Singer 'Simple' sewing machine model #3116

[Dean McElroy]

..Seasons best wishes to all  ....went out to Wal-mart and bought a sewing machine with some gift money recieved under the Xmas tree..since I have never used a sewing machine before(all of my sewing has been by hand)..what is the concensus on Singer products..?..I plan to use mostly the straight stitch and use the zig-zag for fabrics that will tend to unravel..I will be stitching mostly linens and silks on practise garments (hobby garments)..I'm probably going to use the buttonholer for modern shirts ,ect....any recommendations on irons for pressing.. Rowenta seems to be a great product...cutting mats?..anything under USD30.00..Wal-mart has a mat that would do well but they want USD27.00 for same.. 

-Dean Mcelroy

[Elizabeth]

Booger--deleted my message accidentally.

Irons: I "drive" a $20 Sunbeam from Wal-mart, and I can generally get them to last about three years, before the dropping and bashing takes their toll, and I need to replace the thing. 

Singer for machines is usually quite reliable, though the lower end models (Wal-Mart stock) may need more frequent tension adjustment and cleaning professionally (once a year). If it has plastic gears and bits inside, it will not wear as long as the older all-metal Singers.  If you're looking to eventually replace your Singer, check the Sew N Vac repair shops in your town for a refurbished Singer from the late 60s or before... those tend to be work horses, and can often be had for under $100 even now.

On zig-zag: don't bother.  I find it an altogether unsatisfactory finish on ravelly fabrics, as it punctures the weave too many times, and will tend to shred silks and open the weave on linens; plus, it can pull up and create a hard ridge next to the seam where the cut edges are "wrapped" by the zig-zag.  Rather, this is a good opportunity to perfect hand-overcasting, or machine-stitched run-and-fell seams, or hand run-and-fell, or bound seam allowances.  They'll all have use in period sewing, and the machine will speed them a bit. 

I don't use a cutting mat for sewing (I do for paper craft), but most are fairly equal... go for what fits your space needs, regardless of brand.

[Chessa_Swing]

I "drive" a Rowenta (?) iron.  Once I go from the Rowenta to another iron, its just not the same 

Can't help with sewing machines. All mine are at least 45 years old

[lindym]

You just can't beat the older sewing machines, 50's to early 60"s. My irons come from thrift shops  and go until I see something I like better LOL

Linda

[Nona Nelson]

I have a Singer Simple, I got it the summer before last and it works very well for me!  I really don't need all them fancy stiches on other mashines as I never really do such sewing that needs it. I also have an older Kenmore (I'm thinking its from the 60's or 70's, I can't remember) its green and we where sewing on it this week and it works quite well. It needs to be oiled through.

My iron? I got it at a yard sale for $15 or $20. Its a Black and Decker. I droped it on the floor a few weeks after I got it and a bit of plastic came off and I taped it back on with plastic shipping tape, but other then that, it works pretty well.

[Miss_Elisabeth]

I've got a Huskystar 215 - love it! It's 6 years old, and never been tuned up, so it's, err, noisy. But it's an awesome machine. My sister has a Husqvarna Viking Emerald 218 - which is soooo nice.

As far as irons go, I bought a Rowenta DX-8800 1750 Watt Professional Iron at the Sewing Expo Pullayup. I *love* it. I'd been going through Walmart irons at the rate of about one a year, and they'd never held up well, even the new ones. This one holds so much water, steams wonderfully, gets nice and hot, and while it doesn't have an automatic turn off, I don't mind that when I'm doing a lot of ironing. I just have to remember to unplug it or my dad confiscates it for a month or two. 

[TerriPratt]

Dean, I have to agree with Elizabeth about the Singer Simple model. A couple of years ago I bought one of these machines thinking that the Singer name was the same machine I had grown up with. I've been sewing for 50 years and learned with the machines that Elizabeth mentioned. I actually wore out that machine! The tension - upper and lower - wouldn't hold there adjustment. I would take in the machine to the nearby Singer authorized repair shop. It never sewed very good after the first year and I spent a fortune on "tune-ups" to have the tension fixed. It was $75 per visit and after the third time I gave the machine to Goodwill. You might want to check garage or estate sales. A friend of mine has a Singer Model 221, which is a small portable, that she bought at an estate sale. She paid $50...the machine has to be 50 years old. It sews beautifully.

As for an iron, a friend gave me a Black and Decker over 15 years ago - it's still going strong despite being moved to four different states and being dropped numerous times!

Good luck with your sewing - the folks at this site will be a great benefit for you! Lots of good advice from kind people.

[iphigenia]

I have a modern Singer Featherweight (it's 5 or 6 years old).  It's... okay.  I do find that the tension is uneven.  And it can't handle really thick fabrics or multiple layers.  I will probably look for an older machine next time around.

My iron is a Sunbeam SteamMaster.  I like it-- it has several steam settings and--my favorite part-- a retractable cord.

[Jim_Ruley]

My first sewing machine was a Singer, bought at one of the infamous "school machine" motel sales.  It happily digested large quantities of wool, cotton, linen etc. for about 2 years before the plastic gears had had enough -- it jumped a tooth or something and went out of time.  The local repair shop declared it dead and sold me a Janome 4623LE, which has seen even more abusive service (including a little leather) over 5+ years with no ill effects.  However, for light duty (cottons and linens) the Singer will probably be just fine if handled gently.

