so, I've picked myself up a $40 sewing machine

Granted, it's not big or elaborate or anything, but nonetheless, a sewing machine. I've always wanted to teach myself to use one of these things, so hopefully I can master some very basics with this! See where it takes me!

I've already made a few attempts (nothing worth taking a picture of and posting, trust me) .... one day I'm sure I'll swing around to buying a nicer machine for bigger and more involved projects, but in the meantime....

 

Yea for you! I'm all for the cheap machines. I think there are fewer things to break. I am kind of a spaz, though.
Good luck in your sewing adventure!

 

ah, thanks ya.... I'm quite psyched about using it. I'd love to get to the point one day of being as good as others here who make all those great outfits.... but in the meantime, just want to learn how to make small things....

 

well, I'm not nearly as good as most sewing mamas here, but I have a lot of fun with it. I know you will, too.

 

huzza! $40? good find! happy sewing!

 

$40 new is an awesome find, agreed. I always wanted to pick up a sewing machine, but every one I saw started at $120 and worked their way up... a bit much for someone who has never used a machine before, and knowing me, I'll break it or something dumb along those lines.

But my hubby and I were at Canadian Tire the other day looking for some other items, and I saw this one for $40, which was an excellent score. I can't do any fancy stitching with it or anything, but it's ok because I'm still trying to get myself to stitch a straight line etc.... One day, down the road, I'll get myself a fancier machine and work with it.

 

I still can't make a straight line!!:&

 

lol ive been sewing since 7 and i still cant make a straight line!

 

ah, alright, I don't feel so bad then.... but my lines can get a little straighter!

But I am rather proud of myself today that I was able to do a bit of sewing for an hour and hadn't jammed or broken anything yet! Hazza!

I remember using a sewing machine once (just the once!) in Home Economics class and broke the needle and jammed the machine so bad that my teacher had banned me from using the machines at all. Quite traumatizing.

Fingers crossed, here's hoping I do better.

 

oh jeez! banned? little extreme! 0_0 some machines are just plain fragile-i think my mom had a problem with an a singer once, something to do with the model type was a bad model...they're intricate pieces of machinery!
hope you do great! make sure you post your progress!

 

lol progress-i ment to say projects, but progress is good too!

 

Hi Cerridwen, I went to Canadian Tire too here in Moncton NB, mine was on sale for 18.99 and was regular 39.99. It's a Dressmaker 2 and works fine for me too, I am pleased with the purchase. I had 3 really old ones, left behind in KW Ontario, when I moved back to NB. I'm trying to make a SpongeBob cushion/toy for a special little fella, I've done a few small jobs and I think it's quite handy for travelling. It runs on batteries! Whohoooo!

Great find Cerridwen, Cheers.

 

lol, is alright, I absolutely will post my attempts, projects and progress... It'll be a long while I think before I get nearly as good as some of the awesome sewing mamas here, but it's never too late to start.

glass_girl, that's the one I bought, the Dressmaker 2.... although sadly I didn't see it on sale for $20, that would've been much sweeter. But $40 nonetheless is very reasonable. It's absolutely cool that it runs on batteries, I think it's a neat feature!

 

Yeah for SEWING!!!


congrats.....

sewing is easy and ur crafty you'll catch on fast!

and some advice always remember to have it threaded right, keep it clean, put the presser foot up and down, use the right needle, and just let the feed dogs do the work, all you do is guide the fabric..line it up and push the pedal down! it's like driving you steer and push the gas!

 

oooh, you brought up a good point rar about keeping it clean...there are several cleaning devices for sewing machines out there that blow air...DO NOT BUY THEM! my mother learned the hard way that mechanisms that "blow the dirt out" in fact blows the dirt in, which clogs the machinery parts. she was using one on her singer, and it started acting up, so when she brought it to the singer store, the employee said that it was because the machine was jam-packed with dirt!

we just use this tiny tiny duster most of the time, but some other quilters that we know use tiny vaccumes used for cleaning computers.

lol another lesson i learned the hard way is to not pull the fabric-broke a needle that way mom wasnt too happy bout that, rather expensive needle

 

great tips, thanks so much for sharing!

 

ahhh..yes air blowing is BAD NEWS! It totally blows the fabric shreds in..

I vacuum it once and a while as well as I have like a 1 inch paint brush i use to sweep out the stuff by the bobbin and what not!

 

Get some lined paper, and try to sew on the lines without going off of the lines... don't use thread though. Just poke the holes. Then, you could draw some swirly lines like a race track and try to follow those. Then, print off a picture of a cartoon or something for kids to colour in. That way, you just have the outline. Try to go along those lines. Then you could get a pattern for something like a pin cushion. I didn't use a pattern for mine but I also had a home-ec teacher at the time who basically did everything for us. Lol. You can use pins, fabric, and even a glue gun to glue a felt leave to the top or something like that. It's a good first project. The employees at fabric stores are also very helpful. If you buy a pattern, ask them what the measurements and terms mean on the back of the envelope. Try it out, and you could always bring it in to them to ask what to do. They're pretty much always knowledgable (I go to Fabric Land but even Walmart is sometimes good if the craft section worker is a sewer). Good luck on your adventures!

 

Identity, awesome ideas, thanks for the suggestions