Mini sewing machine gadget things - any good?

boodymum67 thank you! I can’t manage a treadle and have only one fully functional hand. I sew by hand now and enjoy it, but there are some jobs that would be better with a machine. Is it easy to thread?

I have several modern sewing machines which I do battle with whenever I use them. I was left a 1951 Singer 201k by a late uncle and I can tell you that it knocks the others into touch. Personally, I will never touch a modern sewing machine ever again!!!

Me neither.
I think maybe only those with an interest were given a chance on the sewing machines at school, so that rules me out.
I changed my option to woodwork as soon as I got the chance.

I am going to admit something now. I cannot use a sewing machine! The teachers at my school were diabolical. When they saw that sewing was not my forte they threw me out of the class refusing to teach me altogether, so I am in my 60's having NEVER touched a sewing machine. I am not ashamed as I have other talents. I play 2 instruments, have a better singing voice than most pop stars. I just wish those teachers had been held accountable!

Lucca
I had a Janome Mini sewing machine for several years and loved it. Strong, well made, a variety of stitches and reliable. I made everything from clothes to curtains on it. I eventually gave it to my GD when she took an interest in sewing and she loves it too. It must be 12 years old now and still going strong.
This one is very similar to it:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JANOME-Compact-Electric-Sewing-Machine-Sew-Mini-525-Portable-Manual-Book/164485919993?hash=item264c1ff4f9:g:XOQAAOSww3Ffb2Ic
Janome is a great brand. I have a full size Janome machine, a Janome overlocker and I'm now considering one of their quilting machines.

As others have said don't bother with the tiny handheld machines they're slow and frustrating to use, difficult to get an even stitch and you'd be better putting the money towards something better.

I do quite a bit of sewing, i love my janome. You can get free tutorials on you tube on how to make various things plus threading, tensions etc.

Update....by the way no intention of sewing curtains again !
I got the last Aldi one in the shop. It’s a tasteful shade of pink
I haven’t unpacked it yet. I do hope it doesn’t end up working as well as the exercise video i once bought (and never played )

You cant go wrong with an old fashioned sewing machine, that's true. You can even sew in a power cut! I learned to sew on a wind handle sewing machine.

I forgot to mention that I am a wheelchair user, so cant use my legs or feet. With my previous sewing machine, I couldn't use the foot pedal on the floor, so put it on my work table and operated it with my right had..hence I only had 1 hand for everything else.

This fab new machine has a stop/start button so it is great for me.

Those mini sewing machines aren't much good for `proper` sewing.

I love my newish BROTHER INNOV 15.

Got it for £199 from an online dealer. it was slightly cheaper than the regular price as it was a re-boxed one..ie someone ordered it and didn't want it. It had a full guarantee and is perfect. I use it daily.

I bought myself a mini sewing machine from Aldi, cost me $20, got it home unpacked it. It looked great, even had a little foot pedal. So i put batteries in it, turned it on and followed the instructions. Everything worked....except it didnt sew, the needle went up and down, the fabric went through but no stiches. Long story short after three days of trying i removed the needle and any sharp bits and gave it to my great grandson who happily “sews” bits of paper with it.

My father was an upholsterer and also made the huge theatre curtains back in the sizties. He had an old Singer treadle machine at home which was well used, firstly for curtains whenever we needed them, and then as babies came along, cot sheets from various bits of fabric and even pyjamas and dresses for us. I'm afraid it didn't rub off on me and yet, my daughters now turn to me to repair, or sew up trouser hems, etc. as they can't be bothered!

I too learned to sew on an old singer treadle machine. As a small child I loved to hunt inside the four little drawers and see all the bits and bibs. When my own sewing machine packed in a few years ago I picked up a 1950 singer machine in a charity shop. Best thing ever. Sews just about any fabric. There were no instructions but I found a you tube video that told me all I needed to know. I think the old machines were built to last.

To Don'tmindstayingat home
If there is a serial number on the machine you can google it.
I have a 1930's Singer and I found some really helpful hints and demos

I think with curtains you need a more robust machine; perhaps one that could cope with denim.

I made a lot of my clothes on my granny’s Singer treadle machine in my teens and early twenties. After I was married my MIL bought me a modern electric sewing machine, but it was heavy, and I was always having problems with tension, etc. I eventually gave it away. A few years later I bought one of the small pastel coloured ones in BHS but it never worked. That was given away too!

Do you have a Freegle, or similar site in your area? When I upgraded to a fancier machine I offered my old basic one to anyone who could make use of it. It was eagerly snapped up by a young mum.
You can put requests for items on these sites, and seeing people asking can often jog someone into donating something that has been sitting unused in their house. If you are lucky you could be given a sewing machine completely free.
People donate, and request, the oddest things sometimes, which turn out to be just what someone else wanted.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Why not ask advice on the Madam Sew pages onFb? They are a cornucopia of sewing advice, including sewing machine recommendations

My father bought my mother a lightweight Singer some years ago when a back injury stopped her lifting her other one. I used it when visiting and it was a lovely machine. I imagine there are similar ones around now.

Mum used to use an old Singer for everything and she taught me to sew. For my 18th birthday she bought me a basis Bernini. It lasted me a long time. My current Bernini was bought in the late 1980s and is still going strong although it’s been repaired twice. Having said all this my daughter has recently bought a Janome and she is very happy with it.

I think it all depends on how much sewing anyone is intending on doing. I’m not a fan of fancy computer machines. I’ve rarely used most of the features and just stick to the basic stitches.

My Mum was a brilliant seamstress. She decided to buy one of the mini machines in the mid 70s made by Ronco. It was more for the novelty value and small jobs. She was initially impressed with it and went on to make a maxi dress for me for my cousins wedding. Oh dear,every movement by me seemed to loosen/ undo a seam! We had a very entertaining day if not for all the right reasons! They may have improved but buy with caution ?

I bought a hand crank Singer sewing machine on eBay, just like the one I learned on in school, almost 50 years ago. It dates from the 1920's, according to the code number on it (Google is wonderful). I've had it serviced and it works perfectly. I think it cost £25 and the service another £20. My mum had a Singer treadle machine, she was a seamstress so was always sewing - she was made to go to trade school and learned dressmaking, and she always hated it, later going into banking, where she did quite well. Happy memories of her making all our dresses (mine and 2 sisters), and our nan, her mum, making matching cardigans. She hasn't get a sewing machine now though!

Pfaff make really good modern machines, I have one.

If you only do basic sewing any old machine will do, although charity shops are out of the question right now.

Just make sure it uses round spools, not the old boat shaped ones as you can't get replacements of them any longer.

If you buy say and old Singer and can't get parts at your local sewing machine shop, go online. I did, when I needed new rubber rings for mine.