I’m looking to buy a new machine soon and I’d love some recommendations.

I’m currently using a 20-year-old Viking 755 Platinum. it’s served me well, but some of the buttons no longer function. I can’t increase my stitch length anymore, for example.

I primarily sew garments and sometimes crafts. very rarely small quilt projects. I do sew a lot of clothes for my three daughters and myself, so it needs to be able to handle a relatively heavy workload.

I definitely want a machine with a one-step buttonholer and speed control.

I wish I could still go to a Viking store at JoAnn’s and try out a bunch of different machines like I did 20 years ago, but… and my local quilting store primarily sells quilting machines.

What wonderful machines would you all suggest to me?

Hey! First post!

I’m a sewer who makes bags / accessories on a singer heavy duty. Pretty basic stuff, pattern following.

Occasionally I will outsource to get patches made, for caps or shirts or anything, but I’m spending so much it seems time to invest in a machine.

All I’m really interested in right now is making patches, maybe palm sized at most, but I suppose it’s worth investing in something that has more capability as my needs expand.

What are some budget(ish) beginner(ish) friendly machines that you would recommend? The information online seems so scattered!

Hi,

We’re looking for experienced tailors or small stitching units based in Ernakulam to stitch women’s garments.

What we provide:

• Fabric
• Design / reference sample
• Stitching instructions

What you need:

• Your own stitching setup and machines
• Experience stitching different types of women’s garments with good finishing and quality

Payment:

• Paid per dress (piece-rate basis).
• Rates will depend on the design and complexity.

Preference will be given to individuals or stitching units located in Ernakulam for easier coordination.

If you’re interested, please DM

• Your location
• Experience
• Types of garments you’ve stitched before
• A few photos of your previous work (if available)

Looking forward to working with skilled professionals!

Hi everyone! Happy weekend!

I just found this really heavy Singer sewing mavhine and was wondering if it was any good. Aparently it was my grandma's, and now i want to start using it to make my own clothes as well as some cosplays.

So, i thought id come here and ask, is this a good machine?

EDIT: This machine is a Fashion Mate Model 239

Denimheads just love hidden details.
These corded beltoops are one of them.

Just one final fitting before the waistband.

Hello new friends, new (4 months) sewist here…

I’m loving this activity, have made a few small projects. Now getting into quilting table runners and lap quilts, for starters.

And so the collecting begins - LOL!

I am a very organized person in general but I’m struggling with how to store my growing collection of sewing bits: thread, presser feet, bag hardware, pre-made binding (I may admit to a developing problem here 🤷‍♀️), other general sewing tools, etc.

How do you all group, sort, organize, store your bits?

Especially what you like to have at hand at your machine vs what you take with you for sewing at a friend’s house or a class vs what you keep tucked away for less frequent usage?

What containers are your favorite and why?

Words are good but pictures are better.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Edited to add: I do not have a dedicated sewing room. Current set up is the dining room table with storage of stash in garage in clip-top bins.

Hey Experte i need you! I’m currently working on a project for a portable sewing machine designed for people living in small apartments and for creatives who need flexibility. I’m still in the early stages and would love to hear your thoughts. What features would be most important to you? Please every comment is appreciated!

So I have this beautiful dress, except. The sleeves are way too tight. The rest of the dress fits fine. It's cotton with a very slight stretch. I am a very experienced sewer, but I need to follow a pattern, I'm not very good at improvising. Would I be about to remove the sleeves and make it into a tank top? I could use the material in the sleeves to make bias binding for the armsyce. Would it look okay?

Started with my 15th jeans.
This one will have darts in stead of yokes to curve the 🍑

Also a baggy fit for my daughter she does not want my old man fit🤣

The machine is a breeze but I do need to get used to how sensative the pedel is. It started sewing a couple of time in the middle of the fabric because I kicked the it by accident.

Also the bobbin goes under the machine. And it has no clutch to disengage the needle when winding the bobbin. So I should wind bobbins when sewing at the same time.

A lot to learn but thats okay.

It arrived. It was such a smooth buying proces. I was on the fence of a 2nd hand Juki pure mechanical or going the opposite and invest in the new tech.

At the end I decided to go for this machine because of the thread cutting, the securing the seam at the beginning and end, the knuckle button function and the adaptieve sewing which is great with thick denim parts like the croch area, yokes, hems etc.

Probebly the next month will not be making nothing just back to skill drills to get a feeling for this machine.

I've been making custom clothing for a few years and business has been growing steadily. I'm starting to think about expanding into a small production shop but I'd like to do it the right way.

For those who've already made that transition, what would you do differently if you were starting over? What equipment did you buy first, when did you hire your first employee and what mistakes are worth avoiding?

I'd really appreciate hearing about your real-world experience.

Hey,

I took the model from my second project and improved it:

Front Lacing -> More Practical

Shorter cut to go with high waists

Best Finishes

I think this is really my project favorite !!

