At age 72 I am still sewing on my trusty sewing machine I purchased at JC Penny's in 1978. Yes, 1978. Manufactured by "The White Company" I have never had it in the shop or replaced any parts in 44 years which is surprising to me because I don't always clean and oil it as much as I should. All I can say is " They don't make them like that any more". Wish I could say the same for all my ex-husbands !!
I agree older machines are better especially if they're mechanical. Or if they are mechanical with a few extra stitches like zig zag and so forth it's great. I remember white sewing machines I too owned a white sewing machine for a lot of years. I never did have it serviced It didn't need it. I managed to oil it and keep it cleaned. And I agree the part about ex-husbands. Some things are worth keeping, but not ex-husbands.
OHMYGAWWD PAULA SWEETIE! WOW!! I TOOK UP SEWING CLASS IN HIGH SCHOOL IN 78. I'M 63 AND I TELL YOU SWEETIE, I AM SO GLAD I GOT BACK INTO SEWING BECAUSE HIGH SCHOOL WAS THE LAST TIME I LAID MY HANDS ON A SEWING MACHINE AND I MADE A VOW TO MYSELF I WAS GOING TO GET BACK INTO SEWING WHICH AM DOING RIGHT NOW. I MISSED IT A LOT AND I LOVE IT! SO MUCH FUN AND IT'S VERY THERAPUTIC. LOVE IT LOTS!
I had one of the first Viking computerized machines. It was a dream,for a while.even though my husband generously gifted me all the extra program cards (that's how it was done back in '88, Eventually the electronics failed and by then there was no support available to fix it. I'm now in the market for another machine and thank you for this information.
I've used mechanical, industrial, computerized machines and they all have their good and bad points. My cheapo little mechanical Brother is fantastic but it's not tough enough to make bags and other heavy items. So, I bought a Janome 6600 which goes thru pretty much anything. It has a ton of special features I've never used but the 2 that I love are the knee lift and automatic cutting feature. Both machines have automatic threaders which I consider a must. I love industrial machines but because they only have 1 type of stitch I've refrained from purchasing one due to a lack of space. I also have an overlocker/serger but unless you do a lot of garment sewing they're not really worth it. The bottom line is that you have to find machines specific to your sewing needs.
so im new to sewing and have a cheaper singer 7640.... its pulling my fabric to the left when i sew.....is this because its a cheaper machine or do all machines do that? im trying to source the problem.... ive changed the needle and adjusted the tension its not that.....im wondering do the more expensive or non computerized machines do that or is it just a cheap machine
I have a Bernina 730E that I bought in 2007. It was a very expensive machine and has many bells and whistles, etc for its time. It was my dream machine then. The motor seems very strong. I am mostly a garment sewer and it has many features that I hardly, if never, use. But it’s nice to have all of those possibilities. Every year, I bring it in for its tune up and at about $100 a year, it does get expensive. That would buy a lot of fabric! I keep thinking that the processor in it is going to go. And if it does, I plan on replacing it. But - so far, so good. I also have a small collection of antique Singers, and a Babylock serger, which are my backups. I do feel that as far as machine strength goes - it’s hard to beat the older cast iron models that only do a straight stitch and that weigh “a ton”.
Thank you very much. Have been looking to buy new machine. I was blinded by the computerized models…but you are correct, thank you for bringing me back to reality.
Oh my goodness, me too! I was looking at a series of B@@@ L$$$ while I have an old trusty Kenmore that works like a charm. Also have my great grandmother’s Singer parlour cabinet machine from 1900. Thanks for bringing me back to reality. I’m going to buy a nice sewing table for my Kenmore and lots of fabric.😂❤
Unfortunately there is no one machine that will do everything. I wished there was! I love my Juki 2010. It powers through everything, fast & fuss-free with an automatic cutter and knee lift. I have made quilts, garments, curtains, home decor and bags with it. I stuck with it for a long time until I had to get a computerised machine for buttonholes because the vintage Bernina I had didn't have an automatic buttonhole. My computerised machine is more fussy but I remind myself I am sewing with a computer basically. My computerised machine has gotten me into doing decorative stitching on linen garments & being able to calculate the length has been handy. It's interesting the Pfaff doens't allow you to use the hand-wheel though.
Had a Pfaff Passport that I loved to death, so I got the Ambition 620. Hated it!!! Dumped it at my local Baby Lock dealer & ordererd a Brother PQ1500. Going on 2 years & the 1500 is still going strong & hasn't let me down yet.
