Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Compare Sewing Machines

As there is a myriad of sewing machines in the market, it is always better to compare sewing machines before purchasing one. Comparison of sewing machines will enable the customers in finding the sewing machine that fit their needs, besides; it will help consumers in saving considerable amount of money.

To make sure that you are getting the best possible deal, it is advisable to compare sewing machines based on their price and performance. Normally, the price range of sewing machine falls between $20 and $1000. Referring reviews posted by other consumers and comparing the prices of sewing machines will help the consumers in making a right decision while purchasing sewing machines.

Today, there are several websites that offer simple guidelines to consumers in purchasing a quality sewing machine. Epinions.com, smarter.com, sortprice.com, bizrate.com, mysimon.com, and shopping.yahoo.com are some of the websites that allow visitors to compare prices of sewing machines.

For comparison of products, websites provide you with a list of sewing machines of different make and model. From the list provided, select a particular sewing machine you wish to compare. The website will provide you with a chart comparing the selected machine with the others available in the market.

Websites compare sewing machines available in the market based on factors such as type, price, performance, threading, and brand of sewing machine. The result of comparison is posted on the websites to provide the public an overview of sewing machines. Apart from listing prices and features of sewing machines, they provide product rating and review forms for customers.

Certain websites provide comparison chart that shows feature by feature comparison of sewing machines. Consumersearch.com is one such website that carries out feature by feature comparison of sewing machines. Besides websites, there are magazines that perform comparison study of various sewing machines.

Sewing Machines provides detailed information on Sewing Machines, Industrial Sewing Machines, Embroidery Sewing Machines, Antique Sewing Machines and more. Sewing Machines is affiliated with Portable Steam Cleaners.

Labels: , , , ,

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

The Damascus Grand Rotary Sewing Machine and Its Reputation

The Damascus Grand Rotary Sewing Machine, sold by Montgomery Ward, decades ago, remains one of the most beloved machines ever created. People around the globe still use, revere, and protect their Grand Rotary sewing machine.

A collector's item, this amazing machine at the time sewed about 1/3 quicker than all other models at the time and it became an instant classic. Every serious sewer and amateur sewer alike quickly learns the nuances of a machine and then becomes one with their machine. This machine is one of the few machines in history to become such an instant and enduring classic.

Even in today's society where convenience and speed are paramount, people enjoy and perfect their sewing skills. In fact, we often pay a premium to have people sew things for us as we appreciate the quality of good sewing. Those among us who have perfected the art of sewing will be quick to point out that it is as much about their machine as it is about their individual skills.

Whether creating a new dress or shirt, hemming pants, altering their favorite garment, attaching buttons or embroidering, the art of sewing is appreciated by all, yet mastered by surprising few. In recent years, however, there has been a resurgence of interest in sewing that has led to an increase in popularity of collectible machines such as this one.

Collectors know the value of a great machine and all of its accessories including the needles, cases and even manuals. That's right, there is an entire market of people looking for, finding and selling owner manuals for popular machines such as this one.

As people look for the ultimate find in sewing, they often come online and research these classic machines to find the machines themselves, as well as the various accessories that are available for the machine.

We would be curious to learn if Montgomery Ward's thought for a moment that when they began to offer this machine nearly a century ago that it would become such an instant classic. Whether they knew it at the time or not, there is no doubt that this amazing machine has caught the heart and the attention of sewing aficionados around the world who love their Damascus Grand Rotary sewing machine. If you are serious about sewing, I highly recommend you get your hands on one of these machines.

Byran Kempa for Sewing Machine Resource - a resource site providing information on all types of sewing machines including the Damascus Grand Rotary sewing machine.

Labels: , , , ,

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Sewing Machines are Useful Everyday

Did you ever find a shirt or a pair of pants that had the seam ripped out of it? . Did you ever sit and think of some of the different types of items that you can and are made with sewing machines? So what would you do, most of us would go to the closet and drag out the sowing machine and fix the seam.

