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sewing machines
nonabeth Member since 2012 Posts: 1	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/9/12 9:32 AM I am looking for a sewing/embroidering machine that will also hem blue jeans without breaking down. It needs to be either a Brother, Singer, or Juki as that is what my dealer carries. My husband bought me a Babylock but it cannot handle heavy jobs. He paid $1500.00 for it and my dealer is willing to trade it in on another machine. Can anyone tell me which machine to get? Thanks...
sewfrequent Intermediate TX USA Member since 2003 Posts: 2596	Login to reply to this post In reply to nonabeth Like this post Date: 2/9/12 1:17 PM Look at the motor amps. That's at least an indication of power but not the whole story. BabyLock is made by Brother. Juki is probably your best bet. Whack off the bottom of some old jeans and take along to test with a jeans needle. That should tell you all you need to know to pick the best one.
Soolip Advanced CA USA Member since 2008 Posts: 1663	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/9/12 1:59 PM My suggestion is to keep the Brother, but find an inexpensive all-metal vintage machine, like a 1970s or 80s Kenmore to do the dirty work. I don't have much faith in modern plastic machines, no matter how expensive they are. I recently found a Singer 237 at a garage sale for $10. Sews the heavy stuff just fine!
CM_Sews Intermediate CA USA Member since 2004 Posts: 1178	Login to reply to this post In reply to Soolip Like this post Date: 2/9/12 2:23 PM Quote: Soolip My suggestion is to keep the Brother, but find an inexpensive all-metal vintage machine, like a 1970s or 80s Kenmore to do the dirty work. I don't have much faith in modern plastic machines, no matter how expensive they are. I recently found a Singer 237 at a garage sale for $10. Sews the heavy stuff just fine! This is excellent advice. I was going to say the same thing. There is no Sewing Law that says you can have only one sewing machine. Different sewing machines have different "specialties". A cabinet maker once asked my why I had so many sewing machines. "For the same reason that you have so many power tools. Different tools have different strong points. No one tool does it all extremely well." I have two computerized embroidery/sewing machines made by Pfaff (7570 and 2140). They can sew through denim, but I once threw out the timing of the 2140 on a denim tote bag. I was probably sewing through 10 to 12 layers of denim, and the needle jammed. It was at the very end of the project, so I suspect the needle might have become dull by then. I love using the Pfaffs, but I readily admit that really heavy-duty sewing is not their strongest feature. However, they have many other features that I love to use. And, Soolip, I am SO jealous that you found a Singer 237 for $10!!! I keep looking for a 237 to add to my collection. The fact that you can drop one of those into a treadle table is a big attraction for me: zig-zag, 3 needle positions on straight stitch in a treadle machine. I'll keep looking. CMC
beauturbo Advanced CA USA Member since 2009 Posts: 518	Login to reply to this post In reply to nonabeth Like this post Date: 2/9/12 3:30 PM Force the combination Brother/Singer/Juki dealer to show you in person, the best way to hem some blue jeans. As I think that is the least they can do, if you are buying a machine there from them. Because it's really always more of a sewing technique, on just any old or new machine, than ever what exact machine you would use for that. Sort of why all machines can really do that good actually, if the person just demo'ing them to you, wants them to do that, bad enough to bother to do it right. Or bad enough to sell you a machine. So all machines can do that actually, even the Babylock you already got. And all those other ones there you are looking at too. Once you know how to do that, by them showing you how, then all machines will really hem blue jeans just fine for you to. If they are not willing to do that for you, and with you, on just any machine you are buying or thinking about buying there, then I think you do have a problem, but at that point it's not with a particular machine, more just not having someone show you the best ways to do something maybe. But you do need to ask for that probably, if you never ask, maybe no one would ever show you how.
beauturbo Advanced CA USA Member since 2009 Posts: 518	Login to reply to this post In reply to nonabeth Like this post Date: 2/9/12 3:45 PM Also, have you even been there and talked to them yet? I think maybe not, because Juki does not even now make a hooped computerized embroidery machine now at all, so sadly (because if they did it would be a really good one I'm sure) that is just not going to be even one of the machines, that you could even buy there or have a choice from, for doing that kind of thing. So they can't have any that do that with the Juki name on them at all. It's just impossible. So, I think you really need to got there, and actually spend some time sewing on some machines, and make them help you and show you what each of them can actually do, as if you don't do that, how would you even know what you might want to get?
Vintage Joan Intermediate ON CANADA Member since 2007 Posts: 7969	Login to reply to this post In reply to nonabeth Like this post Date: 2/9/12 5:29 PM Quote: I am looking for a sewing/embroidering machine that will also hem blue jeans without breaking down. ...My husband bought me a Babylock but it cannot handle heavy jobs. He paid $1500.00 for it Not a suggestion, just curious -- my $199 Kenmore (Janome-made) mechanical has no problem with blue jean hems. Is this because it's a mechanical? ------ my shield and my very great reward (Gen. 15:1) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. ~Albert Einstein ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Image: Berthe Morisot, Young Woman Leaning on Her Elbows, 1894
beauturbo Advanced CA USA Member since 2009 Posts: 518	Login to reply to this post In reply to Vintage Joan Like this post Date: 2/9/12 5:45 PM I'm sure it's not in that case, you just know how to do it right, and someone else just might not. So sewing technique jand what you do and not just the machine at all, ust really counts for some stuff, lots of the time.
LaurenEmme Intermediate CA USA Member since 2011 Posts: 48	Login to reply to this post In reply to CM_Sews Like this post Date: 2/9/12 5:51 PM I have a 237 that is treadle-ready (motor removed and everything) that I got for $50, in excellent condition. Now all I need is the treadle table ------ Bernina 330 BabyLock Ellure Plus BLR3 BabyLock Imagine
CM_Sews Intermediate CA USA Member since 2004 Posts: 1178	Login to reply to this post In reply to LaurenEmme Like this post Date: 2/9/12 6:42 PM There have been a few comments about sewing jean hems and the correct or best technique. I'm not sure about the proper technique, but sewing denim is more successful with the proper notions. The following recommendations apply for any sewing machine: a fancy embroidery machine OR a vintage machine. Use a heavy Jeans needle or a heavy top stitching needle. Heavy meaning at least size 16 or size 18. Needle Size Chart Both Jeans and Top Stitch needles have sharper and longer points than a universal needle. The sharper point, combined with a heavier needle shank, give Jeans and Top Stitch needles more piercing power. In addition, the Top Stitch needle has a deeper scarf to prevent missed stitches when top stitching/sewing through multiple layers. Schmetz Needle Guide (opens a PDF) Using some Silicone Sewing Lubricant on the needle can help the needle slide between the dense denim fibers. A notion to help you sew over the folded seams can be helpful: Putting the Jean-a-ma-Jig to Work. Hump Jumper Simplicity combo hump jumper & point turner. CMC Sort of off-topic: LaurenEmme, consider shopping for a treadle table/cabinet with a machine in it. If it's a Singer table/cabinet, you should be able to remove the old machine head and drop in the 237. (Measure the distance between the machine hinges to be sure.) If you are Craigslist shopping, be on the look out for nice cabinets regardless of whether or not they have a machine head; the condition of the machine head is irrelevant in this case. If the machine is rusted or otherwise not tip-top, it's of no importance - you want only the cabinet. Just because a dusty and neglected machine head is OLD does not mean it is valuable. Just resell the old machine head for a pittance to get it out of the house. -------- Edited to add/replace link to Schmetz Needle guide - better info than link I used previously. -- Edited on 2/9/12 6:58 PM -- -- Edited on 2/9/12 7:02 PM --

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