tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445986501162780215.post2818464413808841852..comments2024-03-28T09:00:59.832-04:00Comments on Amy's Free Motion Quilting Adventures: Saturday Porch Musings on MachinesAmy @ Amy's FMQ Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249397590865683398noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445986501162780215.post-87207831976818044692015-05-11T20:38:04.298-04:002015-05-11T20:38:04.298-04:00Bette, Your skills are really great. Many sewers d...Bette, Your skills are really great. Many sewers do not learn to do all those thins on a vintage or straight stitch machine. I have a straight stitch Montgomery Ward machine that makes a perfect stitch and I can make easy repairs myself on it. As I said Buy the Best you can afford. ChrisSewing Junkiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16848603221577664193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445986501162780215.post-84741495336679190462015-05-11T10:44:30.875-04:002015-05-11T10:44:30.875-04:00Thank you, Amy. As I read through the comments I w...Thank you, Amy. As I read through the comments I was ready to cheer for the well-educated and discriminating readers you have. One thing not mentioned is that a new sewer who buys one of these cheap machines is often so frustrated with trying to get a good stitch s/he is put off sewing forever. What they think is a lack of skill on their part is actually the fault of a machine that can't sew worth a darn. <br />Personally, I can't see spending more on a regular sewing machine than I would on a car, but then I grew up using what are now vintage metal sewing machines that have already lasted several lifetimes of their former owners. They can't be beat for ease of use, wonderful stitches and durability. Many are surprised to learn that I can even zigzag, embroider, monogram, sew button holes, make ruffles, and do many things other than straight stitches on my machines with a multitude of attachments. Betty Blandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330431742277178670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445986501162780215.post-33616843340419329422015-05-11T07:22:05.907-04:002015-05-11T07:22:05.907-04:00This has been an issue for many years. Maybe over ...This has been an issue for many years. Maybe over 100 years. During and after the wars the Singer Co. had factories and other companies like Montgomery Wards, Sears, New Home all used the same factories. Each had their own interior parts, but the shells were the same. I sold sewing machines for years and felt the brand I sold were the best also. Many times the factories have to support their employees so they take on another contract to make sure they stay solvent. Several years ago Pfaff, Viking and Singer merged. They did this to make production cheaper for their companies. Babylock and Janome are made in the same factory also. Buy the best you can afford is my motto. ChrisSewing Junkiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16848603221577664193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445986501162780215.post-89364241642812780892015-05-10T10:50:50.888-04:002015-05-10T10:50:50.888-04:00El Cheapo machines at big box stores (like you kno...El Cheapo machines at big box stores (like you know WhereMart) are designed to be tossed in 1 to 3 years. For the same money one can buy a vintage machine in good to excellent condition, parts are readily available, and they can still be repaired. I do FMQ on them all the time. Just my 2 cents.k9dancerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04083908754463536417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445986501162780215.post-80658909033653452812015-05-10T10:06:44.222-04:002015-05-10T10:06:44.222-04:00It has been my experience that even though a produ...It has been my experience that even though a product LOOKS the same, when it is sold so much cheaper at Walmart, there is a reason. They are NOT the same product internally. I will not buy appliances of any kind at walmart. Target seems to keep the quality, but I like Bed, Bath and Beyond for appliances, especially with the 20% off coupons. For sewing machines, I will stick to my Janome dealer. I bought a used one from him and I am very happy. The savings here was going used, not poor quality. Just my humble opinion.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16271973809504082036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445986501162780215.post-78885261064909382322015-05-10T09:21:20.605-04:002015-05-10T09:21:20.605-04:00Different product models cost different prices to ...Different product models cost different prices to manufacture. For a manufacturer to make a machine to sell at a vastly lower price, something has got to go. Just because the "outer shell" looks the same, the quality, construction and inclusion of the components or substitutes can differ greatly..Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15773499225161665101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445986501162780215.post-12125494220962984882015-05-10T08:01:57.755-04:002015-05-10T08:01:57.755-04:00Stay away from big box stores. They carry machine...Stay away from big box stores. They carry machines that look like high end machines but they are not. If you cannot find a local shop to fix it, they will cost a lot of money to send it to where ever. The parts and quality control are not in them and usually they are not manufactured in the same country and the high end machines. I would rather put out more money in the beginning and have an excellent machine with a shop that stands behind it then get a cheaper machine that will end up as a door stop in a few years.Helen Bowiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03570702755236004142noreply@blogger.com