You have helped me to realize I don't want a computerized sewing machine. I don't believe I will ever use all the stitches they have. And, i don't think I could accept having to take my machine to a repair shop should it ever need that. I am gonna be quite content with getting a regular sewing machine. I have one now, but, am wanting another machine just in case the one I have ever "breaks" on me. IE: I just realized the reason my needle was "scraping" on an area of my bobbin case - the needle itself was a bad one. I cleaned the bobbin area and re-threaded my machine along with the bobbin. Still the needle was scraping. I had gotten some old sewing materials from a friend awhile back. Well, when I opened a pkg. of Singer needles, I put one in my machine and it worked for a few stitches. Then it started making a scraping noise in only one certain place when the bobbin spun around. I didn't want to have to take my machine to the repair shop, so, I tried everything I could think of. Then, I had a brand new package of needles, so, I changed it to one of them (in the same size) and that fixed my problem. Sometimes it's the simplest thing to fix a problem you have. Hope this helps. TYSM for sharing this video with us. And, THANK YOU for helping me decide one thing I want my next sewing machine to be - NOT a computerized one. 😻
I am interested in some features of the computerized machines, but I have stuck to mechanical for a lot of the reasons you mentioned. Computers become outdated pretty quickly. Computerized machines seem like they would be the same way. The "newest" machine I own I purchased brand new in 1999 and is mechanical. My most recent purchase is a vintage Pfaff (mid 1960s) that is in wonderful condition and I LOVE it. While sometimes I am envious of the features on the new computerized machines, for now anyway, I am sticking with mechanical.
We all have to see what we prefer for our situations. Your experience might have more to do with which brand you tried. A little background info for you....long after the fact. Singer, Viking and Pfaff are all owned by the same Chinese corporation, at least as of this writing. They've been changing hands over and over since the late 70's (at least for Singer, uncertain when the other two sold out). Actual dealers are harder and harder to find for these brands, some due to the aging out of so many in the business, some due to not wanting to be personally standing behind a brand with less and less support and quality. Of the 3, Pfaff is supposed to still be their best quality, but its popularity is definitely waning. I'm a fan of Janome. Even their computerized machines are robust workhorses, plus they have a professional line. These range from a highspeed straight stitch only, to several with plenty of bells and whistles, and they have a lot of power, while still portable. Full disclosure, I'm a Janome dealer and my husband is my machine tech. i was a Janome customer first. Also, service pricing and competency varies widely. The equivalent Janome at our shop would only be $99 for a full service and adjustments, even with issues. If you had bought the machine from us, we'd give you free labor for the first 3 years. When asked "what machine brand should I get" I always reply with "a brand that has a good, in-house technician who will support that machine.
Thanks Amy, I appreciate your knowledge and look forward to learning more from you! My machine did come with 3 years free service, but it's still 250km away (one way) to the dealer. My preferred repair lady is 45 minutes away. Now that I'm past the warranty period I would love to fix small issues on my own, clean my own machine, etc, but it's impossible to get inside without a special tool. 3 years after purchase I do like using this machine, for the most part, but I don't think I'd buy another computerized machine. I'm quite confident this one will be put out to pasture before any of my mechanical machines.
This comment 🙌 There is so little education about sewing machines that even many people responsible for selling them don't understand what it is they're offering. I passionately dislike Singer, Pfaff and Husqvarna Viking. New or old I don't think those brands have ever put out decent machines. Janome, Brother, Juki or Babylock are far superior and always have been. I work as a repair person in a Bernina store so would vouch for Bernina/Bernette too. But any brand that has trustworthy local support after purchase for education, repairs and accessories is the correct choice.
I agree with your assessment. But to qualify that, that’s for me. One of my dearest friends is a Bernina buff, and for her that’s perfect. I OTOH, am a mechanical machine girl after spending thousands of dollars on a computerized domestic machine that was far far more than I needed. I’ve just replaced it with a comparable size mechanical domestic. The only thing I miss on the computerized machine is the push button auto threader. I’m a DIY girl, and hate taking in a machine for service for something I know I can do myself like basic maintenance. My motto is know what you really like and spend just a little more on upgrades before you buy. Test the machine before you buy anything save an entry level machine. When my backup computerized portable machine dies, I’ll replace it with a comparable size mechanical machine.
Thanks for the feedback!! It is very useful and indeed, I'm not inclined to deal with error codes or any fussiness that comes with a computer. You have confirmed that mechanical is just a more realistic choice for me. I DREAM or a computerized and all those stitches, but I could get one on sale (Black Friday had a Singer computerized for as low as 130 CAD) as an "add-on" machine but stick to traditional machines for primary sewing. A good compromise could be an electronic one like the Janome 625e or Emerald 118. The former has speed control, up-down needle button which are electronic features but there is no LCD screen and no motherboard to my knowledge. Computerized machines look like so much fun but have more potential for problems...
This is a great comment! Thank you. Yes, we can get influenced by all the fancy gadgets and pretty stitches, but at the end of the day a level head for practicality will go a long way!
