If you were going to buy a new sewing machine for diy camping gear. Mostly quilts and tarps, what would you recommend? Why? And where would you purchase it from?
If you were going to buy a new sewing machine for diy camping gear. Mostly quilts and tarps, what would you recommend? Why? And where would you purchase it from?
A year or so ago I picked up a Singer 4411 Heavy Duty.
I am extremely happy with it. It's more than capable for pretty much anything I can throw at it. Plus, they aren't too pricey.
Does "new" mean new to you... or new from the box?
I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.
"Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn
We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series
Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies
Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint
I actually prefer the older all mechanical machines.
You don't have to spend a lot to get a thrift store or craigslist machine up and running. Usually just some cleaning and oil is all it takes.
For making gear all you really need is a straight stitch machine with reverse.
Stop by any yard sales you can find and there might be one laying around. My aunt picked one up for the family a few years back and it was a brand new singer machine. Singers are great if you can find one
I've got a Brother XL2600I and it's done everything I've asked of it. Several layers of webbing, silnylon, argon 67. The only problems I've had are due to my inexperience.
Assuming you don't mean new out-of-the-box, I'd look for a Singer 301/301A, 401/401A, or 500A/503A. They're not, strictly speaking, "industrial" machines but they're the heaviest duty home machine that Singer ever made from what I've read and I do love my current 500A.
I just picked up a Janome HD3000 from eBay for Xmas. So far it has worked out great. Solid, heavy, mechanical machine - smooth operation regardless of the fabric I put through it. I'm still very much a newbie to thread injecting, but so far I think it's a winner.
Assuming "new to me" (vice, "new in the box") is the criteria, I'd like to get a vintage Necchi Mira or Supernova. These machines are well-built from parts manufactured to tight tolerances. This equates to very smooth operating machine that does everything needed for DIY gear. Would probably get it off Craigslist (after testing it out)
Gear making requires a minimal machine as far as features goes. Straight stitch... period. You don't even "need" a reverse but most machines available would have one. There are work arounds if you get a really old machine that doesn't. If you want to get into more advanced sewing then features become more important and a new machine of high quality becomes important. Ask around the women in your life of "a certain age" and dollars to donuts one of them has a machine in the closet, attic or basement that you could get for no initial investment. Even with a brand new machine don't let the 45,000 built in stitches play on your mind. You will only ever use 5 of them at most.
Check my guidelines thread in my sig. Some folks have said it was helpful.
I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.
"Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn
We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series
Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies
Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint
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