Machines too computerized?
#21
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Glenmoore, PA
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The advantage of being able to test drive a sewing machine is that you can choose a machine with the bells and whistles you want. Don't like some of that computerized stuff? Just go down to the next cheaper machine. I have computerized machines, mainly Vikings, and love them. I have a longarm so am not concerned with FMQ on the sewing machine. I also have a fairly new fangled washer, a Kenmore, and I love that it doesn't have the agitator in the middle. I can pause it to add another item. True, it is hard to do just a partial cycle, but mine has an option to make my own cycle, which I have not tried. But I do wish you could go into an appliance store and "test drive" before you buy.
#22
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Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 410
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I know what you mean! My sewing machine is still flexible enough to do what I want, but like a couple others here, I don't like my washing machine, because it can only be run with their pre-set programs which don't always do what I want.
Maybe it's a sign of me getting older, but I feel like most appliances don't gain much by being hooked up to the internet. I don't need my fridge telling me when I'm out of milk - that really doesn't improve my life in any significant way - and it's a security and privacy nightmare.
Maybe it's a sign of me getting older, but I feel like most appliances don't gain much by being hooked up to the internet. I don't need my fridge telling me when I'm out of milk - that really doesn't improve my life in any significant way - and it's a security and privacy nightmare.
#23
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Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Belen, NM
Posts: 1,353
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I have an extremely sophisticated sewing/embroidery machine and a Juki 2010 set up all the time. I use the Juki more often than I use the computerized machine. The Juki price is 1/10 of my fancy machine and it gets at least 2X the use. However, there are some things that the Juki can't do. I like to have both options. I do, however, believe that we often buy options that we never learn how to use. Let's face it, we are not going back to the days before computerized anything--even sewing. We can hang on to our Featherweights, 301's and even our treadles, but the next generation of quilters will use computerized machines.
#24
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A few years ago, I talked myself into purchasing a HV Sapphire for Quilting. Especially for FMQ. If I used the computer setting for FMQ, I had all kinds of problems! mostly tension, some setting issue with having the feed dogs down. When I tried FMQ with the feed dogs engaged, not as many problems. When I was moving/downsizing, I chose to sell that machine and have been doing all my sewing on my Kenmore. It is semi-computerized and is a workhorse. I don't get as much FMQ done, but it is a super machine to use for Quilt as you go! Much smaller throat size, but it will do everything I need it to do! I am not scared of the computer programming, I just like having better control!
#26
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Grass Lake, MI and Bradenton, FL
Posts: 785
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Yes, to me, some machines are too computerized. After watching a demo of one of the new $20,000 machines out there, I wondered who wants it. It does everything for you. All you do is set the parameters and it finishes it itself. At least for embroidery. It had a quilting mode also where you could end up with absolutely perfect feathers or other complicated design. It seems to me that it does what digital photography does for photographs. Yes, it can be a great photo, but no one knows what is real and what is fake. So where is the challenge?
#27
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Join Date: Jan 2012
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[QUOTE=JJBlaine;8161082]I have an Eversewn Hero, and the only two things I can think of that I am not crazy about have to do with the thread sensors.
It's annoying when empty bobbin sensor wont let me sew the last inch I need even though I KNOW there's at least a foot of thread left in the bobbin. (QUOTE)
Here's something that works to override the sensor on some machines---I do this with my Babylock Serenade. If you have a vertical bobbin, open up the door to the bobbin area and let the light in. You should be able to finish stitching the remaining thread on the bobbin. The reason this works is that there is a tiny beam of light that shines onto the bobbin. If there is thread there to block the beam from going through the clear bobbin into the hole in the back beyond the bobbin case, then the machine knows there's enough thread. Once that beam of light shines through the bobbin into the hole behind the bobbin case, this trips the low bobbin alert. If you open that door and let in more light I think it drowns out that light beam. Alternately, and I'm not sure why, if you use some machines (with this light activated low bobbin sensor) in an extremely bright area, like in front of a bright window, the low bobbin alert is constantly on. One other thing; If you get lint on the light source the alert won't work at all. On my machine the light source is in a little bubble on the inside side of the door. I wipe it off all the time so the alert works.
