmore machine that was a loaner while the Singer was being repaired and the shop finally told Mom to keep it for some reason. That I wouldn't try using until it is freshly serviced and lubricated.
Would I be better off servicing and keeping the Kenmore or trading both machines in for something new??? I can't spend much money. I don't need anything fancy, just a machine that goes forward, reverse, and zig-zag. Buttonhole function and perhaps overcasting would also be nice but not a requirement.
A friend works for the company that makes and sells Baby Lock but those are too expensive for my budget.
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Hi Marnet, Singer I have heard of as Mum had a good old treadle Singer when I was a kid, but I have never heard of Kenmore. You could try asking for a quote for getting the Kenmore done up and if it would be worth it as it's possible parts are now hard to come by, and possibly the same for the Singer. It's worth finding out before you spend money doing them up. Check out the machine Airy bought and the price.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=222189570Posted 2 years ago by Moonshadow_NZ #
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Thanks MS.
The Kenmore is merely the house brand label for some appliances from Sears. They are always made for Sears by some other manufacturer. Prime example, Kenmore clothes washers and dryers are actually made by Whirlpool.
Prior to the Golden Touch and Sew Singer model, Mom had a lovely old Singer for years that I learned to sew on and enjoyed. Although electric, it had a big hand wheel on the side that was so easy to palm to rotate slowly for delicate control.
What I'd truly adore is having a functioning quality treadle sewing machine! Unfortunately, the one I was to have been given as a child that had belonged to my great aunt instead was thrown on a bonfire by her grand daughters who thought it merely old junk. sigh
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Oh dear, so many old treadle machines have met a similar fate over the years. Now they are worth a small fortune. I loved the treadle machine, it responded beautifully to your feet even fir really slow delicate fancy sewing. Good luck in figuring out just what to do Marnet.
Posted 2 years ago by Moonshadow_NZ #
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The neat thing about treadle machines was how you could so accurately and easily control the speed. It was quiet, no tripping over power cords, was good exercise, and was truly fun to treadle. sigh
According to some internet research there are two brands of modern treadle machines being made but neither is of very good quality. drat
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Our cat at the time Monty loved to sit on the treadle when Mum was sewing, he would go up & down to his hearts content. It was quite funny to see.
Posted 2 years ago by Moonshadow_NZ #
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Oh that must have been a sight to see! Tigger likes to get the rocking chair slightly rocking when he is sleeping in it. He'll stand up and lean into the back of the chair until he gets it going a little, then settle back down. He is so truly Tigger the Terrible because he is so terribly Tigger!!!
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Tigger sounds like a very smart cat, he knows what he wants and gets it himself too.
Posted 2 years ago by Moonshadow_NZ #
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Wow, That is a great age.
Posted 2 years ago by Moonshadow_NZ #
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Marnet, I would go to a sewing machine dealer in your area and ask what they could do as a "deal" on a new machine in trade for your Singer and Kenmore. The new machines are so much better - it would be like going from a Model T to a Lexus!
Posted 2 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
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Thank you WWM. I'll check out several of them and see what I find. I've got boxes of lovely material, thread, rick-rack trim, bias binding, and patterns that were my mom's. I'd like to put some of it to good use but need a machine I can easily get out and use and then put away from the cats when not sewing. Something arthritis friendly!
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Marnet, if you're going to be sewing trims just be certain that you get a machine with a sturdy shank. I love my Pfaff but it was $$$$. But, I know that I'll never need another sewing machine. One thing that I really like about both my Pfaff and my Juki is that the parts are metal, not plastic. Both are foreign made machines. The Pfaff has way more stitches than I need, but it sews like a dream. I would like to have one of the new embroidery machines, but it's sort of hard to justify getting one without a little person to sew for. Although, I know quilters who work beautiful embroidery patterns into their quilts. Probably not going to happen, though!
Posted 2 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
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Thanks WWM. It never occurred to me that sewing machines wouldn't have all metal parts and might have some plastic ones these days. Shows how long it's been since I looked at new ones! I definitely want one that lasts.
If the stores that both sell and SERVICE sewing machines tell me that keeping the Kenmore is my best bet, then that will be fine. Otherwise I'll see what I can get in trade on both old machines toward a new one.
I can't afford to buy something with a ton of bells and whistles but am willing to spend enough for a durable quality basic machine.
My sister-in-law is a quilter but she has a serger which is far more machine than I need or can afford.
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Marnet, Check with Black and White Kitty Mama (Abbey) she is a costume designer and sews all the time. I know that she uses a Jenome. It has been used pretty hard and is holding up very well. What kind of warranty do they offer on refurbished? That would be my first question. I'm sure that she will have an opinion! Best of luck and of course, happy sewing! It is such fun.
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Darn, if I'd known you came with a warranty I'd have sent you back for repairs long ago, especially when you were in your teens. :-)
Posted 2 years ago by Moonshadow_NZ #
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How can you complain about me as a teenager when you had this to say in comparison of me to Meegz?
'You were less grumpy and more communicative.'
Just doing a little spy work here folks. I think I was a very nice teenager. MS always knew where I was when I went out drinking with friends. I mowed the lawns with MS when Meegz wouldn't set foot out the door. -
Then I added, you were more of an emotional handful.
Posted 2 years ago by Moonshadow_NZ #
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I suppose they are to varying degrees. At least you two girls were on the lower end of the scale thankfully.
Posted 2 years ago by Moonshadow_NZ #
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AV, we got past that horrid teen stage of not liking Mum(I hope) and now we love to laugh at things together.
Posted 2 years ago by Moonshadow_NZ #
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....crossing paws, hoping for those days..... (altho, things have gotten better, now that she's going off to college!)....... she told me today that she "appreciates" that I cook good healthy meals, and that I didn't raise her on "junk food" like some of her friends...... (well, it's a start!).....
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I do believe I have heard those same words from our girls too, at least they were able to cook for themselves on a tight budget while they were at university. They also thanked me once for showing them how to shop on a budget too.
Posted 2 years ago by Moonshadow_NZ #
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