I gave my lovely old Russian back-threading leccy sewing machine to the heart foundation cos my sister said she had a better one for me

Got it out today and couldn't get the bloody foot to stay in the up position. there was a strange looking foot on it which kept falling off. I hadn't a clue how to thread the damn thing either

So it's now been offered on Freecycle and I thought I'd get meself a new un cos I cut Russ' sleeping bag in half to make two smaller ones and just needed to sew up the two cut edges. Hah little did I know that the machine would be a total load of ole crap

So any suggestions about the best one to get. Bearing in mind I'm on a budget.

Thanks in anticipation

I have a 26 year old Bernina.

Works like a dream. It's made me many many clothes over the years, including my wedding dress, several bridesmaid's dresses, a couple of ballgowns, skirts, curtains, coats...

Only thing that ever went bang! was the circuit in the footpedal and that was 8 years ago. Replacement board took 24h to organise (which was as well as I was halfway through a graduation dress for 2 days later at the time!)

Compared with the all singing, all dancing stuff you get today, it was basic, but pretty darn reliable.

If you can find a 2nd hand one for a reasonable price then it would probably be a good find. Dunno what newer ones cost. This one was £239 in 1980 so not cheap.

moonbells

edit
Just went to Bernina web site and scared myself. It's now all computer art! If you just want one to sew straight lines and basic zigzags and buttonholes then I suspect you'd be struggling. eeep!

edit 2
even more scared now.

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Mine is a matic 801. This is the 807, which looks like it's only a couple of years more modern than mine and looks identical. And it's still that price!

We used Bernina's at school so I googled them and they are good aren't they. Ordered a cheapo from Tesco and if it's crap they're getting it back. Poor old Russ is kicking up a right stink cos he's not got his blue blanket, and is sleeping on sommat else. Honestly, he's not a happy bunny.

Aw dear he's not settling down and is crying at the bedroom door now

Had an Elna for years, I loved it to bits.... You won't believe it but my cat peed on it The repair shop were in shock
I bought another one last year, at great expense... Hate it! Made in Taiwan nowadays.... Not user friendly, even for peeps used to them....
Best bet - but I couldn't afford it - are the German ones....

hey my Russ peed in the pc twice It broke it anorl

he's still crying, despite my having hawked him up and down stairs twice for a pee. He wants his blanket

Put both bits in his bed?

I can't cos the ends are open and they're filled with foam stuff

To quieten him down I've put him on my bed (clean sheets today ) and he is now as quiet as a mouse

Me and OH look like sleeping in the dog house

if hes owt like these here just put anything on the floor and they will lay on it

A cat usually does the trick

oh no, no, no Cos his joints are aching he has to have plenty of plump bedding under him poor little sod. He's losing weight too so is getting boney

ooo right so yer can pile all them mink coats up then that might be good enough

at the very least. it's like the princess and the pea

know what yer mean i gave thease bugger me sleeping bag wasnt that good i got a new un but they like it cant get em out of it now unless its time for a walk that is i cant even type that without em looking lol walk lol they did it again then

his bed is a sleeping bag Grom But cos it's huge, and I keep having to wash it cos er um he's a bit leaky these days, I can't get it in the washer so decided to cut it in half

ahhh right gotcha duno if we might have a couple o sewing machines just hanging about here somewhere

Re: October 12th 2006 - Did you get another sewing machine or is the sleeping bag still in half

I got a cheapo from Tesco £49 which did the job. Used it a few times for bits and bobs. I am useless at sowing so don't use it much. It's stuffed in the back of the pantry at the moment. I did managed to hem the two halves of the sleeping bag which made washing much easier