He'p me! Sewing machine advice

[Kid Cossack]

Steve: Thanks so much for the pics and the advice! I'm pretty sure your industrial models would exceed any need I might have, but I really appreciate the info.

[O'Neille]

Yep, the high lift is great to have especially when you are trying to sew a blanket. O'Neille

[bunchdescendant]

I use a Rex industrial for the big stuff, it will take 2 layers of thick work belt leather and sew it like it's not there.

I did my first canvas kilt with the wife's Singer Fashion Mate that must be 35+ years old. I had no trouble with power on 10-11 oz. canvas.

Make sure that you choose one that's pretty beefy. Some new machines for quilting can be carried with 1 finger due to a mostly plastic construction.

I bought the wife a Singer 3116 from WallyMart. It wasn't too expensive and seems to be very sturdy.

A agree about having a large table area to work on-an 8 yard canvac kilt is pretty heavy and tries to run off the table at every chance!

Ray

[JimB]

Steve,
Your pics showing the kilt pleats held together with safety pins is a huge tip in itself!!
I'm going to be getting a big box of them this weekend.

[Warlock]

That's ok Navyguy. I've been wanting to use it myself. Oh yeah. Totally forgot about Pfaff.

[Navyguy]

Steve,
Your pics showing the kilt pleats held together with safety pins is a huge tip in itself!!
I'm going to be getting a big box of them this weekend.

They make safety pins that are curved, so it doesn't distort the fabric. I use those and love them. They are called quilters pins, or dressmaker pins, I think.

[The Wizard of BC]

Please don't get me wrong, I was not suggesting you get an industrial machine.
At $2000.00 each they are way out of the range of the normal user and a waste of money. I need them because I do this for a living.
I was trying to show the table extensions and pressure foot height. The two things I consider in a machine over every other feature.

The curved "quilters pins" are what we use. Don't get the small ones. We also use alligator clips for those quick bastes. But you need a lot of each. I have a large metal ash tray in the shop that contains perhaps 200 quilters safety pins, another with about 100 alligator clips and literally thousands of straight pins in pin cushions all over the shop. You know, the ones with the big plastic ball on the end.

OH Yes, if you get the safety pins, always, ALWAYS, take the time to close the pins before you throw them back into the dish. That little few seconds of time it takes will save you many minutes untangling the open pins when you need to use them again.

[Erisianmonkey]

OH Yes, if you get the safety pins, always, ALWAYS, take the time to close the pins before you throw them back into the dish. That little few seconds of time it takes will save you many minutes untangling the open pins when you need to use them again.

Now if I could only get my wife to understand that, I'd have a lot happier time when opening my sewing supplies!

[JimB]

Please don't get me wrong, I was not suggesting you get an industrial machine.
At $2000.00 each they are way out of the range of the normal user and a waste of money. I need them because I do this for a living.
I was trying to show the table extensions and pressure foot height. The two things I consider in a machine over every other feature.

The curved "quilters pins" are what we use. Don't get the small ones. We also use alligator clips for those quick bastes. But you need a lot of each. I have a large metal ash tray in the shop that contains perhaps 200 quilters safety pins, another with about 100 alligator clips and literally thousands of straight pins in pin cushions all over the shop. You know, the ones with the big plastic ball on the end.

OH Yes, if you get the safety pins, always, ALWAYS, take the time to close the pins before you throw them back into the dish. That little few seconds of time it takes will save you many minutes untangling the open pins when you need to use them again.

Steve,
Thanks so much for your advice. I will probably never do this for a living, but I want to make a lot more for myself and for my sons, and this sort of advice is invaluable.
Can I ask what size alligator clips you use and where I can get them? Are they a hardware store kind of thing or are they at fabric stores?