Sewing Machines for Beginners

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Janome 6500P Sewing MachineWhen you’re a mother of all boys, there are some topics and items you don’t shop for much. One of those items would be sewing machines for beginners. There’s not really a whole lot of sewing going on at my house. There used to be, though. I took home ec in high school. I’ve made my share of pillows. I think I even made a dress once. (Pretty sure I never actually WORE it, however.)

Now, there SHOULD be some sewing taking place at my house. I’m a bit, well, short. Pants aren’t easy to find. I have rolls of that stitch witchery tape so I can hem them with an iron. However, I’m always catching my heels in my hems and ripping out that darn ironing tape so actually altering the pants with a sewing machine is probably not a bad idea. In fact, I suspect that’s one of the reasons most people have a sewing machine – for alterations. What a novel concept!

But, the topic of sewing came up with my mother the other day and that led to my glancing around at some new machines online. Huh….they have computer screens on those things now! Gees! Where were those when I was in home ec hand cranking my darn fabric forward and back; tangling my thread in the bobbin and getting my fabric stuck in the feeder dogs (more often than not). No wonder the hobby never stuck. A computer screen, though…now that makes all the difference. You put buttons, gadgets, and an LCD screen on something and I’m significantly more interested. (Of course, my stove has those and – sigh – it doesn’t seem to have caught on as a fun tool, either. I may be fooling myself.)

And the brand names – Janome? Pfaff? Where did these come from? I thought only Singer made sewing machines. I’ve been blind to the entire market! That machine in the pic for this post? That is a $1200 Janome 6500P Sewing Machine. $1200!!! It should sew for me! Does it do that?

At that price, my guess is the machine is for more experienced artists. I’d consider something more basic but I’d still like all the gadgets.

Of course, getting a sewing machine is one thing. Using it will be completely another. I’m sure I can accomplish the first but in my household full of boys and t-shirts, it’s highly likely that a sewing machine will become nothing more than a novelty and a clothes rack. Maybe when my mom comes to town she could show me how to use one again. 🙂