[Basylica]

I've decided i've waiting long enough for a machine. I've been wanting one for AGES now, ever since I moved out of my mom's house....
Actually, a little before, her sewing machine HATED me. With a passion. She had a old old portable avacado green sears model (roughly '76) that I did very well with, but she bought a "new" machine that came with a sewing table at a garage sale (80's model I'd wager) that refused to work for me. Used to pull fabric into the bobbin..etc.

Anywho...

Firstly, I want a serger. I'd like to be able to make my own diapers and inserts. So a serger would be FABULOUS. i've seen some going for as low as 200 on sears. Cheap is a issue, because I want my hubby to conceed to getting one for me for xmas...so price is a issue. But I'd like to make sure it could handle 3-4 layers of hemp fleece, so I can make inserts for my pocket dipes.

Suggestions on brand/model etc that works for you...keeping in mind I don't care to do anything super fancy...mainly inserts and fitted dipes.

Second, if I get a serger I WILL want a sewing machine for straight stitching. I never much used even a zigzag, just straight stitching. I'd like to be able to make sheets for my son's crib, and sew diapers (topstitch etc)
I was looking at http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=02011206000

Something like that. I'd never heard of a 3/4 size machine, but it seems like that would pretty much fit the bill. I do want something that will be er, industrial. Do the job, do it well, but nothing fancy...kwim?

Does anyone have any experience with a "3/4" machine? would you advise for or against one?

Thanks so much!!

 

[puddingpop]

If you're looking for a sewing machine that will be able to tackle multiple layers of diaper fabric, I'd steer clear from the 3/4 size machine. They're typically just not heavy-duty enough (they're mostly for doing minor mending jobs, pants hemming, etc.).

As for a serger, I'd recommend a Janome MyLock 134 or 204 (you should be able to find a good price on either). They're four-thread sergers and will do a decent job with diapers without breaking the bank.

When you go to look at sewing machines and sergers, make sure you take a fabric sandwich (or whatever you need for a diaper) with you so you can test the machines. No sense wasting money on a machine that sews chiffon easily but gets majorly stuck on sherpa and hemp.

Happy sewing!

 

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www.patternreview.com has reviews of machines as well

you may find some at www.sewingworld.com but they don't have a review section specifically

i believe there have been other discussions on machines here, so poke around you might something good : )

by and large i personally would rather go with a used "big name" machine than a walmart special

a place with stuff for private sale is www.rummageads.com/rummage

there are some ebay sellers that have good reputation but i cant recall their names off the top of my head

 

[kerc]

track down alison - warneral - she posts frequently on another board and if i recall correctly has the name/ebay store? of someone who sells a decent serger for ~250 bucks shipped. I'm sorry I'm not more help there, I've been lusting for one for about 2 years now and just don't have the cash.

sewing machines...I have a kenmore. cheapie. it is good for most things i want to do, it was a gift so i had no say in which model i got. i have stuggled with sucking fabric into the bobbin and found that it usually means the needle I am using is not the right one for the fabric i am trying to sew.

imo i'd get something that is full sized and does zig zag. for anything knit you'd want a zig zag...and you'd use the s. machine for finishing stuff even if you used the serger to put it together.

 

[thrifty_sahm]

If I remember correctly warneral refered the New Home 104D serger. It is anywhere from 199-235 on eBay. I found a store this week that has it for 199 to your door step. This store... http://www.sewvacdirect.com/newhome104d.html. I just did my research and decided that this one was the best value for the package.

Oh, and it comes highly recommended.

I have a singer sewing machine that I got in 2001. I have been happy with it so far. It was under $300.