Ultimately, and unfortunately, no machine will do everything. In my dream world I would have an industrial, a serger, a computerised, and a mechanical. I just purchased a new machine and did loads and loads of research. I bought my very first computerised machine, and I'm 63. Here's why: I have a my mother's old Kenmore 14, which was either her 50th (1983) or 60th (1993) birthday present. We had purchased that based on the recommendation from my paternal aunt, an accomplished children's fashion designer in the 1950's and '60's. It did the job, nothing fancy, but a decent machine for my mother's needs, which were mostly clothing and lightweight curtains (not drapes). When she died, I inherited it. About 5 years ago, I was thinking I needed something higher speed and more heavy duty. I looked at the Singer Heavy Duty's (the roughly $200 (all prices in this post are USD) 4432, 4452, etc.), and the Husqvarna computer and mechanicals. I ended up buying something I hadn't even previously considered, a Singer S16. (The S18 is computerised and a completely different machine, although they are often lumped together). It's a high speed industrial, and I loved it from day one. Straight stitch and up to 1600 sts per minute. That's it, that's all it does. And incredibly well. So fast, no thickness deters it, I am so glad I bought that. Fast forward to this summer, and I am making things for the kids who are the children of the family with whom I share a house. I need something better than the Kenmore. It did quite well with it all, even, with the aid of a walking foot and ballpoint needles, knits, which have always been the bane of my sewing life. But it isn't the machine I need anymore. Back to the Big Search, and only looking at mechanicals. My aunt taught me that it's all technique. Cut carefully, don't use a machine when hand stitching is better, and press every damn thing, every damn 5 seconds. All you need is a decent mechanical machine that will do straight and zig-zag stitch. I made 2 tailored men's dress shirts for a boyfriend on a crappy Singer I got from the mother of a friend, and they came out so well everyone thought they were purchased and the American Sewing Guild asked me to write an article about the experience (can't recommend David Coffin's book "Shirt Making" highly enough). Was very set on the Janome HD5000, about $500, but found out I would have to travel an hour each way to just try it out, then the same route every time it needed work or the annual check-over. I thought, why not go back and look at Husqvarna's mechanical Emerald 118, also about $500, which I had very much liked 5 years ago, and available 15 minutes away at my local Joann's. After much on-line reading, thought their computerised Jade was a big step up. Went to try them out. Never even sat down to the Jade, because the saleswoman totally steered me away from it, saying that it was like a souped-up Yugo, and the Emerald was a stripped down Mercedes. Said the Jade just was not meant to handle heavy materials, such as winter coats, jeans, etc. Tried the Emerald, once again. Tried the computerised Tribute (actually the Opal 650 or 670), really liked it. Did not like the $500 more it was than the Emerald. Tried the Opal 690. It's the Tribute/lower Opal, but with automatic tension settings, instead of it telling you what to do and then you set it. For an even more $500 extra, I would set the numbers as instructed all by myself, thank you very much. Also tried the Singer Patchwork, somewhere around $250. Just didn't feel substantial, like a computerised version of my Kenmore. In a complete reversal from the week before, decided I absolutely was going to get a computerised machine. Because of the buttonholes. It's not as if I do those every day, or even every week or month. But when I do them, I want them to be nice, and the difference, no matter the level of mechanical machine, was ginormous. Went home and did much, much more research on machines, thought about the Singer 9960. Watched some great channels on it, including the one where the tears it apart and puts it back together again, which answered my questions and alleviated my hesitations. And apparently, when people have trouble with it, it's almost always because they've threaded it wrong or inserted the bobbin wrong. This, along with the buttonholes, is what sold me on computerised. Never having to set tension (except if you want to override the settings, which you absolutely can do), would be wonderful. There was one small drawback-- you can't adjust the pressure of the presser foot the way you can with the Husqvarna's, and one huge drawback: absolutely no one has one to try. Like, within 500 miles. It seems that this is an on-line purchase, only. For $450, this was a big stop-the-show for me. And you can return it only if it's unused. Hmmm, not really liking that at all. I posted my neurotic dilemma on a sewing site, and someone responded that the Singer 8060 is the 9960, just with a different coloured front plate. $299 on the Singer site, $375 for the accessories package. I called Singer to confirm this, yes it is the same machine, although no one could explain why the price was different. Also confirmed that no matter where I bought it, as long as I had the original receipt, it would be covered by Singer's 25 year warranty. It was on Amazon, with the accessory package, for $350, with a clickable 5% off coupon, bringing it down to $332. That was an amount I could live with. It just arrived, I unboxed it, but haven't tried it out, however it looks promising. I never looked at the Pfaffs, and I think that I likely wouldn't invest in a high cost computerised machine. But I would in a better mechanical, and in a higher end serger, because of the ease in threading. So that's just me, and those 2 items may be considerations in the future. (I am not someone with a budget for spending $5000 on sewing machines in a year, or even a decade (not a random number; I'm thinking $2000 for the serger, $2000 for the computerised, and $1000 for a mechanical). If you never do anything that would require adjusting the tension, and you never do anything with buttonholes, then, yes, I would never get a computerised machine. But if you do, there is no comparison, you need a computerised machine.
