Saturday, March 14, 2009

New hobby....

I think I'm going to take up sewing.... thing is, I don't have a sewing machine. I don't need anything super big and fancy (read: expensive), but I guess I don't really want a piece of crap either.

Any ideas where I could get a sewing machine that won't break the bank but will allow me to add "sewing" to my list of "crafts that I'm sort of good at"? Oh, and if you have specific brand recommendations, that would be good, too. And I recently discovered that the Michael's Craft stores in my area don't carry fabrics... so any ideas on where I might go to do that? I was thinking about buying some different fabrics off of Etsy, but I think for the first few times, I'd like to feel the fabrics before I buy them....

Help! Oh, and enter my giveaway :-) Click the little zip picture on the top right-hand side-bar.

Happy Saturday!

6 comments:

KittsKrafts said...

I don't know anything about your area but Walmart may be able to help you to get started with the fabric. Lots are dumping their fabric departments so if they don't have any at your local Walmart chances are there must be a real fabric store there somewhere.
On to the sewing machine question. I have been sewing for eons and have used many different kinds of machines of different price levels and brands. I currently am using a Janome that I purchased used from a Sewing Machine store. The price was very reasonable and it is a rather simple mechanical model (no electronical mishaps to worry about)but is very well built and works very very well. If you look at my shop ( kittskrafts.etsy.com ) you will see what I have sewn with it. I can go from 2 layers of denim to 6 without any difficulty whatsoever. It just keeps going without any straining whatsoever. In times past that was a guaranteed needle breaking point. I have yet to break a needle on this machine and I am not even using a super heavy duty needle. I am very impressed. =^..^=

Anonymous said...

Maybe ebay would have some machines? I would try there first :)

Kate said...

Kitt - I didn't even think of WalMart! The WalMart in Ohio had a huge fabric section... I'll have to see what Maryland's have to offer :-)
Amy - Great idea; I'm going to check out ebay and CraigsList!

Kerri said...

Yes,Wal mart. Are ther any other Fabric stores in your area? And when it comes to sewingmachines, my first was aBrother. It lasted about a year. The I bough a 1980 something Singer froma yard sale for $5. It lasted for about a year. Now I have a Bernina Bernette that I bought off of ebay. If you want to spend more money but get a machine that lasts forever and is really nice, but still simple I would suggest the Husky Star. My friend has one and I LOVE it. Even more than my Bernina. Check on e bay or at yard sales. You can buy Brothers and Singers at Wal mart. They are just fine for beginners and maybe yours will last longer than mine.

Bre said...

JoAnn's Fabric is also a good one and there is one in Columbia by the Target.

Kate said...

I actually went to Joanne's yesterday and asked about machines there. You can buy them, but they're real (ie for people who know what they're doing) amd I truly am afraid to buy a $299 machine I may only use once... I am supposed to meet a lady from Craigs List to see her $50 machine later today. i'll let you know how it goes!