lareine
 
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NEW ZEALAND
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Date: 1/26/12 9:52 PM I just threw my Singer Featherweight II (modern plastic one, nothing like the original Featherweight) into the rubbish bin! It has been problematic since I got it, even after service and repairs, and the last straw was when it took me 15 minutes to sew the crotch piece onto a pair of knickers. That is just not a good use of my time.
The machine was a wedding present from my grandmother in 2006, picked out by me when I was just learning to sew. It seemed like the perfect choice -- light, easy to carry, good basic range of stitches, etc. I trusted the brand. But it has caused me nothing but frustration since I got it. I could go into detail but what it boils down to is that the machine is a piece of junk. I'm so sorry I didn't know about vintage machines when I was getting married, so Granny could have given me something I'd have for the rest of my life.
So now I don't have any sewing machine that can do zigzag stitch. Wonder how long it will be before that causes a problem!
Has anybody else ever taken this final step? What was the last straw for you? |
skae
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MN USA
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In reply to lareine
Date: 1/26/12 10:18 PM you could try and find out what your granny sewed on. Or if you know try and find one like it. If you know who has your granny sewing machine ask if you could buy it. If your going to buy a sewing machine the older janomes are good even the pfaffs.
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ý1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
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lareine
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NEW ZEALAND
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Date: 1/26/12 10:22 PM My granny wasn't much of a sewer, but she does have an old Singer treadle in her garden shed. I am a big fan of the old Singers myself but I've never been able to find a vintage zigzag machine. Thanks for the suggestions on other brands! |
KitnRose
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TX USA
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Date: 1/26/12 10:26 PM The only reason my serger wasn't tossed off the balcony was my practical side's nagging about shrapnel. Had there been a safe way to do it, it would have had a spectacular end.
Sorry about the disappointment. About that time I was asked by my brother's friend about which sewing machine to get. I asked a lot of questions and gave a very considered opinion along with a few simple things to avoid ... and she went out and bought a horrendously reviewed singer. After I'd specifically told her that that machine was a bad idea. But it's a Singer! Grr. At least in your case you really were doing the best you could with the information you had. What's your other machine? You can always keep your eye on craigslist (or the NZ equivalent) and put word out that you're in the market for a machine. I've had a couple come my way because people knew I sewed and figured I'd take in their old machine. Gladly. :)
Hope it works out for you! ------
Kit
"Never underestimate the power of the right dress!" - drsue
"Hyu gots to know how to sveet tok de costumers, dollink" - Girl Genius, 11-24-08 |
a7yrstitch
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TX USA
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In reply to lareine
Date: 1/26/12 10:31 PM 30 years ago I was trying to make little knit Izod shirts for my sons. Very popular at the time and very, very pricey. My Kenmore was just not up to working with the knits. No combination of needles, thread, fiddling yielded consistent stitches. It was fine for repairs and hemming on wovens but our family had outgrown the machine. I gave it to my mom for she and my sister to use and we (yes, we, all voted as it meant skipping a vacation) bought my Pfaff 1229. Still runs like a dream. Our sons were in 1st and 3rd grade at the time. It was pretty special that they voted for the sewing machine. (no, I did not bribe them)
You can do a lot without a zig zag so you'll at least be able to take your time in finding a reliable machine that won't let you down. ------
I have no idea what Apple thought I was saying so be a Peach and credit anything bizarre to auto correct. |
lareine
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NEW ZEALAND
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Date: 1/26/12 10:32 PM My main sewing machine is a Singer 201K from the early 1950s, which is straight stitch only but is a wonderful machine that I use whenever possible, and I do have an overlocker (serger) too. So I can manage most of the time without zigzag -- it's just handy now and then!
If we had a balcony I'd probably have tossed the Featherweight II off it, and never mind the shrapnel!  |
Jennifer Hill
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AB CANADA
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Date: 1/26/12 11:01 PM With a ss'er and a serger/overlocker, you should be good to go for quite awhile. You have a buttonholer for your 201, don't you?
Jennifer in Calgary |
Canadian Jane
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AB CANADA
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In reply to lareine
Date: 1/26/12 11:23 PM You are so not alone. I am nearing that point with my QE4.
I am sending if off to Pfaff next week to see if they can fix it. Otherwise, I think I will be driving north to the Oil sands and dumping the thing in the first tailings pond I can find! When the thing works - it works great. But when it is bad... well - it does deserve the tailings pond.
PS in case you don't know - a tailings pond is the contaminated run off used in the process of extracting oil from the oil sands. |
lareine
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NEW ZEALAND
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In reply to Jennifer Hill
Date: 1/27/12 0:12 AM Quote: Jennifer Hill
With a ss'er and a serger/overlocker, you should be good to go for quite awhile. You have a buttonholer for your 201, don't you?
Jennifer in Calgary
Yes, I do (and it is a joy to use). Today was the first time I took out the new Singer in months, and all I wanted to do was sew a pair of knickers. Zigzag is extremely useful for attaching lingerie elastic! But I can manage with what I've got, and that machine was not worth the frustration.
I like the creative suggestions so far for disposing of such annoyances! 
Edit: before I got married, my name was Jennifer Hill. I feel like I'm talking to myself right now 
-- Edited on 1/27/12 0:13 AM -- |
Artsewer
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NY USA
Member since 2011
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In reply to Canadian Jane
Date: 1/27/12 0:42 AM ( You are so not alone. I am nearing that point with my QE4. I am sending if off to Pfaff next week to see if they can fix it.)
Oh CJ that is bad. I feel really bad for you, having gone through this myself. Get your dealer to call Pfaff, and tell them all the times you have brought it in to be fixed. Is it still under full warranty.
They sent me a new one, mine was such a PITB.
The dealer has to be behind you. No skin off thier nose. Pfaff sent a replacement for mine. But I said I didnt want it. Dealer also sells Janome so Im taking a 6600 instead.
If you got it for what I bought my Pfaff for.... Its a lot of money for something that doesnt work.
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