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From: place@uiucdcs.CS.UIUC.EDU
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Sewing Machine--info wanted
Message-ID: <44000018@uiucdcs>
Date: Mon, 21-Oct-85 15:30:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.44000018
Posted: Mon Oct 21 15:30:00 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 23-Oct-85 06:19:58 EDT
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Nf-From: uiucdcs.CS.UIUC.EDU!place    Oct 21 14:30:00 1985


It all depends on what kind of sewing you'll be doing.
  If you are only going to do minor repairs, replace zippers, repair
hems and seams, then you don't need a machine with 17+ built-in
stitches.
  If you are going to construct clothes from patterns, intend to make
buttonholes, and machine finish hems, then you probably don't need a
machine with 17+ built-in stitches.  Straight stitch plus zigzag is
probably adequate.
  If you are going to decorative finishing or edging on clothing you
construct, make monograms, professionally finish seams, you'll need
those 17+ stitches.
  In my sewing career, I have used two Brothers, two Singers, and one
Sears sewing machine.  Here is a brief description of each:
  1.  Brother Sewing Machine, circa 1958, my mother's, had straight 
and zigzag stitch, unknown price, worked well.
  2.  Singer Sewing Machine, circa 1969, bought for me in high school,
top-of-the-line or near top-of-the-line with drop-in disk stitch
selection plus other built-in stitches, around $700 w/cabinet, worked
well, but too complicated for my sewing needs and most features were
unused.
  3.  Brother Sewing Machine, circa 1976, bought for myself, cheaper
model with straight and zigzag stitch, around $125, worked okay if it
was taken to the repairman once a year for a complete cleaning (around
$30), somewhat simple for my sewing needs and had a tendency to make
uneven or skipped stitches.
  4.  Sears Sewing Machine, circa 1983, next to top-of-the-line model
with about 16? built-in stitches, around $400 (on sale), works well and 
Sears offers free sewing lessons (how to use the machine you buy and its
features).
  Take whatever conclusions you want from the above, but my suggestion
is to buy a Sears Sewing Machine (they have a full-line to choose from
to meet your needs) and be sure to buy it on sale!  They all go on sale
sometime or other and there's no point in paying full price when it will
probably go on sale in the next few weeks.
  Sorry, I've never heard of Universal.  I have friends (who can do
unbelievable things with a sewing machine and they swear by White and
Necchi, but I can't afford something like that.

Denise
University of Illinois
The Super Computing Illini
.