What do you think of this sewing machine?

[angela]

I'm thinking of treating myself with my birthday money, this seems to have good reviews and is fairly cheap, just wondered about replacement needles
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4602284.htm?_$ja=tsid:11527%7Ccc:%7Cprd:4602284%7C cat:gifts+and+hobbies+%2F+art+and+crafts+%2F+sewin g+machines+and+accessories+%2F
Thanks

[Millburn]

It looks okay to me, someone else asked about needles and got this answer

i just used some needles that i'd bought from wilkinson they were in a blue and yellow packet quite a well known brand but i can't remember off the top of my head

[Granny Penny]

Difficult to say without trying it. I bought the Cooper 27 from Ideal World and have been very pleased with it but I got it when it was a POD and I think it was only £89.99. Coopers do seem to have a very good name so it might be worth looking at their previous one, the Coopers Ruby Red. This 27 stitches (the same as the Cooper 27) and is £199 on C & C but if you go to Coopers direct it is only £89 and they seem to offer an easy payment system if you buy by phone.

[angela]

thanks, wow that's a bit of a price difference Granny Penny, I did read the reviews for the cheaper cooper one on IW but the reviews were terrible, so I thought I'd look elsewhere, I think I'll chance my arm with the argos one as the reviews seem good, I'll have a look for the needles in wilko's Millburn thanks

[Granny Penny]

Just read the reviews on C & C Angela and am really surprised by the fact that both these people bought the Ruby Red and then bought the Cooper 27. I would have thought (unless they are running classes) that that was a bit of a backwards step. The Cooper 27 was sold as a basic plus machine at under £100 (which it was in the POD) and my only worry is that I would want an electronic machine once I got used to a mechanical one again. It is only going to do basic stuff although it has a few stiches which you could use for embroidery. I can't say I had any problems making my first cushion, and am about to make 3 more to join it and thinking of curtains at a later date. However, the second reviewer (with strange worries about no on/off switch) says she has reverted to her Ruby Red and the first one thinks it was a better buy so this all seems to make the one on Coopers own site a very good buy.

[Millburn]

with thinking hat on about needles, if the Wilko ones won't do, and I think sewing m/c needles are fairly standard, John Lewis stores usually still have decent sewing departments.

you could always go straight from Argos to John Lewis, and check the needles are available :wink:

for the money it looks a nice neat simple m/c,

[angela]

Thanks GP I thought the reviews were a bit weird too, I did watch the show when it was POD and the guy from coopers was saying what an excellent machine it was and Debbie didn't seem to have any probs, neither did Ellis, can you remember if it was an automatic button holer?
Thanks Millburn, actually just remembered ther's a sewing machine shop in town where I could probably get needles, we don't have a John Lewis nearby.

[Millburn]

Thanks Millburn, actually just remembered ther's a sewing machine shop in town where I could probably get needles, we don't have a John Lewis nearby.

That solves any problem; buy from Argos and them literally go to them, and make sure you can buy needles and spindles and that they can service it and buy the thread you know you want and some needles; and if they can't help, just go straight back to Argos :D

[Little Jan]

As said before needles are universal, I used to get mine from the market, or Woolies now I get them from Wilkinson,as they are cheaper then the shop in town, all you need to remember is the right needle for the fabric, so I go for a mixed pack,also make sure you have plenty because sods law you will break the last one when you need it most, with regards to bobbins, check which sort you need, I have 2 machines a embroidery one and basic one, one takes plastic, one metal, when I needed a spare I stuck a plastic one in and it shattered OPPs
With regards to servicing, I found my little sewing shop in town very good they service all makes and were cheaper then the manufacturer

[angela]

well I've bought the machine, and just been to market and bout some lining fabric for the Cath Kidston bag that I'm going to attempt, some wadding stuff some thread, a nice vintage roll end of fabric and some felt, felt was a bargain at £2 a metre, just need some time to practice now, oh and I also bought sew magazine as there is a pattern for a mac that looks quite easy, yikes.

