I test drove a sewing machine yesterday!

**SewCrafty** · 03-01-2004, 06:44 AM

I have come to the conclusion, I have very expensive tastes!

I went to one of our only Husqvarna dealers and tried out a couple of machines. I found the one I want but it will have to wait for a bit. I liked the Interlude 435, it is replacing the Freesia models. Not much difference between them, mainly the color of the front panel.

I was a tad off in the price of the one I thought I would like. I thought it was around $1,500 Nope, $2,600 on sale!

Guess I have some saving to do!

**Darlene** · 03-01-2004, 06:53 AM

Dream dream dream,dream dream dream...

Vroom vroom::::::::::::::::::

**homesteadmamma** · 03-01-2004, 09:50 AM

Awe those Husqvarnas are expensive but worth every penny. Dee have you checked out the Pfaff? They have very nice machines as well.

**canadian gardener** · 03-01-2004, 10:20 AM

Huskies are nice, but I'm a dyed in the wool Pfaff lover here. I dunno, I think they are both expensive, but Dee you are going to use it for a lifetime, and that is worth investing in.

When we bought my Pfaff 22 yrs ago this summer, dh bought me the top of the line Pfaff and I had it less than 24 hours, it scared the dickens out of me with all the bells and whistles.

I ended up taking it back for the one I have now, the second down from the top in 1982. Model 1024. It's been my faithful dependable friend ever since.

Good equipment is often why one person continues on in sewing, and why another with equal desire, gives up in frustration because they are fighting their machine.

I know my mother's old Elna, (which fit her to a T, and went on to my aunt, and fits her fine) and I fought continually. I've explained in an earlier post, that I always felt like it was a chain smoking, nasty personality with surly attitude and wore far too much makeup and hung around on street corners. (my mother was a sweet lady so it wasn't taking on a personality from her).

It nearly killed my sewing desire.

The Pfaff and I liked each other from the start.

I think it's like some machines fit some people best and others are like stroking a cat backwards.

If you find a machine that you get along with and are happy together, it's worth paying a bit more for a lifetime of happiness.

My biggest fear is that my Pfaff will die on me here someday. It was making funny noises the other morning and I thought OH NO!!!!!

But I fiddled and it was just the bobbin winder gizmo not fully put back into it's slot.

It's not just the expense, it's the thought of trying to replace something that fits me that well. All other machines might look and feel like they are second to that one.

Worth waiting for if you've found "the one". It's like a happy marriage!

**SewCrafty** · 03-01-2004, 10:35 AM

Oh don't I know it! I will get the one I want, but I may have to wait a few months.

I just looked up where a Pfaff dealer is, anywhere from 25-35 miles from me. Same as everything else.

What do you all know about Bernina machines?

**canadian gardener** · 03-01-2004, 10:45 AM

My sil used to like them, but when I was getting my Pfaff (and mind you that was 21.5 yrs back!) they had a bad reputation for the motors burning out early, so she warned me not to.

I remember the consumer guides at the time were warning people.

Speaking of which, the consumer guides are at the public library, it might be worth a poke thru the annual buyers guide book (reference section usually) and the back issues.

They usually review sewchines in one or other once a year.

There are several consumer guide mags, but I can never remember which is the best, but they are a good place to look.

anybody know if they do online stuff like online consumer guide info?

I've been lurking at http://www.sewingworld.com/newsw/frame_discuss.htm

and they have some lively and interesting sewing discussions, I wonder if their discussion section on machines would help?

**canadian gardener** · 03-01-2004, 10:50 AM

Dee that Husky line has good reviews last time I poked my head up a few years back. Every bit as good as Pfaff. Well made, sturdy, well designed but that was about 10 years back that I looked.

**canadian gardener** · 03-01-2004, 10:52 AM

OK Just looking in sewing world and in the Q+A discussion forums, there are several threads of interest. Just looking at one titled "which machine to buy" and the answers are quite useful.

