I've today ordered a sewing machine off ebay. It's this one

http://www.whsmithentertainment.co.uk/electronics/new-arrivals-electronics/beldray-12-stitch-sewing-machine-bundle-with-free-200-pc-sewing-kit-with-carry-case/10285271.html


I got it for £26 inc delivery. Now i've never been a crafty type and don't really know how to make anything so I might be asking lots of questions.

wow £26?!  that looks a good deal!  I don't know anything about sewing machines either I'm afraid, I would like one though so will get one someday! 

I don;t know how you can say you're not crafty, when you've just been posting pics of things you've made!  I'm sure you'll have the hang of sewing in no time.

Wow, that's a bargain!  Mine cost around £500 

Wow, that's a great deal, good buy. Must root mine out, haven't seen it since I moved here.

Eire

Fab deal I have one that my aunt gave to me, it's quite smalll, and all I've learned so far is how to thread it  :mwaha:
I did use sewing machines at school, but that was over 10 years ago!

That is a bargain...

Alphya thats exactly where i am, used a sewing machine to make a tie, a cushion and a make up bag when i was at school but thats well over ten years ago now.

hoping to make some dolls clothes with it for my neice's dollies

Aw that will be nice, good luck, and make sure you show us how you get on.
Me, I'd love to be able to make myself a nice soaping apron

Enjoy yourself.

Haven't had my sewing machine out ofr a few years - it's one of those Toyota models with drop-in cams for different stitches.

EJ - I might need your help, my mum bought one of those as her old one finally gave up the Ghost (after 54 years of heavy use!) and I am currently trying to translate the manual for her (it was sold in Germany, but the manual is pidgin english)

Nor sure whether I have a manual - Jones bought me the machine secondhand from a stand in Mold covered market - he didn't ask me (pre mobile phone) but he like the idea of  mechanical control for stitch patterns rather than electronic.

I use sewing machines intuitively having grown up using them; fro Mum's treadle (I wasn't big enough to reach so she used to operate the treadle from the other side while I sewed) and Grandma's hand turned.

Then Mum bought an electric machine when we had electricicity put into the house (early 1950s) but we had to put on a couple of room lights when using it as the generator didn't like the speed variations.

She bought me a 2nd hand Singer, straight and zig-zag, for my 21st and that lasted for years - but eventually I had to do strange things with the tension spring so I couldn't teach Child to use it (she wasn't sewing orientated anyway).

I have an ancient Jones hand turned which Jones rescued from a customer's car (it was on it's way to the tip) which is immaculate - but it has a torpedo shaped shuttle and the bobbins are difficult to find these days, I have just two (must remind him next time he goes to an antiques fair).

ah - my mum's is different then - all electronic. The one that gave up the Ghost after 54 years was a Singer, electric, but otherwise very much like yours. 2 Stitches, straight and zig zag - mum and me made loads of clothes on that machine. My parents were upper middle class, but that still didn't mean they could afford designer clothes for me. So my mum made them and taught me how to. I was ballroom dancing and I made my first evening gown on that machine. It was stunning red raw silk. Could have never afforded it in the shop. We didn't even have a dummy. Just lots of Burda patterns and imagination! I will miss that thing, even though it weighed a ton, all cast ir*n and steel, not a single plastic part!

My mum's a dressmaker so I preferrred her to do the hard work with machines whilst I was "creative" with embroidery I have an old new home electric machine - have never liked machines that have tons to go wrong with stitches you'll never use - like washing machines with 20 settings and you only use 2. However, we do have three singers, a hand one from 1900's ish, a beauty of a treadle from 30's that this laptop is resting on at the moment, then an absolute joy of a 50's treadle in a cabinet. One of my hobbies with Stan last year was learning how to dismantle them and recondition them. EJ I have a couple of links somewhere for spare shuttles and so on if you want me to dig them out - one is a lovely lady who is very reasonably priced - got a 50' zig zag contraption from her that looks like an instrument of torture!

Ta - some bobbins for the torpedo shuttle would be handy.

This one has a few - they are quite good on the phone for the odd one they don't show - here are the spindle bits

http://www.singermachines.co.uk/sewingmachineparts/bobbins/?p=3

and this one is the "nice lady"! She has a brilliant supply and is very helpful

http://www.helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk/bobbins.html

Hope that helps EJ - it really is a pleasure to use these old machines, (I had a hankering for an old Jones - machine I mean! - as they were made not far from where I live now and look lovely) and if they are maintained they are the most eco-friendly sewing machine as long as you feed the operator!