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.

The Basics of Singer Sewing Machines

If someone asked you to name a brand of sewing machine, chances are you'd answer Singer. They're probably the best-known sewing machine brand in the entire industry. Singer sewing machines have been manufactured since 1851 using the highest quality standards. The zigzag stitch feature, now almost universally offered on sewing machines, was an innovation by Singer. They also developed and marketed the first electronic sewing machine.

It doesn't matter if you're interested in quilting, embroidery, home d?cor sewing or making your own clothes, there's a Singer sewing machine that can do the job. They're some of the most advanced machines in the world. It's no wonder Singer has been a household name for over 150 years.

Singer breaks their sewing machine range up into four main categories. For beginners, they have a basic machine. It's easy to use and economical, but it can also do more advanced jobs like buttonholes and utility stitching. Secondly, they have the Scholastic series. These are specifically designed for use in a teaching environment. For this reason they are practical and extremely durable.

The third group of machines belongs in the Quantum series. These are Singer's top quality machines. They incorporate a range of modern conveniences, including electronic mechanisms. The final category is the multi-featured series, which includes Singer's multi-featured machines. It's easy to see that Singer has a sewing machine to suit everyone's needs.

Purchasing a sewing machine is easy, as there are many places for you to look. Check out your local department store, the Internet and in catalogs. Most larger towns and cities have a sewing store, or at least a large craft store. Because Singers are known to be high quality and durable, you don't need to worry about what you're buying if you choose a used Singer sewing machine either.

It can be interesting to ask around and find out if one of the older members of your family still has an antique Singer. Recently these old sewing machines have become collector's items. There are even enthusiasts who collect antique Singer sewing machines as a full time hobby. If you find the serial number on the machine, you can call Singer and they will be able to identify the date the machine was manufactured. You can also look online, as there are websites that can help trace the serial number to an approximate manufacture date.

If you're interested in selling an antique Singer, then you can get in touch with people that specialize in appraising antique Singers. Whether you want to use it yourself or collect them as a hobby, Singer machines truly represent durability and quality.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Shopping For Sewing Machines.info where he provides more sewing machine advice, solutions and information on finding the best sewing machines that you can research in your pajamas on his website http://www.shoppingforsewingmachines.info

Comparison of Sewing Machine Prices and Features

When performing sewing machine comparisons, it is important to compare not only prices but features as well. Sometimes, obtaining the best price does not mean you get the best deal on your purchase.
Compare sewing machines by sitting at them as if you were sewing. Better yet, ask for a scrap of material and actually sew. Are the foot controls comfortable or, if you opt for a knee control, is it comfortable? Do your arms feel comfortable when guiding the fabric through the machine? Does the machine feel as if it is pulling the fabric away from you or does it gently feed the material? You want to find a sewing machine that is comfortable for you.
Of course, you have to do a sewing machine comparison on pricing. Purchase the best quality machine you can afford. Don't trade off crucial features to save only a few dollars. If you must choose a lower model to save money, select one with fewer of the 'whistles and bells' that you don't use often rather than an important feature you'll need regularly.
Sewing machines to consider with different function and prices:
Electronic sewing machines As with mechanical models electronic sewing machines also use a single motor along with cams and levers to power the needle with electronic features making it easier to precisely control settings. With the press of a button you are able to change stitches or adjust lengths in a much simpler manner than turner a less precise knob or lever. Stitches are more consistent, and adjustments are easier since they require pushing buttons instead of fiddling with knobs. The prices of electronic machines have dropped dramatically making it affordable for everyone.
Computerized sewing machines Depending on your needs you may require a computerized machine, which is coordinated by a computer microprocessor. One important thing about these machines is that they need hardly any maintenance. A basic computerized machine will allow you to embroider letters of the alphabet and a few small decorative motives. If you are intending to download designs from the internet your machine will need to be able to interface with a computer. These machines usually fall in the higher price range.
Embroidery machines The top of the range sewing machines will have hoop embroidery features. They will have a number of pre-programmed embroidery patterns and offer additional patterns on a memory card. Some machines have a special drive that will enable you to download patterns of the internet onto a memory card. With other machines you are able to scan images onto your computer and digitize it for embroidery. These types of machines can be very expensive.
Quilting machines Most sewing machines can be used for machine quilting with some requiring special considerations or adaptations. It would be wise to consult your dealer as to what these special consideration may be. One requirement that is especially important for making large quilts is the opening between the needle and the motor. The larger the opening the easier it will be to handle a large quilt.
It is important to ensure you have an in-store demonstration of whatever sewing machine you are considering purchasing. Be very aware of the warranty and service available on the machine.

