The Sewing Place
Machine Talk => Sewing Machines => Topic started by: Lowena on July 21, 2019, 13:58:06 PM
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I need a machine which I can take to my sewing group. It will only be used for 3hrs, once a month and only to piece patchwork blocks. Nothing difficult, bulky or large.
There are some on Amazon for between £40 and £80 and I certainly wouldn't want to pay more for something that will get no other use.
Has anyone bought one of these machines and if so, which one please?
Please don't tell me to get a 2nd hand or larger model. I need something small, light, easy to thread and able to do the simplest of tasks
Thanks
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Can you post links to some of the machines you are considering? I have a John Lewis mini machine (now discontinued I think) that I used to take to my quilting meeting. It was very light, but struggled at times over seam intersections if the allowances were not nested. You will also need to consider how you are going stitch a 1/4” seam as some of these little machines may not take standard or generic feet.
When my Mum needed a light weight machine, the lightest “proper” sewing machine I could find was the Hello Kitty one from Sewing Machines Direct. I used it a few times and it was adequate for what it cost. It had the advantage of having a needle threader which might be useful if you need something easy to thread.
https://www.sewingmachines.co.uk/browse-machines/sewing-machines/hello-kity-compact-sewing-machine/
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How about this J Lewis machine which is made by Janome. @Manuela has a pink one so could probably answer your questions. I've looked at them many times in my local J Lewis.
https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-jl110-sewing-machine-white/p317685
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Luke bought one of those for Lucy a couple of years ago and I have used it once, I cat remember why ...
It goes very fast and, seemingly, has no speed control of any type. I didnt like it!
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Which one was that Iminei?
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Would you consider a second hand machine from a dealer, @Lowena? If so, Steve at Sewing Machine World in Kings Lynn sometimes posts part-ex machines on Facebook, so it might be worthwhile giving him a ring to see if he has anything in.
http://www.sewingmachineworldonline.co.uk/
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Thanks girls, as always.
No @StitchinTime I don't want to go down that route, but thanks for the suggestion.
@Helen M that's more than I really want to pay. It's only for 3hrs a month and sewing 2 pieces of cotton fabric together.
I don't use a 1/4inch foot on my main machine StitchinTime so that wouldn't be a problem.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/slredirect/picassoRedirect.html/ref=pa_sp_atf_aps_sr_pg1_2?ie=UTF8&adId=A0493973K23AY5LYTRMZ&url=%2FElectric-Overlock-Machine-Household-Stitches%2Fdp%2FB078MRMTWB%2Fref%3Dsr_1_2_sspa%3Fcrid%3D1E0XWN3G9UVZ3%26keywords%3Dsewing%2Bmachines%2Bfor%2Bbeginners%26qid%3D1563720032%26s%3Dgateway%26sprefix%3Dsewing%2Bmachines%252Caps%252C287%26sr%3D8-2-spons%26psc%3D1&qualifier=1563720032&id=7416459341251507&widgetName=sp_atf
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The Amazon machine looks as though it could be very under powered - I found my mini machine to be quite frustrating when it came to speed, especially if you are used to a “normal” machine. The other annoying feature was that it didn’t declutch when winding a bobbin so the needle carried on going up and down.
The Singer 1306 is at the upper end of your price range, but would probably have a bit more oomph and has auto declutch for bobbin winding.
https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/singer-start-1306-sewing-machine/611408-1000
https://www.singer.com.tr/assets/img/uploads/product-files/dbace176ea069861e0790a36753f030d_en.pdf
Are you OK with a front loading bobbin as both have my suggestions have that type.
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@Helen M, I have the full sized John Lewis machine in pink, not the small one ;)
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I don't know what a front loading bobbin is @StitchinTime :|
@Francesca My machine is in a bedroom and I couldn't even carry it down the double flight stairs let alone anywhere else.I can barely lift it :D
I can see it's fraught with problems and now I'm know why O only have one machine. I'll give it some thought thanks
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Thanks girls, as always.
No @StitchinTime I don't want to go down that route, but thanks for the suggestion.
@Helen M that's more than I really want to pay. It's only for 3hrs a month and sewing 2 pieces of cotton fabric together.
I don't use a 1/4inch foot on my main machine StitchinTime so that wouldn't be a problem.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/slredirect/picassoRedirect.html/ref=pa_sp_atf_aps_sr_pg1_2?ie=UTF8&adId=A0493973K23AY5LYTRMZ&url=%2FElectric-Overlock-Machine-Household-Stitches%2Fdp%2FB078MRMTWB%2Fref%3Dsr_1_2_sspa%3Fcrid%3D1E0XWN3G9UVZ3%26keywords%3Dsewing%2Bmachines%2Bfor%2Bbeginners%26qid%3D1563720032%26s%3Dgateway%26sprefix%3Dsewing%2Bmachines%252Caps%252C287%26sr%3D8-2-spons%26psc%3D1&qualifier=1563720032&id=7416459341251507&widgetName=sp_atf
@Lowena I'd be put off buying anything that has so many one star reviews. One of them wondered if some of the five star reviews were fake and looking through the profiles I think they are right. Apparently there's a whole industry around this https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/01/which-uncovers-fake-five-star-reviews-flooding-amazon/ (https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/01/which-uncovers-fake-five-star-reviews-flooding-amazon/)
@StitchinTime 's Singer suggestion looks just the job :)
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@Lowena A front loading bobbin is when the bobbin goes into a metal holder which is then put into the machine via a “door” that is at the front of the machine. With a top loading bobbin, the bobbin is put directly into the machine via a slide off cover just in front of the foot. (There are variations on these description, where bobbins are put in to the side of the needle, but this tends to be on some older machines.)
