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Member since 3/12/05
Posts: 626
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Posted on: 1/4/10 3:31 PM ET
So going off Cindy-lou's advice, which is excellent, I've decided to purchase the Kenmore 16231 fo my sewing classes....I think.

My original plan was to buy good vintage machines. I bought an Elna green supermatic, but the seller told me I would easily be able to buy the pedal/cord for the machine. After I bought the machine (and after a bunch of research here and other sites) Guess what? this machine does not have a pedal/cord combination, it uses a knee pedal. GRRR. So know I have a vintage machine that I can't even see if it works because nobody has the metal part for the knee pedal. So last night I was looking at Craig's list and found another supermatic with knee pedal, electric cord and case. I'm testing it out tonight, but the seller said he used it a couple of months ago to make cushions for their boat and it worked fine. So if I can buy this machine and somehow jimirig the other (after testing it with the other machines cord and knee pedal) to get it working (assuming I can get it up and running). I'd have two vintage machines to use for classes.

BUT, what are the chances of being able to find two more supermatics? And is all the work worth it?

What do you think? I think I'm leaning to the more expensive new machines. I know there are plenty of them and I can get accesories easily, but ohh the lureofa good vintage machine.

  
Member since 5/28/06
Posts: 1449
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Posted on: 1/4/10 3:50 PM ET
In reply to quiltsammon
Oh, my. I didn't realize that the price for the Kenmore 16231 has gone up $25 since the last time I looked at one.

Were they not $199 just in the past two months? I believe, that's the sale price that the Sears dealer quoted me, and she said that this model goes on sale often.

The only thing I didn't like about the Kenmore 16231 when I tested it was the upper tension. It wasn't sensitive enough. It might have been the conditions. I didn't sit there long enough to make the upper tension work for me.

I would go for the Kenmore 16231, especially if you have upcoming classes.

You don't want to deal with any more surprises that often come with vintage machines that you buy on the cheap. If you've got the time and your classes are scheduled a far ways off and if the stars fall just right in the heavens above (aka shopping the WWW), then yeah, I would go for vintage.
  
Member since 3/12/05
Posts: 626
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Posted on: 1/4/10 4:05 PM ET
In reply to poplin
Good advice!!! I'll need the machines for next week.

I have 4 new students starting tomorrow. EEeeeekkkk. I wasn't expecting this much interest???? I have 1 student in early afternoon, and just recieved an e-mail that another girl was coming to the late afternoon class with already 2 students in it. Most of the students were just word of mouth. I have three more interested, but schedule conflict so I think they'll wait till summer.

Tomorrow I'll be going over sewing safety, parts of the sewing machine and how it works. I'll also be opening up an older machine for us to look inside. I think I'll be okay for a couple of days but really need at least 2 machines by next week.
  
Member since 5/28/06
Posts: 1449
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Posted on: 1/4/10 4:14 PM ET
In reply to quiltsammon
See if you can get a deal for buying multiple machines at once.

Let them know that you saw the Kenmore 16231 on sale for $199, and see if they would give you a break on the price.

If they offer you to sign up for a Sears card for an extra 10% off or more of "savings," I would jump on the deal. After you get the card, cut it up and pay the full price asap.
  
Member since 8/1/08
Posts: 1821
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Posted on: 1/4/10 4:45 PM ET
In reply to quiltsammon
There are pluses and minuses to both vintage and new machines. I like to have my computerized Janome ( for decorative and buttonholes but I also have a pretty old mechanical one that I call my workhorse that will chug through anything. The Kenmore you got is made by Janome.
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It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. ~ Franklin D Roosevelt 1843
Janome 19606 ,Janome My Excel 4023, Brother 1034D, White 1750C, Kenmore 158.1803, White 764, Brother 780D.
  
Member since 10/29/06
Posts: 500
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Posted on: 1/4/10 5:45 PM ET
In reply to quiltsammon
For classes I would go with the Kenmore 18221. It is very similar to the 16231 with a few less features. It costs $149 and has everything the 16231 has that you would need in a class except for the speed control slide. However, unless these are very young children they should be able to control the speed on the foot pedal and, at any rate, do you get a speed setting on the vintage machines?

I have worked with children in 4H and we never had a speed control setting. If they were very young I would sometimes work the pedal for them until they got the knack of sewing and could multi task to sew and work the pedal at the same time.

Good luck--you will have fun!
  
Member since 10/24/07
Posts: 1830
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Posted on: 1/4/10 5:51 PM ET
I have the 16221 (prior to the 18221) and it is a fantastic machine for the money. It doesn't have a speed control but the foot operates just fine and it is something very easy to learn. I haven't had any tension problems with upper or lower and it has the adjustable foot pressure. I bought this machine to tote around and highly recommend it
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Pfaff P5.0, Bernina 560, Juki 654DE, Elna 745
  
Member since 10/29/06
Posts: 500
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Posted on: 1/4/10 6:19 PM ET
Another advantage of the 18221 over the 16231, besides price, is the color. If you get any boys as students they will prefer the red color to the sea foam green. (It is red isn't it, not pink, I hope!)

I had a boy inquire into 4H sewing just last year: he was so excited about it but his mom would not allow him to join: she wanted him to do something else in 4H.

But we do sometimes have boys who will sit down at our machines in club meetings, when we are working on a club wide project that involves sewing, and some of them really get a kick out of it. So I hope you do get some boys.
  
Member since 3/12/05
Posts: 626
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Posted on: 1/4/10 8:42 PM ET
You would not believe how helpful all of your comments have been!!!!! Thank-you! I was a little worried that the cheaper Kenmore's foot pedal wouldbe to fast for the kids. Most of my kids are 7 and 9 years old, so not to young, but not very old either.
Thank-you!!! I'll tell you how it goes tomorrow. I'm a little nervous having more than 2 in the class.


  
Member since 10/29/06
Posts: 500
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Posted on: 1/4/10 9:48 PM ET
In reply to quiltsammon
Xerox some patterns on paper, like a big spiral pattern, and let them try stitching it without thread. Kids that age like doing that. It will allow them to ''sew'', something they will be disappointed if they don't get to do the first lesson. It will also give you an idea about how well they can control the foot pedal.

Have fun!
-- Edited on 1/4/10 9:55 PM --
  
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