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When do you need a good sewing machine?


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  • #1283527
    Randy Nelson
    BPL Member

    @rlnunix

    Locale: Rockies

    We have a Necchi that is only capable of straight stitches and I haven't been able to get it to work correctly yet. Instead of messing with it any more, should I just use my daughters' modern sewing machine? For now, I'm just going to make some stuff sacks and a flat tarp. I know everyone favors the older, metal geared units. But at what point do you really need the extra strength of the good machines?

    #1817714
    Ken Thompson
    BPL Member

    @here

    Locale: Right there

    You'll know when you need more power when you can't sew what you want. If the machine at hand performs the task, sew away.
    You'll know when you need more features when you become frustrated with what you can't do.
    What model Necchi do you have? I may be able to help.

    #1817716
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    "I know everyone favors the older, metal geared units."

    Not necessarily. If you need the power to sew through heavy materials, then you need a good old machine like that. On the other hand, if you only sew through skimpy ultrathin materials like I do, the modern machines are quite adequate, and they typically offer some extra stitch types as well. I couldn't operate without a zigzag stitch.

    –B.G.–

    #1817730
    Buck Nelson
    BPL Member

    @colter

    Locale: Alaska

    You don't necessarily need an old, heavy machine. Most new, inexpensive sewing machines can sew through surprisingly thick materials if you carefully use the hand wheel to walk it through the heaviest stuff, such as at stacked seams. I just hemmed some hiking pants and, using an inexpensive machine, sewed through 8 layers of material in spots where I rolled the felled seams.

    #1817768
    Daryl and Daryl
    BPL Member

    @lyrad1

    Locale: Pacific Northwest, USA, Earth

    I've sewn a tent and a pack so far with this cheapo machine.

    here

    I keep waiting for it to break but so far so good.

    Does everything I need.

    Put my wife's much much more expensive Bernina into the closet.

    #1817775
    Randy Nelson
    BPL Member

    @rlnunix

    Locale: Rockies

    Thanks guys. Ken, It's a Necchi BF. I think from 1951. I haven't tried in a while but with the 3 day weekend I thought I'd spend some time working on it and sewing in general. As I recall the thread was bunching up and then breaking very quickly. I'll let you know when I've tested it again. Thanks!

    #1817796
    Roger Caffin
    BPL Member

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    > the thread was bunching up and then breaking very quickly.
    Very little to do with the sewing machine in general. Very often to do with the wrong thread. Cheap cottom thread and serger thread are notorious. Good poly-cotton should run freely. Gutermann is … fair; there are better.

    Cheers

    #1817809
    David Wilson
    Member

    @fastmtnbiker

    Locale: El Paso, TX

    ….too small a needle for your thread.

    Could be timing as well. The Hook could be catching the thread at the wrong time.

    There is an awesome yahoo group for Italian necchi owners. Kind of janky to get signed up, but worth it. Read ALL of their intro instructions.

    #1817905
    Randy Nelson
    BPL Member

    @rlnunix

    Locale: Rockies

    I didn't get a chance to test the Necchi lat night as I was playing with the other machine. But the thread I do have is Gutterman and the needles are 80/12. My wife is going to town today so if anybody has suggestions for better choice for those, let me know and I'll have her pick them up. Thanks.

    #1818015
    Harald Hope
    Spectator

    @hhope

    Locale: East Bay

    << Very little to do with the sewing machine in general. Very often to do with the wrong thread. Cheap cottom thread and serger thread are notorious. Good poly-cotton should run freely. Gutermann is … fair; there are better. >>

    What threads are better, brand/style? Ideally available in USA of course fairly readily.

    Say, for standard sewing jobs, silnylon, that kind of thing, and for heavier stuff, like packs, using 4oz yd fabrics and thicker nylon webbing?

    Or is Guterman actually fine? Seems to be the popular default, is it actually fine? I'm not tormenting about perfection, but if there is some actual concrete reason not to use it, that would be good to know, particularly the whys.

    #1818039
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    I've used Gutermann thread with good results. I've used Mettler with good results. I've even used cotton serger thread with good results. The only times that I have gotten into thread problems was when the thread was too big for the needle. So, I simply bought a selection of different needle sizes, and one of them will work OK.

    Of course, maybe the problem was that the needle was too small for the thread.

    –B.G.–

    #1818156
    Konrad .
    BPL Member

    @konrad1013

    I use gutterman thread, with a number 9 needle for the majority of my projects. Any machine with a straight stitch and a zigzag stitch (for bar tacking) is sufficient for the common man who isn't operating a cottage business. My sewing machine is a POS walmart special, and it's been absolutely great.

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