tis a sad day

After 20 years of faithful service, appalling treatment, being carted around the countryside and generally used and abused my wonderful Bernina is just not cutting it anymore.

This delightful workhorse came into my possession whilst at art college and mooning over it for weeks and thinking how on earth can i spend over £900 on a sewing machine when my car at the time cost me £250, it was the little box of feet attached to the back that finally got me.

So I handed over my hard earned pennies...oh the joy....its made so many things over the years and still has many left in her but I just can't get a decent top stitch out of her, no matter how much I tinker.

I am loathed to get her serviced (doing the basic maintenance myself over the years) as so many people I have spoken to have said their Berninas are never the same when returning. All metal, heavy and delightful they certainly don't make these machines like they used too.

So I have decided to buy a new machine basically for top stitching, nothing fancy but a good stitch quality and can cope with regular use. I would be really grateful for your comments on your own experience with today's sewing machines & your preferred models as I haven't a clue where to start and don't have the time to trawl & traipse about trying various models out.

As a thank you I will choose a random post and send you something for helping me out (details later when I've rustled something up).......and so to the bathroom

its almost finished but I just haven't had the time (or the inclination) to strip the toilet cistern & pipes so we will live with them for a bit.

I was browsing through Homebase on a farrow & ball mission when I spotted this fab wallpaper, it reminded me of the lovely wallpaper that I had admired & swooned over that Manda at Treefall Design has on her bedroom wall.

So I am pleased with how it turned out and was hoping it might inspire the boys of the house to spend more time in there washing & perhaps brushing their teeth without me threatening them first....ha no chance!

Inspired with my sort of new bathroom I decided to get busy in the dining room as a new carpet is on its way followed shortly by a church pew (very excited about this addition)

so will have a few more make over photos shortly.....also some exciting news about getting back to work & finally stocking my little store.

Edit ....share your thoughts good & bad about sewing machines and this little lovely could be yours.

will be chosing a random comment a week sunday.... 

  
 

Comments

[Lynsey]

Oooooh your dining room looks very interesting - looks good to potter about in! And I'm in the same boat as you with sewing machines - my little Janome is only meant to be a hobbyists machine and it is making a nasty noise when I sew! I'd be interested to see what people recommend.

[em]

When I started sewing for more commercial purposes I found my new(ish) domestic janome couldn't hack it. They really aren't built as sturdy as they used to be! Not to mention all the mechanical parts are inbuilt so you can't self service a new machine as you can an old one!

I swapped to using my mums machine, not the newer one (approx 10 years old) but the oldest machine we had in the house at the time a Necchi (approximately 35 years old!) This machine was able to deal with the heavy duty work and could be self serviced. Admittedly the older domestic machines are bulkier and heavier but they are more likely to cope with commercial work.

I've since gone on a rampage of collecting older machines (all around 30-40 years old minimum) and they were able to deal with a commercial work load. I currently work with a New Home (521 model I think) bulky, heavy, I move it as little as possible! But copes really well and can be self serviced easily!

So if you are looking to buy a domestic machine (if you can't afford a commercial one) I highly recommend looking at much older domestic machines!!!

I hope this is of some help!!

[gloria]

I feel so sad reading about your sewing machine. I wouldn't discount getting it serviced but you do have to find the right person for the job. I've got an overlocker that was always a problem, was serviced several time before I found a brilliant person who got it to work like a dream. In my family it was the tradition (for girls) to be given a sewing machine for their 21st (then 18th) birthday. I still use that machine and wouldn't part with it. You really get to know your own machine don't you?

[Em]

Hello again,

I have some more pearls of wisdom! I had a lovely gentleman visit me this morning to service my own machines! He was wonderful, I watched him work, and although I have also been dubious about machine services in the past I can highly recommend this man and his work.

Although he is Malvern based and operates call outs, Yorkshire may be too far for him. But if servicing is the way forward I can offer a more local base if you wanted to travel to a very good service engineer.

If you think a service may help I can happily email you his number! He is very helpful in person and over the phone, so maybe a call is worth a try?! He used to service machines on behalf of brother and is now freelance! He looked at several machines here for me and he seemed highly capable of working with all different makes and models!

Alternatively he gave me some tips on his regard for makes: Domestic machines he recommended janome and elna, good makes and easy to repair/find parts for. Also Old singers (but not newer models) Brother he thought were overpriced but good, so if you find a good secondhand deal this could work!

Industrial machines are less expensive than I had thought, and with current economics there are lots of secondhand machines available (with so many companies going out of business) Brother were a common industrial make and are a reliable brand, at potentially a good cost secondhand! You could try contacting factories direct which may be closing down or reducing numbers of staff:machines! He has a contact who can find new industrials for around £300-£400 (which shocked me) these are mostly chinese and taiwanese makes but he still thought they were worth the money.

Another comprehensive (longwinded) series of tips! I am so sorry your machine is maybe on its last legs, but as Gloria said a truly good service could be the answer (my gents call out for one machine is £45) of course there would be a lot of travelling for you but it is an option available to you!

The best of luck
Em

[Lynn]

Hi
I have a trusty Janome, It's sewn so many miles in the last 20+ years. I've always serviced it myself and have had very few problems. I can't fault it at all. I did buy a Brother a few years ago and gave it to my daughter, I just couldn't get on with it, I hate the new plastic machines. I would recommend a Janome, an older one if you can get a second hand one or a singer, the old black ones not the new ones. Just my thoughts, I hope it helps you
Lynn

[Michele]

Well I am a bit of a fraud really.. not being a sewer.. more of a wannabe! I had the most wonderful mother who was a complete genius with a needle and thread.She made me the most beautiful clothes,doll's dresses, school costumes, curtains etc etc..all skills inherited from her Belgian mother and her father's textile factory near Brussels.
I sadly did not inherit this gene..much as I try with to become acquainted with a needle and thread .. the sum of my sewing skills is sewing name tags on my son's school uniform.
However... Last year I spotted an old Singer sewing machine in a charity shop..well .. I guessed it was..as the wooden lid to the machine was firmly locked. The shop let me have it for 5.00 as they didn't have the key to unlock it. I lugged this heavy item home and had to prise open the lid to discover the most beautiful ornate Singer sewing machine.. smothered in gilt and decoration. Now all I have to do is learn how to thread the darn thing.. then there will be no stopping me!!