What make and model is your main machine? You might be more comfortable with as similar set up as possible for the little machine.
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@Helen M, I have the full sized John Lewis machine in pink, not the small one ;)
@Manuela Oops I thought I'd linked to the full size one that you had.
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@Lowena, a Singer 221K (Featherweight) would be ideal for you. It took mine with me on holiday in New Zealand. They can cost a pretty penny, but are darn cute, reliable, make a perfect straight stitch and won’t break.... Just in case you want to go the vintage sewing machine route. :vintage:
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I don't want to spend more than £50 as it will get virtually no use. My machine is a brother In movie 1800q
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@Lowena Your main machine is a top loading bobbin you might prefer to stick with that. My earlier suggestions are now outside your revised budget of £50.
I’ve found a slight better spec of your the machine you were thinking about for ~£2 extra. This is a top loader and doesn’t have the battery option which makes me wonderful it has a better motor. It also seems heavier than the first machine (3.6 vs 2.5 kg).
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Uten-Beginner-Machine-Portable-Stitches/dp/B07RKSWV55/ref=pd_sbs_79_4/277-0015758-7966042?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07RKSWV55&pd_rd_r=89eb767a-af9e-4823-bf3c-83fcefd39c8e&pd_rd_w=00Hp1&pd_rd_wg=fzBKX&pf_rd_p=18edf98b-139a-41ee-bb40-d725dd59d1d3&pf_rd_r=RV93HPR15S0YF8GX3MD3&psc=1&refRID=RV93HPR15S0YF8GX3MD3
I think this is the user manual for the 16 stitch version but I can’t tell from this whether it (or the 12 stitch version) has auto declutch for bobbin winding.
https://www.tivax.com/media/downloadable/SS-700plus-user-manual.pdf
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Lidl has a basic Singer machine from Sunday 28th July for £79.99.
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With price in mind how about this one from J Lewis (not sure if anyone has linked this machine from elsewhere) https://www.johnlewis.com/silver-12-stitch-mini-sewing-machine-white/p3330350
It's £49, there are mixed reviews but there is a J Lewis in Norwich so maybe you could go and see it in person before you buy? I've seen it in my local store and it did look cute.
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Thanks girls.
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Helen M, these cheaper machines are hopeless at handling anything but very lightweight cottons. They are toys, really.
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Sewing machines are like most other things, you get what you pay for. It's not just the range of fancy stitches etc, it's the robustness of the thing and the power of the motor which increases as you go further up the price range.
If you are determined not to buy second-hand then you've got to be looking at £100+ for something that won't splutter and die as soon as you ask it to sew more than two layers of lightweight fabric.
Given the current discount the Hello Kitty machine (already suggested by someone) on the Sewing Machines Direct (https://www.sewingmachines.co.uk/browse-machines/sewing-machines/) website is probably the best buy. If not the Brother LX17 next to it is probably the nearest to what you are looking for. It's got the simplicity of a drop-in bobbin and it's by the same manufacturer (but probably out of a different fctory!) to your main machine.
If I was wanting a machine for taking out once a month to a P&Q group I'd take the vintage Featherweight :vintage: but you'd be very lucky to find one of those for less than £100 now, they seem to go for about twice that and are restricted to straight stitch, the 222s with zig-zag are usually more like £400.
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I've managed quite well with a John Lewis mini machine for piecing quilting cottons at a monthly meeting, which I think is what @Lowena wants to do.
As I mentioned earlier, it doesn't sound too happy going over seam intersections if I've not nested the seams, but it got through them. I got mine second hand from ebay and it is still going strong after 5 years of being taken to meetings.
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Helen M, these cheaper machines are hopeless at handling anything but very lightweight cottons. They are toys, really.
@jintie I won't be buying one but Lowena did want something that was in that price range which was why I quoted it. It has some reasonable reviews, others not so but J Lewis responded and seem to have put the problem right. I won't bother suggesting anything in future.
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Lowena correct me if I am wrong but I know you gave your previous sewing machine to your grand-daughters and when you were up there once you found that they do not use it. So as you know your way around that machine why not have it back and use that. If the grand-daughters then change their mind they can always come up to use it at your home. Seems silly to have that machine sitting in a cupboard unused and possibly unwanted. If it is too heavy, then spend the money you were going to spend on machine and buy a small trolley or bag on wheels.
I once attended an overlocker course and in order to transport my overlocker I put it in one of those huge zip around bags on wheels and I must say I got a lot of questions about where I had got this. The bag itself starts off as a good sized cabin bag but has wheels on the base, then there are a couple of zips that go around the bag and you unzip the first one and it extends upwards, unzip the second one and it extends upwards again. So think travel shops here the ones that sell luggage or airport shops. By the way my bag came from Canada so I know that doesn't help you, but I have seen them over here.
