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From: Clarkia
Date: 02-27-2006, 04:07 PM (1 of 12)
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Hello, everyone. In your experience, what would be a good buy for a light weight sewing machine to take along to quilting class? There are so many different models available it is difficult to know. I would be interested in durability, convenience, value, and of course the weight. No objections to second hand machines if they are good.
Kay
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User: Clarkia
Member since: 05-05-2003 Total posts: 23 |
From: SandyGirl
Date: 02-27-2006, 05:09 PM (2 of 12)
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Over the holidays I purchased a Janome from Hancocks...on sale for $89.00 reg $129. Frankly, perfect for toting to class. 11 pounds, I think. I love it tho I can sure tell that it is mechanical vs my computerized Janome...I stuck w/the brand I already had. For this limited use...I figured I could not go wrong and it has lots of stitches, etc. My presser feet fit also! sandy |
User: SandyGirl
Member since: 09-16-2005 Total posts: 97 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 02-27-2006, 07:01 PM (3 of 12)
| I love the Janome Jems that were actually made for toting to quilting classes etc. Less expensive models are sold at Hancocks and Sears as the mini blue and the newer Pearl line. The Jems however do a nicer buttonhole and have the horizontal spool and top loading jam proof bobbin. The Jem Silver and Jem Gold can still be purchased at on line dealers for about $199. The original prices of these now discontinued model were about double the price. The Jem Silver has the ASG logo on it and on the little blue carry bag that comes with the machine. I purchased the Jem Silver on line and also rec'd a free walking foot. These machines do behave like the big machines. New computerized small Janome models are as expensive as the larger machines if not more expensive than some. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: Sancin
Date: 02-28-2006, 03:56 AM (4 of 12)
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I have a Singer Featherweight. It is not quite an antique but is very good for quilting. It is also not really cheap, UNLESS you can find one in the family or someone wanting to give one away. A question for those who do have easily transportable sewing machines. Have you ever flown with one and if so as take on or checked luggage? *~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895 
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From: Kylnne2
Date: 02-28-2006, 05:07 PM (5 of 12)
| I have never flewn with a machine but the little Jem Silver (or Gold) in the double handled blue carry bag is small enough to take on board a plane. I have seen purses that are bigger. I don't know if I would want to check it in as luggage because it could get banged around. The bag is just a light weight nylon type bag like a gym bag and it is not cushioned to protect the machine. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: plrlegal
Date: 02-28-2006, 07:29 PM (6 of 12)
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I have the Kenmore Mini Ultra (or whatever this little blue machine is called) and it sews like a big Kenmore although it is limited to strictly a couple of straight and zig zag stitches. But hey for quilting, you only need a straight stitch and it uses the walking foot off my big Singers. I've done a lot of sewing with it just for the heck of it and I have yet for it to jam or anything. I can compare it to a big Kenmore because I've had several big Kenmores and I'm very well acquainted with how they stitch on different fabrics Anyway, Dh lucked out and bought me this little Kenmore for $45 on e-bay. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 03-01-2006, 09:56 PM (7 of 12)
| Patsy yes, the Mini's and the Jems do run like the big machines and both are made by Janome. My youngest girl has the Jem Silver and my oldest girl is an RN and also a grandma and she sews all of her medical scrubs on her little Mini blue machine. Her Mini is so quiet she can also sew at night without bothering anyone. The Jems have the slant spool and the see through top loading bobbin while the Kenmore Mini's I believe have the vertical spool and bobbin. I did find that the Jem makes a nicer buttonhole but it is also twice the price of the mini's. I thought the Mini was a very quiet running machine and maybe even quieter than the Jem.They are great little machines. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: Melanie T
Date: 03-02-2006, 10:27 AM (8 of 12)
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I have 2 little blue Kenmore mini's for my sewing students and I have no complaints about them. They are definately study, one actually crashed off of the table and still sews just fine. That should be recommendation for carting it around to class, I imagine, though that you don't plan to drop it. I always have one set up for my boys to use (ds6,ds4) and often just do my mending on it, because it does a good job and is easier than hauling out one of my bigger, fancier machines. The only thing I don't like for that application is that you can't drop the feed dogs, you have to use the darning plate. I paid $60 for the first one and $20 (local pickup) for the 2nd on eBay. You sure can't beat the job they do for those prices. Melanie
4 little sewing machine mechanics (6, 4, 2, Born June 14) Ontario Canada |
User: Melanie T
Member since: 09-21-2004 Total posts: 155 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 03-02-2006, 03:53 PM (9 of 12)
Wow Melanie, the little Mini crashed off the table and it still works.  It might be known as the Timex of little sewing machines...It takes a lickin and keeps on stitchin. How great that is. What a sturdy little bugger. I wonder if it held up through the fall because of it's rather roundish design? Reminds me of when a toddler falls, they are so round they bounce back up and keep on going. LOL
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User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: Melanie T
Date: 03-02-2006, 05:55 PM (10 of 12)
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My boys were fooling around hanging on the table and it tipped off. The first thread guide on the top of the machine was bent, not sure exactly how, and the light bulb filament broke (not the bulb, just the inside) but nothing else seemed to damaged. I scolded them, looked the machine over good, bent the guide back, and tried it. Sewed like nothing had happened . It happened about mid Novemeber and has sewed a lot of stitches since. Takes a licking and keeps on stitching is a good fit in this case. I would imagine the light weight and simple design of the machine was why it survived. I sure wouldn't want that to happen to one of my other machines, I was horrified enough at the time on the $20 machine. I think my guys will be much more careful now however, since it happened. Melanie
4 little sewing machine mechanics (6, 4, 2, Born June 14) Ontario Canada |
User: Melanie T
Member since: 09-21-2004 Total posts: 155 |
From: momof3boysohmy
Date: 03-14-2006, 06:54 PM (11 of 12)
I've been wondering the same thing, which machine is best to take to classes. I have a troublesome back and can't lift anything heavy. I was searching for a website that published sewing machine weights (! No of course I didn't find one and just exhausted myself LOL!). Probably the Jenome Gem is a good choice. What's the difference between the Silver and Gold? I'll probably keep researching online. 
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User: momof3boysohmy
Member since: 03-14-2006 Total posts: 4 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 03-15-2006, 02:15 AM (12 of 12)
| The Jem Gold I believe originally invented for taking to classes etc. and was very popular with the American Sewing Guild. Then when the ASG had their 25th anniversary Janome made the Jem Silver to honor the event with the ASG logo on the machine and the carry case. As far as I know they are both the same machine but the colors are different with the Jem Gold being more beige than gold and the Jem Silver is white with black. They were originally priced much higher but now can be purchased at about 1/2 the original price at on line dealers. The newer computerized Jems have more stitches and features and cost as much if not more than a large machine. I wanted a Jem Silver for one of my daughters and have no Janome dealer and when I called an out of town Janome dealer (now closed) I was told they could not be purchased. I did purchase one on line and I see they are still available. It is a great little machine with beautiful stitches including a nice blind stitch and a beautiful buttonhole. One of my daughters has the Sears kenmore mini blue but it does not have the top loading bobbin that the Silver has and it also does not do the buttonhole as nicely but is also a nice machine for the price. I believe the Jems weigh around 11 lbs or so. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
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