Our newest offering, the Make a Quilt Kit, made the front page of the Tri-County Press--Yippee!
The kits are available at Choo Choos Children and Baby or by contacting us at heavenstobetshandicrafts(at)gmail.com
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Buying a Sewing Machine, part 2
More options for beginner sewing machines can be found at the JoAnn store in Deerfield. Huskvarna-Viking (H-V) operates a dealership out of this store, so there are trained staffers there and you can try machines before you buy.
The saleswoman recommends the Singer Confidence for beginners. It runs about $200, with specials sometimes reducing the price. This model seems intutive and easy to operate. Other JoAnn stores sell this machine, but in Deerfield, you can sit down and give it a whirl.
The next step up is a mechanical H-V model: the Emerald. It runs about $350, but the saleswoman says it's sometimes discounted to $299.
The computerized Emerald model has a speed control--a nice option for beginners--and costs about $399 to $450.
Benefits to the H-V over the Singer include a "jam-proof" bobbin on the Emerald and a free owner's class when you buy an H-V from this store. Some trade-ins are offered, but it must be on a machine from the H-V line (H-V, Pfaff and Singer).
My advice on purchasing from this store is to call ahead to find out what the current discounts are. Unfortunately, the salespeople don't know in advance of new markdowns.
The Hancock store in Tri-County has good prices on Janome, Brother and Bernette (Bernina)machines. Too bad you can't try the machines in the store.
I'll check out Luke's Sewing Center next and let you know what I find!
The saleswoman recommends the Singer Confidence for beginners. It runs about $200, with specials sometimes reducing the price. This model seems intutive and easy to operate. Other JoAnn stores sell this machine, but in Deerfield, you can sit down and give it a whirl.
The next step up is a mechanical H-V model: the Emerald. It runs about $350, but the saleswoman says it's sometimes discounted to $299.
The computerized Emerald model has a speed control--a nice option for beginners--and costs about $399 to $450.
Benefits to the H-V over the Singer include a "jam-proof" bobbin on the Emerald and a free owner's class when you buy an H-V from this store. Some trade-ins are offered, but it must be on a machine from the H-V line (H-V, Pfaff and Singer).
My advice on purchasing from this store is to call ahead to find out what the current discounts are. Unfortunately, the salespeople don't know in advance of new markdowns.
The Hancock store in Tri-County has good prices on Janome, Brother and Bernette (Bernina)machines. Too bad you can't try the machines in the store.
I'll check out Luke's Sewing Center next and let you know what I find!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Buying a sewing machine?
Since our students and their parents have asked, I've begun researching machine options. So far, I have visited JoAnn, Target, Wal-Mart and Kramer's in Montgomery.
Please keep in mind that this info is just my opinion and not meant as an endorsement for any machine or store.
One basic point to make is the difference between a mechanical machine and one that is electronic, or computerized. I learned on a mechanical machine, and believe they are suitable for beginners' needs. However, an electronic machine makes starting and stopping the machine, selecting stitches and stitching through a wider range of fabrics easier.
At this point, it seems like machines in the $100 to $200 category are all mechanical (not computerized models). The models at the discount stores and JoAnn in this range seem serviceable, but not very rugged.
If you go up to the $300 to $400 range at JoAnn, there are electronic models. Unfortunately, at my JoAnn in Evendale, you can't try the machines.
At Kramer's, a knowledgeable salesperson who has taught kids and adults to sew for years, emphasized the need for younger sewers (especially in the 8 to 10-year-old range) to have a machine with a speed control. She suggested one mechanical model (a Bernette) in the $199 range and showed me several electronic machines from Bernina and Brother in the $300 to $400 range.
Keep in mind that Kramer's will accept trade-ins toward a higher-end machine. If you bring in a $100 Singer, for instance, you may get a $10 or $15 credit toward a purchase. If you buy a machine at Kramer's, you can trade-up within 6 months and get a much higher percentage of your purchase price as a credit toward a higher-end machine.
I plan to visit Luke's Sewing Centers next week, and hopefully get to the JoAnn in Deerfield to try a Viking there.
Honestly, if I were buying a simple model at this point, I'd go for the Bernette at Kramer's.
More to come...
In the meantime, take a look at this article in Sew Mama Sew http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=831. It offers a questionnaire you can fill out to try to pinpoint your needs in a machine.
Please keep in mind that this info is just my opinion and not meant as an endorsement for any machine or store.
One basic point to make is the difference between a mechanical machine and one that is electronic, or computerized. I learned on a mechanical machine, and believe they are suitable for beginners' needs. However, an electronic machine makes starting and stopping the machine, selecting stitches and stitching through a wider range of fabrics easier.
At this point, it seems like machines in the $100 to $200 category are all mechanical (not computerized models). The models at the discount stores and JoAnn in this range seem serviceable, but not very rugged.
If you go up to the $300 to $400 range at JoAnn, there are electronic models. Unfortunately, at my JoAnn in Evendale, you can't try the machines.
At Kramer's, a knowledgeable salesperson who has taught kids and adults to sew for years, emphasized the need for younger sewers (especially in the 8 to 10-year-old range) to have a machine with a speed control. She suggested one mechanical model (a Bernette) in the $199 range and showed me several electronic machines from Bernina and Brother in the $300 to $400 range.
Keep in mind that Kramer's will accept trade-ins toward a higher-end machine. If you bring in a $100 Singer, for instance, you may get a $10 or $15 credit toward a purchase. If you buy a machine at Kramer's, you can trade-up within 6 months and get a much higher percentage of your purchase price as a credit toward a higher-end machine.
I plan to visit Luke's Sewing Centers next week, and hopefully get to the JoAnn in Deerfield to try a Viking there.
Honestly, if I were buying a simple model at this point, I'd go for the Bernette at Kramer's.
More to come...
In the meantime, take a look at this article in Sew Mama Sew http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=831. It offers a questionnaire you can fill out to try to pinpoint your needs in a machine.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Sewing Lessons in Cincinnati
We teach kids, teens and adults basic sewing skills. Come join the fun!
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