Welcome to Mumsnet's shopping board. Whether you are after a new family car or a great new coffee machine this is the board for you. Share product recommendations and reviews here. Related: Discuss clothes and fashion on our Style and beauty forum. Check out Swears By to find the products Mumsnetters love and our reviews section to see the best baby and child products put through their paces.
Welcome to Mumsnet's shopping board. Whether you are after a new family car or a great new coffee machine this is the board for you. Share product recommendations and reviews here. Related: Discuss clothes and fashion on our Style and beauty forum. Check out Swears By to find the products Mumsnetters love and our reviews section to see the best baby and child products put through their paces.
Shopping
Sewing machine on Tchibo....
bunnyrabbit · 05/01/2005 12:04
Can anyone in the know about sewing machines please let me know if they think this is worth the money?
BR
bunnyrabbit · 05/01/2005 12:14
erk dunno what happened there but I've posted this 3 times!! Sorry!!
Please post any replies on this thread..
BR
ks · 05/01/2005 12:17
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn
boudicca · 05/01/2005 12:26
I agree with Ks-a lot depends on what type of projects you are going to use it for.
ks · 05/01/2005 12:28
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn
Pamina3 · 05/01/2005 12:34
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
bunnyrabbit · 05/01/2005 14:25
LOL.
DS loves it so much we bought the CD!!
Not sure what I want to do really. I've always been handy with a needle (do a lot of am dram so used to sewing up costumes) but never really used a machine and want to start altering and making my own clothes. Hadn't really thought about curtains but MIL has a machine which I know could do these if I needed to .
mmm does it do enough do you think? Is there anything missing that I might need for dressmaking??
Thanks for your comments.
BR
frogs · 05/01/2005 14:37
Am not the world's greatest expert on fancy sewing machines, as I'm still using a 1960s East German one inherited from one of my aunts.
IME, all you need for making clothes is a machine that stitches forwards, backwards and zigzag. You want to be able to adjust the size of the stitch as well, but most machines should offer that. I can never quite see the point of all the fancy stitches and programmes.
The one on the website has quite a lot of features for the price, which always makes me a bit twitchy. Some of Tchibo's stuff is quite good (their grobags and kids' socks), but I'm never convinced by the electricals. I was eyeing up a waffle iron recently, but finally concluded it was a bit rattly and tinny, and not particularly cheap. Because it won't be well-known brand, you might have trouble getting it fixed when it goes wrong.
FWIW, if I was looking for an entry-level sewing machine, I'd get a decent second-hand version of a well-known brand from someone who could show me how it worked (maybe through Loot, or other small ad) and use that until I knew for sure what I really needed.
hth
littlemissbossy · 05/01/2005 14:44
Looks like a bargain to me... depends how experienced you are tbh. I bought mine from a small independent retailer who was very helpful when I had a problem and he can also service it if need be
bunnyrabbit · 05/01/2005 14:50
Would I be able to get a small new/2nd hand machine for this sort of money?
BR
bunnyrabbit · 05/01/2005 14:51
Last time this was discussed on a thread figures around the £150 were meantioned which is probably a bit rich for my blood.....
BR
ks · 05/01/2005 14:54
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn
littlemissbossy · 05/01/2005 14:54
BR, have you any sewing experience? or are you a beginner? if the latter, I'd go for a cheaper option, you might be bored with it in a matter of weeks.
bunnyrabbit · 05/01/2005 14:57
Beginner with a machine, but I hand stitch and repair stuff at the moment.
Used to run up my own 'clothes' in the dijm and distant gothic days of my teens/early twenties so I don't think I'll get bored. Actually, I'm looking forward to forcing myself to do something for me for a change. And I might get clothes that fit out of it!!! B***r the housework!!!
BR
frogs · 05/01/2005 14:58
I would have thought so. Argos's lowest priced machine is £89, which isn't that much more, while their cheapest one from brother (which is a reputable make) is £99.
If you have a sewing machine shop near you, they might have 2nd hand ones for sale. They tend to be run by mad individuals who are a mine of useful information. Might be worth a look if you can find one near you.
bunnyrabbit · 05/01/2005 15:01
Right that's it then. I will go into the local sewing shop on Saturday (been in there lots for other bits any way) and ask their advice.
Thank you to all of you for your very helpfull comments.
BR
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.