Finzz wrote:Can anyome please tell me if this sewing machine will monogram dress shirts on the cuff? My wife is getting frustrated with paying $15.00 - $20.00 PER shirt. Thanks in advance for your help with this!

It has a block and script font, the letters will be small about 1/4" high I'd guess. Not as nice as what your wife is paying for I suspect.

ipegot wrote:While the price is good, you've obviously never heard of Pfaff or Consew...

Or Viking.

I have both a VERY expensive Viking and a Singer. I use the Singer 99% of the time because I'm so afraid of wrecking the Viking and ending up with a super expensive repair bill.

This is a great deal, Singers are workhorse machines. And if you've EVER considered a serger, this is a fantastic price. I use my serger all the time, it is invaluable for the finishing which gives a garment (or in my case, costume) it's durability. I used to have to do French seams on everything, but serging is much easier and works on curves!

This is an awesome deal! Wish I had the money right now..........

claudiajean wrote:Yes, it has both a block and a script alphabet built in that are scalable, and very appropriate for monogramming.

I'd be frustrated with my wife if she were blowing $20 bucks a pop just get initials put on a shirt. Seriously? Do you want random strangers to know your initials? Why?

roadhunter wrote:I'd be frustrated with my wife if she were blowing $20 bucks a pop just get initials put on a shirt. Seriously? Do you want random strangers to know your initials? Why?

Well, for one, it certainly helps get your correct shirts back from the laundry.

Why so hateful about folks who have monogrammed shirts?

+1 for the spider man reference in the write up.

inazuma wrote:Anyone know if this will work well for scrapbooking purposes? My wife has been looking for a sewing machine for some of her scrapbooking and I was thinking of getting this since it is a set and she can possibly use it to sew other things?

Thanks!

I found a nice basic Singer sewing machine at Newegg.com http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16896379003

The sewing machine being sold does 100 stitches. Most home sewers do not use that many.

I sew every day and you'd need to pay ME $349 to use a Singer machine. I donated my last Singer before I threw it out the window and would be forced to buy a new window. And I bought one on sale last June for my daughter and when I was describing all the features of a sewing machine to her, I dropped the feed dogs and they wouldn't come back up. I returned the machine and their display model did the same thing. Save your money and go buy a Brother. Both my sewing and serger machines are by Brother and I haven't had a bit of trouble with either one.

This is an incredible deal. A serger "finishes" the seams of your sewing projects and is a must for anyone looking to sell their products.

Some people complain about newer machines' reliability; the complexity of modern machines means you need to take them in roughly every other year or so (depending on use) and get them serviced (mostly de-gunked). My wife is a heavy sewer, she'll spend about $100 servicing both her sewing machine and serger at the local sewing shop and she gauges the timing based on when the backstitch function starts gumming up.

bluejester wrote:Usually I like the products on woot, but today's woot is only sew-sew. ;)


(Hey, some one had to do it.)

Darn, could this thread be what seems to be needling me?

devexityspace wrote: It's the "Apple" of sewing machines in a sense.

Not even close. It's perhaps the Ford. You'll need to look at much higher priced units that are missing key features if you want to be the Apple of sewing machines.

Still a great unit and price, however.

sdc100 wrote:The weird thing is that neither model exists on Singer's website. I wonder what that means... ? The Search function is weird in that you're not allowed to put letters in.

http://www.singerco.com/products/2162/perfect-finish-combo

guylee wrote:This is an incredible deal. A serger "finishes" the seams of your sewing projects and is a must for anyone looking to sell their products.

Some people complain about newer machines' reliability; the complexity of modern machines means you need to take them in roughly every other year or so (depending on use) and get them serviced (mostly de-gunked). My wife is a heavy sewer, she'll spend about $100 servicing both her sewing machine and serger at the local sewing shop and she gauges the timing based on when the backstitch function starts gumming up.

My mom gets hers serviced every year, I have a day job so I take mine in every other year.
Even my old one from the 70s needs regular service.
They are like car engines and they need oil.
My old one just had the clutch rebuilt! Singer Stylist, not my car!

devexityspace wrote:Singer is the only brand of sewing machines anyone should ever even consider. It's the "Apple" of sewing machines in a sense.

This is an amazing price at $350.

Um no, sorry. Pfaff. Viking. Bernina. Probably Janome. Maybe (I only say maybe) Brother. But Singer is only middle of the road at best.

