Sewing machines

[nny]

I have no idea what I'm looking for, here. I mean, I know I don't want to spend over £100 (LESS WOULD BE GOOD) but aside from that... Anyone know anything about anything? XD

Also, crochet. What's that about? What're the advantages? I like having stuff to do with my hands while I'm watching TV.

Comments

[pennyplainknits.livejournal.com]

Crochet kind of sucks for clothes, but is very good for things like bags and scarves and hats and blankets and the like. It's easy (or at least, I found it easy) to learn. But, it uses significantly more yarn than knitting for the same result, which, idk, might be a consideration.

Edit: and, as seigeofangels said, you can make amigurimi, like GIR from Invader Zim!

(http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh267/pennyplain_photo/?action=view&current=GIR001.jpg)

(I made him for my brother's bday last year.

What do you want to make with your sewing machine? If you don't plan on doing a lot of complex embroidery you probably don't need a computery one, just a basic one. Something like this (http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4600176/c_1/1|category_root|Gifts|14417351/c_2/3|15701076|Art+and+crafts|14417376/c_3/4|cat_14417376|Sewing+machines+and+accessories|14417377.htm) would be fine, and brother is a known brand so the aftercare would be good.

And damn, I'm getting rid of a tailor's dummy but I've no way to get it to you.

[villainny.livejournal.com]

GIR OMG

*flails and dies*

[pennyplainknits.livejournal.com]

I thought you might approve!

[villainny.livejournal.com]

Amount of yarn is definitely a consideration at the moment, with my budget. Possibly I'll keep it for later, plus it's not like I've learned even a little about knitting yet. :D

[forest-rose.livejournal.com]

John Lewis have some cute pastel coloured sewing machines (http://www.johnlewis.com/230657779/Product.aspx) for £49. They don't have any bells and whistles, and I don't imagine they'd do much with heavy fabrics, but they seem okay for the basics. Plus, vanilla/strawberry/pistachio shades!

I am just like you with the TV thing, I cannot watch if I don't have something to make. Alas, I'd love to be able to crochet but I can't :-( xxx

[villainny.livejournal.com]

They're kind of adorable! Thanks for the link. And yeah - I like knitting, it makes me feel less guilty about watching all my shows...

[siegeofangels.livejournal.com]

Keeping in mind that I don't knit, these are some crochet advantages:

- it's always only one hook, and you can basically stitch anything *to* anything, so there's a lot of crochet based around making things in the round. the gloves I make are basically a series of tubes, and although I don't personally get it, people seem to really like amigurumi (tiny stuffed animals). Or you can make crazy frilly brain-coral things or freeform crochet.

- since crochet gives you a thicker fabric than knit, it's good for things like purses or hats or other things with structure.

- it is not very hard to make delicate lace-looking things.

- once you know the basics you can do thread crochet, which is not that difficult yet extremely a) impressive, b) cheap, and c) portable.

- if you get bored halfway through a piece you can take the hook out and use it for something else without messing up the piece.

I do find that I have to look at my work when I'm crocheting--for me it's a good commuting activity but not so much a good tv-watching activity, although you might be better at that than I am. And yeah, since it yields a thicker fabric it does take more yarn than knitting.

Other than that it is way fun and you should totally try it!

[villainny.livejournal.com]

It sounds pretty cool, I'd like to have a go at it but at the moment the amount of yarn it takes is definitely a consideration, because I'm kind of poor as the proverbial. I think I'll give it a try when I've advanced a little further with the knitting; pennyplainknits has posted a load of knitting patterns for me that I want to have a go at, but I'll definitely look into crocheting down the line somewhere.

[siegeofangels.livejournal.com]

I think they say allow a third more yarn for the same size crocheted than you would for knitted. But cotton is generally pretty cheap and you can do potholders or purses to practice on. Let me know if/when you start because YAY CROCHET.

[hobbitblue.livejournal.com]

Once you get the hang of crochet (and it needs someone to show you, ideally, or maybe I was just really slow...) its nice and mindless, with large hooks you can make large things like blankets and shawls and bags and its very easy to do stuff in the round. I still can't read a pattern mind, and keep in mind that US and UK patterns use *different* words for the same stitches so learn one or the other for preference..

[strangefrontier.livejournal.com]

This book (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creepy-Cute-Crochet-Zombies-Ninjas/dp/1594742324/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261957890&sr=8-1) should convince anyone of the merits of crochet.

[dramawench.livejournal.com]

If there is a sewing machine repair shop in your town, a lot of those will fix and sell old machines. Getting an older machine that is mostly metal is a great way to go. They are less likely to break and do better stitches than a lot of newer machines. They will also cost you a lot less.

Older Singer machines, the all metal ones, are the ones that sewing professionals have told me are the best. I have my mom's machine from the early 70's that works like a charm.