Amie, thank you so much for your comment. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It's posts like this that help the wider sewing community when purchasing new machines! Also, your aunt sounds like the fairy godmother of garment making! Lucky you! For a bit of context, I own this computerized machine, an older lower end singer serger (love it), a pfaff coverstitch/serger combo, an industrial straight stitch, and several mechanical machines. The auto buttonhole function on my lowest end mechanical machine is, in my opinion, comparable to my computerized machine. Perhaps if I hadn't experienced that first, I'd be more keen on the computerized machines. I can't recall if I mentioned in the video, but my dealer is over a 2 hour drive, one way. Since these machines can't be serviced at home, that's the biggest drawback for me. We do have a repair woman and another dealer 1 hour away (this is the closest and extremely common in rural Canada - many people drive that far for groceries, work, kids activities!), however I'm not sure how familiar she is with the technology. My hope is that, between all my machines, I don't have to purchase a new one for a very long time 🤞
I also enjoyed reading about your experiences and thought process in deciding what to buy. I think I have turned into someone who wants to collect machines, just for the fun. Had a bad experience with Singer 4423, but I flicked that on after 6 months and 5 pairs of jeans. So, what to invest in next, hmmm, I’ll keep researching until I know for sure. Meanwhile, my Brother NV400 just had a lovely once in its lifetime service and should go like a dream now. Happy sewing to you all
@@seasonallyproductive You are most welcome. Profuse apologies for the coming very lengthy comment, I would never want to hijack your posting, but if it helps anyone, well, I guess it's worth it:-).
Okay, all that stuff I wrote?-- yeah, scratch that. Ya know, if you knew me in any other context, you would never believe that it was the same person. I generally make well thought-out, researched decisions, and stick with them. On this sewing machine adventure, hoo boy. So I got out the Singer 8060 (the 9960 with a different front plate), set it up, and the needle threader would not swing over the way it was supposed to. Minor glitch, began sewing. The stitches were extremely even, the tension was wonderful, all good. I tried the zigzag stitch and all was most definitely not good. It tunneled like crazy and broke the thread 4 times in a row. The supposed automatic tension adjustment it promises to make was definitely not happening. Back in the box and returned to Amazon. Yes, I didn’t give it much of a chance, but I think for straight out of the box problems, this did not bode well. Tried some more knits with my mother’s machine and discovered that when I take off the walking foot and change the stitch back to straight, it will only go backwards for about 10 minutes. I’m not kidding. I decided that maybe what I needed after all was a serger. The highly rated Brother 1034DX was available at Walmart for $199. Brought it home and set it up and it worked extremely well. For literally about 30 minutes. On some lightweight lycra, it suddenly jammed and broke one of the needles. This was after the tiny sleeve for one of the needle screws fell out when I had changed the needle to one suitable for lycra type knits (I saw on a RU-vid video that this happened to someone else who just thought it was a hole in the machine-- I commented about what I had experience, the difference being that I saw that the sleeve was still on the end of my screwdriver and so could rescue it, whereas she had obviously dropped and lost it, extremely easy to do.). I also had not realized that in order to hem, you need a whole separate machine, a cover stitch, or at least a combo machine. I was not at happy to discover that sergers require a whole other purchase. Back that went. Feeling very defeated frustrated by these machines, I just let this go for a few weeks. I then decided that the serger/coverstitch combination machine was what I was going to do, the Singer “professional“. That would take care of any and all knits. I also started thinking about an embroidery-only machine. I don't really need it for much, but the buttonholes you can do are absolutely beautiful. It would need to have WIFI compatibility in order to be able to download the designs I like. So I start looking at the cheapest good embroidery machines. $300+. So I guess for those times when I want embroidered button holes, I will do them by hand. If I were doing them all the time, then that would be one thing, but once every couple of years just isn't worth it, and I don't have visions of using it for other applications. I start back where I began, with the Janome HD5000, a mechanical machine. Pretty heavy duty, and can do everything I need for a mechanical. I watch more videos (I'd already watched a couple of dozen-- and as a side note, it's very interesting how many Black men use sewing machines and make videos about it), and think, this could really do knits without a problem, including the double line hems, when using a twin needle. You can raise the presser foot extra high, so I wouldn't be squeezing in fabric the way I have to with my mother's when the walking foot is on. And presumably this one doesn't only sew in reverse after you take off the attachment (you think I‘m making this up-- I swear, it will only go backwards for several yards of sewing). So maybe back to the drawing board. The latest thought was 1. Keep my mother's always up and use it for any garment repairs, the kids clothes, quick things. Don't ever try to sew knits on it because the 10 minutes following during which it will only go in reverse drives me batty, and I never know if that issue will be permanent. 