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12-15-2007, 07:59 AM
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#1
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Dirty Dozen Alumni
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Bellevue, WA (Seattle 'burbs)
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Girls who sew on their cards....
I need some advice please! 
I need advice on a sewing machine. It will be primarily used to sew on my paper projects and do some simple fabric craft projects with my daughter.
I'm new to sewing, so it needs to be very user friendly. I'd like lots of different stitch options. I'd like to stay under $200 if possible.
Any advice about which machine to get is much appreciated!! |
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12-15-2007, 08:21 AM
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#2
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Forum Fanatic
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
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Janome Sew Mini - it's only like $60 or so and it ROCKS (and trust me you'll prolly hear from tons of ladies on here about it - just put "Janome Sew Mini" into a search on here and tons of threads will pop up) - really really easy to use and perfect for peprcrafters. I love mine!
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12-15-2007, 08:25 AM
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#3
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Kookie Creator
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: York, PA
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I second Amy ~ I bought the Janome Sew Mini a few months ago.... AND I got it for 39.99 when it went on sale through their website (thanks to Cambria !!) It IS a real sewing machine... but SO much lighter and portable..!! At well under 200 bucks you'll be thrilled! |
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12-15-2007, 08:36 AM
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#4
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Splitcoast Hall of Fame
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Whidbey Island, WA
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Quote: Originally Posted by Stamp Happy Susie I second Amy ~ I bought the Janome Sew Mini a few months ago.... AND I got it for 39.99 when it went on sale through their website (thanks to Cambria !!) It IS a real sewing machine... but SO much lighter and portable..!! At well under 200 bucks you'll be thrilled! |
Me, too!
I even bought TWO!!! One for me/paper and one for my daughter; she'll be going off to college next year and for $40, I know it will come in handy for her.
I have plans! I have ideas! I have . . .
not opened the boxes yet, tho . . . :oops:
Hi, Krystie!!! I'm waving to you!!!  __________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . ) julieebersole.com "So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
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12-15-2007, 08:38 AM
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#5
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Embossing Fanatic
Join Date: Sep 2004
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I have one too and like it but I have trouble getting the tension adjusted just right. I was wondering for a while if I had a bad machine but finally got it to sew properly after fiddling with it for 30 minutes or so. What tension setting do most of you use and does the quality of thread matter? Thanks! (Sorry, hope I am not hijacking this thread)!!
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12-15-2007, 08:48 AM
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#6
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Splitcoast Hall of Fame
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Whidbey Island, WA
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Quote: Originally Posted by smattosI have one too and like it but I have trouble getting the tension adjusted just right. I was wondering for a while if I had a bad machine but finally got it to sew properly after fiddling with it for 30 minutes or so. What tension setting do most of you use and does the quality of thread matter? Thanks! (Sorry, hope I am not hijacking this thread)!! |
You are not hijackin', girlfriend! I would really love to know this, too, before I break mine outta' da' box! ;) __________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . ) julieebersole.com "So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
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12-15-2007, 09:26 AM
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#7
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Kookie Creator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Antonio TX
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Stick with Janome, stay away from the brands like Kenmore (used to be great, not so good now) or Brother and White. I have been quilting for over 10 years now (as has my mil) and Janome is the brand we love.
As for tension it's going to be different depending on thread, how long it's been since the machine has had a tune up (age of machine does not matter as much as tune up since they get out of whack in shipping) and what you are sewing and what needle you are using. I find tension altering to be one of the most frustrating things in the world and I own a $1600 Janome so don't think it only depends on the quality of the machine!
Finding a great place to get your machine worked on is almost as hard as finding a good hairdresser. Call up your local quilting store and ask them who they take their machines to. This is very important! Trust me, if they jack your machine you will be inventing new 4 letter words that will make a sailor blush. We quilters are very attatched to our machines, very few people are allowed to mess with them. I let my mil sew on mine but that's only because she quilts more than I do (she doesn't do any paper crafting) and she owns the same machine. I'm embarrassed to say she's much more adept with it than I am. Maybe someday when I get tired of all the new stamp sets I'll go back to quilting. Yeah, what ever.
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12-15-2007, 09:30 AM
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#8
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Stazon Splitcoast
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Midlothian, TX
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I found an old Brother from the 70's at a pawn shop...works like a dream! I think it was like $30 or something like that. It's full sized and has a light. I haven't tried the Janome Sew Mini but have heard awesome things about it.
