I want to see pictures of your sewing machines.

[nickelhasababy]

Would you be so kind as to show me please?

How long have you had it, and what's its story?

here's mine
it's a 1960s (1969, i think) Jones.
it belonged to my mum,she got it for her 21st birthday.
She passed it to me when she got fed up with sewing (in 1999, so I was 23)
It's got a replacement pedal, but i don't think anything else has been replaced (apart from bits and bobs).
i think the tension is knackered, but that might be from moving it around too much.
She used to use it on an old wooden ironing board, which now belongs to me (but i don't sew on it)

You're obviously right about jersey. It's not a fabric type that I would normally sew with, though, so I suppose that's why I've never really felt I needed one.

Oh I'd love love love an Overlocker - sometimes a french seam, although lovely, is just too bulky.

oh, I've got an overlocker too.

didn't used to think i needed one (mum never let me use hers because she didn't know how to rethread it ) but when i went to college, I used one all the time, and I had to get one.

still not as confident because of my mum's fear, but I can rethread it (and I have a very good manual)
It's a Janome.
(will look later for the model)
colour-coded threading

french seams are twice the work!!

I used to seam finish with a zigzag...
(binding tape on exposed edges)

overlocking is sooooo much more sensible.

I needed a heavy one because pf the practice with industrial machines, so mine cost £300 i think, but you can cheaper.

all of the seams on DD's dragon were done with overlocker.
the finishings (anything i didn't want chopped!) were done on the lockstitch.

french seams are twice the work!!

Part of the reason why I like them, I guess. I only ever sew garments for myself and I quite enjoy spending tons of time on small details. Among other things I also love ...

• hand picked zippers
• linings sewn in by hand
• hemming by hand
• bound buttonholes
• boning in a close fitting bodice

If I were to make children's clothing etc. I definitely wouldn't bother either, though. Firstly because they grow out of it too quickly anyway and secondly because I'd probably break into tears at the sight of some couture piece of mine being covered in dirt.

I think I'm doing it all wrong - I will use those old style couture techniques for customers - if they are prepared to pay of course & vintage style stuff doesn't seem quite the same without it - even for kids - & I'm generally a perfectionist when making for others - but can be more slap dash when sewing for myself - still think Overlockers doesn't automatically mean shoddy, far from it - but what do I know, I've only been doing it professionally for more years than I care to mention :)

it does depend on the finish you want.

yes, if you're making beautiful things, then a french seam works better than overlocking, but if you're making clothes, then a lockstitch seam with an overlocked edge is the way.

Ooh, I just love my over locker! I still am amazed to see it see, finish and cut off the rubbish. I would sew completely unnecessary seams just to watch it go!

I want one of those machines that makes proper shop bought hems too I didn't realise initially that my over locker couldn't.

My parents bought me my sewing machine for Christmas when I was about 12, because I enjoyed sewing in school. It was a Viking. Last summer I got it out of the cupboard to try to make some bunting. It hadn't been used for years, and when I switched it on, lots of weird smoke came out, so I unplugged it. DH thought we should throw it out, but I didnt want to. We took it to a repair shop, they replaced the condenser and serviced it, and now it is fine.

I also have a singer starlet, which I recently inherited from my great-aunt.

If anyone can tell me if it is possible to link photos from my iPad, then I will. :)

still think Overlockers doesn't automatically mean shoddy

No, I don't think that either.

The only reason why I've never been interested in getting one is because sewing to me is purely a hobby. I like to think it's a hobby I'm good at - but it's something I do purely because I find it enjoyable. I honestly don't care if it takes me three months to finish a project because the process is as important to me as the finished product.

Overlocking would kind of defeat the purpose of the exercise in my case, I suppose.

Overlocking would kind of defeat the purpose of the exercise in my case, I suppose

Actually that makes perfect sense & I sort of envy you that, I was only thinking this the other day after chatting with an artist friend, I've spent so many years doing creative stuff commercially that I've sort of lost the will to put more effort in than is actually needed just for pleasure IYSWIM - something I think I need to find again, though probably not with sewing, gone to far with that to go back, if that makes sense - I do enjoy the finish product of the properly couture made stuff, but more as a means to an end, as in it suits the garment

I want one of those machines that makes proper shop bought hems too

The cover seam/twin needle hems ?? - if so there was a baby lock that did that as an extra around about 10 years ago mole I remember trying it out in John Lewis & it wasn't bad, but I've not seen one since & sadly can't remember the make

Can any of you sewing machine supremos please come and give me some advice over here - ta

Here sorry forgot to link

That's my singer

i83.photobucket.com/albums/j314/prmorris2000/1cfb73fe.jpg

And that's the Viking.

i83.photobucket.com/albums/j314/prmorris2000/2e6cef67.jpg

Hope these links work, I've spent trying to work out how to do them!

Hmm...another machine. Might struggle to persuade dh of its place in our lives! Got the over locker because I was going to start a business...paid for itself but that was about it!