Sewing mamas!Calling all AmityMama's who like to sew! Do you make quilts, clothes, diapers, bags? Do you love to run your fingers through fiber? Can't get enough just sewing, but want to talk about it too? Come on in!
I got my very first sewing machine for mother's day. This was a HUGE purchase for our family (budget wise) and now I am really questioning it. I got the Singer Futura Computerized Sewing and Embriodery machine http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...av=&cat=&s= 1. The idea behind getting the embriodery machine was that I might be able to embroider stuff to sell (but now I am wondering just how realistic that was and if it is worth the extra $$). I am also concerned about the quality of the machine - I see so many people saying that they were so glad to get rid of their Singer and upgrade - well I would rather have a quality machine to start out with.
one thing to consider when buying your machine is how you're going to have it serviced. it can be kind of expensive if something happens, like if the timing gets messed up. i bought my machine used from the local sew&vac and they gave me a year of free service with it, plus, if i ever want to trade up they will discount a new machine by the price that i paid for this one. when i bought it i didn't realize that the service would be a good thing, but it has been really nice to have it, especially since i'm new to sewing and don't know anything about sewing machines.
i would think if you bought a machine new there'd be a pretty good warranty, too. but where would you even take it if you bought the machine at costco.com? if it's a janome, could you just take it to a janome dealer?
My sister bought a much lesser Singer machine that yours, but has never really used it because it is very scary. I'm serious, I tried it once and with every stitch it feels that you're going to break a needle or the thing is going to explode or something. I finally brought it in to our repair shop and talked to the guy about it, he told me that the lower end brands need to manufactured fast and cheap, to keep Walmart happy. So when it comes off the assembly line, they don't test sew or adjust anything, they just pack it in the box. The good news, he tells me, is that with some tweaking by a SW mech., the machine will often run better than the day is was manufactured.
Now I brought him two machines (Sis's Singer and my Kenmore) about 2 weeks ago and got my Kenmore back last week. I haven't gotten the Singer back yet to see if it really DOES work better, since I told him it was no rush.
If I were you, I'd return the Singer and buy a nice older machine that's even less expensive at a repair shop. Like milosmom said, it's very common to have a guarentee with a used machine, with service and sometimes lessons included. You can buy much more machine for less money this way. If you have a Viking dealer near you, you could get a 6000 series like I have for less than $300 probably. These machines were like $1500 30 years ago, when they were brand new, but they are still doing great. They were literally built to last a lifetime, unlike all the sewing machines made today. It's a workhorse machine and it'll do anything I ask it, really.
__________________
Sarah
mama to Daniel, 5 yrs., and Amelia, 4 yrs.
I just bought an embroidery machine and I love it! But if you don't have the money to blow on all the other stuff, then trade it in for a machine that just sews. (I've spent $300+ on thread; $200 on customizing software that only does basic digitizing; $30 on stabilizer; and am looking at at least $100 to store all that thread See where I'm going?)
Janomes are great machines (that's what my embroidery machine is), if you're stuck with Coscto.com, otherwise do what the above posters have said. Shop around at your local sew & vacs and see if you can get a deal on a used machine. (Pfaffs are especially nice, but not cheap).
__________________ ~bArb.
Sewin' mama to my little heathens Lydia Jo (11/01) and Thomas (07/07)
Married to a Microscopist
Disclaimer: If I appear to be crabby, it's because the Army is borrowing my husband
I had very good luck purchasing through sears.com as well, that's where I got my Kenmore and it was a great machine too!
__________________
~Meg~ teacher, podcaster, but mostly sahm to my trio of little women (4, 6, 17)wife to Mr Big and dog-ma to Indy the crazy miniature golden retriever
Hi KC! I have a definite opinion on this one! I got one of the Costco Brothers in 2003 as a gift from my mom. I just returned it LAST WEEK because I had had enough of the misery it was causing me! It had this gadgety thread cartridge that worked intermittently with no way to bypass using it... My husband got tired of the growling and took to begging me to return it and find a machine I could love. I couldn't believe they took it back! My mom got it for me online as a gift in 2003!!!!!! I brought it in, told them her city and phone number. They looked up her purchases and still had it on record. I couldn't believe they took it back and gave me a full refund including shipping charges!! WOOHOO!!! I took the credit from that and some birthday money and a kick in from our account to get a new baby I love.
Mostly I just wanted to pop in and give a warning about buying machines from Costco. I was told that Brother makes a different machine to sell through Costco and that the quality just isn't there. In my case it was definitely true. I'm sending a PM about a really good Viking guy who sells used Vikings in your area!
but where would you even take it if you bought the machine at costco.com? if it's a janome, could you just take it to a janome dealer?
I just wanted to comment that I take *all* my machines to the same guy (I've had 4 different brands - babylock, janome, elna, bernina). He isn't brand specific even though he works out of the Janome shop. I would think most techs are the same.
If I had to chose from the list you posted, it would be the janome. We have the 8080 and it works great.
__________________
Allison
mama to Ara, Simone, and Zarin
I just wanted to comment that I take *all* my machines to the same guy (I've had 4 different brands - babylock, janome, elna, bernina). He isn't brand specific even though he works out of the Janome shop. I would think most techs are the same.
If I had to chose from the list you posted, it would be the janome. We have the 8080 and it works great.
This is my experience also. Techs work on all kinds of machines.
I would chose the Janome too. My sister has one of the computerized Janomes and she says that it runs circles around her "inexpensive" Brother.
I just got the Brother CS 8150, it's computerized, has 150 different stitches. It's a fantastic machine. And I got it for under $200.
__________________
Still around, living, loving, and laughing. Lost 47 lbs in the last year. Down from a size 16 to a size 7. Read or Leave me Feedback Here!
Me and my girls
Summer's new haircut, we cut 10 inches off and donated to locks of love.
I would say get the computerized Janome too. They're good machines, people generally like theirs and have no complaints. I heard the same thing as you about new Singers - they're not good, break a lot, etc. The older Singers are a whole different story, but the new ones - ick.
As for the embroidery thing, like Barb says, it will cost you a lot to get started - if you do it to sell you will most likely need a good selection of colors, then a few different types of stabilizers and toppings if you don't always embroider on the same type of fabric, and then you will most likely want to be able to edit the designs, so more $, etc. So I would suggest figuring out how much you need to make to cover the extra cost of the machine + all the notions, and then see if it's realistic to expect to make that.
Have you checked out http://www.patternreview.com ? They have lots of SM reviews, it could help you make your mind. You have to become a member to see the older reviews, but it's free.
Living to love my boys... DH since 6.98, DS1 since 12.02 and DS2 since 1.05
See where I'm going?)
Linear Mode