For more information about sewing machines visit www.sewingmachinesforyou.com

Dress Shirt Embroidery

DRESS SHIRT TIPS Successful digitizing and embroidery

WHEN TO CHOOSE EMBROIDERY

The ?business casual? environment that led to relaxed dress codes for the workplace starting in the 90?s has changed the way America shows up for work. Jeans and sweatshirts are not unusual. However, the pendulum appears to be swinging back toward a more polished, upscale appearance in business apparel, especially since confidence in corporations has slipped recently with the trade scandals and folding dot-coms. With this change, the dress shirt, a traditional ?dress for success? item in a man?s closet, is enjoying a resurgence of popularity. It tops the charts when a professional image is important. The addition of an embroidered logo provides upscale corporate identity and with a little forethought can add style and interest as well.

The classic dress shirt is a long-sleeved, front-button shirt with tails. It is available in some luxurious fabrics and fun colors today. However, it is best to think ?conservative? when a shirt is to include an embroidered logo or design. Collar styles include: Straight, Spread or British Spread, Button-down, Curved, Tab and Banded. Your choice of style may depend on your customer?s preferences, but the best bet is to stick with a straight collar (the standard for business today) and a solid, basic color. Long sleeves with button cuffs complete the look and provide more creative opportunities for embroidery. For hotel uniforms or other functional work wear that will be worn in hot, humid climates, short sleeves, of course, are the logical choice.

LOCATION

Left and Right Chest - A company logo is normally embroidered on the left chest pocket of a dress shirt. Personalization, such as an employee name, is embroidered on the right. Keep designs small enough to fit comfortably in the space provided. Smaller is better, especially on a shirt pocket. (Be aware that as the logo or design is reduced in size, text size will be reduced and may become too small to digitize properly. Re-designing the logo may be necessary to keep text no less than 3/16? or ?? in height.)

Collar ? The left front of the collar presents a stylish opportunity to add a unique design or message on a dress shirt. It is being used by private schools today to embellish children?s uniforms when sweaters and vests can potentially conceal a left chest application.

Back ? Beneath the collar (in the yoke area) can add variety to design placement. One consideration for this area is to avoid designs that could be irritating for the wearer due to backing included on the inside of the garment. Certain designs that require heavy backing may not be advisable.

Cuff ? A tone-on-tone logo or stylized initials on a shirt cuff can provide another subtle, classy form of corporate identity.

FABRIC

When we think of a dress shirt fabric, we generally think of woven cotton (such as that found in an oxford shirt) or a cotton polyester blend. However, dress shirts also come in blends of polyester and cotton twill (common for industrial and commercial work wear), silk, the newer micro fiber fabrics and a polyester/rayon that looks and drapes like silk (this fabric was introduced in women?s shirts and has recently been incorporated into men?s shirts). Some dress shirts worn by industrial and commercial work staff are being produced in wickable fabrics with a high synthetic fabric content. Wickable fabrics originated in clothing designed for extreme sporting events like mountain climbing and has moved into the shirts designed for work wear. The fabric transfers moisture from the skin to the outside of the cloth where it can evaporate. This feature helps the wearer to maintain a more even body temperature, thus reducing discomfort and improving performance. The key here is to select fabric that will support the function and image your customer is looking for. Thinner fabrics may cost less, but they don?t maintain their fit and shape as well as higher quality fabrics You will pay a bit more for a quality fabric, but it will also last longer and provide a polished, professional appearance that keeps your customers coming back for more.

THREAD

With its vibrant colors and high sheen, the preferred choice of thread for dress shirts that will make their appearance in the boardroom or sales office is rayon. Keep in mind that a cooler temperature with color-safe bleach will be needed to safeguard its color and sheen.

When shirts will be washed frequently in hot water or with large amounts of chlorine bleach (as for staff at a restaurant or hotel), the best choice, with its strength and resistance to fading, is polyester.

DESIGN ELEMENTS

For industrial or commercial uniforms, the trend is moving away from the use of name tags and patches toward embroidering direct on the fabric. The result is a less clinical, more personalized, professional image. One thing to keep in mind, however, is when shirts are acquired offshore, they may have pocket placements angled incorrectly or offset to left or right. Lining up a logo is difficult in such a case. We suggest ordering a shirt sample from an offshore vendor prior to placing your order. Hold off showing a catalog image of the shirt to your customer, if at all possible, until you receive an actual sample. If you find yourself in a situation where shirts have been delivered with pockets misaligned or offset, find an embroiderer who will work with you to compensate for the misalignment by modifying the angle or placement of the embroidery.