Oh and here is a good idea from the looking for a used machine thread, where someone writes "A book I recommend most highly to your friend is The Sewing Machine Guide by John Giordano, pub. by Taunton Press. He discusses how to select a machine based on what you want to do, also gets into taking care of your machine..."

Wonder if that one is down at the library. Interesting.

**SewCrafty** · 03-01-2004, 10:53 AM

Thanks Margery, I'll check out that link.

**canadian gardener** · 03-01-2004, 11:00 AM

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO just found an interesting serger thread called Serger? in there. The links won't open the specific thread but it's in Q+A still,

CJ if you see this, you or anyone else interested in getting a serger one of the gals is quite good on what and why.

And they say in that one, don't buy it at a garage sale with some compelling reasons why not.

**canadian gardener** · 03-01-2004, 11:05 AM

OK just bumped into a comment that Aug Sep 2002 had a comparison of 31 diff machines.

Dee I'm off to go upstairs, grab the issue and see what I can glean from it for you.

**SewCrafty** · 03-01-2004, 11:13 AM

Thanks Margery.

How is that bathing suit coming along? When do you go on your trip?

**canadian gardener** · 03-01-2004, 11:29 AM

Ok the authors both picked the following: I'll quote here:
Husqvarna Viking Lily 535 has a fine one step buttonhole, fix stitch, and mirror imaging of decorative stitches.

Janome Memory Craft 3500 is an especially easty to operate computerized machine.

Elna 6003Q runs like butter. This unusually smooth stitching is a plus for machine quilting.

Brother PC-2800 like it's almost identical twin, the Bably Lock 7800 makes a particularly nice looking automatic buttonhole.

Then Carol, one of the two authors also preferred: I quote:
The Husqvarn Viking Huskystar 224 offers features that are easy for a novice, and versatile for a seasoned sewer for a relatively low price.

She also liked the following:
Kenmore 19157 for lots of stitch options.
Elna 3007 she said was solidly built and comfortable feeling.
Brother PS-2500 combines simplicity of a starter machine with the sturdy grounded feel of a much more expensive machine.
Pfaff Tiptronic 2030 has exceptionally good fabric feed and a top notch buttonhole.

Judy liked:
Brother LS-1217 "for a starter machine to replace later when it's time to upgrade. Has only 2 stitches :surprise:

but it's manual explains how to use them for any basic sewing function. It offers a low risk way to see if serious sewing is in your future"

Margery's comments here,-- seems to me that the sheer frustration of trying to make 2 stitches do it all might be a low risk way to scare people off sewing all together. Back to article

Simplicity SA 1600 Liberty which according to Judy has a hard case but won't accomodate large amts of fabric to the right of the needle (so we ask ourselves, Judy dahling, why bother including it in your list of faves, but Judy never enlightens us further, and a hard case is super if you travel with your sew chine a lot, but other than that it should have more to it's resume than that!)

EuroPro Craft N Sew has a solid metal construction and offers a well rounded feature and accessory package. HMM says Margery, solid metal, we see a theme here, machines that can parachute from airplanes and still sew perhaps????

White 2999 LCD and push button features eliminate turning the wheel to adjust needle position.

Singer XL-3400 ahs a gallery of decorative stitches, traditional heirloom styles block and script alphabets.

Bernina Activa 125 has a unique quilting stitch that looks like a handmade running stitch and will accept a broad rander of Bernina presser feet and accessories.

There that was their top picks, the ones they both agreed on, and the ones they each enjoyed individually.

**canadian gardener** · 03-01-2004, 11:31 AM

Oh that bathing suit, yes, have located it, but nothing further. Side tracked easily!

**canadian gardener** · 03-01-2004, 11:37 AM

I was trying to find my cardboard table protector so I can spread out on the dining room table (we will eat off our knees for the next few days) but I am having trouble remembering where I put it last. Came on line here for a break, LOL and ahem, well no sewing getting done at moment.

NEED to get back at it. You have a good day there Dee, and happy thoughts about a new machine.

tHere is a good Printable comparison chart to take with you from Threads http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00130.asp