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Sewing Machine

Singer CE-150 Review – Futura Sewing and Embroidery Machine

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The Singer CE-150 Futura Sewing and Embroidery Machine with Futura Software is a sewing machine that allows you to do embroidery once you connect it to a computer that uses Windows.

The Futura software enables you to transfer designs you’ve downloaded from the internet and use them for your embroidery projects. What’s remarkable about this is that Singer gives users this advanced technology at such an affordable price.

As a sewing machine, the Singer CE-150 Futura aims to make life easy for both amateurs and professionals with its push-button stitch feature that allows for automatic setting of length and width, 24 built-in stitches, 2 built-in one-step buttonholes, a buttonhole underplate, programmable needle up-and-down positions, and 13 needle positions for specific projects.

As an embroidery machine, meanwhile, the Singer CE-150 Futura has a USB support, support for popular embroidery design formats, 120 built-in patterns, 5 built-in lettering fonts, 3D view and print capabilities, a change-color function, automatic software and firmware updates, and 2 embroidery hoops.

Features and Specifications: Singer CE-150 Futura Sewing and Embroidery Machine

  • Dimensions: 17” x 11” x 12”
  • Weight: 41 lbs.
  • O.S. Compatibility: Windows 2000, XP, Vista
  • USB support (with USB cable)
  • Stitch width: 7 mm.
  • 1 large 4 1/2″ x 6 3/4″ and 1 small 3 1/8″ x 4 3/4″ embroidery hoops
  • Automatic needle threader
  • Automatic thread tension
  • Top-loading bobbin system
  • 10-year extended warranty for parts and labor

Singer CE-150 Futura Sewing and Embroidery Machine Review

The Singer CE-150 Futura Sewing and Embroidery Machine has gotten mixed reviews, although most of those who reviewed it said they were satisfied. The majority of reviewers gave the product 5 stars, but it can’t be ignored that a large percentage of users gave it 2-star and 1-star ratings.

As a sewing machine alone, the Singer CE-150 Futura was called an excellent product that lived up to expectations. Users saw it as a solid piece of sewing equipment, and there were no complaints about its sewing capabilities and functionality.

The differing opinions among users were about the embroidery aspect of the product. As an embroidery machine, Singer CE-150 Futura pleased a lot of users, but it also left a bitter taste in a lot of other users’ mouths, so to speak.

As an embroidery machine, the Singer CE-150 Futura was recommended by those who “got the hang of it.” As a couple of reviewers stated, the machine took some getting used to when they started using it for embroidery. They had to familiarize themselves with the software.

They also had to learn the right way to thread so they wouldn’t set off the “broken thread” error that a lot of the other users found annoying and unacceptable. Those who learned the tricks, though, commented that they eventually found the product easy to use, in spite of their initial difficulties with it. FYI, said reviewers were those who gave Singer CE-150 Futura 5 stars.

Another satisfied customer, who used Embird designs, said she transitioned to firm cotton without any problems. What we gathered from her was that this transition wouldn’t be an easy feat with other machines. She gave the product 5 stars. She and most of the others who gave the same high rating also didn’t complain about the machine having to be connected externally to a computer to use it for embroidery.

Those who gave the Singer CE-150 Futura low ratings were obviously very unhappy and frustrated with it. They took the time to say that it was a good enough machine if all one wanted with it was to sew. But they warned that as an embroidery machine, it was basically a lemon. One common theme among the complaints was how unreliable the software was. Some said the Futura software didn’t work with Windows Vista and XP unless patches were downloaded and installed. And downloading and installing only worked sometimes and failed majority of the time.

The mixed reviews have prompted us to conclude that even though we can still recommend this product to some consumers, we can’t recommend it to everyone. Buy the Singer CE-150 Futura if you want a great sewing machine, and you don’t mind taking the time to learn some tricks to make it function optimally as an embroidery machine.

Singer SES1000 All-In-One Machine Review

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Singer SES1000 All-In-One Sewing, Embroidery and Serging Machine

Are you in the market to buy an embroidery machine? Well, let us tell you about a great machine and we’ll also shed some light on where you can find the best prices on the internet for this Singer and many others. The Singer SES1000 all-in-one machine, three machines that perform sewing, embroidery and serging functions are now found in just one product. Aside from the Futura software that offers numerous embroidery designs, a bonus software, which contains Autopunch, Hyperfont, AutoCross-Stitch and Photostitch, is included in the package. This bonus software is worth $1100 if bought separately.