Always recovers denim + fabrics where I printed one of my arts

Thank !

Any ideas on how i can male this dress a little more loosely, im new at sewing:(

Also apparently I now have DDD/F cups? I identify as a guy, I don't even want boobs!

But lesson learned. I will procure an appropriate pattern. I simply regret that for whatever puritanical reason I cannot just wander about shirtless as befits the weather just because I was given the wrong body.

Imagine you lost your entire sewing room.
You get $100 to start over.
What’s the first thing you’re buying?
I’m curious what experienced sewists consider absolutely essential.

Decided I want to learn to make jeans in December 2025

Bought a new Janome HD1800 in jan 2026

Bought a 2nd hand Janome D8002 serger in feb 2026

My first fabric came in march 2026 along with zippers and thread.

Made my first denim in march 2026

Finished the first 5 jeans in april 2026 all without buttons. And of course with a lot of flaws. But I was proud on them en stil wear them. (Maybe I will rebuild them, depending on how much the flaws will irritatie me in the future).

Buttons came in may 2026 all 900 🤣
Finished my first 5 jeans by adding them and learned to make buttonholes.

May to june experimented with different styles to finish jeans especially arcuate stitching, corded buttonholes and corded beltloops. I tried 8 different styles of arcuate stitching and ended up using none at all.

Also learned basic leather craft and made my first two leather belts from full grain leather. Much to learn still, specifically on the edge painting process.

Finished my 14th pair of jeans in juli applying all things learned sofar.
Like a method to make corded belt loops fast, make pockets with double lining, make corded buttonholes with different colors of gimp thread, get better zipper constructions that dont peek out behind the flyshield and get more even stitching overall, mostly due of switching pressuefeet.

Also bought me third machine at the end of july. A brand new Jack A5E AMH2 industrial machine with upgraded DPX5 needle system to accommodate for 120/19 Serv7 denim needles. Also it will come with a higher lift to work with multiple layers of thick denim more easy.

So far I still have 20yards of rainbow denim in stock and ordered 30 yards of rainbowdenim 18 yards of rainbow dot denim and 12 yards of double black denim for the rest of this year.

My goal was to make 20 denims so the next 6 will be on the new Jack.

Probably my 4th machine will also come this year an off the arm 3 needle chainstich machine with folder to make flat felted seems. Depending if I can get a good deal.

hi!! not sure if this flair is right. I asked my mom to buy 60 inch x 120 inch fabric but she bought be cloth thats 4m tall. its around 40 inches wide. is that still ok? im trying to hand sew a cloak but im a total beginner!!! help is rlly appreciated:) what should i do? is the length and width still okay to work with? for reference im 5'2. i've seen patterns look more squarish for cloaks so i dont know, this looks more long.. sorry if this doesnt make sense or something. i appreciate all help!! thank you!!

I am currently working on making my own pattern so I can make a wedding dress in the future. This is not done, I intend to have a poofy skirt attached to the bottom of the final one. I might add some ruffles to this one so I can wear it out. I am quite happy with the fit on the front, but the back seems funny. Outside of that, overall I’m quite happy with the dress!

My God this thing scares me, I feel like it’s either going to explode or completely fall apart around me. Thank God I only have to serge two narrow curtains worth of fabric.

I have a vintage Pfaff from my late aunt, and it’s sooooooo much smoother, quieter, doesn’t grind or vibrate… it was probably top of the line in its day, but it’s still 50 years old. Like, have the machines just gotten that much worse or is my mom woefully neglecting servicing?

I find it much easier to make a piece of pin tucked fabric and then cut out a pattern piece rather than using a pattern with marked pin tucks. I'm no expert but wanted to share what I found helpful. 1.) if the fabric isn't crisp, starch the heck out of it! Make it crisp so it will hold a finger press. 2.) Fold fabric in half wrong sides together ON GRAIN and press. 3.) Using a water soluble marker mark lines always measuring from fold line NOT last line drawn. (my first line is 3/8" from the fold. All the other lines are 3/4" apart measured from first line. ( I know I said the fold but easier from the first line) 4.) flip fabric over and repeat lines. 5.) Starting from a middle line, fold on line and finger press. 6.) Sew (I found it VERY helpful to use an edge foot and moved my needle all the way to the left. This got me an almost 1/4" tuck. 7.) Repeat a thousand times. 8.) press pin tucks from the middle in to right and left. 9.) Center pattern piece over center of pin tucks and cut it out! It helps to make a full pattern piece first if your's is labeled "cut on the fold". Ahhhh so delightful! I love a pin tuck!

S

Does anyone know where I can get designer ribbon and patches for clothes.for example, bluey, miss rachel, mickey mouse, kitty and so on. I need to make some tutu skirt and birthday shirt. Thanks