Typical problems with Singers include jamming, failure of the feed dogs to adjust properly, pressure foot not very sensitive so that 1300 stitches per minute they're so proud of is a pain in the butt when you're trying to go around a curve. Frankly I don't want it to go that fast when I'm straight stitching.

Also computerized machines are always a bad idea. They are notorious for having the electronics go on the fritz, in general. Hence the 2 year warranty (not 25 as for the mechanics).

If you want to sew, a White from the '40s in good shape is one of the best machines you can get. They built 'em bomb-proof back then. But back then folks sewed a LOT (if not all) of their family's clothes. Most folks who sew these days are dilettantes by comparison. Given a good machine from the '40s that's been taken care of is going to be hard to find, at least get something with no electronics, manual adjustment of the *edit* TENSION *end edit*, free arm.

As for stitches all you REALLY need is straight, zig-zag, and buttonhole. 3 step zig-zag is very nice. A blind hem stitch (STRETCH blind hem stitch for stitch fabrics) is also very nice, IF you'll be using it (ask yourself if you will be sewing a lot of sheer fabrics or using a lot of stretch fabrics - say for making your own leggings). An overlock stitch is also very very nice. Unless you sew most of your clothes you don't need a serger at all, especially if you've got a basic machine with the overlock and/or the blind hem. If you're going to be sewing heavy fabrics like denim, get a machine strong enough to handle that. Don't be afraid of your tension knobs, they are (or at least will eventually become) your friends.

Take it from someone who started sewing in the 60's - avoid the bells and whistled and go for solid dependable functionality.

I've never used a sewing machine, always had someone else do this stuff for me. From the comments I gather the serger would work best for hemming pant legs. How easy/difficult would it be for someone to learn how to do that? I've got a stack of pants in my closet, never worn because I keep putting off going to the tailor. Would I be better off just getting a serger alone? Not sure if I'd use the sewing machine, though it might make a nice gift for someone.

devexityspace wrote:Singer is the only brand of sewing machines anyone should ever even consider. It's the "Apple" of sewing machines in a sense.

This is an amazing price at $350.

I used to be a loyal Singer fan until I inherited a Bernina. More $$$ but beats Singer hands down. Durable, versital (sp?) and everything seems to be in the right place to be handy.

Looks like a pretty decent deal, but I wouldn't count on doing alot of heavy duty sewing with them. More for decorative sewing.

devexityspace wrote:Singer is the only brand of sewing machines anyone should ever even consider. It's the "Apple" of sewing machines in a sense.

This is an amazing price at $350.

While it's certainly an outstanding price(I'm about to buy the set for my wife), Singer is nowhere near the high end when it comes to sewing equipment. Go look at Viking/Husquvarna for that. My mother's a seamstress/quilter and runs Husquvarna machines; her sewing machine is a $2000 computer controlled auto-embroidery machine, and her serger's in the same category, probably another $1500.

wootvan wrote:A serger trims the seam and encloses the seam allowance or edge of the fabric, inside a thread casing, all in one step.

So, to answer your question, a serger saves time.

Just to add - It is also fantastic to use on stretchy fabric, really the only thing to use on lycra, etc. If you look at the seam of your clothing, a serger makes that nice neat seam - all the edges are enclosed.

kavaea wrote:I've never used a sewing machine, always had someone else do this stuff for me. From the comments I gather the serger would work best for hemming pant legs. How easy/difficult would it be for someone to learn how to do that? I've got a stack of pants in my closet, never worn because I keep putting off going to the tailor. Would I be better off just getting a serger alone? Not sure if I'd use the sewing machine, though it might make a nice gift for someone.

A serger is generally not good for hemming. High priced units have an attachment for hemming, not sure if this one has this attachment. It is more for seams.

It's a day late birthday present, and I'm a day late kind of guy. After waffling for a few weeks between different cameras for my wife's birthday, here comes Woot. It was the serger that put it over the top. Guess I get a couple of more months to think about the cameras.

My wife, she knows her sewing, and her machines, and her price points. This is a good combo. And the Ford, it will get you to work for 20 years if you put the oil in the right place at the right time, and take care of it the way you are supposed to.

sva777 wrote:Review:

http://www.it-echo.com/2011/03/30/singer-et1-perfect-finish-sewing-machine-and-singer-14et754-serger-set-review-2.html

That's not a review. That's a marketing blurb for somebody else selling the same machines. It even says "advertisement" at the bottom, LOL!

clintone wrote:Any opinions on the overall quality and durability of the sewing machine? My wife's been itching for one, so I've been doing my research and it seems many of today's machines lack the durability I remember from my days in junior high, making my bookbag and potholder. Also, being a bit of a luddite, something about a computerized sewing machine just leads me to wonder if this isn't a feature that's destined to malfunction.

