Sewing machine

MnJ

MnJ

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I am planning on picking up sewing to make cute stuff for the boys, but I am rather clueless about it. I want to get a sewing machine, but I have no idea which one will do the job, so to the people who do this kind of stuff, what sewing machine are you using and from where you get your fleece and absorbent layer.
 
My sewing machine was a present, so I didn’t pick it, it’s basic and works fine for sewing piggie bedding.
It’s a lot easier to thread, and add the bobbin than on my Mums older machine.

I do use the quilting needles in it though.
I have attempted a tshirt and a couple of other projects, but mostly it gets used for the guinea pig bedding at the moment.

Anti pill polar fleece- I get from our local fabric shop, or eBay occasionally & Tiaknight fabrics online.
Look out for various offers.

Absorbent layer- I splurge and buy zorb, which last time I got from cuddleplush fabrics online.

I don't like adding a waterproof fabric, so make a fleece sandwich with the zorb in the middle.


Good luck happy sewing.
 
I picked up sewing to make liners and pad for my piggies earlier this year. I didn't know anything about sewing and didn't have a relative for example to help me. There's two youtube playlists that I found incredibly helpful:

- from The Tiny Herd on how to make liners specifically. It takes you through all steps, from what materials you need to buy, to sewing the liners.

- for general information: how to set up the sewing machine, what do all these things like "winding the bobbin" mean, etc.

I bought a singer heavy duty 4423 and am really pleased with it, but I am a real beginner, only having sewn some practice scraps, a pee pad and two liners before life got in the way, so can't really tell how it compares to other machines.
 
I use a 1958 Singer 99K, bought at a car boot sale for £20. I love it, easy to thread and use, heavy so it doesn't move around. Far easier to use than the fiddly electric one I had new that ended up at the tip after going for repair 3 times.

I get anti pill fleece on ebay, usually through the tiaknight shop as their's is briliant quality.
I use quilted mattress protectors as the inner layer. Usually bought locally from the Range. I used to buy cheap supermarket ones but they don't wash well and quickly go flat.
 
I use a Janome J3-24, it’s a great sewing machine and has one of the highest Presser foot lifts needed for many layers or thick fabric.

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I also have a Singer Heavy Duty 4454 which is faster and great for thinner layers, but prefer the Janome

Fleece - Tia Knight.co.uk by the meter, spend over £25 you get free delivery which is really quick by DPD

I don’t like waterproof liners so use:

Top - anti pill Polar fleece
2nd layer - Polyester sheet wadding 6 oz
3rd layer - plain white anti pill polar fleece
4th layer - anti pill Polar fleece

the polyester sheet wadding works really well to wick away any pee, it dries really fast, keeps its shape at around £6 per meter by 60” wide - ebay, that’s free delivery too

Lots of instructions for tunnels, cuddle cups, cubes on Utube and Pinterest
 
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Thank you all for the advice ❤️
 
piggieminder said:
My OH has a collection of vintage machines, it's a shame you don't live closer @Sweet Potato you would love them. He has 3 or 4 treadles as well. He's one of those people who likes to repair vintage machinery. What make is your machine?
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oh my goodness that's my dream I don't have space for a treadle but I've got a few old machines. This is my oldest it's a 1900 Frister and Rossman vibrating shuttle machine she's pretty but I haven't got her box or anything and I find long bobin machines frustrating to use. I inherited her from family she took some oiling and wiggling to get going again as she'd seezed up from years in an attic but now she runs as well as she ever did. The one I use the most is my 1922 singer the round bobin lasts a lot longer and runs smoother. It's currently in school as I'm using it to teach sewing and a bit of history to the kids in my class. She's the machine I've had the longest and was the reason I fell in love with them. I had/have a 1918 singer aswell which I bought mostly so I could swap the footplate and box with the slightly damaged ones on my 1922 machine. It worked lovely but my sister broke it (pushing through too many layers of fabric) It's just a timing issue but not something I can fix it's just not picking up the bottom thread. I'm not too bothered as it was only my sister that used that one and she's bought herself her own one since (a 1926 singer). These 3 are all the same model which has to be my favourite it's got the charm of an old machine but functions so well and is so reliable. I've got a few older electric machines aswell I was looking for a machine with zigzag stitch to make button holes easier but it took me buying a few machines to find one I can get along with. I still only use them for button holes and stretch fabric though.
 
Sweet Potato said:
oh my goodness that's my dream I don't have space for a treadle but I've got a few old machines. This is my oldest it's a 1900 Frister and Rossman vibrating shuttle machine she's pretty but I haven't got her box or anything and I find long bobin machines frustrating to use. I inherited her from family she took some oiling and wiggling to get going again as she'd seezed up from years in an attic but now she runs as well as she ever did. The one I use the most is my 1922 singer the round bobin lasts a lot longer and runs smoother. It's currently in school as I'm using it to teach sewing and a bit of history to the kids in my class. She's the machine I've had the longest and was the reason I fell in love with them. I had/have a 1918 singer aswell which I bought mostly so I could swap the footplate and box with the slightly damaged ones on my 1922 machine. It worked lovely but my sister broke it (pushing through too many layers of fabric) It's just a timing issue but not something I can fix it's just not picking up the bottom thread. I'm not too bothered as it was only my sister that used that one and she's bought herself her own one since (a 1926 singer). These 3 are all the same model which has to be my favourite it's got the charm of an old machine but functions so well and is so reliable. I've got a few older electric machines aswell I was looking for a machine with zigzag stitch to make button holes easier but it took me buying a few machines to find one I can get along with. I still only use them for button holes and stretch fabric though.
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They were built to last in those days. I inherited an old treadle machine but could never get it to work properly but made a beautiful plant stand out of the base. A friend took a fancy to it so I passed it on 😊
 
I do prefer to use the old round bobbin machines for ease of use rather than the shuttle type. My OHs favourites to sew with are the Singer 201s. I like my (his really, I pinched it!) 99 because it's slightly smaller and lighter for me to pick up. It comes in a wine and cream coloured case the same as the machine my Mum made my dresses on when I was a child, she had the electric version though.
He has one early treadle with beautiful wrought iron work in the frame the other 2 are the more common 1930s versions. My daughter has a treadle from 1950/60s era, we think it is probably an old school one as it's less bulky and more utility looking than the others, she uses it all the time. My daughter is a much better seamstress than me, she makes a lot of her own clothes on an old Singer in the treadle!
I'll have to try to get some photos sometime, sadly most of the machines are in the loft now as the guinea pigs took over the space we used to display them.
 
So modern singer machines are rubbish and not built to last sadly. The vintage ones are great workhorses though.

I would recommend the brother LS14 or LK14S as you can usually get one for around £80-90 brand new and they are good basic machines. You don't get the fancy features of automatic needle threading etc but that's why it's so much cheaper. They are metal parts and definitely built to last. I brought one as my 4 year old wants to get involved but it's also a back up for my brother innovis when it's in for service etc. I've used it at sewcials etc and there are some things I prefer it for over my more expensive machine 😊
 
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