2. Use my industrial straight stitch for the things that I use it for, and love it for those items. That one's a no-brainer, that one's not going anywhere. 3. Don't bother with the serger or coverstitch or serger/coverstitch combo. 4. Don't bother with a computerised machine. I just don't need the bells and whistles, they are exorbitantly priced, love those buttonholes, but I guess I would do keyholes buttonholes by hand, with gimp support inside the stitches, I know how to do that. They also don't last as long, and so much can go so wrong because of the computer part. They are also complicated to get used to. 5. Get the Janome because that is much more substantial than my mothers and has broader uses, including the zigzag and overcast edge stitch plus the twin needle option for hemming for knits. It would cover most of my "real" garment sewing. $500, a reasonable amount these days, and they last and last. (I always think of major expenditures in how much it breaks down to by year. Ten years of that Janome is $50 per year, or $1 per week. A computerised that is $1500 and only lasts 5 years is $300 a year.) 6. But the Janome, like all mechanicals, only makes straight button holes, no keyholes. The only mechanicals that made real buttonhole variations were my mother's old Singer 19-51, which every single website and article and RU-vid channel discussing vintage machines covets like nothing else. Perfect stitches, so simple, just straight stitching, the button hole attachment makes the most wonderful buttonholes that rival today's computerised, with loads of sizes, including keyholes. It's such a shame that I have no idea whatever happened to hers. It probably needed service and wasn't working well and so she gave it away and we got her the new one, anyway, that she really enjoyed (and she never, ever went near a knit fabric on a sewing machine). The 15-91 can do things even great machines can't do now, it's just a perfect workhorse. There is a zigzag attachment that we never had and isn't really recommended. It give you only the tiniest bit of space between the contraption and the bottom feed dogs, so you can really only get one layer of fabric in there. People in the '50's didn't really sew knits much, and that attachment would have been just for finishing raw edges, one layer at a time, not even double layers of fabric for seams. And apparently they didn't work all that well, needed a lot of tension adjustments and fiddling. The 15-91's were pretty much THE machine to get then, so many, many, many were made, and they worked so well, it was when Singer was king. People often don't keep them because either it's part of breaking down their grandmother's house and they don't sew, or they prefer all the much fancier bells and whistles, they don't even make machines like that any more. So they are all over the place on eBay, in various states. Designers and sewing professionals get them used and worked on, some of them don't even run before getting rehabbed. Like that one for $129.99, plus $78.60 shipping. In perfect running condition. Plus a ruffler attachment and loads of bobbins. And there’s a buttonholer attachment with all 9 sizes for $15. *Sigh* Uh, wait a minute. . . Quick call to the sewing machine place just a half-hour away with a sterling reputation, that only really sells Berninas and Baby Locks, but has people that work on vintage machines, specialising in Singers, and vintage Singers are $87 to clean and restore. No cover, but I have a generic one not being used that will fit it. Click on the "make an offer" option and put in $105. Which gets accepted immediately. So for $105 plus $15 for the buttonholer attachment plus $78.60 shipping plus $87 for rehabbing it (even though it states that it runs perfectly, I would want it gone over so that I don't run it with something not quite right and do any damage-- it's well worth it), for a total of $285.60, I will have an amazing machine. I will still get the Janome, but that is another $499, and for $784.60 will have what will really work and will last a very long time and over 10 years will be $1.51 per week. I can deal with that. None of the machines I will have will be things that are likely to break down or need fancy repairs, which computerised, embroidery, sergers and cover stitch machines are all very prone to. Plus there are no classes for those, which I would need, unless you go with the Vikings at Joann’s or the expensive Bernina, Baby Locks at that one shop, everything else is mail order these days (boy, has that changed!), so there is an extreme learning process with only RU-vid videos to help. The Janome will be easy enough to sort out, and I know the 15-91 inside out, I sewed so, so much on my mother's. Hot damn, I'm really excited and feeling really good about this, I feel like I’m in the zone. I'll get the Janome in the not too distant future, my frugal self is not really comfortable buying two items in the hundreds of dollar range in the same week, or even month. Okay, not even in the same year, but I guess I'll live a little dangerously in 2022, and spend $784.60 on sewing machines. Make that $684.60. I go on the Internet to copy and paste a photo of the Janome HD5000 so that I can put it in a word doc to keep track of it. One that comes up is the black version, which is the one I want (it also comes in white), so I click on it. It is from a very reputable dealer I hear about a lot. The shipping (about 1000 miles away from me in Pennsylvania) is free. They have the black one on sale for $100 off at $399, and that includes the walking foot and other accessory package. Um, I guess I am indeed going to buy 2 sewing machines this week.
