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12 
Member since 4/13/10
Posts: 3
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Posted on: 4/13/10 3:04 PM ET
Hi,
I need to purchase a sewing machine sight unseen and not having the ability to test run it before buying it.

I am looking for a good quality machine that can sew lingerie materials mostly and from time to time hem a pair of my husband's jeans without breaking the needle. I was looking at the Singer HD110 as I like the idea that it's metal and seems pretty tough, but I'm not sure how lingerie friendly it is. I had a Singer from the 1950s and the thing sewed like a dream without breaking. Wish I still had this. I've tried a Bernina, which was nice, but they are really pricey, and the Bernina's in my price range Bernetta(?) seem a bit cheap quality. I tried a Brother Innovis 10A today and I thought the stitches looked terrible, while the sales lady was raving about how great they looked.

Things that scare me: Plastic, electronics, LED screens, auto this auto that...just more things to have to service once they break.

Any ideas?? Price range I'd love to tell you, but pricing is so different where I live, it's not worth guessing.

Best Regards
-- Edited on 4/13/10 3:06 PM --
  
Member since 1/27/09
Posts: 852
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Posted on: 4/13/10 3:23 PM ET
In reply to klw
Quote: klw
Any ideas?? Price range I'd love to tell you, but pricing is so different where I live, it's not worth guessing.

Lots of them, mostly vintage machines, in light of what you said. Are you handy with basic hand tools?

And, since it appears to matter, where DO you live?
  
Member since 12/27/06
Posts: 710
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Posted on: 4/14/10 9:07 AM ET
I'm with FrBasil -- if you miss your old Singer, consider getting another old Singer. You won't need to spend a fortune, and you'll have a treasure. And you don't have to be THAT handy to fix it. I got a 401 up and running fairly easily, and I had no experience in fixing things. Instead, I had more internet resources than I could have guessed.

If you're interesting in pursuing the old Singer idea, you might want to start by joining the Vintage Singers group on Yahoo. It is a forum for collectors and others with some expertise, so you would learn a lot about reputable sellers, various models, and more. Its archives are full of information on how to fix and/or clean up vintage Singers.

hope this helps, and welcome to PR.

Elizabeth
  
Member since 9/18/04
Posts: 133
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Posted on: 4/14/10 10:14 AM ET
I love my Janome machines.
  
Member since 4/17/09
Posts: 1678
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Posted on: 4/14/10 10:30 AM ET
In reply to klw
Check this one out. It's a very nice and strong machine that can probably handle anything. HTH

http://cgi.ebay.com/KENMORE-MODEL-158-15150-ALL-IN-ONE-PACKAGE_W0QQitemZ320503786998QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBI_Sewing_Machines?hash=item4a9f83adf6
  
Member since 4/13/10
Posts: 3
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Posted on: 4/14/10 10:37 AM ET
I live in France and the cost of the machines are about double that of the US. It's impossible to find a good used machine here and industrial machines are totally out of the price range.

So I am basically obliged to buy new. The stores usually don't have them in stock to try and if they do they are very very weird about letting you try them. I stopped by Singer yesterday off the Champs Elysees (like saying Madison Ave in NYC) and the lady said she couldn't show me the machine because she didn't even know how to sew. HA!! That's customer service for you.

This is why I'm wondering if anyone knows of a good NEW machine that can do lingerie and time to time a jean hem. I've spent hours looking through the reviews. But the reviews helpful but are almost too much.
  
Member since 4/13/10
Posts: 3
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Posted on: 4/14/10 10:44 AM ET
(Check this one out. It's a very nice and strong machine that can probably handle anything)

Wow thanks so much looks like a great machine. Cams and all.

However, the plug is not the same as the Euro plug and the adapters can't handle sewing machine or hairdryers here. Believe me I've fried many a US appliance here. The adaptors work great for small electric things.

Thanks again for the Kenmore idea.
  
Member since 1/27/09
Posts: 852
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Posted on: 4/14/10 10:58 AM ET
In reply to klw
Quote: klw
I live in France and the cost of the machines are about double that of the US. It's impossible to find a good used machine here and industrial machines are totally out of the price range.



So I am basically obliged to buy new. The stores usually don't have them in stock to try and if they do they are very very weird about letting you try them. I stopped by Singer yesterday off the Champs Elysees (like saying Madison Ave in NYC) and the lady said she couldn't show me the machine because she didn't even know how to sew. HA!! That's customer service for you.



This is why I'm wondering if anyone knows of a good NEW machine that can do lingerie and time to time a jean hem. I've spent hours looking through the reviews. But the reviews helpful but are almost too much.


Well, for a new machine, get a Janome with adjustable presser foot pressure. This site shows a number of them for your market. Or visit here.

Alternatively, look for a flea market to visit. (In Germany -- which is a different place, granted -- the local fleamarkets often had very reasonably priced used goods.)

You're right that 220V/50Hz current will cook most any vintage model that's expecting 120V input.
  
Member since 4/17/09
Posts: 1678
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Posted on: 4/14/10 11:02 AM ET
In reply to klw
Quote: klw
I live in France and the cost of the machines are about double that of the US. It's impossible to find a good used machine here and industrial machines are totally out of the price range.



So I am basically obliged to buy new. The stores usually don't have them in stock to try and if they do they are very very weird about letting you try them. I stopped by Singer yesterday off the Champs Elysees (like saying Madison Ave in NYC) and the lady said she couldn't show me the machine because she didn't even know how to sew. HA!! That's customer service for you.



This is why I'm wondering if anyone knows of a good NEW machine that can do lingerie and time to time a jean hem. I've spent hours looking through the reviews. But the reviews helpful but are almost too much.

A Singer sewing store wouldn't let you test a machine? Is that what you are saying? Sorry but I'm must be confused and want to make sure I understand you correctly.

As far as the wiring, if you bought it in the US, couldn't you have it rewired to work over there when you get it? This is not usual territory for me and am just curious. People buy from the US all the time and get them to work. Pfaff machines have a switch underneath the machine to switch over. Maybe you could look into one of those. They have the IDT and would be great for both Lingerie or jeans.
  
Member since 3/4/05
Posts: 5265
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Posted on: 4/14/10 11:18 AM ET
From FrBasil's Janome link, if you can get a Janome 525S, I think you would be happy with that. Easy to operate with a one step buttonhole and a nice variety of stitches and the pressure can be adjusted. You can buy many different feet for it, too. I seen requests for this model from fashion sewing students on my local craigslist.
  
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