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| A customer liked this large messenger bag, but wanted something smaller. |
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| This is the smaller purse that I created for her using the same dragon embroidery, which she wanted in purple. |
Of course, my answer was yes.
However, part-way through the project, I had a small snag with my sewing machine. A piece of thread got sucked down into the throat plate and I couldn't get it all out. So, I sent the Futura to be serviced and picked up a cheap back-up machine to finish off the job and for whenever the other one goes in for servicing in the future. Since the machine is supposed to be a backup, I didn't get anything terribly fancy or expensive - just functional and readily available at Target to finish a quick project that I knew would fit my specialty sewing feet. I got a Singer Brilliance:
How is it Overall?
Originally, I planned to do a detailed review, as I did at one point with my Futura. However, after using it for a while, I decided it wasn't worth the effort of doing a full review. I only spent about as much on it as it cost to service and clean my other machine. And it shows.
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| Singer Brilliance in the Box |
A part of me wonders whether I got a lemon right out of the box because I swear I smell something faintly funny when I use it. (Like a very faint whiff of something burning - but then again, I've also got a super-sensitive pregnancy nose right now and maybe it's because it's newly out of the factory? I'm planning to put in a call to customer service to ask.)
The controls are easy to navigate and there aren't too many things that can really be altered. I would say that this machine is OK if you're only occasionally doing a bit of light sewing. However, if you're planning to sew any more than one or two projects a year, you're probably better off buying a used machine off of craigslist that's older but better-built.
The limitations of your tools, in this case your sewing machine, will limit your ability to create your craft. Hopefully you won't need to use your back up machine very often!
ReplyDeleteI only used it because I wanted to complete an order ASAP and it was inexpensive. I have a Babylock serger/cover stitch machine that I can use for a lot of sewing projects. However, it's not good for inserting linings or other projects where I need to get into the middle of the item rather than finish off an edge.
DeleteI should have my regular sewing machine back by the end of the week. I also have a 1970s all metal body Bernina coming as a backup machine starting next Monday, which I'll probably review for the sake of reviewing and comparing equipment. This one will likely be donated to someone who only needs to hem an item once or twice a year. As I stated, it only cost about as much as having my other machine cleaned and serviced, so I don't mind donating it to someone who doesn't need to sew often.
I have an old Singer... and I mean old. It worked fairly well when I got my Bernina in 2004 and I kept it as a back up. Luckily, I haven't had to use it and now I have a Janome that I take when I'm sewing out of the house. We get so attached to our machines!
ReplyDeleteThe oldest machine I have ever worked with was a 1930s Singer. It originally used a hand crank, but had a belt attached to it so you could use an electrified foot pedal. It only did a straight stitch and worked perfectly fine. I was very happy using that machine.
DeleteTo be honest, I've heard some historical re-enactment sewers prefer the old hand-crank models of sewing machine for corsets because you can more precisely place the stitches to avoid the boning. The machines are also all metal and strong enough to get through multiple layers of canvas. Having the hand crank also makes sure you can work really slowly to avoid breaking a needle when you're working with tough materials.
The older Singers use all metal parts. Starting in about the 1980s, they started to incorporate plastic parts, which wear out more quickly. At this point, the cheaper Singer machines are mostly plastic. If you have a set/limited budget, you're better off getting an old trade-in machine that has metal parts rather than a new machine with plastic ones.
I was somewhat tempted to get the bottom of the line Janome, but I wasn't sure if it had the same shank and I wanted to be able to use my edge-join foot. (Also, the Hello Kitty decals all over the machine made me wonder about the quality.) In retrospect, I wonder if it would have been a better quality machine. If I remember correctly, it didn't have an automatic buttonhole function, but I could be wrong. (I don't need to make buttonholes all that often. However, I will probably end up doing more fashion sewing in the future once I'm done having kids and changing sizes frequently as a result.)
I heard Singer is a good brand name, but maybe this is inexpensive thus doesn't work very good. Thank you for the review. I am thinking of getting a new sewing machine (to sew paper!). I am sure that this will work but if it's too noisy then it's a no. My dad bought an old sewing machine at garage sale. It works but it needs a little trick here and there. So the hunting is still on, but I'm not in a rush :-)
ReplyDeleteAdorebynat - Handmade Party Decorations and Stationery
I will note that I am happy with my Singer Futura (for sewing - I have a far better machine for embroidery), but it was 4x as expensive as the Brillance. In terms of sewing machines, you get what you pay for.