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12-15-2007, 09:47 AM
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#9
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Hardware Hotshot
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Surrounded by corn fields.
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I have the cheapest Baby Lock they make. I think it was around $200. I make my curtains (just panels, nothing fancy) and stuff like that as well as sewing on the cards and it does all that plus more stuff I haven't even figured out, like buttonholes and double stitching. I love the machine, it works really well and was simple to learn to use.
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12-15-2007, 09:54 AM
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#10
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Pearl-ExPert
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Cincinnati
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Anybody know what needles the sew mini takes. I was thinking of having my mom get me one for christmas but wanted her to get needles and bobbins too. Thanks.
__________________
Julia~My husband lets me have all the stamping supplies I can hide.
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12-15-2007, 09:55 AM
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#11
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Polyshrink Goddess
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Minnesota
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The Janome Sew Mini is the way to go in my opinion. Love mine....
Happy Stamping and Scrapping
rita
__________________ Rita Wetzel
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12-15-2007, 10:03 AM
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#12
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Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: North Carolina
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Quote: Originally Posted by lovingyoualwaysAnybody know what needles the sew mini takes. I was thinking of having my mom get me one for christmas but wanted her to get needles and bobbins too. Thanks. |
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12-15-2007, 11:31 AM
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#13
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Forum Fanatic
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
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Ohhh I need to know that too - I got my Mini from Hancock Fabrics (online store in the US) and had it shipped to a friend in the US (they don't ship to Canada - they had them on sale at the time with FREE shipping so after I paid my bud to ship to me it cost me around the $60 total for the machine plus the shipping to me).
ANYWAY - I never got any extra needles or bobbins and I should have (it came with 2 or 3 bobbins and I can't even remember if it came with an extra needle or not....)
So far I've only been using it with white thread but I'd like to start using black and brown thread as well (and then that's it - keeping it to the basics keeps it simple otherwise I won't use it).
As for tension - I didn't have much trouble with that at all - I practiced first with some scraps of paper and whatnot and it was too tight so I followed the instructions to loosen it a little and it works fine now and I haven't needed to adjust it (which is wonderful b/c I'm CLUELESS when it comes to sewing!! ;))
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12-15-2007, 02:55 PM
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#14
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Pearl-ExPert
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Cincinnati
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Bumping this one more time cause I would really like to give my mom the info when I see her tomorrow. Thanks.
__________________
Julia~My husband lets me have all the stamping supplies I can hide.
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12-15-2007, 03:00 PM
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#15
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Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: North Carolina
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I called and asked Hancock Fabrics and they said any standard sewing machine needle would work. They also sell the empty Janome bobbins there. HTH!
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12-15-2007, 03:12 PM
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#16
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Stazon Splitcoast
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hillsboro OR
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I have sewing since I was *knee high to a grass-hopper*...........just remember, Ladies, that sewing on cardstock dulls the needles QUICKLY, just replace your needle frequently!!
I also have a Brother that my DH got for me when we were first married (early 90s) for about $200 at Costco and its STILL going strong.
__________________ We cannot do great things, only small things with great love.
~Mother Theresa |
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12-15-2007, 03:23 PM
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#17
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Polyshrink Goddess
Join Date: May 2006
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I will be the oddball and say that I have had my Kenmore Mini Ultra for about 3 years now and have never once had a problem with it. It's a full-size motor (so it's really durable - 550 stitches per minute), but in a compact housing... which makes it lighter and more portable than a regular sized machine (Kenmore calls it their "3/4 size machine). It has six built-in stitches (including buttonhole and back stitch) and a light. I have my tension set at 3.5 for my paper projects and rarely need to adjust it. I use a very small needle (size 9) when sewing on paper because I don't like the giant holes larger needles leave in my paper. But since paper dulls needles faster than fabric, be sure to keep extra (larger) needles on hand, for when you're not sewing on paper. I have used it a few times on various fabric tasks, like hemming and repairs... even on denim, it blew right through it like a dream. Anyway, sorry to be so wordy, but I just wanted to say that my Kenmore has been a delight to use. And th ebest part - it was only $70 bucks, on sale! They're usually around a hundred or so. Hope this info helps! |
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12-15-2007, 03:51 PM
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#18
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Pearl-ExPert
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: New York
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I have a few different machines...bernina for sewing fabric, a pfaff for my quilting projects and the janome mini for my paper crafts. The janome is small enough to keep out on a desk and is light enough that if you have to move it, it's so easy to do. got my mini on sale at hancocks fabrics online store for $39.99, did not get the free shipping, which was around 9 bucks. good luck with your purchase
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12-15-2007, 04:40 PM
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#19
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Forum Fanatic
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Alaska
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I also have a full-size Brother... nothing fancy, but it works great and has a nice stitch. It has been my baby and even came with me to Alaska as carry on luggage! I use mine for fabric projects as well. I suppose if it's only for papercrafting you might seriously consider one of the smaller crafting machines. Good luck with your purchase. |
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12-15-2007, 07:01 PM
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#20
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Pearl-ExPert
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Cincinnati
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Quote: Originally Posted by jovialjudiI called and asked Hancock Fabrics and they said any standard sewing machine needle would work. They also sell the empty Janome bobbins there. HTH! |
Thank you for calling guess I could have done that, doh! __________________
Julia~My husband lets me have all the stamping supplies I can hide.
