Battery Operated Sewing Machine
03-30-2011, 04:27 AM
#72
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Stuart, Florida
Posts: 370
Originally Posted by milp04
Originally Posted by yolanda
I am going camping and am considering bringing along one of those inexpensive battery operated sewing machines to do some piecing. Has anyone used one? Have any recommendations?
Hi Yolanda,
Typically sewers are not happy with these sewing machines.
You could find out if your camping site is equipped with electric and take a 3/4 size machine depending on how long you plan on camping.
This might be a good time to start a hand project to take along camping. There are several great options. One would be the GFG, Grandmother's Flower Garden. It's a great take along. The Cathedral Window is another hand sewing project. It can be started at home by machine and then worked by hand when away from home, another take along.
There are several others that would be something to check into but I'm not able to put a name to them at this time. I'll repost if I think of them later.
I personally like to spend outdoor time with some sort of handwork. I like the quietness of camping. I like to do redwork type stitching and have several in different colors so I don't get bored. I'm also thinking of starting a GFG to use up small scrap sizes. There was a nice posting of someone who had a nice plastic container to take along her project as she traveled.
Good luck, enjoy camping.
Pam M
03-30-2011, 04:28 AM
#73
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Stuart, Florida
Posts: 370
Originally Posted by svenskaflicka1
the older i get, the more i love not camping. so, when we go, i make sure he parks us somewhere with electric hookup, and i bring a machine. sorry, love, i won't be riding that 30 mile trail with you, but i will be keeping the homefires burning--and QUILTING!!!! if there is absolutely no electric, i bring fabric, rotary cutters, and a mat. there will--no, there MUST be fabric. and if i must bring hook and yarn, he will do penance by stopping at a quilt shop somewhere along the line.
it's a legit concern! i love doing many kinds of hand work, and have options--but there is nothing finer than cutting and/or sewing fabric in the fresh air and sunshine. and if it ends up smelling a little like wood smoke, that's ust a plus in my book!
it's a legit concern! i love doing many kinds of hand work, and have options--but there is nothing finer than cutting and/or sewing fabric in the fresh air and sunshine. and if it ends up smelling a little like wood smoke, that's ust a plus in my book!
03-30-2011, 04:35 AM
#74
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sturbridge, Ma
Posts: 3,992
i had a friend that discovered she could plug her featherweight into the lighter plug in her van so sewed while traveling.
Yes hand piecing is the way to go then don't have the aggrivation of trying to make the machine work.
For hand crank machines - go to Amish country. I understand in the Lancaster area there is a man who has made a hand crank adapter for electric machines.
sells them out of his shop.
Yes hand piecing is the way to go then don't have the aggrivation of trying to make the machine work.
For hand crank machines - go to Amish country. I understand in the Lancaster area there is a man who has made a hand crank adapter for electric machines.
sells them out of his shop.
03-30-2011, 03:21 PM
#75
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: BC
Posts: 713
Could you buy a converter that plugs into the cigarette lighter in your vehicle? We use them for our cell phone adapters but you might need one with more power for a sewing machine. In Canada, we have bought them at Canadian Tire. Walmart may have them as well.
03-30-2011, 06:38 PM
#76
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Stony Brook, NY
Posts: 1,225
I have never done it myself, but I taught a beginners quilt class. One of the students brought in a little machine like this. I kind of thought - Oh boy. Well - At the end of the class, her quilt was simply beautiful. She hand quilted it, but the little machine did fine for the piecing.
04-02-2011, 04:06 PM
#77
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 927
I looked at these online :-)
Originally Posted by Up North
I take one with me camping for my granddaughter I paid $20.00 for it at Rite aid In fact I now have two of them It sews like a dream. My Grandaughter sews on it and has made a quilt, pillows and stuffed dolls, Even an outfit one time I have used it while camping if I need to mend something too.
04-02-2011, 04:09 PM
#78
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 927
THose are not battery operated right? I tent camp so no power or generator.
Originally Posted by watterstide
your better off trying to get a machine on freecycle in your area,or at a garage sale.
i would not bother with a battery operated machine. i bought one for my friends kid..and it was junk.
if you could afford to buy a machine for travel, get a janome "sewest- 509. They run between $99- $169" .
or look for a machine at walmart.
i take my sewing mchine with me whenever i go camping!
i would not bother with a battery operated machine. i bought one for my friends kid..and it was junk.
if you could afford to buy a machine for travel, get a janome "sewest- 509. They run between $99- $169" .
or look for a machine at walmart.
i take my sewing mchine with me whenever i go camping!
04-02-2011, 04:09 PM
#79
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 927
THose are not battery operated right? I tent camp so no power or generator.
Originally Posted by watterstide
your better off trying to get a machine on freecycle in your area,or at a garage sale.
i would not bother with a battery operated machine. i bought one for my friends kid..and it was junk.
if you could afford to buy a machine for travel, get a janome "sewest- 509. They run between $99- $169" .
or look for a machine at walmart.
i take my sewing mchine with me whenever i go camping!
i would not bother with a battery operated machine. i bought one for my friends kid..and it was junk.
if you could afford to buy a machine for travel, get a janome "sewest- 509. They run between $99- $169" .
or look for a machine at walmart.
i take my sewing mchine with me whenever i go camping!
04-02-2011, 04:10 PM
#80
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 927
Thanks for the picture this is great!
My significant other is into antique car shows. Personally, I can stand it for about 5 minutes but I want to be with him. Solution? Quilt while he gawks!
Here's a picture of his '62 T-bird (on the left) and a $80, 000 restored Tbird on the right. In the middle is me and my hand crank. It was wonderful to be able to do SOMETHING while there. Plus, IMHO, I pulled in the crowds because people were curious about what I was doing. The funniest thing was how many didn't know about hand crank machines! :-)
By the way, I made VERY sure that my umbrella, if it fell over, wouldn't come close to the $80K car!!! I also found it funny that the owner, who I'll call Mr. Old Grumpy, complained about my sewing taking attention away from his car! :roll: But, as I said, I was pulling in the crowds!! he he he
Originally Posted by QBeth
Originally Posted by irishrose
Quilters on the vintage site love handcranks for camping. I can't speak from experience, but it'd sew a better seam if you can find one.
Here's a picture of his '62 T-bird (on the left) and a $80, 000 restored Tbird on the right. In the middle is me and my hand crank. It was wonderful to be able to do SOMETHING while there. Plus, IMHO, I pulled in the crowds because people were curious about what I was doing. The funniest thing was how many didn't know about hand crank machines! :-)
By the way, I made VERY sure that my umbrella, if it fell over, wouldn't come close to the $80K car!!! I also found it funny that the owner, who I'll call Mr. Old Grumpy, complained about my sewing taking attention away from his car! :roll: But, as I said, I was pulling in the crowds!! he he he
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