Amongst my 7 machines, I actually have the next one up in that line of machines. The Quilt Ambition 620. The 620 actually has a save function. So yes. You're computerized machines must be maintained by a trained tech. That's because the electronics can be damaged by the untrained. Sort of like a lifelong Ford mechanic isn't trained to work on a Rolls Royce. I know the "must rest" alert you mentioned, but I haven't experienced that in any of my machines. I'm kind of curious about how long you're running that machine, at what speed and types/number of layers of fabric. Unfortunately, that machine isn't cooled by a fan, so it will automatically stop running if it starts overheating. Sort of the price you pay when using a computerized machine. But that could also be a time to take a break and stretch. Being in the sewing position for that long can put strain on your neck and shoulders. So, the multiple stitches and types is definitely a matter of taste. For some, it may be just extra "junk" that you'll never use. For others, the option to use them is very much welcomed. I'll be the first to tell you that there are many stitches I will never use, but I have also ended up using some that turned out to be a perfect fit for a project. I wouldn't knock that machine just because it didn't fit your needs and desires. I mean no harm, but you really have to do your research when making a decision on buying a machine. I'll use myself as an example. I'm a quilter, embroiderer, small crafts sewist. I would never find a need for an industrial straight stitch like a Jack. I'll also be honest and say that I'm your opposite. I cannot stand mechanical machines with manual tension and the multiple guides, tensioner and pre-tenioners on them. I bought a Juki to use for quilting and sold it not long after. Lol may I ask what type of sewing you do, fabrics you use and how long you've been sewing?
I've solved the machine needs to rest problem! It would pop up even at first pedal touch on 2 thin layers of woven fabric. The issue was I was using a metal bobbin (which I knew I wasn't supposed to). Once I switched back to plastic (🤢), it has stopped being so temperamental. Apparently, the metal conflicts with some of the magnetism in the electronics. I'm a garment sewist, mainly, and have been sewing for about 9 years. I do have an industrial machine, too (along with soooo many other machines). Mechanical. And I love her! I'm much happier when I can see what's going on with the machine, and make small repairs and maintenance updates myself.
My 20 year old computerized Piaff just officially died after years of being an annoying jerk. I just ordered a Brother mechanical machine on sale for $188 at Amazon, about the same amount as it would cost to repair the Pfaff, which would probably break again in two months. The Bother has fabulous reviews and everything I want. Can’t wait for it to come.
@@seasonallyproductive The joke is that the brother broke in five days and I returned it. Just got a BabyLock Jubilant and it’s fantastic. You get what you pay for.
I actually like that my computerized machine resets settings when I turn my machine off. I've never witnessed this "needs to rest" message on my Pfaff, perhaps it's too old. I do think you need to find a better place to service your machine - we have a guy here that will come to you for ~ $100 to service your machine, serger, or semi industrial. I've had my computerized Pfaff sewing/embroidery machine as my only machine for like 12 years now I think? The timing went out once but that's not something I would have tried to fix on my own, and it happened right away so it was covered under warranty.
I live in a town of 300 hundred people 😉 my usual repair lady is closer than the bigger center, but my machine is still on warranty so I need to use the dealer for now. And $100 is still too much when it's just thread in the take up lever
Thank your for this video. I just had my Pfaff 630 in the shop for the second time and I’ve had it. For $1100 it should work. It would intermittently not stop no matter what so had to turn off the power or keep punching the button. Scary. I’m ready for a solid, reliable, heavy duty machine. Don’t need 50 decorative stitches. All I really use is straight and occasionally zig zag. I have a serger and embroidery machines for fancy stuff. Definitely don’t need the headache to just sew a straight line.
Agree with you have both , no more computer machines for me I have a mechanical Janome all metal 5000, best machine ever , easy to clean and take care of myself , I am a mechanical girl also, have a Babylock Joy too , so easy it’s a portable backup
Honey you told me a thing or two on computerized sewing machines I was getting ready to purchase one because of one step bottom hole the speed the auto sissor cutting and on about the computerized sewing machines, I don't have the money to be having it fixed constantly and the mother board I'll stick to my janomi 1000😊
I wish I knew that before buying my Ambition 620. I never used all the fancy points. And I hated so many things. In the end I'm selling it to buy a Select 3.2, which is mechanical. I keep the Pfaff IDT system that I love. Everything else was useless.