You are absolutely correct. Especially in this price range, just assume the electronics will go "fzzzzzt" in a puff of smoke 1 nanosecond after the warranty has expired.

Lets split it... you keep the sewing machine and I'll take the serger.

schieff wrote:A serger is generally not good for hemming. High priced units have an attachment for hemming, not sure if this one has this attachment. It is more for seams.

Just wanted to add: The info does say it will do 2 and 3 thread rolled hems. A rolled hem is not a pant hem. It is a very small edge hem used on a possibly a long dress or skirt made of stretchy material, not pants.

For Overseas: I have some foreign friends and this could be a livelihood for them? Will this work on 240 current electricty?

Keyser Serger! Keyser Serger! Keyser Serger!

Singer is not the 'Apple' of Sewing Machines. Sure, they were awesome way back when, but now they're plastic and garbage. Not saying the price ISN'T right for the pair, but if you want an amazing Machine, go for a Husqvarna or for the highest end, a Bernina.

About 5 years ago, my husband purchased me a Huskystar C20 sewing machine for my birthday. He payed $500 for it and we thought it was a great deal because it has the Husquvarna-Viking logo. It worked great for awhile, but has recently started having problems. The timing on the machine has broken twice in the last year...and it costs $90 to fix it!! Needless to say, I've only had it fixed once and it currently sits in my basement broken.

I found out that Viking does not actually make the Huskystar but that they outsource it to another company. Explains the problems I've been having...

My mom sewed on a Singer forever (like 20+ years), and has only recently replaced it with another brand. She tells me all the time she wishes she had gone with another Singer. She paid over $700 for her serger (Babylock) and has had it FOREVER.

I don't sew nearly as much as she does, but I know a decent machine when I see one. Add to the fact that you get the serger as well, and this is a killer deal!

Now, if I can convince my husband...

martmann4 wrote:Make it sew number 1.

LOL

schieff wrote:A serger is generally not good for hemming. High priced units have an attachment for hemming, not sure if this one has this attachment. It is more for seams.

If I may, what is the best solution for hemming pants?

kavaea wrote:I've never used a sewing machine, always had someone else do this stuff for me. From the comments I gather the serger would work best for hemming pant legs. How easy/difficult would it be for someone to learn how to do that? I've got a stack of pants in my closet, never worn because I keep putting off going to the tailor. Would I be better off just getting a serger alone? Not sure if I'd use the sewing machine, though it might make a nice gift for someone.

I don't know about hemming pants, but my mother has made many tablecloths with the rolled edge border; it's fantastic for that. It's great if you want to cut off too-long t-shirts and do a rolled hem. It finishes seam edges rather than leaving them to fray. You can finish curtains and many home projects with the rolled edge. My mom's serger is a BabyLoc.

here's the HSN ad on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0J8LZQ3Qyk

kavaea wrote:If I may, what is the best solution for hemming pants?

I do all hemming by hand.

kavaea wrote:If I may, what is the best solution for hemming pants?

Serge the fabric edge to finish it, then hem using a Blind hem foot on the sewing machine.

Here's a youtube video.

schieff wrote:I do all hemming by hand.

All pant hemming by hand, I mean.

I wish I could buy twenty of them so I could start my own personal PROJECT RUNWAY!

My cat will be Tim Gunn and I've already taught him how to say "Make it work!"

bubbawheat wrote:It may be a good price but FWIW My Mom says Singer hasn't been a great brand for decades. She says her Bernina & Vikings are top grade - I suspect that's more Apple like - expensive but high wow & high quality.

Berninas are great..but Singers are fantastic as well..don't know about this particular model (there are MANY models so research that before 'brand') but I have the Singer XL6000 and I use it everyday for 6-8 hours for my home business..I've only had one small problem with the embroidery carriage locking on one of my units and the Singer Repair Center is the BEST..had the machine back within a week

schieff wrote:I do all hemming by hand.

You are a better person than me!! :-)

Found this combo on the Singer site...
http://www.singerco.com/products/2162/perfect-finish-combo

Reading some marginal reviews about both products; both way up and way down. Makes me unfomfortable. As much as we need a new sewing machine, I think we'll pass this time.

And this is not a programmable serger. It pretty much only sergers, no fancy embroidery from patterns created on your PC.