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Arts & crafts

Mini sewing machine gadget things - any good?

(65 Posts)
Lucca Mon 02-Nov-20 15:43:48

I used to own a sewing machine and make fairly basic curtains etc. From time to time is wish I had a machine to do repairs make a cushion cover or two or even face masks. Does anyone know anything g about these “mini sewing machines “?

Puzzler61 Wed 04-Nov-20 10:26:01

I think you could go on the huge selling website beginning with E and get a basic but full size one.
I bid for an older model Frister & Rossman - 99 pence and I got it! Very surprised no one else bid against me.
(I had to pay courier costs too).
It had a broken foot pedal - but it was glued together by my FIL and worked well for 10 years.

kelseylee01 Wed 04-Nov-20 10:24:43

No better to buy a decent one I bought my son a $100 brother on sale and its a great machine I was half thinking it would be junk but 4 years on still going strong and i use it for button holes as it does better than mine! You would be best to look around at christmas sales

Hetty58 Wed 04-Nov-20 10:19:39

Chewbacca, I miss my lovely Singer treadle so much. I gave it away when I thought it was (mostly) just a space gobbling dust collector.

I now have an old, heavy electric one - but it's just not the same. Worse, I'm waiting for a stronger person to visit and move it for me. It's on the floor and I want it on the table - but daren't risk my back.

4allweknow Wed 04-Nov-20 10:17:59

Fat thumb today should be "strong" not "string".

polnan Wed 04-Nov-20 10:17:41

ah? chewbacca,, old fashioned treadle machines..

and it is called progress! they are all far too complicated for me now..

my overdone RANT progress ! duh!

4allweknow Wed 04-Nov-20 10:16:15

I gave a mini machine to a 13 year old who was interested in fashion/art. She thought it was wonderful. Now 5 years on she has a full machine, as expected as mini not "string" enough (her word). I have a 60 year old electric Singer and a 20 year old Brother. Whenever I want to do anything with a thick seam eg all the folds in face masks I get my old Singer out. I feel a lot of the cheaper machines may not have a good pressure on the foot and may only cope with fine materials and thin seams.

kathyd Wed 04-Nov-20 10:05:01

I second Sewing Machines Direct. Honest and helpful.
Also GUR. They delivered my machine to France free.
A good basic machine such as a Janome is not exorbitant. Singer aren't the quality they used to be and there are lots of complaints about them too. Since being taken over they went downhill.

Granartisan Wed 04-Nov-20 10:04:53

I own an elaborate and versatile machine, as I made most of my own clothes, but it is very heavy.A couple of years ago I bought a lightweight but normal size Brother machine from Hobbycraft for about£60. I now find that I use the new machine for everything. The 'posh' machine is virtually redundant!

Coffeebix Wed 04-Nov-20 09:59:21

No mini or small portable machines are rubbish. I have taught sewing and a number of people turn up with these machines and cannot get them to work properly ir they do not sew properly. Buy a normal machine. Thereare many models you can buy under £100.00.

Spec1alk Wed 04-Nov-20 09:56:32

I recently inherited a Janome from a friend after my mums 1961 Bernina finally died.
I’m really enjoying using it and the instruction book is brilliant

Lavazza1st Wed 04-Nov-20 08:36:34

@Lucca did you mean which lady on YouTube? If so, here you are www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFABAbK4Beo

Lilypops Wed 04-Nov-20 07:54:51

It was from the film “The perils of Pauline. Sung by Betty Hutton , I just looked it up on YouTube

Lilypops Wed 04-Nov-20 07:52:36

Oh. , The sewing machine , the sewing machine. A girls best friend,
If I didn’t have my sewing machine ,I,d come to a sticky end,

So I bobbin and bobbin and peddle peddle all the day,
So by night I am too tired to go out and play !!

I remember this song from my childhood. , can’t remember all the lyrics. But I loved hearing it

petra Wed 04-Nov-20 07:37:02

I had one of the 'Aldi' machines 15 years ago. They are brilliant.

fevertree Wed 04-Nov-20 07:22:18

MissA ?

I'm in a Zoom sewing group. I have a basic Janome, cost was £99. All the other (younger) women in the class have fancy 'bells 'n whistles' digital machines. The number of times I am 'marking time' waiting on them to sort out an electronic hitch ... smile - my machine never let's me down.

Lucca Wed 04-Nov-20 04:22:30

Which one ?!

Lavazza1st Wed 04-Nov-20 01:50:03

These are really good! www.google.com/search?q=jl+mini+sewing+machine&rlz=1C1CHBF_enGB891GB891&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiCnKzj4ufsAhUJQkEAHV15C3k4ChD8BSgBegQIDBAD&biw=911&bih=438#spd=17801522541833293148 A lady on youtube has one and takes hers on holiday with her because its so convenient

Chewbacca Wed 04-Nov-20 00:02:28

That sounds too complicated for me MissA; I'd rather hand sew than faff around with a digital machine. I bought a super king size duvet cover in the sales because I really liked the design. But my bed is a double. So I cut it to size and hand sewed double seams up the sides. Took me days to finish it! grin

MissAdventure Tue 03-Nov-20 23:08:33

I've just been googling, but only found a digital one.

Lucca Tue 03-Nov-20 22:33:36

And me. I’ll nip down to local Aldi just in case...

MissAdventure Tue 03-Nov-20 22:31:23

Oh, I'm all disappointed now!

Lucca Tue 03-Nov-20 22:29:00

?? sold out

MissAdventure Tue 03-Nov-20 22:27:03

You can't go wrong for that price. smile

Lucca Tue 03-Nov-20 22:25:09

dontmindstayinghome

I think Aldi have one on special offer at the moment for £29.99.
It is described as a 'midi' size. Two good reviews on it.

I learned to sew on a Singer treadle machine at school.

I now have a 40yr old Singer and a Janome which I was given without instructions so I don't know how to thread it!

Oooh exciting ! Maybe I’ll rethink my decision...

MissAdventure Tue 03-Nov-20 22:09:41

We should make a thread full of little snippet memories of our parents - sometimes things written here spark off long forgotten ones.
I feel a bit tearful now though. (Wavery smile emoji)