Sewing Machine

[ajlelectronics]

£500 seams (intentional) reasonable but need to decide if something I will stick at. Will check out my wife’s machines and have a go at making curtains maybe for the caravan and if they work out okay then the cottage. Will be sewing tweed, normal machine handle that okay?

It may do but you are really pushing it, you will need to help it through the machine and so your stitching will not be very regular. Chances are that the poor results from pushing your luck may colour your opinion as to what you are capable of. A simile might be welding a car panel with a cheap arc welder. Possible, but a hell of a lot more difficult than it needs to be. Try starting with a nice frock to go out in.

 

[eSCHEn]

Whatever you do, don't let it be known you're "after one" or else you'll end up with every spare machine known to man. DAMHIK, just call me Captain Four Machines :/

 

[ajlelectronics]

The other point (sorry) about needles is the range required for different fabrics. You will need a Jersey needle for Tweed as it will not cut, but slide between fibres. Leathers and vinyls use a different one again. I wouldn't expect there to be a full range available for domestics.

 

[Burdekin]

It may do but you are really pushing it, you will need to help it through the machine and so your stitching will not be very regular. Chances are that the poor results from pushing your luck may colour your opinion as to what you are capable of. A simile might be welding a car panel with a cheap arc welder. Possible, but a hell of a lot more difficult than it needs to be. Try starting with a nice frock to go out in.

Good idea, I have the legs for it. :-)

 

[ajlelectronics]

Good idea, I have the legs for it. :-)

Seriously, start with just stitching two panels together. You will need to get the hang of thread tension and a feel for how it actually works. Shame you are in a foreign country, if you were closer I would be glad to teach you all about it.

Once you have a feel for it, progress to doing 90 degree corners and then shapes / circles, following a predrawn line. Then maybe make some small tool pouches before progressing to box cushions.

 

[mrsbruce]

You can get any needle type (ball point, leather point, etc) for any domestic, but only up to a certain size.

The ‘Joy’ in my life is a ‘Joy’s PF5318’. Walking foot, nice range of needle sizes, but limited lift height under the presser foot. It will certainly tackle several layers of canvas and webbing, and is a clone of the Highlead (which is a clone of a Juki, I believe). It is also limited regarding needle size. You can push the timing to accept a bit of a larger needle, but it’s like overclocking the family car, probibly not worth it (works in a pinch, though). Check out the working height of the presser foot, and measure it yourself. How far it lifts, and how high it lifts and still stitches (two dufferent, but important things).

An old workhorse like the Seiko STW 8B, for about £300 would do the job, but we’re back to how worn out it might be. Most industrial machines, although usually well maintained, are used every day, at full speed, just to get the money back on them. When they are sold, it’s usually because they are worn out.

Just to say, the clones all share the same parts, are easily available, and cheap. So doing your own rebuild won’t break the bank, as long as you don’t spend too much on a used machine.

Get in touch with Collegesewing.co.uk, lovely people who have sourced parts from Japan for my Juki cylinder arm. They are a mine of information, and are happy to pass it on. You might be surprised at what you can buy new for £500.

When you get a machine let me know, as I have oodles of needles for upholstery that came with my ‘Joy’s PF5318’. I also have a few 100 new Consew needles lying unused.

Oh, and a servo motor, is a good bonus.

 

[Burdekin]

Seriously, start with just stitching two panels together. You will need to get the hang of thread tension and a feel for how it actually works. Shame you are in a foreign country, if you were closer I would be glad to teach you all about it.

Once you have a feel for it, progress to doing 90 degree corners and then shapes / circles, following a predrawn line. Then maybe make some small tool pouches before progressing to box cushions.

Thanks. The next night sewing course starts on the 9th Jan but is booked out but will give them a call tomorrow and try and charm myself onto the course. https://nescol.ac.uk/courses/art-design-and-photography/introduction-to-sewing-and-textiles

 

[Burdekin]

You can get any needle type (ball point, leather point, etc) for any domestic, but only up to a certain size.

