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I don't have the fanciest (Kenmore) sewing machine in the world, but it does have a handful of decorative stitches ...
which I've pretty much never used. Yikes! :(
Although I've got the top row, from 5 to 8, well covered! ;)
How about you? Does your machine have a bunch of decorative stitches? Have you used them? If so, which ones and for what types of projects? Are you glad that your machine has them or do they seem kind of superfluous?
18 comments:
I have a bunch of fancy stitches, too... but I hardly ever use them because it seems they take for-ever to stitch out.
I'm in a hurry! hahahahhahha
Guily as charged. Never use most of the stitches on my Brother Ult. Use the straight and zig zag the most.
I rarely use mine. I have a Bernina 530. I used to sew for a t-shirt company, sewing lace on t-shirt necks. Needless to say it messed up the tension on my machine and it has not been the same since. I have had it serviced, but it still doesn't sew like I want. IO guess I am a straight stitch kinda girl.
Well, everything we do we do with a straight stitch. We actually only use 5-6 stitches on the machine. Straight, zigzag, stretch, blindhem, buttonhole and maybe overlock or over the edge. All the other stitches are decorative stitches that never get used. I maybe use them once out of every 10 projects.
This all goes to how much you spend on your machine. The more you spend the more features and accessories you get. And you don't need to spend a lot because you really don't use all what they give you.
My question is for everyone: How much money did you spend on your machine, what brand do you use. I had a student bring in a pfaff and spent over $4000 on it. When she took the classes offered how to use the machine she was told she had the cheap machine. Most of the people in the class had the $10K machine. Shoot, 10K is the price of a car. I have only spent as much as $400 on my machines. The more expensive machines do embroidery which I really don't have any interest in doing.
I have had many students bring in many different brands. Some do better stitches than others (like buttonholes). I tell my students you get what you pay for. The $100 machines jam all the time but you sure don't need the $1000 machines...but they sure do drive nice.
I have a very basic Bernina now. I did have a Brother machine with a lot of fancy stitches but the Bernina is really all I needed. I paid around $200 for the machine because it's an older machine. I haven't missed the fancy stitches at all.
CarlaF-in Atlanta
Never use those stitches. Occasionally I'll use the monogramming feature to label kids' clothes. My machine cost less than $400 and it's great.
I'm a beginner sewist and I just bought the Viking Emerald 183 for under $600. I haven't used it much yet. :( But I plan on using some of the decorative stitches for little girl dresses. Rocket Boy on PR used them on a vintage shirt pattern. I want to use everything I can on my new machine. So, we'll see how it goes as I progress. But to answer the main question, so far I have only used the straight stitches. But as I said earlier, boy do I have plans!
I don't use them either. I've got tons of them on my new Bernina. Honestly, I prefer my older Bernina machine, even without all the bells and whistles. Maybe people who do heirloom sewing use some of the decorative stitches.
Please don't hate me but I have a Viking Designer SE that I paid $5,000 for and got brand new. I waited a long time to own this machine and to justify its purchase but it sews and embroiders like a dream. After getting over the sticker shock, I feel lucky that such a quality machine exists and it is possible for me to own one. I keep thinking we have come a long way since my mom's treadle Singer sewing machine.
To be honest, after nearly 3 years of ownership, I rarely use the fancy stitches on my machine but did sew each out at least once to make a stitch sample book. What can I say, it is like owning a sports car, you don't need one but it sure feels good to have and to drive one. Just having all those stitches at hand makes me feel so rich with all the possibilities of what I can do with them. And the machine sure costs a lot less than an actual sports car.
I agree that having a fancy machine doesn't make a better sewist. Practice at sewing does. I am a slow sewist doing at most 2-3 projects a year and there are years when life gets in the way and I don't sew at all. This means I have to relearn every time I get back to sewing which makes me feel like I am a beginner even after so many years. But I love sewing and it will be my life-long hobby and I want a machine that is a joy for me to use and to look at for the times when I can't sew.
i have a janome, and it has some fancy stitches. i bought it because it does a fantastic buttonhole and great straight stitch. it cost me $700. anyway, i've used some of the fancy stitches to put hems in on costumes (i think i used the one that makes diamonds in a satin stitch, and i used gold thread on white fabric. it looked neat). but mostly i use the straight stitch. sometimes the zig zag or triple zig zag.
You ask the most interesting questions, ones that really cause you to think about your craft. I've used a Singer Protege for 2 years now. Had never heard of the Protege before I bought it, but the price was GREAT ($79) so I had to have it. I actually bought it as a back up machine but because it is so light weight (I'm a travel sewer)I use it all the time. It has some fancy stitches, but I only use the basic ones, mostly straight, some zig zag and of course the buttonhole. I also bought a Janome last year, just to get different buttonhole stitches, but rarely use it for much else. I'm a Singer woman, just like I'm a Honda woman. I have a Singer Diana (electronic) that I bought about 30 years, ago - needs repairs but was advised not to because it was not cost effective. But you didn't ask me all of this did you...he he.
I have 99 fancy stitches on my 16 yr old Janome. How many times have I used them? Hardly ever. I've been looking around at new machines for when mine dies. I want the top computer machine but not an embroidery one. But they still come with all those stitches!
I don't use them all the time, but if I want them, they are there. I have used them with great success on some of my art garments.
I have a Bernina Virtuosa 155. I obviously use the straight stitch most (okay, every time I sew). After that, I think it is pretty even between other utility stitches and the more decorative ones. I challenge myself to find ways to add those stitches to my projects because they are fun! It is also a great way to add just a little something to a store-bought gift (dish towel, bath towel, garment, etc) and have a gift that is semi-homemade. Just think about all those beautiful threads out there! Yum!
Zigzag, straight, buttonhole...hmm, that about covers it for me, but as soon as my daughter, Coleen saw the fancy stitches she wanted to use them... She'll use them to put hems in shirts and occasionally for top stitching. I'm glad they are there. Teaching her to sew has freed up my sewing as well. She is much more willing to experiment :)
I usually don't use these either, however, once on a stripped tote bag, one seam had a little blemish that I covered up with the cutest little flower decorative stitch. It's actually quite cute, and I'd like to start experimenting with cover stitches using these decorative ones.
oh yeah, on the machines at work we rarely use the decorative stitches, but I think if you want the useful special ones like an overlock and a blind hem, you end up with useless ones...
Heading home tomorrow! Pardon if I don't comment as much.
I have a brother XL-5340...21 stitch choices. I regularly use only 3 of them, but I HAVE used 5 or 6, I think. I like the idea of using each stitch to create a sample book like another commenter did.
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