Crafts
purple.cow.0206
member
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Sewing Machine ?
in Crafts
OK, so I'm starting to think about taking the plunge and get a SMALL sewing machine. The thing is, we don't have anywhere to have a machine out all the time, but I still think it'd be easier/cheaper for me to have one to do things as simple as shorten hems and fix holes on seams.
Any suggestions for something that would be powerful enough to do basic stitching, go through denim material, and be lightweight enough to put onto a dining room table for an evening and put away that night without being a complete hassle?
Re: Sewing Machine ?
The FAQ at the top of the board with great suggestions. If you go back a few pages on the board you'll find more topics about beginner machines.
That said, in my experience, it isn't the machine that's a big deal to put away. It's all the other stuff!
This!
Well, so far I've been able to keep my knitting stuff to one "cube" in our IKEA shelf, so I'm hoping to be able to do the same thing with any sewing stuff as well. And I'm not looking to make anything new right now, it's more having supplies to do repairs and things.
The best way to store the machine IMO is just to have a dedicated table (if you have room) and a dust cover to put over the machine when you are done. Any machine that you need to store is going to involve some degree of "hassle" in terms of putting it in the case, winding the cords, putting all the feet and attachments away, carrying it to the closet, and maybe lifting it up onto a shelf. It really doesn't matter the brand or model since most machines have the same basic attachments and accessories.
They do make tables where the machine drops down below the surface for storage...this might be worth looking in to if you have the space? I don't have one myself, but I believe there is a flat piece you can put over the hole so the machine is hidden/protected, and use it as a work surface or for other purposes when you are not sewing.
That said, I DID live in a one bedroom condo for some time and I just used to sew on those foldable snack trays and made it work. I just did not sew as often because I really hated all the packing up I described above. The island between my kitchen and living area was my cutting surface!
Thank goodness I now have a craft room chock full of sewing machines (FOUR including my serger), and a Pazzles too! Plenty of room in there!!
Until very recently I had no sewing space either.
My machine lived on top of a bookcase and my fabric in a bin in an IKEA storage unit and my scissors, thread, etc. in a tiny rubbermaid thing with a handle, my mat and ruler lived between the bookshelf and the wall... I sewed on a $8 IKEA side table.
It was annoying but doable. I made 10 baby quilts and 2 queen sized quilts that way.
Stand up for something you believe in.
I don't live in a one bedroom condo, but I don't have a dedicated space for sewing either and I use a foldable TV tray to sew on when I get mine out. I just fold the table up, put it against the wall (or by my washing machine in the laundry room if I'm REALLY putting it away) and put the sewing machine in the closet on the floor.
TTC Baby #2 - BFP on 12/14/11 @ 10DPO - CP confirmed 12/18/11
BFP #2 on 1/13/12
This is why I'm looking for something more portable, we have 650 sq ft, so having a dedicated sewing table is impractical, unfortunately. We don't even have a dedicated desk, and to have more than 2 guests for dinner, we have to completely reconfigure the apartment. I'm hoping we can make more room for stuff like that when we get our next place. Our lease is up next November and we'll hopefully have the ability to get somewhere bigger that may even allow me a craft corner! (I live in DC, I'm not holding my breath for an entire room right now.)
The smaller/lighter machines will likely be the cheaper ones. I know Walmart and Target have some smallish ones. It might be good for a starter machine (they're less than $100). Also see this one at Overstock for $54.99. I would read the reviews carefully - it seems to be a decent starter machine. What are you hoping to make? Clothing, curtains, quilts?
ETA Link: http://www.overstock.com/Crafts-Sewing/Brother-LX-3125-Sewing-Machine-Refurbished/4395190/product.html?rcmndsrc=5
ETA: Here is another that weighs 12lbs: http://www.overstock.com/Crafts-Sewing/Brother-Free-Arm-XL3750-Sewing-Machine-with-Quilting-Table/6037581/product.html?rcmndsrc=2
^ All of that was me until 2 weeks ago- 550 sq ft though- even smaller!
I will say, if you religiously stalk craigslist for months before your lease ends, you may find something better. I have a guest bedroom/ craft room now and I am so super psyched- I spent all weekend in there making ornaments and presents.
When you get more space you're suddenly like "How did I live in such a small space for such a long time?!" (We were in our old place 30 months)
Stand up for something you believe in.
Yeah, we're definitely going the Craigslist route next time. We're on our 4th year in this place, it's definitely time for more space, that's for sure!
I'm not thinking about getting into quilting at this point, more for clothing repairs and fixing hems and things. Possibly for Halloween costumes and curtains, but more utility than decorative things. Thanks for the links.
My Valentine Bookends (2~13~13, 2~15~09)
Ditto. My old machine (a Brother LX something or other, not important) was smaller than my new machine (Brother CS-6000i) but it was awful. The bobbin would jam constantly if the bobbin was just a little off, the entire machine shook when I would use it and it was loud. New machine is lighter, easier to use and I rarely, if ever, have issues using it. It's not too expensive (I got it for about $180 on ebay) but it's not a cheap machine from a big box store that doesn't work well.
I haven't worked with denim on my machine yet, but I'm not worried about it's ability to do so.
TTC Baby #2 - BFP on 12/14/11 @ 10DPO - CP confirmed 12/18/11
BFP #2 on 1/13/12