[Nfb-krafters-korner] Buying a first sewing machine

Thu Jan 5 17:52:09 UTC 2017

It sounds to me like a wonderful birthday present. A basic machine will be good. Just look inside the case and also check the weight. She can carry fifty pounds to a car, but perhaps not on a school bus. But many  machines will weigh less than that. Theater costumes may sometimes be made of heavy fabric, so you may not want a "featherweight" which may be a model name, but meaningful also. 
Ramona

On Jan 5, 2017 8:23 AM, marianne via Nfb-krafters-korner <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> I changed the subject to reflect where this thread has gone. We have 
> a school for the creative and performing arts and my grand daughter wants to 
> go to that school her Junior and Senior year in high school. She has to have 
> a talent so she is interested in costume design. Her other grandma and 
> mother both sew and they will help her, I am sure. I definitely want a 
> portable machine that she can take back and forth between her homes. I think 
> a beginning machine would be fine. Joyce, thanks for the suggestion to get 
> it from a sewing machine store. She and I will be doing some shopping. This 
> is for her birthday, which is at the end of February. I would love any other 
> suggestions people might have. 
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of Joyce Kane via Nfb-krafters-korner 
> Sent: Thursday, January 5, 2017 12:32 AM 
> To: 'List for blind crafters and artists' <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org> 
> Cc: blindhands at aol.com 
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] What new crafting things did you get for 
> Christmas? 
>
> I  first would ask her what she thinks she wants to so?  This will give some 
> consideration on what to look for.  I am very satisfied with my Brother 420 
> sewing machine, but I was in search of a few things and I got it in this 
> machine.  Funny you caught me tonight just doing some finishing work on a 
> couple projects that I embroidered on My Baby Lock. 
>
> I paid like $450 a couple of years back and was just recently looking up 
> info for my Brother 420 and it is still running at that price.  I did 
> purchase it kinda online, but I bought it thru the sewing machine dealer in 
> Alabama near Jill.  It was priced much higher in CT at the sewing machine 
> store. 
>
> Do not give up on a sewing machine store.  Your Grand daughter will need to 
> have a place to ask questions on her machine, take some free introduction 
> classes  and learn how to pick people's minds that have the knowledge on the 
> machines they are selling.   WalMart sells Brother machine and they have 
> some machines running between $200 & $300 that have some good extras, but if 
> you need to ask some questions or need to learn how to use it, the basket 
> boy won't have any answers for you. 
>
> A few must have and make who ever demo this.  Auto threader.  Make them show 
> you more than once, twice, three times, etc.  As if it doesn't work or 
> misses even once automatically threading it forget it.  Another feature that 
> I know the lower priced Brother has is an automatic thread cutter for the 
> top thread and bobbin thread.  When I sewed for years there was always 
> thread all over the floor in the sewing room and on me and as I walked 
> around the house it followed me... 
>
> My brother has a button that you push when done sewing a seam and it cuts 
> the top and bobbin thread up close to the fabric with no ends hanging or 
> needing trimming  When I was a kid at age 11 I started out sewing on a 
> Singer treddle machine I would have to pull the thread to get them both on 
> the same side of the fabric, tie a knot and trim the thread ends.  Mom took 
> a tailoring class when I was 5 and you had to learn Mom's way in order to 
> sew on Mon's machine. 
>
> We picked my Granddaughter up a Brother machine from WalMart and got it on 
> sale for around $150.  Of course she likes to use mine and she had Gram  and 
> me to answer her questions and give her the lessons on the new machine. 
> Actually, I taught the oldest one and my Mom taught the middle one on a 
> Singer Pixie[strickly a toy type machine. 
>
> You need to consider her working area, too.  As if she wants to make clothes 
> that can be done with the machine on a computer table or desk.  The computer 
> table gives room for cutting out and more room for sewing then a desk.  I 
> had gotten this extension table top that fits around my sewing machine and 
> gives me much more surface for sewing and putting quilts together.  The nice 
> thing is that the top lifts up and it has all these cubby spots for your 
> sewing supplies.  That I got from the Alabama sewing machine store for an 
> additional $70 and they gave me a fancy purple suitcase that my machine fits 
> in and it has a handle and wheels on it.  That was no cost to me and 
> shipping for all of it was free. 
>
> So good luck in the search.  Used machines are good, but I would make that 
> kinda purchase from a sewing machine dealer. 
>
> Joyce 
>
>
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of Marianne Denning via Nfb-krafters-korner 
> Sent: Tuesday, January 3, 2017 9:56 PM 
> To: List for blind crafters and artists <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org> 
> Cc: Marianne Denning <marianne at denningweb.com> 
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] What new crafting things did you get for 
> Christmas? 
>
> I didn't get any new crafting tools for Christmas. I do have a question. My 
> grand daughter may be interested in a sewing machine. She is a Freshman in 
> high school and this would be her first own machine. First, what is a 
> reasonable price for a beginner machine? Next, what would be a good beginner 
> machine. She is sighted, if that makes any difference. 
>
> On Tue, Jan 3, 2017 at 5:20 PM, Joyce Kane via Nfb-krafters-korner < 
> nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org> wrote: 
>
> > Let's get back on crafting.. 
> > 
> > Now do tell us about the new looms Santa brought you.  Give us a brief 
> > description and what your first project you are planning to do on it. 
> > 
> > I heard a few folks got Accuquilt cutter and dies.  Do tell us about 
> > what dies you got and if you started using them?  What will be your 
> > first project?  For those who might not know Accuquilt make dies to 
> > cut out fabric for quilting and applique. 
> > 
> > Did anyone get wonderful new yarns? 
> > 
> > Let's talk crafting... 
> > 
> > Joyce 
> > 
> > 
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>
>
> -- 
> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA 
> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired 
> (513) 607-6053 
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