DeleteBTW, I'm basing the noise level off of my experience with other machines that I have personally sewn on. This would be a Singer Futura, a 1930's-era singer, a metal-body Bernina from the late 70s or early 80s, and a Babylock Ellisimo - most of these machines have been very high end models. (I understand the Bernina I grew up with as a kid cost as much as a used car when my mom got it.) One of the perks of the more expensive machines is noise-dampening.
If you can, test drive whatever sewing machine you're thinking of getting to see if it's going to work for you. Oh, and count on changing your needles often if you're going to be sewing paper; the cellulose blunts them really quickly.
I got a Riccar machine when I was 9 years old. While in the middle of an important 1800-s dress, it decided it had done its thing long enough. Got a Singer. Not the cheapest model and it works fine. Not like the Riccar which would sew thru leather, but it is doing just fine. I got one of my Mom's machines when she died, so I have an expensive backup!
ReplyDeleteStopping by from the Blogger's Guild
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http://Christiecottage.blogspot.com
I will note that I'm not trying to say that all Singer machines are bad. Just the cheap models.
DeleteWith cars, most people recognize that a new BMW is a really nice car - but so is a 1968 Firebird. Likewise, a 1985 Yugo or a Gremlin was cheap, but not the best thing to have.
I'd argue there is a parallel with sewing machines. If you want the latest, greatest bells and whistles on a new, reliable machine, then you're going to have to pay for it. If you don't need fancy computerized stitch motifs, just something reliable, then you can get a good quality used machine. If you insist on having something both new and cheap, then it may end up being a lemon.
Interesting about the hand cranked old Singers. That is what the derzis (tailors) in Pakistan used. They sat on the floor and cranked those machines and turned out some of the most beautiful textile creations in the world. Not the handsewn Sindhi embroidery, but beautifully tailored western style dresses and the Pakistani shalwar kameez outfits.
ReplyDeleteI was in awe of their skills.
Anna
I'm not surprised to hear that about the old hand-crank Singers. Those machines were made to last! And I've heard from people who use them with the hand crank that the precision of sewing you can get with them is comparable to hand sewing.
DeleteThis post brought me back to the Singer sewing machine I learned to sew on. It was the first non-crank model and I used it for close to 30 years until finally it just gave up the ghost. I had saved up $15 doing odd jobs to buy it from a dusty, dark second hand shop in Austin, Texas when I was 9-10 years old (: It weighed a ton! My Grandmother cleared a space for me next to hers, which was a converted crank model, and taught me the basics. Good times! And $15 well spent. Thanks for the memories!
ReplyDeleteI tried to comment last night...but I don't yet have the hang of the touch screen on my tablet and blogs outside of Artfire. Oh well. It's the same no matter the craft or endeavor - professional tools or "handyman's" tools. It is a pleasure to use quality tools, and I can feel your frustration with your lower-end back-up machine. In our woodworking shop, we have a mixture of tools. Many we are using 25+ years because they were the best we could afford and we've kept them working well. In that same 25 years, however, various other tools have gone by the wayside twice and thrice over.
ReplyDeleteSorry too hear about your original breaking down - hope you have it back and it's working fine.
ReplyDeleteLisa
Hope your machine is up and running again soon. I am glad you have a back up...but I know it's not the same!
ReplyDeleteIt's always good to have a back up machine but I imagine it is certainly not the same. Hope you get the original one up and working very soon!
ReplyDeleteThey just don't make things like they used to! Hope you have your main machine back soon so that you don't have to rely on the new Singer. It's always good to have a back-up and hopefully it'll serve just fine in that capacity.
ReplyDeleteMy regular machine is ready for pickup anytime I want it. I'm also picking up a vintage Bernina on Monday so I don't have to worry about sourcing a backup on short notice again.
DeleteVery true you get what you pay for especially when it comes to a good sewing machine :)
ReplyDeleteI always like to know about different things like sewing machines and such. Thank you, I will try to remember which one so if someone asks I can let them know.
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