THE SEWING MACHINE

The case of the sewing machine... A lot of you ask me for advice, but in reality I'm no expert, but I'll tell you what I've been told on this subject, and to this day it's always proved true. When I turned 18 and got fed up of throwing myself into the air with the crappy sewing machine my mother had found at Lidl - you know, the super special of the week - well, maybe it helps out, but if you want to use it a lot and have everything go well, it's better to forget about it. So, with my birthday coming up and my place at Duperré in my pocket, I needed a real sewing machine. A friend of mine, who's a costume designer, gave me this advice, and if you're looking for a good sewing machine, it's got to be heavy, sturdy, because the new plastic Chinese ones are once again best forgotten (to give you an example, mine in the photo weighs 11 kilos). 

She advised me to get a semi-industrial sewing machine, they don't make them anymore, but you can still find them on Ebay or le bon coin etc... A semi-industrial machine is a very heavy machine, but in family size, because industrial sewing machines are on metal tables: not practical when you move into 17m2. So mine is quite heavy, and I can put on any fabric, any thickness of thread, and everything goes smoothly, it doesn't move. In short, I'm not telling you to go looking for the semi-industrial machine of your life on the bon coin, but trust the big brands because, in the event of a breakdown, it's much easier to get parts replaced. As for prices, they can range from simple to double, but if you're just starting out - and this also applies to me (when I was out of work, I used a station wagon, which was very good) - count on around 150 and 200 euros, and you'll find some very good things. And remember one thing: the more incredible things it does (embroidery, screen, etc.), the more likely it is to break down. Keep it simple and you'll be fine. 

I've put together a small selection of machines that might interest you... And don't forget to have your old sewing machine serviced at any repair shop, it might turn out to be as good as new! I take mine in for a little overhaul every 2 years, just to keep it in top condition. Of course, I could have bought myself a new one in the meantime, but what can I say, I love it.

BROTHER – JANOME - ELNA - PFAFF - GRITZNER - SINGER - JAGUAR - ALFA