Ar-r-r-g
#41
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Fox Valley Wisconsin
Posts: 1,920
I was taught early on to not sew over pins...with any machine. I have heard of many people who's machines have come out of alignment and worse because of sewing over (or into!) pins, just not a good idea. One person I know needed to get a whole new needle take up bar because of sewing into a pin. SO, if you fix the machine you have, or get a new one, please stop sewing over pins!
#42
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Vancouver Island, Beautiful BC
Posts: 2,090
Janome has some great lower priced machines (they used to make the Kenmores). If you are just looking for a back up machine.
My Janome made Kenmore is 25+ years old and still sews well.
If you are comfortable buying a used machine, you can probably find a good solid used machine online or at a Thrift shop for $50.00 or less.
My Janome made Kenmore is 25+ years old and still sews well.
If you are comfortable buying a used machine, you can probably find a good solid used machine online or at a Thrift shop for $50.00 or less.
#43
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Bay Area near San Francisco
Posts: 1,213
I have been frantically trying to finish some plush ponies for Christmas and accidently ran over too many pins with my Husquevarna AGAIN and threw it out of alignment AGAIN. ... Does any one have any suggestions for a reasonably priced machine that is still reliable? I don't care about any fancy embroidry features.
My suggestion regarding sewing over pins is to sew very slowly. I've found that putting the machine on the slowest speed helps with hitting the pins. That, and I also pin my fabric pieces parallel to the seam allowance instead of across it.
#44
I have been frantically trying to finish some plush ponies for Christmas and accidently ran over too many pins with my Husquevarna AGAIN and threw it out of alignment AGAIN. The Husky is a great machine except for the pin issue which is starting to cost $$$ in shop visits. My fallback is my daughter's low-end Brother, which clatters like an old jalopy, has no torque for thick bunches of fabric and no thread cutter. Last time I shopped for a machine, I only found Cadillacs and Yugos, with no mid-price Toyotas. Does any one have any suggestions for a reasonably priced machine that is still reliable? I don't care about any fancy embroidry features.
#45
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,660
Leaving a pin in the seam line is fine - as long as the needle doesn't hit the pin.
I've also had a needle break on a pin while sewing a seam - and the broken part flew in my face.
It also roughs up the needle or can bend the needle if the needle doesn't break.
If this is an AGAIN situation - maybe sewing technique/method should be changed?
A really really drastic solution for holding some things together - is hand basting! It does work! It does take a few minutes and it does require getting out a hand sewing needle, thread, and possibly a thimble. But for some situations, it really is an effective way of temporarily holding layers together until one can machine sew it. And there is no goop or glop to clean up later, either. And hand basting can be removed much faster than a machine stitched seam that is wrong.
I've also had a needle break on a pin while sewing a seam - and the broken part flew in my face.
It also roughs up the needle or can bend the needle if the needle doesn't break.
If this is an AGAIN situation - maybe sewing technique/method should be changed?
A really really drastic solution for holding some things together - is hand basting! It does work! It does take a few minutes and it does require getting out a hand sewing needle, thread, and possibly a thimble. But for some situations, it really is an effective way of temporarily holding layers together until one can machine sew it. And there is no goop or glop to clean up later, either. And hand basting can be removed much faster than a machine stitched seam that is wrong.
#47
WOW what a coincidence, I have this last month treated myself to a £1100 elna 720 and this evening, still learning about it I broke a needle and had a heck of job getting it out, I found 2 broken bits of but not the larger part. OMG when as is my norm I removed the stitch plate to explore I found that the last piece had dropped into the bobbin holder, not the bobbin but in-between the bobbin and it's holder. Now if I hadn't persevered to find that last bit I could have wrecked the timing which would have destroyed the machine, phew am I pleased that I take so much care of my machine.
I am so picky with sort of things that my machines are in great order and I have passed them onto other people in priistine condition, my advice NEVER EVER sew over pins and always make sure you have found ALL the pieces of a brokent needle.
One of the best tools I have is a long tweezer, not the eyebrow type something similar to these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Nonmagne...item2a143442e1 Most of the modern machines you can't use anything magnetic on them and these really do the job without hassle or danger to the machine, just hide them from the men folk as they have so many uses for them
I am so picky with sort of things that my machines are in great order and I have passed them onto other people in priistine condition, my advice NEVER EVER sew over pins and always make sure you have found ALL the pieces of a brokent needle.
One of the best tools I have is a long tweezer, not the eyebrow type something similar to these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Nonmagne...item2a143442e1 Most of the modern machines you can't use anything magnetic on them and these really do the job without hassle or danger to the machine, just hide them from the men folk as they have so many uses for them
#48
Get yourself a good old Singer 15 or a Japanese made 15 clone. And it's always a good idea to remove the pins, although I was taught to sew over them in the 60's when learning to sew garments. Still way too easy to break something (like yourself).
#50
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Homosassa, FL
Posts: 2,267
I have a Kenmore bought new in 80's. mechanical and all metal and I always sewed clothes and over pins, no problem. I know the newer computerized machines while they sew good and have lots of stitches are not as tough as the older ones, like Grama's 201-3. Look for a good mechanical, like 201 which sews leather and drapery material really easy, even if it only sews straight forward and backward, how it sews.