Yet there are many of other things that can be done with it besides fixing your shirt or pants. You could sew some material together to make strips that later would be made into carpets or even make a complete outfit for you or your children. You could even make curtains with it or put embroidery on a coat or hat with them.

The things that you can do with sewing machines are endless all it takes is a little imagination and creativity plus that material and then nothing is impossible.

This machine has come along way from when it first became available to people. It became more compact and has more features to it. Before they made them more compact for the average person, when you ever needed a name or picture sewn on you jacket, hat, or carpet you would half to go see a specialist to have it done, and pay for the work and materials.

But now you can purchase the sewing machines in the stores that will let you do embroideries and do that project and many more out of your own home. That makes the sewing machine a lot more convenient for the average person now a day to get the work done.

There are a lot of people out there that think that a sewing machine is out dated but really they are not because you can do more with one machine than some can do with three or four different machines.

If the average person would think of the money that would be saved if they would fix that pair of pants, shirt, or skirt they would see that a sewing machine is not that bad of an idea after all.

For more information about sewing machines, please check out: http://www.1-sewing-machines.info

Labels: , , , ,

Friday, January 18, 2008

Home Embroidery Machinery

Embroidery is a great pastime that can be enjoyed by anyone in the comfort of their own home. Home embroidery equipment has become much more affordable and easy to find. To get started there are a few essential elements necessary to start stitching.

Machine. Embroidery machinery for the home user can be found for about $500 for basic embroidery functions. Machinery can be used for sewing as well as embroidery. Newer machines are equipped with advanced functions including LCD design display and on-board embroidery software. All these functions make home embroidery easy and fun. So what other supplies do you need to get stitching?

Designs. Embroidery designs are essential. There are many beautiful designs provided by manufacturers and many free designs available, too. For those with a creative side, a custom design can be created and put into embroidery format using software. There are several free embroidery software programs available on the internet. Be weary of programs that offer automatic digitizing as this can yield a less than satisfactory product.

Thread-40wt. Once you have a design, you need thread to create the product. 40-wt thread is the most commonly used. Polyester thread is a high quality thread that is color-safe and break resistant. The quality of thread used is essential to avoid breaking, bunching, and other common embroidery problems.

Fabric. Embroidery can be done on almost all types of fabric. Cotton, polyester, wool, and synthetic fabrics are all commonly used materials for embroidery. The fabric is stabilized using an arm known as a hoop that secures the fabric to the machine in the correct positioning under the needle.

Have Fun! Embroidery is a very fun hobby. Understanding of the basic concepts of embroidery and a few tips for other embroiderers will help you to get stitching.


Angela Oliver is a contributing author for EmbroideryAuthority.com, specializing is custom embroidered logos. Please visit the site at EmbroideryAuthority.com for more information about embroidery machinery and the embroidery process.

Labels: , , ,

Thursday, January 17, 2008

English Embroidery - Centuries Of Excellence

The art of embroidery was practiced many centuries ago and is still practiced today. It would be highly unlikely that today's collector would be able to find or purchase much that was made prior to 1650, simply due to lack of preservation of such works. If one was to locate such an antique piece, it would be very expensive, due to its rarity.

Antique embroidery items of this nature can still be seen in museum-type settings or private collections. As one might expect time will have taken its toll on the piece.

English embroidery work from the Middle Ages has become well sought after throughout the world. What pieces remain in museums and private collections give good examples, and show just how this century-old hand embroidery work earned its reputation for being the finest work ever produced.

The very early examples of English embroidery were done on silk panels, of which most were white in color using silk thread to compose the design. Works were often designed around carved pieces, such as carved heads, faces, hands, and often shoes, which were then incorporated into the piece. The fine embroidery would fill in the clothing and background setting. These fine pieces of needle art would then be framed or perhaps inset into the top of a box.