[Little Jan]

Have fun, I love to sew but don't do as much as I used to being small I used to have to make my own cloths as nothing in the shops fitted,I am still small in hight but not so small in body so it's cheaper to buy and shorten I have even bought cloths in sales that are miles to big and altered them to fit(cheapskake or what )lol.Have made many items including a christening gown for my mates baby without a patten but never attempted anything like a mac

[LoobyLou]

Just read the reviews on C & C Angela and am really surprised by the fact that both these people bought the Ruby Red and then bought the Cooper 27. I would have thought (unless they are running classes) that that was a bit of a backwards step. The Cooper 27 was sold as a basic plus machine at under £100 (which it was in the POD) and my only worry is that I would want an electronic machine once I got used to a mechanical one again. It is only going to do basic stuff although it has a few stiches which you could use for embroidery. I can't say I had any problems making my first cushion, and am about to make 3 more to join it and thinking of curtains at a later date. However, the second reviewer (with strange worries about no on/off switch) says she has reverted to her Ruby Red and the first one thinks it was a better buy so this all seems to make the one on Coopers own site a very good buy.

I didn't see the IW progs so could be talking out of my backside, but how is buying a 27 stitch machine a backwards step to buying an 18 stitch machine?? I'm confused, lol

[LoobyLou]

Just a quick follow up to this if anyone is thinking of purchasing a Cooper machine either from IW or direct from SewingMachinediscount (which appears to be the Cooper website) tread very carefully before you part with your money. It would appear Mr. Cooper himself is an odious and verbally offensive person. Lots of folks on this thread very hacked off with him and his company

http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/other-goods-services/3027-coopers-sewing-machines.html

[Granny Penny]

I didn't see the IW progs so could be talking out of my backside, but how is buying a 27 stitch machine a backwards step to buying an 18 stitch machine?? I'm confused, lol

Just offering an opinion Looby, as I had recently bought a sewing machine. Could quite easily be completely wrong in my interpretation of the two machines.

Thank you for the heads up on the chap at Coopers. If I need to deal with them I will ask my daughter to do it as she is determindley business-like with rude types.

[angela]

Thanks peeps, I have already been warned about Mr Cooper sounds a nasty piece of work, I also seem to recall being taken aback when Debbie Shore was demoing the cheaper coopers she more or less said she preferred the ruby red I think, anyway I've got my little machine up and running and it's fab up to now, I've made a start on my Cath Kidston bag, I've even put some interfacinf stuff on to stiffen it and I'm going to make a lining, it's coming a long nicely and am about to stitch my 1st T-junction lol, I can see this bag making becoming very addictive, I also want to make a little pouch for my glasses!

[LoobyLou]

Just offering an opinion Looby, as I had recently bought a sewing machine. Could quite easily be completely wrong in my interpretation of the two machines.

Thank you for the heads up on the chap at Coopers. If I need to deal with them I will ask my daughter to do it as she is determindley business-like with rude types.

I wasn't arguing with your GrannyP, especially as I didn't see any of the IW shows, I am genuinely asking how a machine that does more stitches is a backwards move and was wondering if the lesser stitch machine had other things going for it that I was not aware of

[Granny Penny]

I wasn't arguing with your GrannyP, especially as I didn't see any of the IW shows, I am genuinely asking how a machine that does more stitches is a backwards move and was wondering if the lesser stitch machine had other things going for it that I was not aware of

No problem Looby. As I say I may have got the wrong end of the stick with the two machines. I was very much swayed by the price of the Cooper 27 as I didn't know if I was going to use it a lot or not. I watched several of the POD programs and definitely got the impression that this was an entry level machine but I suppose they were unlikely to say it's just as good if not better than the Ruby Red (even if it was) when they were still selling the RR. I can be a bit gullible though!

[Millburn]

ermmm; I'm a life long sewer/stitcher; my degree is in Textile Science; I’m over average male height so making my own was when clothes were expensive (like 1980ish basic production cost of a pair of jeans £4.50) and I was poor; important; but I soooooo don’t get the need for all the embroidery stitches and stuff; to be honest I have a 1976 brother sewing m/c and a 2001 overlocker (dream m/c :D ) what else do 98% of sewers need after they can sew a seam; zigzag fraying edges; and if they are really adventurous overlock an elastic/stretch seam

[Little Jan]

[QUOTE=Millburn;159465]ermmm; I'm a life long sewer/stitcher; my degree is in Textile Science; I’m over average male height [QUOTE]
and all this time I thought you were female LOL,

[Millburn]

and all this time I thought you were female LOL,


:tongue: ....... I was last time I looked :D