This Singer SES1000 all-in-one machine is an intuitive, innovative machine with advanced features that promise to make sewing, embroidery and serging a breeze for both newbies and experts alike. It has a drop-and-sew top drop-in bobbin, push-button stitch selection, 24 stitch designs, 120 built-in embroidery designs, 5 built-in lettering fonts, 13 needle positions, feed-dog drop feature, and a lock cutter serging attachment.

Singer SES1000 All-In-One Machine Features and Specifications

  • Dimensions: 12″H x 12-1/2″W x 17″L
  • Shipping weight: 41 lbs.
  • O.S. Compatibility: Windows 2000, XP, Vista
  • Extra high presser foot lifter
  • Audible warnings and guide
  • 3 Specialty 5-watt LED bulbs
  • Computerized embroidery unit
  • 1 large 4 1/2″ x 6 3/4″ and 1 small 3″ x 4 3/4″ embroidery hoops
  • Automatic needle threader
  • Vertical spool holder
  • 3D Realistic View and 3D Realistic Print
  • 3900 Stock Designs (on CD)
  • Basic editing features: copy, paste, reorder, repeat
  • Automatic software and firmware updates
  • 25-year limited warranty

Singer SES1000 All-In-One Machine Review

The Singer SES1000 received only positive responses from those who reviewed it. Apparently, Singer delivered on all of what it promised this all-in-one machine would give its customers. We didn’t see ratings that were less than 5 stars. That’s a pretty impressive feat in our book.

One male reviewer said that for him, the Singer SES1000 was all it was made out to be. He claimed that he was an old man who didn’t have sewing skills but decided to start sewing as a hobby, and he was very pleased that he didn’t have a hard time learning how to use this very modern machine.

What made this particular reviewer call the machine a “great embroidery adventure” was apparently the bonus software package that added to the 3900 provided stock designs. He singled out the Autopunch software and commended it for the freedom it afforded him to change images. In his opinion, this software made the Singer SES1000 a more powerful machine.

Other reviewers called this Singer SES1000 all-in-one machine fantastic and amazing. They echoed the above mentioned male reviewer’s opinion about the Singer SES1000 being a machine that makes both sewing and embroidery very easy to do. One of them said that she had never embroidered before she got herself this product, but the user-friendliness of it enabled her to perform a function she was initially unfamiliar with.

Another user who didn’t seem to be a professional seamstress was in awe that she failed to encounter any difficulty in sewing with this all-in-one machine. This doesn’t surprise us at all, since this product is obviously rich with features to make sewing, embroidery and serging as convenient for the ordinary user as possible. In fact, we learned that it even gives users troubleshooting instructions when issues are encountered.

The only area for improvement that was mentioned was the fact that the Singer SES1000 had to be connected to an external computer to use the machine’s embroidery function. This seems to be common among Singer products that have computer support. This shouldn’t be a problem for some, although relatively, the brand pales in comparison to other machine brands that offer support for flash drives, negating the need for a computer to be nearby. But like we said, it seems that it is only in this particular aspect that the Singer SES1000 can improve.

We definitely recommend the Singer SES1000 to both aspiring and expert seamstresses and designers. After all, a product that has been called fantastic, amazing and great can’t possibly be a disappointment. Reviewers gave it 5 stars, and we’re compelled to give it 5 stars, too.

The Pfaff 335 Review – Cylinder Bed Industrial Sewing Machine for Those Hard-to-Reach Places

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Sometimes no matter what you do it’s impossible to reach the seam you need to sew or repair. You know what I mean, those hard to get to places you wonder how anyone ever manages to reach. Well, the secret is the proper style bed on your sewing machine. I use a post-bed for most hard to maneuver pieces like shoes. But one of the most useful styles is the cylinder bed.

The Pfaff 335 is one model I hear leatherworkers and upholstery shops recommend frequently. It’s a single needle, straight stitch machine with a small diameter cylinder bed and a walking foot for top speeds of 2800 stitches per minute. The maximum stitch length is a standard 6mm. And it comes with a large table, power stand and a clutch motor available in 110v or 220v. (The 220 version costs a little extra.)

Whether you’re in industry or just like handicraft projects, you’ll find these type lockstitch machines most useful for general sewing and tape binding on upholstery, foot wear, bags and other leatherwear and accessories. Of course, it’s possible to use it for other fabrics, too.