It's annoying when empty bobbin sensor wont let me sew the last inch I need even though I KNOW there's at least a foot of thread left in the bobbin. (QUOTE)
Here's something that works to override the sensor on some machines---I do this with my Babylock Serenade. If you have a vertical bobbin, open up the door to the bobbin area and let the light in. You should be able to finish stitching the remaining thread on the bobbin. The reason this works is that there is a tiny beam of light that shines onto the bobbin. If there is thread there to block the beam from going through the clear bobbin into the hole in the back beyond the bobbin case, then the machine knows there's enough thread. Once that beam of light shines through the bobbin into the hole behind the bobbin case, this trips the low bobbin alert. If you open that door and let in more light I think it drowns out that light beam. Alternately, and I'm not sure why, if you use some machines (with this light activated low bobbin sensor) in an extremely bright area, like in front of a bright window, the low bobbin alert is constantly on. One other thing; If you get lint on the light source the alert won't work at all. On my machine the light source is in a little bubble on the inside side of the door. I wipe it off all the time so the alert works.
#28
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,369
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I think that way too many things are too computerized, not speaking of machines in particular, although I do have 1 computerized machine, but it's not over done, personally, I wouldn't buy a machine that I considered over computerized. I was speaking of vehicles, recently drove a new Suburban for my job, and the wipers are always on intermittent and if the wipers "sense" rain, they start up, if it becomes heavier rain, the wipers will increase speed, but there is a minute or so, before they do so. I'm sorry, but I feel that if someone has a license, they should have enough sense to know WHEN and at what speed the wipers should be.
Can this be why, as I believe, the world is becoming dumber? No one has to think or reason or figure anything out anymore because computerized machines are doing it for us? Whether we want them to or not?
Yes, I've officially pinned on my Old Fogey badge!
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#29
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Milton DE
Posts: 3,189
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I guess I love my computerized machine because it's the first thing I bought when learning Emb/Quilting...bought myself the Husq SE. I love the auto lift for pivot, I love when it tells me bobbin needs filling and yes it allows me to use all the thread in the bobbin just by me cont'ing to hit the foot...it will go for a few seconds beep and stop each time but no waste. I love when I need too just push a button and don't have to use the foot pedal. I love when it auto stops and tells me why...ex Thread Break, refill bobbin, change thread when embroidering, how long each color stitch out will take on emb's.
What annoys me is my new smart Thermostat which lights up every 6 mths to say change the filters when they don't need changing...Or Frig water filer light goes on saying replace it and it still wks fine. I wait until the filters look dirty and water stops coming out because those replacement are expensive.
Also when we built our home which was a model I didn't want a garbage disposal...never had one didn't want one but I didn't have that option...So there it sits, never to be used by me, we have septic and they aren't usable...What I didn't think I needed but again no choice was Central Vac system...who needs that I have a vacuum...Well, now I find I can't live w/o that....so I guess you just have to give the future inventions a chance. Eventually you fall in love and can't live w/o.
What annoys me is my new smart Thermostat which lights up every 6 mths to say change the filters when they don't need changing...Or Frig water filer light goes on saying replace it and it still wks fine. I wait until the filters look dirty and water stops coming out because those replacement are expensive.
Also when we built our home which was a model I didn't want a garbage disposal...never had one didn't want one but I didn't have that option...So there it sits, never to be used by me, we have septic and they aren't usable...What I didn't think I needed but again no choice was Central Vac system...who needs that I have a vacuum...Well, now I find I can't live w/o that....so I guess you just have to give the future inventions a chance. Eventually you fall in love and can't live w/o.
#30
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 157
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I agree. If the machine & it's computer are doing all the work then why not just buy it? Where is the skill/talent in that. Makes you appreciate the extensive skills the older generation had when they could not afford to purchase fancy dresses and had to rely on their skill/ talent to create them. My aunts who were seamstresses used to think using a pattern was cheating. I can just imagine what they would think of the computerized machines out these days. I am a vintage gal. I prefer working on my skills in lieu of fighting a computer. 😄
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