Burda Style For people who sew

oh, HELP.

after years of smirking at “new” machines in favor of my heavy metal vintage workhorses, i have fallen in love.

i had a week to sew on a brother (this one to be exact) and after laughing at the plastic housing (and the fact that i could lift it without bending my knees), i slowly began to realize that this is what has been missing in my life.

so. i’m adding a new fangled machine to my vintage arsenal. i have no idea what might be the way to go, my knowledge is really in vintage machines. the brother i tried was a special project runway edition, with 50 stitches including stretch stitches, buttonholes, all that jazz… but i thought before making a decision, i’d ask my burda peeps! i don’t want to break the bank, but i also don’t want to throw down cash on a machine that i’ll outgrow. what do you use? what about other brands?

waiting with baited breath…

Jul 27, 2010, 12.26 AM by oonaballoona

6 Posts

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  Jul 28, 2010, 09.21 AMby KateXXXXXX

  It’s more of a light weight entry-level machine than one for lots of sewing at a higher level… You might find it frustrating after a short while. Especially if it doesn’t cope well with larger of heavier projects. It looks like it has a very small harp area. I recently had a Brother Innovis 10A as a test machine. I liked it, but it isn’t one I would buy for several reasons: lack of harp area, inability to cope with heavier fabrics, clunky one-step buttonholes, and a lack of that totally perfect straight stitch that you get with the older, more solid machines, and the higher end eletronic whizzy stuff. Don’t get me wrong: I liked that Brother a lot, but I knew it wasn’t the one for me. Geared more for the teenaged school student than the serious adult sewists.

  Don’t think about the price at all for a while. Just go round and test lots of different ones. Find you MUST HAVE features and make a list of the machines you find that do them. Take time to find something that suits the level you are at now and where you want to be in five years time. And see what you local dealer has on gently used machines less than five years old that offer what you are looking for.

  1 Reply

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    Jul 29, 2010, 02.04 PMby oonaballoona

    thank you kateXXXXXX, i was hoping to hear from you! this is exactly what i wanted to know.

    i’m not too worried about the harp area, or handling heavier fabrics— i’d keep my vintage kenmore for that. and, ummm, i’d keep my featherweight for the perfect straight stitch… this is getting ridiculous… and of course, i want a dress form too, so i may need a second mortgage.

    but it’s great to be reminded to scratch those off the “necessary” list. i definitely want a great buttonhole & stretch stitch. i’ve been reading about electronic versus electric and i wonder which is the best quality. i did like scrolling through the stitches on the brother and having the machine set the stitch width/length & tell me which foot to use, it was like having my own personal hal…

    i used the brother to sew my burdastyle book garment, and it really is the best thing i’ve ever sewn in terms of workmanship. i can’t believe how easy it was. now that i look back on project fails, i think it had a lot to do with not having the right equipment, so i think you may be right about outgrowing this machine.

    i’d love to know what you sew on!

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  Jul 29, 2010, 07.24 PMby KateXXXXXX

  I have a whole collection of machines. My main machine, the one on which I do most of my professional work, is a now 10 year old Husqvarna Lily electronic machine, with impeccable straight stitch and 10 different buttonholes. It does have a 240 stitch pattern menu. This one: http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk/KatePages/Resources/machinegallery/readytosew.JPG

  I also have my delightful Benina 1150MDA overlocker. But the complete list runs to about 25! This is how it breaks down:

  Small machines used for teaching:

  Singer Featherweight 221 circa 1956 Singer Featherweight 100 (modern plastic, almost a toy!) Elna Lotus ZZ Elna Lotus TSP Elna Lotus Stalla Air Electronic Frister & Rossman Cub 4 with all the attachments Frister & Rossman Cub 4 with NO attachments! Frister & Rossman Cub 8 (not currently working – needs repair) Singer 99K 3/4 sized electric straight stitch

  Full sized machines: Viscount 2000 Singer 367 zigzag machine Bernina 1005 Bernina 807 (extension table missing) New Home Husqvarna Optima 190 Husqvarna Lily 550 Toyota (missing attachments case and attachments)

  People Powered: Singer 15-88 treadle Singer 66K Hand Crank Singer 28K Hand Crank Jones Family CS Hand Crank

  Sergers: Bernina 1150MA Bernina 1100D (Needs new motor: belongs to a friend) Brother 1034D Huskylock 910 (Needs repair: new needle bar)

  I would say that if you want to sew anything that might need buttonholes and might be a heavier project, save the pennies and get a better machine than the Brother.

  1 Reply

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    Jul 29, 2010, 08.03 PMby oonaballoona

    holy COW.

    i was on your site earlier today and it was great info! it sent me into 3 hours of web research. you have me drooling over husqvarnas and berninas. i think i need to rethink my price range. hmm…. i have 2 featherweight 221s, maybe it’s time to sell one for the greater good of my cramped apartment…

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  Jul 29, 2010, 08.37 PMby KateXXXXXX

  Giggle…

  Just call me Auntie Enabler! ;)
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  Jul 31, 2010, 03.59 PMby mlssfshn

  Hey check Craigslist in your area, my 6 yr old Brother cs6000 just kicked the bucket, and I wanted to replace it with a higher quality new machine but had a budget limit of $400. I was able to find a slightly used Elna about 6-8 yrs old there in my price range, the original retail was 1600-2000. I love my vintage machines as well=)