Sewing Machine Guide: Tips on Choosing, Buying, and Refurbishing

Sewing Machine Guide: Tips on Choosing, Buying, and Refurbishing

by: John Giordano

Topics include: your old machine, your sewing table, accurate sewing, sewing surface, bobbin area, sewing space, computerized sewing, needle area, your sewing machine, machine dealers, call the dealer, computerized machines, bobbin thread, computerized models, your machine, zigzag stitch

Book Description:

Editorial Reviews From Library Journal -- Giordano, who both collects and uses sewing machines, here discusses strategies for choosing the right machine. He explains how to test a machine, how to bargain for a good deal, and how to set up your sewing space once you get your purchase home. With its mixture of practical advice and money-saving tips, this book is engaging reading even for someone not all that interested in purchasing a sewing machine. Highly recommended for public libraries. Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.

An Excellent Start -- Certainly the prior reviews have not lacked in force of opinion. It is foolish, in my estimation, to expect a book in this price range and size to go into "restoring" sewing machines. Common sense should rule that out. It is also no primer in the heavy-duty repair of machines; the author rightly directs the reader to a dealer for that. What remains in an excellent guide for the average person in doing minor maintenance on a machine. As an owner and sewer for nearly thirty years, I wouldn't dream of taking apart my computer Bernina machines but had a good time dissembling some old Singer machines--and the advice worked! I saw nothing wrong with the author's advice on shopping and buying machines, though this might vary with geography and local dealers. Though I was already aware of it, I thought his section on who owns who in the sewing world, and where machines come from, was interesting. This was not meant to be investigative writing, and no doubt the author did not wish to injure independent dealers. I found his recommendations for how to shop for machines by price to be spot on, though of course prices do go obsolete. I particularly enjoyed the full-color photos of the steps involved in minor cleaning of the machines. For this price, this is a great first book on sewing machines and their workings.

Mixed Review -- Some chapters of this book weren't worth the time to read them. The pricing guides obviously become obsolete right away. He indicates you couldn't possibly get a good sewing machine for under $150 even buying used, and that the only place to get a good used sewing machine is at a dealer, I disagree. The section about finding your "Sewing Tempermant" was contradictory and just wacky. Perhaps it's my fault for assuming that "refurbishing" would be about restoring a neglected machine to top condition, but it's actually about taking your old well-cared for machine, and cleaning, oiling and shining it up a bit. "How to Modernize an Old Machine" is really just a collection of tips about changing your sewing habits. Mostly very interesting tips, but not really about changing your old machine. Despite all of those complaints, I enjoyed the book and learned a lot. I especially liked the information on the brands, who made what when, and who's making it now, etc. The chapter "Setting Up Your Sewing Space" is reason enough to read this book, and certainly isn't just for novices.

Reviews:

Beginner Level Book -- I collect antique sewing machines. My newest one is a 1966 Singer 221 Featherweight. When I got this book, I gave it to my son who is just learning to sew. It was written in terms he could understand and had a lot of practical knowledge in it. For me, it was of no use. I have been sewing since age 11 and have taught myself most everything I know about machines. So, if you are just starting out, this is a great book. If you are an antique sewer like me, find another book like Charles Law's Encyclopedia of Antique Sewing Machines (limited print and hard to find). He tells you how to restore a black japanned finish with gold leaf without destroying the surface, what chemicals to use and not to use, and has many manuals for obsolete machines in the back of the book with diagrams.

Buy a Brand Name -- John states very early in his book that buying a sewing machine is like buying a car: buy the brand you like, know, or have the tools and skills to fix. This is very true and excellent advice, and since his brand preferences become very clear by the end of the book, I followed it and found my wife the best used Swiss-made machine I could afford. It is a great machine, and it completely revitalized my wife's interest in sewing. She evens wants to start quilting. The biggest weakness of the book is that no details are offered as to machine brands differ mechanically; the reader is left to shop by features alone. In my case, this was no help, because mechanical malfunctions (and not a lack of a feature) that rendered my former machine worst than useless. These technical details are known, and I was lucky enough to find a former Singer wholesaler who could explain the differences between brands and models. The section about how to finance a machine can be skipped. The repair section is interesting and useful, but it won't jump-start a dead machine. The list of great machines of the past is really good, but they are not to be found in the market (Although one did appear on a online auction). His price guidelines I found to be too high (yeah!) for this area. It is a nice book, and very readable. The list of machines and the final chapter make the book worth buying.