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12-16-2007, 09:04 AM
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#21
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Dirty Dozen Alumni
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Bellevue, WA (Seattle 'burbs)
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Thanks everybody! I knew you'd come through with some great advice. I think I'll pick up the Janome Sew Mini, since so many of you have been satisfied with it.
Julie, you crack me up with your "plans and ideas"! My craft room is full of plans and ideas. They usually arrive in large bulk-buy boxes.
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12-29-2007, 10:27 AM
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#22
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Pearl-ExPert
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SouthWest Margaritaville
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Hancockfabrics has the Janome on sale for $39.99 with free shipping.
I have the machine, extra bobbins in my shopping cart but figured I needed some extra needles. Would these work w/ this machine?
http://www.hancockfabrics.com/shoppi...hine%20needles__________________
Nancy
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12-29-2007, 11:39 AM
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#23
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Matboard Maniac
Join Date: Mar 2005
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On the Hancock site I am seeing the discount for the machine but do not see free shipping. Is there a coupon or something I should be looking for?
Thanks!...Jan
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12-29-2007, 11:50 AM
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#24
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Stazon Splitcoast
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Columbia, MD
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Quote: Originally Posted by Far NorthOn the Hancock site I am seeing the discount for the machine but do not see free shipping. Is there a coupon or something I should be looking for?
Thanks!...Jan |
Jan,
I typed "welcome" for the coupon code to receive free shipping.
HTH,
Vera |
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12-29-2007, 11:51 AM
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#25
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Rubber Obsessor
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: North Texas
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12-29-2007, 11:52 AM
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#26
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Stazon Splitcoast
Join Date: Mar 2005
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I might need to break down and get one of those Janome.
I second the fact that paper will quickly dull your needles, so make sure if you are going to sew fabric with it, you have replacements.
I have a $100 Brother and I constantly have issues with the tension when learning to quilt. I did have it serviced and that fixed the problem for a little while. I'm going to dust it off and see if I can at least sew paper with it it, but I gave up trying to quilt on it.
Here is a funny story for those sewers on here. I signed up for a quilting class years ago and took my mom's sewing machine (which I still have). It had white thread and I needed dark green. I called my friend's mom who makes wedding dresses for a living and told her I couldn't find bobbins with thread on them. Doh, didn't know you put it on there yourself! I felt so stupid.
__________________
Samantha
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12-29-2007, 12:23 PM
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#27
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Watercolor Wizard
Join Date: May 2005
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sounds like the Janome Sew Mini is exactly what I need!
__________________ Please visit my Sweet Suite blog
Art is intended to provoke an emotion from a total stranger. If you�ve succeeded in this, consider yourself an artist. Paper Shanks Blog. Love me or hate me, you are still talking about me |
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12-29-2007, 01:00 PM
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#28
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Pearl-ExPert
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Insanityville
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Samantha, love the idea of preloaded bobbins!! ;) Got me gigglin' there!
Kathy
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12-29-2007, 03:50 PM
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#29
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Matboard Maniac
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: America's Dairyland
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Janome Sew Mini! I just picked one up a couple of days ago, and it is so much simplier than using a regular sewing machine. The foot pedal is the on/off which is nice because it pretty much only goes one speed. You will like it. Now about those plans/projects I bought it for.........hmm. Any suggestions?
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