Sewing Machine Suggestions?

[Counselor]

What acessories do you have to go with your Janome Magnolia 7318?

I went to my local small town sewing machine store and looked. I wanted something a step up from the K-Mart level of machines. I selected the Janome Magnolia 7318, it was a simple machine for a beginner, seems smooth but knowing that I am going to get serious someday, I wanted something I could stick with for a while. Honesly, I just like the MANLY flowers on it. I've learned that going with the lowest price option usually ends up costing more, so I look for items at a certain price point... with my budget that was a whopping $220. At least I know I helped the salesman and the mom-and-pop store make a few bucks. The store said they'd help me out with any issues I had for sewing, as they have a sewing room with classes, I've just never taken the time to go. Someday, I'll find that certain little old crazy lady that will help me out with all my far out ideas that will revolutionize hammocking, but I've only managed to whip a few few UQs and a topquilt so far with my meager sewing abilities.

I've heard the lower priced machines have trouble with thread tension, but apparently several HF members think they do fine. I suppose since I went overboard I need to do a few more projects and pay for my machine's expensive price tag!

[Coldspring]

What acessories do you have to go with your Janome Magnolia 7318?

I just have the basic pieces that came with it. I've only used the zipper and button feet once.
http://www.sewingmachinesplus.com/j-7318.php

The Janome Threadbanger TB12 might be a better one, I think it is about the same price. It looks like a more industrial type of machine, at least looks like it. It may not have as great of a motor and belt system, although the one in mine might even suck, I'm just talking out of my butt as I know so little about the machines. I would think the hand working area on the TB12 is a little larger, which one of the things I like about my Magnolia vs. some of the other cheaper models I looked at. I like the fact that they had knobs instead of buttons, although it may not make any difference.

If you could take some fabric scraps (silnylon) to a store and try them under a few machines, that would be the ticket.

[Ramblinrev]

If you could take some fabric scraps (silnylon) to a store and try them under a few machines, that would be the ticket.

Excellent suggestion but possible only at a sewing center or individual seller. I doubt that would be possible at Wally World.

[gum115]

I have a Singer HD 110. It is simple, yet heavy duty enough to sew through several layers of denim or canvas. It works great on the light weight fabric too.

[Vicky86]

Just the other week I got a Brother CE-5000PRW at Walmart for $140. It's easy to use, super lightweight and thus far has worked flawlessly. I know the serious sewing machine people will talk about good, solid, metal machines that last a lifetime but I decided to take my chances. I've read online review for this machine from people who put many hours per week on it and have been happy. Of course there are some people who had things go bad right from the beginning but they are a tiny minority.

I couldn't believe how much easier making gear was with the Brother compared to my daughters Singer Featherweight 132 (another cheapie).
http://www.sourcingmap.com/desktop-h...te-p-4591.html

Nice Sewing Machine, but if it's portable?

[hippofeet]

I bought a kmart singer 'simple' for 100 bones, got it home, and immediatly did major surgery (case off, stuff all over) to fix the tensioner so it would tension. If I go through a few layers of nylon, it makes a crazy whacking sound and jumps on the table. I bought an old singer 200 series, looks like a large featherwight, for 20 bucks at a garage sale, and it flys through everything I have fed it. I bought another for parts. That said, it won't do zigzag stitches, its a straight line machine. I have it built into a 4 by 8 table. I am looking for any mid seventies vikings or such. My opinion, metal and older is good news when you want to do more than a single fold hem.

[Ramblinrev]

Truth be told you don't need zigzag.

[PKT]

I know people say to stay away from Ebay for Sewing Machines but I got mine
from an outstanding seller that was and is a repairman, I assume that's how he gets his stock.
I paid 160.00 for an OMEGA 7040, has metal gears and most any stitch you'll need for making gear.
I'm no pro just learning on my own but have at least 50 hrs on it with no problems....with the machine that is
The sellers name is ( singerman12 ) it's worth a look. On occasion he has very nice
industrial machines too.

[jdempsey]

We were just gifted a well maintained Singer Featherweight 221, which I believe, *is* the machine you're talking about Rev...

I'm in love with it. No zig-zag, but man on man does this girl run a straight line, churns silky smooth, and has a great feed-dog layout with aggressive pull.


If anybody gets the opportunity to get one of these girls or the 222k (freearm), jump on it.

You can find a zig-zag attachment on ebay, but like someone mentioned, you really don't need it for making gear.

ahem... a Singer Featherweight 132 is a classic machine and highly collectible. Very much in demand by quilters amongst others. I have seen a good Featherweight priced as high as $800. That don't count as a cheapie to me. However... it is not a machine that I would want to put a lot of webbing through for any great length of time. While the machine would certainly handle it with ease it is too small for my taste when it comes to making gear of that ilk. For tarps and other large area projects I'd take a featherweight over almost any other machine, any day of the week.

Edit: ummm... I'm sorry, the featherweight you are talking about is a completely different beastie than the one I am talking about. To quote the beloved Emily Letella, "Never mind."

Personally I do not like the cheap machines at walmart and other box stores. It has little to do with the non-metal gears and such. Plastic technology has come a long way since they were first introduced. My problem with them is they are so light.. (an assumed selling point) that they don't stay put on the table when they are being used. Get those things cranked up and working fast and you can end up chasing them all over while trying to feed the fabric.

I _am_ one of those who suggests you go to the local sewing center and pick out a used machine of a certain age. They stay put, they have fewer mechanical components to go fubar and they are usually cheaper than a comparable machine purchased new. However... I _am_ a self-confessed thread injector snob. My wife is a professional level seamstress, who is no longer a professional seamstress, so I am completely spoiled when it comes to thread injectors.

[Dalton]

i went to a local sewing machine/vacume store(go figure) the lady there fixes and repairs both, i just told her what i wanted to do, and she told me what i needed, then found one for me and fixed it up, got an old kenmore, made in japan, all metal gears.
for 75 bucks. seamed like a good deal to me.
when i bought it, she gave me her cell phone number and said to call anytime if i had any sewing problems, or machine issues, you cant get that service at walmart!
ive gone in there an shown her my underquilt, and ill do the same with my topquilt im working on, and anyother projects i do, she was really impressed, im trying to convert her to hammocks!