Quote from Forum Archives on June 25, 2001, 11:50 am

Posted by: cjrivard <cjrivard@...>

I am self-taught on my serger (with one store lesson). I learned a lot from
watching the PBS show Sewing With Nancy (lots of nice close-up shots) and I was
fortunate that our library carried a number of the videos. Perhaps you could
get some of those through your inter-library loan. Her books are quite helpful
also. I learned a lot from the Singer Sewing Library series of books (over 20
of them) with beautiful photographs.

Another great resource is seeing if there is an American Sewing Guild
organization or neighborhood group in your area--wonderful ladies who get
together monthly to share their sewing projects, and help newbies. They often
set up clinics and classes. I know that the ASG has a website with more info.
Talking with all of the sewing ladies that you know will help you to find the
reliable sewing machine repair places in the area. Talk to the ladies at the
fabric stores and quilt stores. Strike up conversations with the ladies as you
are waiting in line to get fabric cut. Call your 4-H county extension office
to find out who is in charge of the sewing projects, and find out who does the
judging. It is all about networking .

Keep us posted on what you find.

Jill

P.S. Zippers are not my strong point either. My daughters are not allowed to
cut their hair as long as I'm making their dresses (I need their long hair to
cover the zipper ).

On Sunday, June 24, 2001 4:14 PM, Duane and Julie Banks
[SMTP:dabanks@harbornet.net] wrote:
> Jill, I am going to have to look up information on sergers. I don't even
> know what the difference is between a sewing machine and a serger is!! LOL.
> But I am definately game for buying one if it would be a good thing. I have
> not sewed much in my life, the last thing I made was 2 of the cutest vaccuum
> cleaner covers that are giant rabbits. They turned out really cute. Other
> than that, the only things I have sewn in my life are a couple of dresses
> and actually I did reupolster our old camper cushions too but I used velcro
> instead of zippers. I have never sewed a zipper in place before. I did love
> sewing when I did it with the exceptions of the machine problems. That can
> be frustrating as you said. Basically I guess you could call me a beginner
> in the sewing area! 🙂 Has anyone every heard of those "unclaimed school
> model sew and serge sewing machines" that they sell for $429.99 without an
> ad and $199 with an ad(ad from the local newspaper)?? Apparently they are
> Singer models. It is suppose to be direct from Singer specialty sales. I
> meant to go check them out when they had them set up in Duluth yesterday at
> Canal Park Inn, but I totally forgot about it till this morning. Anyways, I
> am going to look up Bernina machines on here now, hopefully they have a
> websight. Take care and thanks for the advice!! Julie
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "J. Rivard" <cjrivard@frontiernet.net>
> To: <homesteadheaven@weloveGod.org>
> Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2001 1:13 PM
> Subject: [HomeSteadHeaven] RE: sewing machines
>
>
> > I'm going to throw something else into the sewing machine
> discussion-sergers.
> > If you are willing to spend a sizable amount, have you considered a lower
> end,
> > quality sewing machine that sews a decent buttonhole (Bernina has a lower
> end
> > line called Bernetta -- my sister has enjoyed hers) and then purchase a
> serger.
> > The serger has saved me so much time in sewing clothing for my girls and
> > myself, for the home dec sewing that I do, and mending. In one afternoon
> I can
> > sew up a t-shirt dress and swimsuit (and lower the leg line, etc) on the
> > serger, something I couldn't do as easily on a sewing machine. Mine is
> almost
> > 10 years old.
> >
> > For the record, my mother and I both went through Singers and Kenmores
> before
> > we ended up with Berninas. Hers is over 20 years old and sews like a
> dream.
> > Mine is not quite 10 years old, but does not have all of the embroidery
> > stitches. And, yes, I do let my 11 and 9 year olds sew on my Bernina.
> There
> > is nothing more frustrating putting a beginner sewer on an old machine
> that is
> > not sewing well. I still have my Kenmore (trade in value was only $25),
> but I
> > let the girls use it for practice (sewing straight lines on paper, making
> paper
> > quilts out of wrapping paper, etc).
> >
> > Just another opinion,
> >
> > Jill in MN
> >
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