I use a Rowenta Professional Luxe iron, which produces enough steam to make both sides of a seam allowance in thick woolens lay down in one pass.  However, if you are going to be working with lighter stuff it's overkill.  Rowentas seem to get mixed reviews on consumer sites, although I suspect some of the complaints come from people who don't have the patience to let them warm up properly.  We had a Black & Decker before the Rowenta that was a fine iron for most materials.

Thanks,

Jim Ruley

[Phil Graf]

Well, Jim's back!

I've got four machines, maybe five if you count the "handi stitch" chainstitcher I bought from the "As Seen on TV" store many years ago and haven't really ever used.  Two are old Singers I got from each grandmother, made in the early 1960's.  One is actually on loan from a friend I haven't spoken to in over a year.  It's a Wilcox & Gibbs from the 1870's, and it needs a new needle.  He found that it will indeed stitch through leather, but it's apparently hard on the needle.  I also have an old Singer treadle machine that needs a new belt.  I got this for my birthday this year.  My Mother-in-law runs estate sales, and sewing machines come up all the time.  She says they can't hardly give them away, which is one reason I got it as a present!

I wouldn't use the zig-zag stitch on anything historical until evidence comes to light that they had that kind of stitch in our era. 

[Denise Butler]

My sewing machine is a Bernina Virtuosa 150. It's the Quilter's edition, so it does lovely 1/4" seams. I bought it 6 or 7 years ago to replace a Singer that had given me fits ever since it was given to me as a birthday gift (purchased from a warehouse club). My SO took it to a Singer sales and service shop; the gentleman there repaired it better than new... but at that point, I just didn't like the machine anymore... I gave it to my sister and I think she's still using it. My iron is a Rowenta Professional. I bought it last year to replace an iron that had ruined one too many pieces of fabric and garments because it had spit and sputtered water all over it. The Rowenta gets and maintains the right temperature and produces the right amount of steam. Whatever iron you use, I do suggest paying attention to the manufacturer's recommendations for water... I found out it makes a big difference.

[dulciewhite]

I kill the lower priced machines in about a yr  My last one is a Brother, its downstairs cant tell you anything else on it lol. It was originally a $1500 machine and I found it on sale for $500.. cant beat that! So far its lasted longer than any other machine I have had, I think Ive had it 4 or 5 yrs now. I also have an old Singer 1950s machine. I keep forgetting to pick up machine oil for it so I can use it! Dh was nice enough to change out the wiring for me (my boss bought it for $2 at a garage sale and gave it to me). 

[Dean McElroy]

..thanks all for your postings on this  sewing machine thread..It's been very helpful reading everyone's input.. ..Happy New Year..

[ToddMorris]

Geez....sewing machines:


I use a:

Wilcox and Gibbs
1885 Davis
Singer Red Eye
1862 Baker (when I can gte my hands in it)
Singer Commercial model 331
Husky Star ( I wore the model number off the front)
Husquvarna that is waiting in the wings to be broken in.    Did I mention I got a mess of sewing machines

For irons...I have a heavy commercial grade iron that produces plenty of steam and seams to be infinitly adjustable for the heat setting that I need.   I was a wonderful ebay find at $125 brand new.     The best part is that it has a 1 gallon water hopper.    I also have a nice heavy Black and Decker "Commerical" that is carried by Kohl's that has been great for shirt making project and it is a bit narrower and comes to more of a point.      I really wish I had a good stove in the shop so that I could use some of my shirt irons that I have.

[Dean McElroy]

....Hi Todd,I thought about 19th/early 20th century sewing machines that the Haversack Depot is selling..and James Country Mercantile is selling a 1957 Singer Featherweight for USD125.00 complete with a cabinet. They say it has been checked out by the local sewing machine shop..a 19th Century one seems good just for period clothing reproduction..can't argue with something the original garments passed through.. ..I understand folks have several for different needs and some handle better than others..

-DM

[ToddMorris]

I had a featherweight, and it wad the absolute best machine I ever had.  It, however, was way to prestine to use for the business so it went to a collection.    It really is the best of both worlds, an exceptional vintage machine that sewed just like my Red Eye, was very strong and durable.   Aside from my Commercial Singer, even my 1940 Comm Singer  (it has a plaque on that says Property of the Pearl Harbor Post Exchange) the featherweight was by far the best machine of all the modern and vintage varieties.   If you can snag one for a good price, even if it doens need a little work, it is well worth it.     

I can say that the most interesting sewing machine I have ever used is an 1852 Singer that is in the collection of the McKinely National Memorial.   It was very different and my big boots definately do not fit in them little foot shaped pedals.

[Tom_Nixon]

Todd:
I've had a Kenmore Electric for years. It's a pretty good machine, but tends to suck lint into the lower bobbin mechanism, requiring a lot of brushing and oiling. It also breaks needles on multiple layers of canvas.

Of late, I drive a Singer 66 from 1912, which has me convinced that they don't make em' like that anymore.



While I don't recommend that you put toddlers to work on it, I have found that, once you get used to the treadle, it provides a straight stitch through all types of fabric. Amazingly, belts, needles and even the manual can still be had. The 66' was the "Model T" of late victorian sewing machines and many are still out there. -Tom