The ‘Joy’ in my life is a ‘Joy’s PF5318’. Walking foot, nice range of needle sizes, but limited lift height under the presser foot. It will certainly tackle several layers of canvas and webbing, and is a clone of the Highlead (which is a clone of a Juki, I believe). It is also limited regarding needle size. You can push the timing to accept a bit of a larger needle, but it’s like overclocking the family car, probibly not worth it (works in a pinch, though). Check out the working height of the presser foot, and measure it yourself. How far it lifts, and how high it lifts and still stitches (two dufferent, but important things).

An old workhorse like the Seiko STW 8B, for about £300 would do the job, but we’re back to how worn out it might be. Most industrial machines, although usually well maintained, are used every day, at full speed, just to get the money back on them. When they are sold, it’s usually because they are worn out.

Just to say, the clones all share the same parts, are easily available, and cheap. So doing your own rebuild won’t break the bank, as long as you don’t spend too much on a used machine.

Get in touch with Collegesewing.co.uk, lovely people who have sourced parts from Japan for my Juki cylinder arm. They are a mine of information, and are happy to pass it on. You might be surprised at what you can buy new for £500.

When you get a machine let me know, as I have oodles of needles for upholstery that came with my ‘Joy’s PF5318’. I also have a few 100 new Consew needles lying unused.

Oh, and a servo motor, is a good bonus.

Thanks for the info and kind offer.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Get in touch with Collegesewing.co.uk

Oh, and a servo motor, is a good bonus.

Two very good points. A clutch motor will drive you mad as a beginner, so if your machine doesn't have a servo conversion, get one fitted. It means that you can run a single stitch or run as slowly or as fast as you like. They are also silent unless in use, unlike a clutch motor that runs all the time.

 

[gaz1]

as you might have figured out some men do sew on sewing machines or are aware of them

oh and other half is going to give you some as your so going into a ladies sewing class

 

[keithski122]

It won't only be the vinyl/fabric you'll be sewing through.I use 10mm foam on the face, 6mm foam side cheek and the material, plus extra material if using piping so would be four layers of leather and if you've got a piped seam going over piping then seven layers of material plus the foam.I did a door card the other week meant I was sewing the vinyl(double layer) 6mm foam and 4mm mdf, won't do that in a domestic machine.The machine I use is a juki 563 but I would like to upgrade it, the machine I want is £1800, the machine I'd like is £3500+.

 

[pedrobedro]

as you might have figured out some men do sew on sewing machines or are aware of them

I had to buy my own machine as my wife banned me from sewing with hers as I am too rough on it I was sewing canvas and other heavy material and I bought a cheap (£5) Newhome machine on a flea market but I have about worn that out so I got my Toyota. I put a new zip in my Cordura bike jacket and repaired my rucksack last week so it's not been idle.

 

[gaz1]

i have a 1970-80s singer sewing machine myself so not saying much

i havent even used it since i got it but its there if need be

if i wanted to do i can pull it out and let my mum use it if she wants but im always getting asked to thread the needle and i did that at a friends house as well

 

[pedrobedro]

im always getting asked to thread the needle and i did that at a friends house as well

The Toyota has an automatic threader, it's really handy saves me poking about blindly for 5 minutes when I change thread

 

[Burdekin]

Bought a Jones sewing machine for £40 looks immaculate. Got it from Inverness so my brother in law picked it up for me. Same as this model: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jones-He...660402?hash=item3d7ec22f72:g:s34AAOSwUP5cMLBV

Hopefully a good starting machine to learn on, look nice if nothing else.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Bought a Jones sewing machine for £40 looks immaculate. Got it from Inverness so my brother in law picked it up for me. Same as this model: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jones-He...660402?hash=item3d7ec22f72:g:s34AAOSwUP5cMLBV

Hopefully a good starting machine to learn on, look nice if nothing else.

Bargain or what!!

 

[gaz1]

Bargain or what!!

thats until he sews through his finger

 

[slim_boy_fat]

thats until he sews through his finger

He didn't actually say he was going to be doing the sewing.....

 

[Burdekin]

thats until he sews through his finger

I have spares and one sewn back on thumb, she’ll be right... :-)

 

[gaz1]

Hopefully a good starting machine to learn on, look nice if nothing else.

He didn't actually say he was going to be doing the sewing.....

are you sure on that lol