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Anyone got any view on the Elna Lotus?
It's very compact but I wondered about weight and parts if it goes wrong?
I think @Morgan knows that machine?
Annie
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Was just going to suggest an Elna Lotus, @annieeg beat me to it. Tire's one on eBay, looks to be in good condition and its on as a BIN, newly listed. Perhaps a little more than you would like to pay, however although older machines they do have a good reputation and I have seen @Morgan comment favourably on them in the past.
Ideal for carrying to workshops and classes.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/elna-lotus-sewing-machine-with-instructions-foot-pedal-good-working-order/202739720257?hash=item2f343aa041:g:2QgAAOSwmF1dNbc
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Thank you all. @StitchinTime you are exactly right in what I want.I will have a close look at the JL machine.
@Elnnina There's no way I could ask for the machine back and it would be too big and heavy for what I want anyway
@Helen M yours was a good suggestion and I will probably act on it.Please don't be put off giving advice and suggestions because of others opinions.You and Stitchintime both took on board exactly what I asked for.
I would only ever buy a new machine and my health issues mean that it needs to be very small and light. A child's one might actually fit the agenda :D :D
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@Lowena I think the Silver machine at John Lewis is the same as the 12 stitch machine you initially found on Amazon. The manual is available on the JL site and mentions a battery compartment - I don’t think there can be too many sewing machines that take batteries ;)
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@StitchinTime you're a star! Fingers crossed
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@Helen M I thought your suggestion fitted exactly with what Lowena had asked for - well researched. It might not fulfill all the functions of a general purpose machine but that wasn't what was asked for. I would have thought that a suggestion by anyone wanting to help another member would always be of value. Don't stop!
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Hear hear @Greybird and it's probably what I will buy @Helen M
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It looks as though the 12 stitch sewing machine is "badged" for many different suppliers and has the model number FHSM-505.
The 12 stitch model (https://hfmichley.en.made-in-china.com/product/wCVxWjryphkd/China-Fhsm-505-Portable-Overlock-Domestic-Mini-Sewing-Machine.html) appears to weigh 1.94 kg, has 7.2 W motor and sews at up to 350 stitches/minute (do have a look at the photos of users and the machine and see if you can spot the user error!).
The FHSM-508 16 stitch version (http://www.fhmichley.com/household-series/FHSM-508.html) of the machine is heavier ~3.4 kg (and has the same user error in the brochure). This is mains only, and also appears to sew at up to 350 stitches/minute.
In contrast, the Hello Kitty machine (https://www.sewingmachines.co.uk/browse-machines/sewing-machines/hello-kity-compact-sewing-machine/) weighs 4.6 kg and can sew up to 400 stitches/minute, whereas the Singer 1306 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Singer-1306-Start-Sewing-Machine/dp/B00SWI4J18) machine is 4.3 kg and has a 70 W motor which some sites claim can stitch at up to 750 stitches/minute.
For reference, I think your main machine weighs ~9.7 kg and has a stitch speed of 850 stitches/minute (which is why I am skeptical of the Singer's speed).
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Look forward to hearing how it works out @Lowena! I did think it would have been nice to have if you had a caravan or were in a holiday home.
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I can understand your reasons for getting small, light and simple @Lowena, but at the end of the day, as I think somebody has said already, you get what your pay for. If you get there then spend the whole time having a tussle with it, especially if you have a machine at home that behaves beautifully, you will be, being polite, extremely angry. You are a highly competent sewer, you will always expect the same with your machines. Paying slightly more, with a heavier machine would be better, especially with it a trolley as suggested by @Francesca.
I hate chucking money away, and IMO, that would be chucking money away.
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@Gernella I couldn't use a trolley due to the layout of our house, access, car and hall access and I really don't wantanything bigger than a toy machine.
My dilemma has been solved however.... I was just about to order the John Lewis one when... Stitches came round with a mini Janome machine. Her d.i.l was selling it ( practically unused ) for £25. It is a 140M. Although it has no light or needle threader, it has a full bobbin and is already threaded up, so I'll just use that until it runs out :D :D
Hoping to try it out (Stitches demonstrated it to me, but I won't sew with anyone watching so I haven't tried it yet )tomorrow. It'll be fine for the tiny amount of usage it will get..... I've only ever sewn on 3 machines in my life.....a Singer Starlet, and 2 Brothers, so wish me luck :D
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I’m so glad you’ve got a machine sorted, @Lowena. The one you have is the same as the JL mini machine I have as Janome made the JL own label machines. If you have any questions about it just ask or if you need an instruction book, let me know. You might find that the bobbin will fit onto your Brother machine so you could use that to wind a bobbin when needed.
I’m sure it will do what you need for a monthly meeting - I’ve made many blocks on mine at guild meetings.
Edited: There’s a free pdf of the manual on the Janome.com website
https://www.janome.com/siteassets/support/manuals/other-models/inst-book-525a-sewminiefs.pdf
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Thanks so much @StitchinTime :flower: