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Arts & crafts

Mini sewing machine gadget things - any good?

(64 Posts)
dontmindstayinghome Tue 03-Nov-20 22:07:21

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!

fevertree Tue 03-Nov-20 22:06:26

MissAdventure I'm flooded with memories of my mother at the machine too now. She used to sit late into the night sewing fancy aprons that she would sell to make extra money.

I miss her! She died when I was barely in my 40s.

MissAdventure Tue 03-Nov-20 21:58:21

Aah, I can picture my mum at her sewing machine, making curtains and other bits.

Someone gave it to her, and it was too heavy to lift, so she sat in the bedroom, on the lid.
I don't half miss her.

Alishka Tue 03-Nov-20 21:55:03

My mum had a treadle sewing machine. Can still remember the sound of it. She made most of our clothes when we were children and knitted our jumpers and cardigans too.

fevertree Tue 03-Nov-20 21:51:23

chewbacca my mother had a Singer treadle when I was a child, it's what I learnt to sew on. I loved it. Such happy memories.

Chewbacca Tue 03-Nov-20 21:49:14

I wish I'd kept Granny's Jones's treadle sewing machine now; it was a doddle to use. Forwards or backwards only. Perfect.

MissAdventure Tue 03-Nov-20 21:39:38

Oh well, that's another nail in the coffin of my dream to become a domestic goddess, then.

I almost bought a really small machine to hem some -shhhhh! Don't tell anyone- net curtains.

Alishka Tue 03-Nov-20 21:06:53

Very sensible decision, Lucca ! wink

I used to design and make all my own clothes, including a trouser suit, but that was then....now tho? I've been known to go into my local Morrisons, which has a Pride drycleaning/alteration service, and ask them to sew a button on for me while I had a pot of teagrin

Lucca Mon 02-Nov-20 18:03:14

Thanks. I’ll abandon the idea !

vegansrock Mon 02-Nov-20 17:05:13

Agree small ones are just toys and wouldn’t stand up to a curtain. Janome have some beginner models which are fairly reliable and straightforward. You get what you pay for with sewing machines in my experience.

Bluebellwould Mon 02-Nov-20 16:05:51

Autocorrect Lucca ?

Bluebellwould Mon 02-Nov-20 16:05:22

Hi Luca, no I can’t recommend any small or hand held machines. They just do not work. Agree with Ilovecheese, or look on eBay for second hand ones.

Ilovecheese Mon 02-Nov-20 16:02:49

How mini?
The hand held ones I wouldn't touch, they never seem to work properly.
The ones that look like a normal sewing machine but smaller, in pastel colours are o.k for light fabrics, but sometimes will not take a normal sized reel of thread so a bit of a nuisance and not useful for many things.

I would go for a full size. Aldi or Lidl sometimes have good bargains.
On line "sewing machines direct" have a good range.
Or Argos have a basic Brother model for £80.
I suppose sewing machine shops will be closed from Thursday.

But then I love sewing and can't imagine being without a proper machine, so maybe biased in my reply!

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 “?