Letter size is always an important consideration when creating a design for the embroidery process. Script or serif fonts are not advisable for small text. For best results, use capitalized letters in a sans serif font such as Arial. The minimum letter heights listed below are for sans serif, block letters, sewn in a satin stitch.

Suggested minimum Letter Height by Fabric:

Pique, Terry cloth, Fleece .?. 1/ 4?

Twill, Most other fabrics ?? 3/16?

MARKETING IDEAS

When the protocol for business attire relaxed, the door opened for new and creative ways to embellish promotional business apparel. Take advantage of that opportunity by thinking outside the box with creative solutions to a company?s identification challenges. In cooler temperatures where sweaters and vests are a mainstay during the winter months, you could suggest a coordinating shirt and sweater or vest combination. A stylish version of the company logo can be added to the left front collar of a dress shirt and a standard left chest version embroidered on the sweater or vest. This ensures a visual display of the corporate logo with or without the sweater or vest.

Another idea is to add a vendor logo to a secondary location, such as beneath the back collar, on the cuff or upper sleeve (on a short-sleeved shirt). A company may be able to attain coop dollars to help fund the cost of a company shirt with this arrangement. A shirt retailer, for example, could have the logo of a primary shirt provider embroidered on their staff?s sleeve or cuff and their own logo embroidered on the left chest pocket.

Fast Embroidery Tapes http://www.fastembroiderytapes.com

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.

Different Embroidery Frames

There are different types of embroidery frames. Sometimes, the mere choosing of the most proper embroidery frame for your canvas can be as exasperating as the stitching itself. That is why you should be presented with the various opportunities that different embroidery frames offer. The first opportunity is not to pick up any embroidery frame. In some cases frames are not necessary, as in canvas work, like painted canvas kits, tassels and Hapsberg lace samples.

Another thing to have in mind is that embroidery frames differ in their price. The inexpensive frames are suitable in some cases, but can be inappropriate in more sophisticated embroidery projects. The inexpensive frames are Ring frames, Q-snaps and Stretcher bar frames. For more information click Embroidery Frames

1)Ring frames are best when the frame is 1 inch deep. If the slot is narrower, the fabric can easily slip. The frames can be wooden or plastic, wooden are the better. The fabric must be kept tight in the frame, but with ring frames several difficulties occur. With smaller fabrics, narrower frames are sufficient to keep the cloth taut. But when the fabric is bigger and the embroidery work more complicated, ring frames are easy to let the canvas slip, they cannot hold it tight enough. Plastic frames are easier to let go of the fabric than wooden ones.

2)Q-snaps are another inexpensive type of embroidery frames. Plastic bars are slotted together and the fabric is clipped on a plastic frame. Another piece of plastic is also slotted over the fabric. But the cloth is not taut enough and can easily slip, compared to the scroll bars, stretcher bars and slate frames used in stitching.

3) Stretcher bars are fairly inexpensive and can be the best possible solution for any kind of embroidery. The stretcher bar frames are wooden and the fabric is kept perfectly taut. The bars are sold in pairs, and every bar has dog teeth that keep the tightness of the fabric. Pairs of stretcher bars can be combined together for bigger fabrics. You can form a rectangular shape for the frames by using two pairs. This type of embroidery frames is perfect for Goldwork kits, Shadow embroidery, Whitework kits, Needle painting kits and modern Jacobean kits.

Then come the more expensive types of embroidery frames used on special projects. They are the following:

1) Scroll frames. They have two pairs of bars screwed to one another so that a rectangular shape is acquired. The only drawback is that sometimes the screws get loose and the fabric is not kept tight. But if this is neglected, scroll bars are perfect, as they can be left on a floor or a table, on virtually any kind of surface, and leave your hands free: you don't need to hold the frames all the time. The side bars that fit into holes with the main top and bottom bars can sometimes be too short for your fabric, so you must be careful when choosing the size of the frame. Being too short, the side bars can influence the smoothness of the fabric and can leave creases.

2) The second embroidery frame is slate frames. The main bars have tape staples onto which you fit the fabric. Slate frames also have trestles, with which they stand on stable surface. They are extremely comfortable. The side arms are slightly longer than the scroll frames, so that the fabric is protected from creasing.

3) Lacing. It is an improved version of the scroll frames. Scroll frames use only the main bars for tension over the fabric. With lacing, the fabric is sewn on the four sides, on the side bars as well, to ensure better tension so that the canvas is better stretched. If the fabric is soft and tears easily, sew a tape of curtain cloth on the edges and then attach them to the bars.- an article writer who writes on a wide variety of subjects. For more information click Embroidery Frames