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Sewing Starter Kit

P

Peterk1234

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2017
Messages
805
Location
Massachusetts
Aside from a machine and thread, what are the must haves? Scissors, roller blade thingy? board to cut on? Pins? ?????

Any and all input greatly appreciated. Pete
 
One thing I learned is that not all bobbins are the same. So you probably want extra bobbins and if they don’t come with machine you want to be careful that you buy the right ones.

A destitcher is worth it’s weight in gold.

Small sharp scissors have been great!


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pesqimon said:
One thing I learned is that not all bobbins are the same. So you probably want extra bobbins and if they don’t come with machine you want to be careful that you buy the right ones.

A destitcher is worth it’s weight in gold.

Small sharp scissors have been great!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
These two things along with a thread stand, extra lighting, and a binder for puting on grosgrain binding (assuming you will be making stuff that needs bound).
 
Squirrels said:
These two things along with a thread stand, extra lighting, and a binder for puting on grosgrain binding (assuming you will be making stuff that needs bound).
Click to expand...
Is that the edging you guys are sewing on your saddles? If it is, is a double fold also an option?
 
You can get them single fold or double. Why do you need a double?
 
I’ll throw one out there that may be a little less obvious. Basting Tape (double sided sewers tape). It’s not a necessity but it sure is nice to tape your materials together to hold them for sewing and it helps waterproof your seams/stitches. I also find it works great for sewing curved pieces as it keeps the fabric from wrinkling. It can build up in your needle a bit but it is easy to occasionally wipe off with alcohol on a cotton ball if needed.

I’m learning too. Anyone else with more experience using basting tape? Any draw backs?

Oh, and you will need something to measure with like a clear ruler and sewers tape measure and something to mark material with. A fabric pen/pencil (disappearing/washable ink) unless your like me and so far have just used a regular pen.


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I have made countless numbers of knaiders and swaiders on a newer heavy duty home machine. It went ok but I recently bought a few old singer 15 clones and a singer 99. Had to put some work into them restoring them but they are so much better for the types if sewing we do. My newer machine always struggled but these old ones would sew through a 2x4 if you could fit it under the feed dogs. I actually bought too many machines and I need to sell at least 1 lol. But do yourself a favor guys. Buy an old singer or singer clone. I can make a knaider and swaider set in half the time now without any stalling from the machine. They will sew through 4-5 pieces of webbing without any problems with heavy duty thread and really good stitching. And they're just cool looking Snapchat-907666273.jpgSnapchat-2078146278.jpgSnapchat-1877482436.jpg
 
AntlerAddict76 said:
@jcline what kind of machine do you need to unload??


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Snapchat-1877482436.jpg
I have 3 of these singer 15 clones. They all 3 sew really well. I have got them all cleaned up and working well. This Premier is probably the best looking one. Didnt require much work either.
 
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That ugly colored White is the best machine I would say. It's got a really powerful motor and it's super quiet. The best thing about these machines is you can upgrade them and fix them so easily. You can buy a bigger motor if you need one for around $25 and they just bolt onto the outside of the machine. It's a 5 minute job. Just have to make sure the machine you're getting doesnt need so much work or parts that you end up spending an arm and a leg to get them running right. I got really lucky and none of the 3 I bought required any new parts. Just a good cleaning, quick lube job, and some adjustments.
 
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My Singer 4452 showed up today. Once I understood how to thread it, it was very straight forward. Not really sure why I have not purchased one years ago. I am the only one who will sew in my house, and it is always by hand. My work was far from satisfactory looking.

Played around with some stitches into webbing and some heavy material. So far so good. Waiting on some needles, thread and other goodies.

One question for you guys about the foot. Do you have to adjust it for different thicknesses or does it do it on its own?
 
No it does it on its own. When you drop the presser foot onto the material it is spring loaded and just presses down on the material.
 
JCLINE84 said:
That ugly colored White is the best machine I would say. It's got a really powerful motor and it's super quiet. The best thing about these machines is you can upgrade them and fix them so easily. You can buy a bigger motor if you need one for around $25 and they just bolt onto the outside of the machine. It's a 5 minute job. Just have to make sure the machine you're getting doesnt need so much work or parts that you end up spending an arm and a leg to get them running right. I got really lucky and none of the 3 I bought required any new parts. Just a good cleaning, quick lube job, and some adjustments.
Click to expand...

I think my motor on my old singer is shot. Never was strong. Boggs down on 2 pieces of webbing. Do you think that’s the problem or is there something else I may have set wrong?
 
swampsnyper said:
I think my motor on my old singer is shot. Never was strong. Boggs down on 2 pieces of webbing. Do you think that’s the problem or is there something else I may have set wrong?
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Have you oiled it and greased the motor? Could be tight from corrosion. If that's not the problem then your motor could be bad. Just get on Ebay or amazon and get a 1 amp motor for a singer 15 or HA1
 
JCLINE84 said:
Have you oiled it and greased the motor? Could be tight from corrosion. If that's not the problem then your motor could be bad. Just get on Ebay or amazon and get a 1 amp motor for a singer 15 or HA1
Click to expand...
How much do you want for your singer clone?
 
Peterk1234 said:
My Singer 4452 showed up today. Once I understood how to thread it, it was very straight forward. Not really sure why I have not purchased one years ago. I am the only one who will sew in my house, and it is always by hand. My work was far from satisfactory looking.

Played around with some stitches into webbing and some heavy material. So far so good. Waiting on some needles, thread and other goodies.

One question for you guys about the foot. Do you have to adjust it for different thicknesses or does it do it on its own?
Click to expand...

@Peterk, I’m interested how you like your 4452, I have a 4423 on the way. Maybe some feedback after you’ve had a chance to do some projects! Thx


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Squirrels said:
These two things along with a thread stand, extra lighting, and a binder for puting on grosgrain binding (assuming you will be making stuff that needs bound).
Click to expand...

And...I just bought a binder. Thanks! Oh, the things you don't know that you don't know.
The binder foot attachment looks much easier than my sad attempts at free handing it!
 
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