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Posts Tagged ‘kenmore’

What type of sewing machine would you recommend?

February 5th, 2013 3 comments

Besides sewing lighter fabrics, I need to have the ability to sew light and heavy denim.

I am also very interested in any recommendation as to brands, specific models, accessories, etc. that you have found helpful.

The brands I have found locally are Singer and Kenmore.

Any advice and help is sincerely appreciated.

namaste
Not everyone who sews is a seamstress and if you look at my avatar you might well realize I will never be a seamstress in this present manifestation or life time although I might be a tailor.

namaste

Take a look at Kate Dicey’s essay on choosing sewing machines at
http://www.katedicey.co.uk (and take a look around at her site…
there are a lot of nice little tutorials there!). The FAQ she
refers to is at http://preview.tinyurl.com/l5rzu6 now.

What I want for beginners in sewing:

– a machine that doesn’t scare you

– a machine that isn’t balky (cheap new machines are often very
balky or need adjustments often and are rarely repairable — just
too frustrating to learn on!)

– very good straight stitch

– good zigzag (4-5 mm is fine, more than that is gravy)

– a method of making buttonholes that makes sense to you

– adjustable presser foot pressure (which helps some fabric
handling issues)

– accessory presser feet that don’t cost an arm and a leg
(machines that use a "short shank foot" typically handle generic
presser feet pretty well. Some brands of machines use proprietary
or very expensive presser feet)

If the budget stretches far enough:

– blindhem and stretch blindhem stitches

– triple zigzag (nice for elastic applications)

– a couple of decorative stitches (you won’t use them nearly as
much as you think)

– electronic machine because of the needle position control and
because the stepper motors give you full "punching force" at
slow sewing speeds — mechanical machines often will stall at
slow speeds.

Please go to the best sewing machine dealers around and ask them
to show you some machines in your price range, *especially* used
machines you can afford. You’ll get a far better machine at a
specific price buying used than new and a good dealer is worth
their weight in sewing machine needles when you get a machine
problem — often they can talk you through the problem over the
phone. While you’re trying things out, try a couple of machines
(sewing only, not combo sewing-embroidery) over your price limit,
just so you can see what the difference in stitch quality and
ease of use might be. You may find you want to go for the used
Cadillac. Or you might want the new basic Chevy. Might as well
try both out.

Suggested reading: John Giordano’s The Sewing Machine Book
(especially for used machines), Carol Ahles’ Fine Machine Sewing
(especially the first and last few chapters) and Gale Grigg
Hazen’s Owner’s Guide to Sewing Machines, Sergers and Knitting
Machines. All of these are likely to be available at your public
library.

Used brands I’d particularly look for: Elna, Bernina,
Viking/Husqvarna, Pfaff, Singer (pre 1970), Juki, Toyota

New "bargain brand" I’d probably pick, if new, decent and budget
was my choice: Janome (who also does Kenmore).

Embroidery machine?

December 21st, 2012 5 comments

I am looking to buy an embroidery machine. All I want to do is monogramming, like on ribbon. Do I really need to buy an expensive machine or can I get away with something under $500.00. And if I really don’t need an expensive machine, what machine would you recommend. Thank you

it depends on how large you need the monograms to be. i have a kenmore (made by janome) that isn’t even an embroidery machine but will do small (probably about 1/4 inch) lettering. if you do need an embroidery machine you could go with just a 4X4 embroidery field. i perfer brother machines for embroidery. walmart sells one that is a basic embriodery machine. it will have a couple of fonts with it. i haven’t really checked it out because i have a brother ult2002D. i have been watching some of the prices on e-bay lately and you may want to consider a used machine. here is a great site for embroidery designs. they give away 49 free designs a day. they also give away a free font ocassionally if you joing their yahoo group.
http://www.designsbysick.com/amember/go.php?r=5647&i=l0">Designs by SiCK Embroidery Library

have fun with your new adventure.

How to Do Free Motion Embroidery on any sewing machine using the Octi-Hoops Dragonfly design.

June 2nd, 2012 11 comments

Free Motion Embroidery / Thread Painting on any sewing machine. Everyone at any skill level can embroider on ALL sewing machines because we only use a straight stitch and NO sewing machine Foot is needed so visibility is far superior to any other embroidery process. This kit includes 3 8 sided frames varying in size that have holes on all 8 sides where a handle drops into to make it so you don’t have to hold onto the frames. It is ergonomic and feels like you’re holding a crayon and coloring in a coloring book. So simple even beginners succeed! It’s fun and relaxing and is a fantastic stress reducer. Invented by Clare Rowley, inventor of the Creative Feet presser feet for sewing machines and are available for purchase from http://www.creativefeet.com/products/frames/octi-hoop

Duration : 0:8:46

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Wahm Embroidery Designs Angels

October 17th, 2011 No comments

VideoVIB Downloads http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FVideo-On-Demand%2Fb%3Fie%3DUTF8%26node%3D16261631%26ref_%3Dsa_menu_atv2&tag=shopping0039-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957 Butterfly angel and star angel embroidery design patterns.Available for Melco, Tajima, Brother, Babylock, Barudan, Bernina, Pfaff, Viking, Huskygram, Husqvarna, Kenmore, Janome, Renaissance, Simplicity, Elna, Happy, Toyota, Poem, White, Zsk and Singer embroidery machines and any other embroidery machine that uses any of the following formats. *exp, *dst, *pes, *pcs, *pcm, *hus, *sew, *jef, *csd and *xxx formats. embroidery designs can be used for personal and commercial use which is great because i use their designs for personal and retail free to embroider on personal items or products to resell and you can download and embroider the designs today.

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Free Smiley Face Hats Embroidery Designs

October 1st, 2011 1 comment

http://embroidery-designs-shop.com/store/blogindexws.asp?CATE=0#32 Free Smiley Face Hats Embroidery Designs for machine embroidery exp, dst, pes, pcs, pcm, hus, sew, csd, jef formats sherlock holmes, irish, cowboy, top hat, joker, uncle sam fourth of july, santa, graduation, birthday party, red hat, baseball and police man

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