I have 2 Janome computerized machines(one is pretty old), a Husqvarna straight stitch on a frame & a Juki straight stitch only. My favorite is the Juki & it was the least expensive. Never jams. Dont need a leader EVER . I would give up my Janomes but I need zigzag & buttonholes sometimes
Here's the deal when the motherboard goes out on a computerized sewing machine. The cost is expensive if they have the replacement for it. And labor charges added on to that. The difference in a mechanical machine is there's not a motherboard or digital type parts that need fixing.
I have what would now be called an old BERNINA, 1260 and still love it. I think it has the best of both worlds. It has some computer but still acts like a mechanical. I literally have years and years of sewing on it and never really any problems. I don’t get a yearly cleaning but I have always been consistent with cleaning and oiling. I also have some antique Singers, straight stitch Brother and a sewing/ embroidery Babylock. They all have their place and I use them all. When you sew clothes you need the matching with stretch stitch and buttonholes, etc unlike when quilting you mostly just use a straight stitch. As for having to let your machine cool down just doesn’t sound right. Good luck.
The 1260 is absolutely computerised. If what you mean by 'acts like a mechanical' is to be reliable and sturdy, it is a Bernina so it is a premium end model which should always feel that way. The 1260's most common weakness is the length/width system seizing up. Best practice to avoid that from happening is to not store it untouched for too long. I recommend every 6 months if you haven't used it to run the machine on honey comb stitch without thread or a presser foot for 15-20 seconds. That helps the motors to not stick, which once it happens is very troublesome to fix. (Symptoms are reverse stitch not working or zigzag becoming erratic). Also keeping any machine clean and oiled before entering any storage helps.
My computerized Bernina 1130 is at least 35 years old. I’ve sewn hundreds of garments on it and I had it serviced once, that was 25 years ago. Still runs like a dream and goes through thick layers of fabric without complaining. These machines are heavy and were all assembled in Switzerland.
My story: bought a Janome 8900 because I was dazzled by the throat space (11") as I was doing mostly quilts at the time. It has 285 stitches and 3 alphabets! Whee! Fast forward 10 years. I still love the machine, it's wonderful to use and so easy. How many stitches do I use? The same 3 all the time. I love the threader but the cutter is a little overrated. Leaves nests underneath. I've learned to pull the bobbin thread up - nicer results (esp in quilts). However, after having the machine 8.5 years, the motherboard went. Where I bought it (an hour drive away) was nice enough to sell me the part at cost but I had to pay for the labour: $700 Canadian total. I was tempted to dump the machine and just buy a semi-industrial straight stitch with the money (like a Brother 1500 or a Juki 2010). It's all fixed, so I'll roll with that for now. Would I buy another computerized? No. Over the years, I've, ahem, collected several mechanical machines from the 70s and older. There's a zen to sewing with them. I also know that they should last a long, long time. I sew a lot of garments now and the old machines do just fine. If the 8900 goes on the fritz again, I'll see what's out there that doesn't have a computer.
Thank you for sharing 🙂 I enjoy reading about others' experiences. It's such a hard choice when things like that happen! I also have "extra" machined that are much simpler and I can do a lot of maintenance on myself. For me, with the cost of repairs, etc, it really makes more sense to have a mechanical machine. I have come to like using this one, but it has also made me realize it's not something I'd buy again.
I totally agree. I made the mistake of trading in my mechanical machine for a computerized upgrade. Its been one year of fiddling and being careful & allowing it to rest! I just took it in for service and bought a refurbished mechanical for $50 that sews like a charm. I pick up my computerized machine from service next week. In the meantime im in no hurry now that im sewing again on this mechanical one.
Hi there. Just came across your channel. I have never heard of a sewing machine that needs to rest. What was that company thinking? I have mostly Brother machines: Innovis-600 (since 2007), Simplicity/Brother (used -- got in 2019), PE-700 (used -- got June 2020), Brother 1034D Serger (since 2013). I have never had to put them in timeout. The Simplicity is a mechanical machine and is a workhorse. I also have the Janome Purple Thunder. It's powerful but is loud and slow. I only use it to sew scraps. Hope you can find something else to suit your needs. Just subscribed. Rochelle EJ's Daughter
I have broken and returned a fancy expensive computertized Juki and a Brother Evensis in the last 2 years. What a disappointment they were. They are just not robust. Remove the stitch plate and you find wires taped to the chassis!!! Plastic abounds. I was lucky to find a metal Janome semi electronic/semi industrial which is amazing for the £300 I paid on Ebay, but it only has a 6 inch throat. I am about to buy a long arm non computerized Janome with 20 basic stitches plus qulting features ie 10 inch throat, drop feed dogs. I only make quilts. I have owned 18 Singers (only had an issue with a Singer Talent after I made 300 aprons on it), 2 Janomes, a Toyota. My Singer Samba 6 is still going strong and I use it for denim repairs. I agreed, they don't make 'em like they used to!
