BlueTaelon Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 I'm a very novice sewer but this winter I'd like to learn quilting and I want to make some dress up clothes for the kids from patterns. Do you think this would be a good starting machine? http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Affordable-60-Stitch-Computerized-Free-Arm/dp/B000JQM1DE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pdT1_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1RUGACZMEM75G&coliid=IOBS2WQW059NM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Why would you want to make dress up clothes in the sewer? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueTaelon Posted November 11, 2012 Author Share Posted November 11, 2012 Why would you want to make dress up clothes in the sewer? ;) They will get a bunch of play silks too but they want mermaid tails and princess dresses. I need to make some sweat pants too since I can't find any to fit my skinny mini in the waist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susann Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Looks similar to the machine I started with. Like you, I started with kids costumes and beginning quilting in mind. I didn't want to invest a lot of money for just "play sewing". I would suggest you check around and have a place in mind for yearly maintenance & if/when you have problems with it. Happy Sewing!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueTaelon Posted November 11, 2012 Author Share Posted November 11, 2012 Why would you want to make dress up clothes in the sewer? ;) oops, sorry, need more coffee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 oops, sorry, need more coffee :lol: I came in wondering who would answer the call as a "sewer". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 I had that machine for about seven years, and it did serve me well. Usually, the suggestion is to look for a vintage machine with metal parts, but even those are often several hundred dollars and require time to find them. Ideally, yes, a machine should last more than seven years, but if the choice was between nothing and something like that Brother, I'd go for the Brother. It was a very good machine until it just wore out and wouldn't sew properly at all. It has a lot of stitches and features -- most of them I didn't use, but for quilting you would use more. I had two mild complaints about it. One is that it was very lightweight, and on the plastic table I have, it would walk some when sewing fast. Not a big deal, but something to know; a sturdier table would be better, I think. The other mild complaint is that the longest stitch, for gathering, is not all that long. Again, not a big deal. Other than that, I was very pleased with the machine. (Fwiw, I currently have a lower-end Brother that is heavier but has the same issue with the stitch length. I like it pretty well too. The only reason I didn't go for the CS6000 again is cost. I know people say not to get the machines you can get at big box stores, but honestly, they have served me fine, even if they don't last forever.) ETA: I did like the flat-bed attachment; although it's designed for quilting, I found it very useful for sewing clothing as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 I was thinking, "Only thing I know about sewers is that there are rats, and possibly a flying squirrel or 2 down there..." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueTaelon Posted November 11, 2012 Author Share Posted November 11, 2012 I was thinking, "Only thing I know about sewers is that there are rats, and possibly a flying squirrel or 2 down there..." So what is the proper spelling? It comes up as correct on google. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justLisa Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Any Brother is going to be a good bet. They are a solid company. I have one myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 So what is the proper spelling? It comes up as correct on google. It's not a spelling issue, afaik, it is a pronunciation issue. B/c of the flying squrriel flush recently, that's what it read as for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mytwomonkeys Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Any Brother is going to be a good bet. They are a solid company. I have one myself. :iagree: i LOVE my brother machine. i have an LB6800 & use it every day. it gives me no trouble at all!! it almost sews by itself - super easy to use!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 So what is the proper spelling? It comes up as correct on google. I think it is the proper spelling, but unless you know the context, it could be either one. I'm sorry. I hope I didn't make you defensive. I wasn't making fun. When I saw the title of the thread, I thought of plumbing. Once I saw your message I knew you were referring to sewing. Again, sorry :grouphug:. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueTaelon Posted November 11, 2012 Author Share Posted November 11, 2012 I think it is the proper spelling, but unless you know the context, it could be either one. I'm sorry. I hope I didn't make you defensive. I wasn't making fun. When I saw the title of the thread, I thought of plumbing. Once I saw your message I knew you were referring to sewing. Again, sorry :grouphug:. I thought maybe I was having a brain dead moment and missing something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohannaM Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 If you are going to make some basic kids pants, I've found this blog with a lot of free tutorials/patterns really helpful! I started sewing about a year ago to make some skirts for my skinny DD and have slowly branched out into pants and fancier skirts with a lot of help from blogs! Johanna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mytwomonkeys Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 If you are going to make some basic kids pants, I've found this blog with a lot of free tutorials/patterns really helpful! I started sewing about a year ago to make some skirts for my skinny DD and have slowly branched out into pants and fancier skirts with a lot of help from blogs! Johanna pinterest is a great place too! they have SO much on there for sewing! my love is making bags & purses and i find all of my inspiration from pinterest. OP, if you are new to sewing, i also found youtube tutorials for brother machines to be invaluable. i didn't even know what a bobbin was a year ago, lol. i sew really well now, and i owe a lot of that to the great tutorials on youtube!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueTaelon Posted November 11, 2012 Author Share Posted November 11, 2012 pinterest is a great place too! they have SO much on there for sewing! my love is making bags & purses and i find all of my inspiration from pinterest. OP, if you are new to sewing, i also found youtube tutorials for brother machines to be invaluable. i didn't even know what a bobbin was a year ago, lol. i sew really well now, and i owe a lot of that to the great tutorials on youtube!! I LOVE YouTube for tutorials:) Learning how to make Mermaid tails this morning so I can make one for older dd for xmas:) Yesterday it was royal capes:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justkeepswimming Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 (edited) We have that exact machine - it is the one my kids learn to sew on. It's awesome!! The speed control and self-threading needle is so easy to use. It's been plenty heavy-duty enough for everything we've needed. Loved it enough to buy it again as a gift for someone! Edited November 11, 2012 by justkeepswimming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juelle Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Some people use "sewist" as an alternative. Don't know that I love it, but it's not ambiguous.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueTaelon Posted November 15, 2012 Author Share Posted November 15, 2012 Bummer, ordered the machine and it arrived today. Box was smashed up and machine was DOA:( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted November 15, 2012 Share Posted November 15, 2012 Bummer, ordered the machine and it arrived today. Box was smashed up and machine was DOA:( :-( Sewing machines have to be packed really well if they are to be shipped. Do you have an independent dealer (e.g., not Joanns) near you? See if they have a good used model for about the same price - you'll get more for your money and get to test drive it first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted November 15, 2012 Share Posted November 15, 2012 Some people use "sewist" as an alternative. Don't know that I love it, but it's not ambiguous.:001_smile: Ew, that's awful too. Like you look down on knitters or people who buy off-rack. :tongue_smilie: Seamstress works. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted November 15, 2012 Share Posted November 15, 2012 I was thinking, "Only thing I know about sewers is that there are rats, and possibly a flying squirrel or 2 down there..." And evil smelling budgies. I have a lower end Brother that does more and has worked well much longer than my mother's Pfaff. I think it's a fine machine to start with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 15, 2012 Share Posted November 15, 2012 Bummer, ordered the machine and it arrived today. Box was smashed up and machine was DOA:( Oh no! That's terrible, I'm sorry! I had a bad experience with a Brother as my first machine, so I am not a big fan of them, but I'm sure it was just my own experience. I love my Kenmore that I've had for 10 years, but I don't think Kenmore is well liked here. Best of luck, it is so much fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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