In the 17th century one common stitch used in English embroidery was the straightforward tent stitch, embroidered onto wool or silk or both, with a canvas backing. Due to the durability of the canvas, there are more surviving examples of this kind of embroidery. In many cases, these works still retain the same brilliance of color now as they did centuries before. This same type of embroidery is still being practiced today, due to the fact that it can endure time without noticeable damage.

The eighteenth-century found many furniture manufactures incorporating English embroidery onto many types of furniture pieces, greatly increasing the value of a piece if present. The later half of the 18th century brought with it the embroidery picture. It was much in vogue to have such a piece in ones home. The pictures came in many sizes and frame shapes. As a rule, silk fabric and silk thread were used in these wonderful pieces of art. For added embellishment, many of these pictures were also touched up with watercolor paint. Such artifacts can still be found today. Unfortunately, this type of work did not wear well over time, and you would be hard-pressed to find one that does not show signs of fading. Even so, a picture of this nature would still have character and charm.

I would be remise if I did not mention the sampler. The sampler began as a simple reference panel. Whereas a pattern was developed, and colors experimented with, to come up with a desired design. In the eighteenth century it had become an exercise for children's lessons. Children were instructed to embroider letters of the alphabet, mottoes, verses, and texts. They also would have signed and dated their handiwork. Wonderful maps were also produced in this manner.

During the nineteenth century, samplers were designed to include vivid colors, and subject matter ranged from copies of famous art works to Biblical themes. Heavier threads such as wool were also used, and larger stitches were incorporated into the designs.

The nineteenth century also revived the art of using beadwork in the embroidered piece. Queen Victoria - the reigning Queen of England - took a great liking to embellishing banners, fire screens, and footstool coverings with beads.

Many fine examples of Victorian embroidery can still be found in antique markets today, which as a rule are in pretty good condition.

The wonderful art of embroidery is still very popular today. There are many talented artisans that design and produce beautiful pieces. I am sure many of these artistic creations will become the well sought-after antiques of tomorrow.

To learn more about embroidery, please visit Antique Embroidery and Elizabethan Embroidery.

Labels: , , , ,

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Used Embroidery Machines

Used embroidery machines can be the most cost effective for novice embroiderers as well as for new embroidery companies just starting up.

For the novice embroiderer who wishes to buy their first embroidery machine, this is generally the smartest way to go. A used embroidery machine can be significantly less than a new embroidery machine. It allows the buyer to try out a specific brand or model of used embroidery machine they are most interested in as well as being able to try out embroidering itself with much less risk. If they buy a used embroidery machine that they dislike or if they do not enjoy embroidering, they have not invested the same kind of money, as they would have if they bought a new embroidery machine.

New embroidery companies can also benefit from purchasing a professional used embroidery machine. Much the same as for novice embroiderers, as used embroidery machine permits buyers more flexibility. Professional embroidery machines are very expensive and can cost anywhere from $7000 to well over $35, 000 for the embroidery machine alone, not including software, accessories, or materials. Used embroidery machines can be found for significantly less which makes start up costs for the business more reasonable and can mean the difference between success and failure for new embroidery businesses. Buying a used embroidery machine also gives they buyer a chance to use a specific brand or model and decide if it is really the one they wish to buy new in the future.

Used embroidery machines can be found from a variety of sources both locally and online. Most embroidery machine stores will offer used embroidery machines as well as new. This is generally the best place for novice embroiderers to start looking. Companies may prefer to start online, as they are more likely to find more selection from the bigger suppliers listed as well as better prices.

Both novices and companies should be sure to find out how many hours of use the used embroidery machine has, what work has been done on it and what kind of warranties are offered. Used embroidery machines are not less expensive if you buy a machine that doesn?t work or will break down shortly after you purchase it. There is always some gamble when buying a used embroidery machine, but you can eliminate most of this by buying through a reputable company and asking the right questions.

Labels: , , ,