It’s especially nice to have a cylinder arm when you’re tape binding on tubular or pre-attached articles. The machine just zips right around the circle without the need for constantly shifting the piece. Binding strips that work best with this machine are leather, imitation leather or textile tape, such as what you would use for piping on bags or suitcases.

Features the make the Pfaff 335 cylinder bed a great machine:

  • Unison triple feed keeps layers from slipping. The needle, walking foot and feed dogs work together in unison to move the fabric after each stitch is complete. This makes for even, consistent high-quality stitching, even when using different workpiece materials together like canvas and leather.
  • Nice roomy fabric clearance, 14mm with the presser foot raised.
  • A moving binder attachment holds the tape close to the binding edge producing very neat bindings even on inside and outside curves.
  • It uses 134-35 needles, and they recommend a needle thickness of 80-100 on the SCHMETZ needles system. Recommended thread type is synthetic 40/3.
  • The Pfaff 335-G model has an extra large bobbin and 40% more thread capacity. And who doesn’t love fewer bobbin changes? The builtin winder is right where you can see it–another thing that makes life easier.
  • You can get lots of attachments and extra accessories depending on what operations you need including welting, zippers and special binding. Work aids available include an electro-mechanically controlled thread trimmer, an automatic presser foot lifter, an automatic needle positioner. You can also get a maintenance unit for pneumatically controlled work aids.
  • The belt comes with a finger guard, and the take-up lever has a guard as well. Yay, safety!

The Pfaff name means you get the highest quality machinery:

Pfaff prides itself on quality and efficiency, and for over 145 years they’ve proven themselves masters of high performance technology for industrial machinery. Their designs focus on superb seam quality with high output and reliability. It’s a name professionals and passionate hobbyists have trusted for generations.

Here are the technical specifications:

  • Stitchtype: 301 lockstitch
  • Max. sewing speed: 2,800 s.p.m.
  • Max. stitch length: 6.0 mm
  • Top feed lift: 7.0 mm
  • Fabric clearance: 14.0 mm
  • Thread sizes: synth. up to 30/3
  • Needle sizes: 80 to 100
  • Needle system: 134-35
  • Clear work space: 265 mm
  • Clear work height: 115 mm
  • Cylinder bed diameter: 51 mm
  • Cylinder bed circumphrence: 165 mm
  • Weight: 40 kg (head only in carton)

Pfaff 1245 Review – Finish Projects Faster to Walking Foot Industrial Sewing Machine

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I feel the need….for speed! Sewing is great fun when you’re actually making progress, right? Not so much when you’re fighting with broken needles, messed up timing, or a just plain slow machine.

The Pfaff 1245 is the ideal straight stitch machine for leather, upholstery work and production sewing of costumes and fashion products. The 1/2 horsepower clutch motor helps it sew up to 2800 stitches per minute, making it a true industrial grade sewing machine.

Features that make this machine awesome for high volume sewing include a compound walking foot and needle feed. They work in unison to provide excellent traction and prevent multiple layers of fabric from slipping and sliding and making a general mess of your project. The motor comes with an unassembled power stand, available in 110 or 220 voltage. (110 is standard house current, and 220 needs those giant outlets used for your washer and dryer.)

The machine comes with a vertical rotary hook (standard on most industrial sewing machines) but it has 60% more bobbin thread capacity than the standard size. The bobbin area also has an automatic hook lubrication system, which is good when you sew a lot and don’t have a mechanic on staff to do regular maintenance on your hard working baby.

The high top feed lift means heavy materials are no problem, even when going over bulky seams that can be 8 or 12 layers thick. No surprise since the machine was engineered to sew upholstery, drapes, furniture, tents, car tops and other heavy-duty projects. You’ll find loading and unloading is easy, too. The fabric clearance is 14mm, higher than most.