Yes I have a computerized pfaff creative 3.0 I love it but I know that I have been sewing a lot I feel the Same way you have to wait the rest part it sucks so I got a serger and cover stich not computerized well I can save my settings so that’s good that mine has I wish I thought about it when I bought it I spend like 1700 dollars on mine I feel like I. Should of got a Janome I love the walking foot thought ! My next one will be industrial
The Pfaff Ambition I bought years ago and took good care of was a hunk of junk. I loved it until I took it in to be fixed and was told IT COULDN'T BE FIXED! It was only about four years old!
I don't think I'll ever need a computerized machine. I've got a very old Jones machine that someone gave me. I do allot of work with it. I only need straight and zigzag stitches and for quilting and making my own clothes its a good solid machine that I expect will go on for may years yet.
I think machine repair guys put on the parts the covers of the machine back on with an impact wrench. And so it they made your crank it down tight. So if you can have somebody help you break it loose maybe get a man behind her a screwdriver? Maybe that'll help.
Thanks, my husband had a look at it too. There's no where to even find a bolt or screw. From the little research I did, it sounds like there is a special tool to pop off the covers
It sounds like you’ve picked the wrong computerized sewing machine. I worked with Brother, Singer, Bernette, Bernina, Janome, and Juki. I could open all of them to remove threads stuck inside. Bernina, Bernette, and Juki are pretty solid, all metal, very sturdy, and you can save your settings.
I don't want to say DO buy a computerised machine, because I think every person has a 'right fit' machine for them to find in the sea of options that is out there. But I would say that most all machine's you find today are made difficult to get into, computerised or not. The idea is to protect the machine inside because many issues historically are caused by incorrect care of internal components. For companies to offer competitive warranties they like to have control of as much as they can about the care process. It is particularly important for computerised machine's because many DIYers won't have adequate ESD protection required to work on their components, however that is not to say that the components are less reliable. The high maintenance part of any machine is surrounding the bobbin and needle areas, that needs clearing of lint and debris such as old oil. Everything to the right of the bobbin/needle areas is actually extremely low maintenance for both computerised and mechanical machines. It consists of mostly just very long life bearings. So the areas away from where the threads go frankly may never need care to still operate fine In many decades time. It is disappointing that you could not access the head cover area to clear the take up lever, any well designed machine computerised or not will have an easily accessible head cover. I also believe there must be some misunderstanding surrounding the resting period you mention. I would not expect any computerised machine to prevent you from sewing unless the reason is explict such as a thread sensor warning of no thread or a faulty component. In any case I would expect that setting to either be free to deactivate or something that fundamentally shouldn't be sewn with and needs your attention to correct. There are many advantages exclusive to computerised machines which unfortunately get overlooked compared to 'more stitch patterns' and that bugs me because I agree decorative patterns are nearly useless. I just hope more people do their research when buying a sewing machine because they are always a longterm investment, you can't rely on a sales rep to know their own product.
Thanks again, Nick. Your comments are always very helpful. From my personal experience with this one computerized machine, I can't say I'm eager to try another
Did you know about the rest feature on that machine before you bought it? As to you wouldn't be able to use it until after the rest phase? I so would have not bought that machine just for that feature alone.
WHAT???!! OH NO! THAT IS HOW SHE DOES? OH NO! UH UH! SO GLAD YOU DID THIS VIDEO SWEETIE! THIS CONFIRMS IT FOR ME! I WILL NOT GO NEAR A COMPUTERIZED SEWING MACHINE! NOPE! NADA! MECHANICAL ALL THE WAY!!!
Great question. Unfortunately, I don't. If you can find a reputable secondhand vintage (all metal) machine, they seem to hold up the best. That bring said, my 1st was a $100 plastic singer. I've put her through hell and back and my kids still use her just fine
I have 2 Compurtize Sewing machines had them 5 yrs never had a problem with them @ all........ I had a Singer 2263 it was mechanical sewing machine, It was the worst sewing machine tht I ever had!!!!!!!!!! I ❤MECHANICIAL SEWING MACHINES BUT THEY HAVE ONLY STRAIGHT STITCH!!!!!
I wouldn't go that far. She purchased a machine that didn't fit her needs and had more than what she wanted. If you haven't heard of their IDT system, check it out. Though others have tried to copy it, Pfaff has perfected the system, and no other brand has been able to replicate it.
From what I heard they had a patten on it so others couldn't integrate it, but word is that it expired and others may pick it up....I think...if I'm remembering right. I'm on the hunt for a new machine and have watched so many videos that I'm a bit overloaded on information at this point.@@nkha23
