Friday, February 7, 2014

Me, myself and my sewing machine


On September 7th of 2009 Seth and I went out and got the first sewing machine we came across. We got a SINGER SIMPLE 2263 at Walmart. It was $99 + tax. I love my sewing machine, it began this journey with me and allowed me to explore and learn in the sewing world. Unfortunately, my skills and my needs are advancing faster than this basic one can keep up with. It now seems weak, slow, and it is very hard to use for free motion quilting. Now that I have more experience and have done research, I dream of a Juki TL2000QI. This Juki sewing machine is stronger and faster, with adjustable feeding dogs, which help feed the fabric through smoothly, thus making free motion quilting a breeze. It also sews the stitches even and equal on both sides of the fabric (this is a big deal!). While I save up for a new machine this Singer Simple will have to do. 


SINGER│Simple 2263

Front view



Accessory drawer: Removable drawer in which you can store most used items (brush, screwdriver, etc.)

Bobbin winder: Where you wind the thread onto the bobbin, which then goes into the bobbin case. This feeds the bottom thread. 

Hand wheel: Used to manually move the needle up or down.

Length Knob: Lets you set the length of every individual stitch. 

Light: The light turns on automatically and it aides in better seeing where your stitches are going.

Presser foot: Puts pressure on the fabric to feed it through smoothly. There are many different types.

Reverse stitch: To have the stitches go backwards you must press this button at the same time. Once released it sews forward again.

Spool: It hold the spool of thread. This is your top thread on stitches.

Stitch selector: Different stitches to choose from straight lines, to zig zag and curvy lines. Other machines come with more styles of stitches to choose from. This one only comes with 21.

Width: Lets you set how long the stitch will go from side to side.
Tension dial: Upper stitch tension regulator.



Side view



Pedal: Controls the speed in which you are sewing.

Main plug socket: Attach the electricity cord here.

Power and light switch


Back view



Horizontal spool pin: Holds the spool of thread to provide the upper stitch thread to the stitch.

Presser foot lifter: This is to lift and lower the presser foot. 

Upper thread guide:  The path the thread should follow when winding the bobbin or sewing.


These are the accessories it came with.


From left to right.

Quilting guide bar: Makes it easy to follow previously stitched lines.

Needles: You need lots of these! Especially if you are like me and force fabric through or are a beginner at free motion quilting

All purpose foot: Remember the presser foot? this is one of them. This one allows you to sew in a straight line or in a zig-zag.

Unknown item: I to this day have no idea what this is, and what to call it. I can't even look it up.

L shape screwdriver:  This is the item I always have on hand. It is very useful and much needed when changing those broken needles and maybe into one of the larger presser feet.

Another unknown item: :/

Lint brush: Used to clean bobbin case and needle plate.

Bobbins: Used to feed the bottom thread. It only comes with 4; you will need many, many more for each color you sew in.



So, go get a machine and let's start learning together! Any machine will do for a beginner. If you do not wish to make a large investment on a hobby that you don't know you will stick to, then I recommend buying a used one online or at a flea market. Let your last resort be a big chain super store. If you want to invest in a nicer sewing machine then I recommend going into a sewing machine store, like a sew & vac. There you might find better deals on higher quality machines, new and refurbished. 




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