The Nitty-Gritty Technical Specifications:

  • Sews up to 2800 stitches per minute depending on motor speed and pulley size
  • Unison presser feet provide excellent traction
  • Even feed motion without any ply-shift of individual layers
  • Large vertical rotary hook includes 60% more bobbin thread capacity than any other standard-sized hooks
  • Automatic hook lubrication
  • Efficient hook protection due to standard built-in overload coupling
  • Rugged and durable
  • High top feed lift allows trouble-free sewing of thick materials and easy sewing over cross seams
  • Good control of bulky material – due to a high fabric clearance of 14 mm
  • Extremely quiet running and ergonomic design
  • Made to handle furniture, upholstery, drapes, and more
  • Needle system : 134-35R

Needle Size Information:

  • 207 top thread and #138 Bobbin thread use a #23/160 needle
  • 138 top thread and #138 Bobbin thread use a #22/140 needle
  • 92 top thread and a #92 or #69 bobbin thread use a #21/120 needle
  • 69 top thread and a #69 bobbin thread use a #20/110 needle

This item ships with an unassembled power stand and a 1/2 HP clutch motor.

Pfaff designs some of the best upholstery and leather machines in the market. They have been perfecting sewing machine engineering for over 145 years. Although they’re a German company, they’re well known all around the world for high quality precision sewing equipment.

Brother Sewing Machine Feet

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Brother offers an extensive line of sewing machine feet, guaranteed to make your sewing and embroidery jobs easier. They are high quality and durable. Whether your interest is gathering and pleating, cording, or fringe, they have the presser foot to fit your needs. Attach piping, sequins, and appliques effortlessly and accurately with the use of these handy accessories.

A walking foot is very useful for sewing heavy materials, since the needle feed may not be mechanically adequate. It really comes in handing for sewing spongy or cushioned materials (where lifting the foot away from the material helps with the feeding action) and for sewing various layers together, because the drop feed may cause the lower layers to move out of alignment with the upper layers.

A few household sewing machines come with a walking foot, but most of them have a stand presser foot which moves along and maneuvers the fabric along with it. Most household sewing machines use a standard connector for their presser foot and offer various add-on attachments for the walking foot.

Some sewing machines have a single walking foot, while others have two walking feet which alternate. A walking foot may work in conjunction with another type of feed mechanism, such as a needle feed or a drop feed. A walking foot is very useful for sewing heavy materials, since the needle feed may not be mechanically adequate.

Here are a few examples of the types of stitches you can do with the walking foot. You can use a straight stitch to do basic stitching, attaching zippers, sewing gathers or pintucks. Use a zigzag stitch for overcasting and attaching appliques and a piecing straight stitch to do piecing straight stitching with a seam allowance from the edge of the presser foot. For quilting, use a zigzag stitch (for quilting) with the walking foot for applique quilting, free-motion quilting, satin stitching and button sewing.

There are many different types of sewing machine feet to choose from. Whether you are planning on sewing or embroidering. Some of the Brother sewing machine feet options are listed below.

Open Toe Walking Foot

Walking foot provides secure fabric feeding with open toe for use with both utility and decorative stitches. This foot has movable feed dogs to enhance fabric feeding from the upper fabric surface. Features a horizontal opening for wide range of left to right needle positions and added sole pressure.

Open Toe Quilting Foot

This spring action open toe quilting foot provides greater visibility, it rises and lowers as it travels over fabrics that vary in thickness. The open toe viewing makes following a pattern easy, especially with zig zag and decorative stitches. The screw on foot provides added security during the fabric quilting process.

Metal Open Toe Foot

This metal open toe foot snaps on, to provide clear visibility and expanded stability, when creating decorative and satin stitches. The sole of the foot is grooved to ensure accurate stitch formation within the feed dog area.

Edge Joining Foot

This foot is perfect for precise and easy joining of fabrics, even sheer and difficult fabrics. It hold fabrics securely in place, while leaving room for open decorative stitches such as open weave stitches. There are reference marks to increase accuracy and the foot can be used to line up and sew edges of lace or other fabrics. The centered blade enhances the ability to follow the edge of the fabric.

Pin Tuck Foot

Perfectly parallel seams can be sewn with this grooved pintuck foot. The grooves on the sole plate enable the formation of perfect pintucks.

Side Cutter Foot

This side cutter cuts, both the fabric and overcast fabric edges, at the same time. This foot creates the perfectly cut edge, similar to that of a serger. Measure and finish fabric edges with either a straight or zig zag stitch. It features a centered post for consistent stitch formation over the fabric edge.

Straight Stitch Foot

Used this foot exclusively for straight stitch applications on fine or light weight fabrics, the single needle hole prevents fine fabrics from being caught in feed dogs. A straight stitch center needle position foot, with curved foot toes that travel over varying fabric thicknesses.