The truth about sewing machines! -- I got this book a couple of years ago when I wanted to update my sewing machine. (The 1960 Singer had about 160,000 miles on it.) The book showed me how to recognize quality in a sewing machine, and convinced me that the precision European machines from the days before computers are the real gems. I bought two of the high-rated ones, for far less than I would have spent on a new machine. I love them both - I am so glad this information was available. Unique and very useful book about buying a sewing machine -- I checked this book out from the library because it looked helpful in my quest to update my sewing machine. I liked it so much I bought a copy for myself to keep as a reference. The book covered everything I needed to consider before buying a new or used machine or whether to buy another one at all. The book is well organized and gave wonderful inside information from a person who, having repaired sewing machines for years, knows about all the makes and models. It did not appear to be biased toward one manufacturer or the other. If you are thinking about upgrading or replacing your machine, this book is very useful.

Tips on choosing, buying, and refurbishing On a cold, dark, winter night, you are propped up in a warm, cozy bed thumbing through your favorite sewing magazine. You stop and stare at yet another enticing advertisement for one of those newfangled, do-it-all, top-of-the-line sewing machines and wonder: Could they really be as good as they claim? Is it time to buy one? You toss. You turn. You dream of repeatable automatic buttonholes, exquisitely embroidered blouses, and quilts to die for. But wait! Who is that figure hiding in the shadows of your dreamy sewing room? You can hear it whispering: Be careful. This is going to cost a bundle. You should be ashamed of yourself -- what's wrong with the old machine? You'll never be able to use it...didn't you say it's computerized? As soon as you pay for it a new model will make yours obsolete. Those dealers will take advantage of you if you give them a chance. Wake up! Wake up! I've written this book because making a decision about a wonderful hobby like sewing shouldn't be a nightmare. I have spent years working with every domestic sewing machine on the market (I currently have 12 of them in my workroom) and have spent a lot of time in sewing-machine stores and sewing-machine repair rooms. That's how I've learned a lot about customers, dealers, sewing machines, the sewing industry, and ways to make sewing more enjoyable. In this book, I'll share the things I have learned so you can make some sensible decisions about one of the most practical, pleasurable, relaxing, and satisfying hobbies on earth: sewing. In Chapter One, I'll look at sewing and sewing-machine trends and what and why sewers are sewing today. What you sew depends a good deal on your personality, so I'll talk about sewing temperament. See if you fall into any of the categories I've created from my observations of sewers throughout the years. In Chapter Two, I'll talk about whether you should buy a sewing machine and when. I'll talk about the basics of good decision making, including the difference between making decisions with your brain and with your heart. In this chapter, I will also discuss the various kinds of sewing machines that are on the market and the pros and cons of the features available -- which ones work and which ones don't. The more you know about the products available, the less likely you will make an expensive mistake when it's time for you to buy a machine. In Chapter Three, I'll discuss how to clean and keep your current machine in good running order. I'll also give you some tips on how to modernize that old machine. In Chapter Four, I assume that you've decided to buy a sewing machine and have also made some decisions on what kind you want and approximately how much you want to spend. I'll take you step-by-step through the buying process so that you'll feel comfortable negotiating the purchase of an important part of your creative life. Here you'll find tips on how to find a good dealer, how to negotiate a good price, and how to avoid those "tricks of the trade" that have your mind spinning as the money flies out of your wallet. In Chapter Five, I'll talk about making the most of your machine after you get it home. I'll share with you some of the things I've learned over the years that can make your investment pay off in productivity and sewing enjoyment. For example, I'll tell you why those tables that are designed "especially for your sewing machine" are the worst things you can buy, and I'll give you some suggestions to improve the accuracy in your sewing. I hope you enjoy my efforts. Let me know how I've helped, and tell me how you're doing. Drop me a line in care of Threads Books, The Taunton Press, Inc., 63 South Main St., PO Box 5506, Newtown, CT 06470. I wish you happy sewing dreams.

Anyone who has ever shopped for a sewing machine knows that it can be as difficult as buying a used car and just as expensive. Now you can go into the process knowing what to look for, what questions to ask, and how to get the best deal possible. More than a buying guide, this book will help you figure out what those new computerized machines can do for you, whether you need a new machine at all, and how to get the most out of your machine, no matter what its vintage. You will learn how to: analyze your sewing personality so you can find the machine that suits you update your old model to give it modern features clean the machine yourself test-drive a sewing machine, either new or used negotiate for the best price possible organize your sewing space to suit your needs make your own sewing and cutting table, and more