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stefoodie
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| Posted: Feb 01 2007 at 10:03pm | IP Logged
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For dear Michele and anyone else with info:
What serger do you have? Mind sharing how much it cost? How long have you had it and any pros/cons before we make a purchase?
Does anyone have an embroidery machine? What kind and how often do you use it? Do you think it's worth the cost?
Re fabric: where do you get
1. Knits for children's clothing? Best quality 100% cotton? Any good sources for organic cotton for kids wear?
2. Higher-thread count 100% cotton for beddings? like 300 and up?
DD-15 loves to sew and has been using my Janome for several years now, would love to upgrade sometime this year or next, and I would like to get back to sewing but the serger I think will help me do stuff that frustrated me before. The embroidery machine is not a need but we're curious, maybe for a few years down the road. And we suffer from allergies so I'd love to have a source for really good cotton fabric. A couple of years back I called around and found ONE place that could sell me 300-ct. 100% cotton in 80+ width, but now I really need wider, for deep pockets (and I've forgotten which company that was). When I was calling around I was told these fabrics are only available to the trade.
Thanks for all your help!
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stef
mom to five
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Cheryl M.
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| Posted: Feb 01 2007 at 11:18pm | IP Logged
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I can answer some of the questions :)
I have a 15 year old BabyLock serger...I love it - it was $500.00 new - this model is no longer made, but I would purchase a BabyLock again.
No embroidery machine here - but it would be fun.
I purchased some nice knits from Sew Babyand also fromMain Street by Mail
Good luck finding the supplies you want!
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stefoodie
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| Posted: Feb 01 2007 at 11:34pm | IP Logged
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Thanks Cheryl, great stuff to start with!
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stef
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8kids4me
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I have a White 2000ATS serger that I got this spring. The price is around $300(just under), and the serger is GREAT. It is easy to use and easy to thread and comes with several feet and a video to show you how to use them. This is my second serger, the first was a BabyLock.
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http://www.magnolialane.wordpress.com
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chicken lady
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| Posted: Feb 04 2007 at 9:28am | IP Logged
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I go only with Bernina, my sewing machine and serger....they are quite pricey, but they are very well made and last a lifetime. And I find having good equipment to be sooooo much easier to learn a new skill. I found my serger at an auction brand new, so keep your ears perked, you never know what will come up second hand.
As for the embroidery, well the one I want from Bernina is 3500.00, so needless to say I don't have one 
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lilac hill
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| Posted: Feb 04 2007 at 9:57am | IP Logged
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My "new" Baby Lock serger was $100; it is very old but does the job.
Sometimes repair/sewing machine shops have used ones, that's how I found mine.
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Viv
Wife to Rick (7/83), Mom to dd#1(6/87), dd#2(1/90), and dd#3(6/94) in central PA.
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shartlesville
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| Posted: Feb 04 2007 at 10:53am | IP Logged
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I have a Singer Futura CE-100 Embroidery machine. I love it! It works as a regular sewing machine and an embroidery machine. It includes built-in decorative stitches and an automatic buttonholer.
You must have a computer (preferably a laptop) in order to embroider but you can download any design and sew it right now. It connects via a usb cable directly to the computer.
Mine was free because my mother is a Singer Dealer  (and Baby Lock too) but they run about $500. There is a slightly different version available that is about $800. It includes more built-in stitches and a program that automatically digitizes almost any picture. My mother says that it isn't as good as getting the CE-100 and buying Embroidery Magic II for digitizing images because the CE-200 sometimes puts too many or too few stitches in certain areas so it can get frustrating.
I definitely think it is worth it because it costs about the same as many plain sewing machines but you can do much more with it. I have other plain sewing machines but they don't get used much anymore. We sew so much I am seriously considering purchasing a second one.
She also has sergers though I don't have one. I don't know how to use them. 
She has information about different machines on her website if you need it, but you would have to look at each one individually. I need to make a comparison chart for her site, I am sure it would be helpful. When I was looking into what machine to get, I couldn't find any kind of comparison chart, even on the official Singer site.  Just what I needed,  another project!
I am sure she would be happy to answer any questions you might have over the phone (703)490-1536. They are closed on Sunday but should be open tomorrow. Her name is Judie. She will be leaving to take care of my Uncle Tuck for a few weeks on Wednesday, so you would need to call before then. She does have another lady working in the store but I am not sure how knowledgeable the other lady is concerning the differences, etc.
Good luck with your decision! If you can't reach Judie, you can PM me with any questions and I will call her at home or on her cell and get back to you. 
Blessings,
Krisann
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MicheleQ
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| Posted: Feb 07 2007 at 10:36am | IP Logged
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Stef I'm sorry I missed this. I have been busy doing my taxes this week...
stefoodie wrote:
| What serger do you have? Mind sharing how much it cost? How long have you had it and any pros/cons before we make a purchase? |
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I have Yamata and it cost me nothing more than driving to the parking lot of the local JoAnn Fabrics to pick it up from a gal who was freecycling it. I've had it 2 years. it needs tuning up but otherwise does work well.
That being said if I was going to buy a new serger I'd go with the White 2000ATS. It's a Consumer Digest Best Buy and I've heard very good things about it.
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| Does anyone have an embroidery machine? What kind and how often do you use it? Do you think it's worth the cost? |
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I would love to have one but I think I would have a hard time justifying the price.
Quote:
Re fabric: where do you get
1. Knits for children's clothing? Best quality 100% cotton? Any good sources for organic cotton for kids wear? |
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Fabric I buy anywhere and everywhere (except lately...because I'm on a fabric diet). We have a local place here that sells all sorts of fabrics. Knits I can get there but also JoAnn's has been stocking a lot more knits and they are mostly all cotton. Also fabric.com and other places online (that I can't think of right now).
organic cotton I don't know because I don't look for it specifically but I know I've seen it online...however I just read this blog article a few days ago that you might find interesting in regards to organic cotton.
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| 2. Higher-thread count 100% cotton for beddings? like 300 and up? |
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Don't know, haven't made my own beddings. I'll look around and let you know if I find anything. Also, Kathleen Fasanella (of the blog article I linked to above) may know a source for it so you might want to check with her.
God bless,
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Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
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Betsy
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+JMJ+
I have a Huskylock 905. I really like it. One of the great things about it was that I got a 2 hour class in how to use it when I brought it.
As for fabric, here is where I shop on line.....
Fabric Mart
Fabric.com
Near Sea Naturals (Organic Fabric)
Fashion Fabrics Club
Vogue Fabrics
I get my patterns from Sewing Patterns.com
Also, I Near Sea Naturals and Fabric.com have sheeting fabric. I haven't every purchased it, but it looks pretty nice.
Betsy
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Betsy
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| Posted: Feb 07 2007 at 12:04pm | IP Logged
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I second this for knits!
Betsy
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Questions: Sewing supplies & equipment