Quilting / Free Motion Foot

This clear quilting foot is also called a darning foot and may be used as a free motion foot. The foot raises and lowers, with the needle, to allow fabric to be moved between stitches and to hold fabric in place while stitches are created.

Picot Foot

This is a decorative narrow hemmer foot is for picot hem finishes. It looks similar to narrow hemmer foot but is designed to create a shell look edge on lightweight fabric. Features a grooved sole-plate for picot stitch formation and cone-shaped feet channel for edge finishing.

Adjustable Zipper & Piping Foot

This foot attaches zippers and piping easily. Its position can be adjusted exactly on the edge of the zipper/piping, avoiding the non-flat parts of them. It also presses the fabric with just the right pressure. Has an adjustable zipper foot for left or right seams and an adaptable guide to accommodate various piping dimensions. Features a single stitch opening for accurate and perfect straight stitch creations.

Brother Sewing Machine Parts

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Brother International Corporation was established in the US in 1954 and markets various industrial products, home appliances, and business products. manufactured by its parent company, Brother Industries, Ltd., of Nagoya, Japan. It is one of the top providers of products for the home, office, sewing and embroidery.

Brother has earned its reputation as a leading supplier of innovative, high-quality home sewing and embroidery products. They offer a full line of sewing, embroidery, quilting machines and accessories.

Brother sewing machine parts are top quality and sturdy. They are sure to suit your needs, whether you are planning on sewing or embroidering certain items. There are many additional accessories that can be added to the machines, making it very easy to customize it to your own particular needs.

When choosing a sewing machine or Brother sewing machine parts, you want to think about what the intended use is. For instance, do you plan to use it for embroidering, sewing or quilting? You want to make sure that the machine and parts are appropriate for the planned use.

If extra work space is needed, the simply expand the work area of your sewing machine with an easy to attach, extra wide extension table. It is perfect for large quilting and sewing projects. This table offers an on-board ruler for those last minute measurements, a storage area for your knee lifter and four adjustable table legs. Plus, the free-motion grip gives you added control and visibility for your next project.

There are a number of Brother sewing machine parts and accessories available to accommodate any kind of project you plan to do.

Some of them include:

Knee Lifter
A newly configured knee lifter offers 3 positions to adjust the bar to conform to your leg as you sew. Use the knee lifter for hands-free lifting of the presser foot as you work on your creation.

Bobbins & Cassettes
Remember to check the instruction manual that was included with your machine for the correct bobbin information. Several models also require a cassette for upper threading – this gives customers the convenience of having several ready when creating machine embroidery.

Accessory Feet
Serger Feet and Sewing/Embroidery Feet
Brother has an extensive line of presser feet available, to make your sewing and embroidery projects easier. Whether you are interested in gathering and pleating, cording, or fringe, they have the foot to fit your needs. Attach piping, sequins, and appliques easily and precisely with the use of these helpful accessories.

Seam Guide
This is a horizontally adjustable seam guide. It screws on to needle plate for accurate seam measurement while sewing. It has engraved measurement markings and screws on, in front of all of the Brother accessory feet for expanded visibility.

Embroidery Machine Hoops & Stabilizers
Brother offers an extensive selection of embroidery hoops. No matter what make, model or size, they have what you need to get the job done.

Embroidery Design Cards
The possibilities are endless with the Brother exclusive collection of designs, appliques and memory cards. They feature something for everyone.

Embroidery Thread
Brother bobbin threads are compatible with all Brother embroidery and sewing machines. Using the proper Brother bobbin and embroidery thread will ensure the best possible results for your machine embroidery. They come in a variety of options. Choose from standard cotton, satin finish polyester or metallic thread.

The metallic thread comes in 14 amazing metallic colors. It is 100% polyester specialty thread with a high quality, durable, shiny texture. Although it was developed in Japan for Brother embroidery machines, it is also compatible with other embroidery machine brands. This thread is designed for high speed embroidery stitching, dependable thread delivery through tensions and a variety of needle and stabilizer types. Even throughout the most intricate designs, it maintains its thread color and quality.

Replacement Felting Needles
Unlike the traditional method of hand-stitching with a 7″ felting needle and wet wool, Brother has created an accessory that requires no thread. Instead, each needle has four barbs that catch surface fibers, pushing them into and through a base fabric, allowing the sewer to easily create complex designs. These are designed exclusively for Brother PQ models.