I am a novice sewer and just bought a new Janome Magnolia sewing machine from amazon.com. A couple of weeks into my sewing projects, I realized that the four bobbins that came with the machine just weren't going to cut it. I couldn't find Janome bobbins on any of the typical sewing websites so I bit the bullet and bought a couple of sets of these knowing that I probably could have found them cheaper at a bricks 'n mortar store if I had spent time trying to find them. But now I have 20 bobbins that fit my machine and I can work on lots of new projects without having to worry that I will run out!
Janome Hemming Guide for CoverPro Models
Oh the hemming is great. Just align the fabric edge with one guide, the fold with the other and shoot it through the machine. I've also found it useful for top stitching a even distance away from the edge. Only one downside, I do make hems wider than the largest allowed and have to occasionally use an alternate method. While this attachment works wonderfully, I would suggest considering the Type II instead. The Type II uses a slightly different procedure and additional guides. It's possible that with the Type II (which I don't have) less preparation may be needed before hemming.
Spellbinders Mega Dies, Fleur De Lis Doily Accents
List Price: $24.99
Sale Price: $18.87
Today's Bonus: 24% Off
The fleur-de-lis is my favorite shape of all time. This set has already paid for itself in my making six greeting cards for various occasions. The cards I made are uniquely personal and so beautiful. All of the recipients have contacted me to say how beautiful the cards are and how much they appreciate the time that I have taken to create such a wonderful "gift."
Bobbin Case 0015347200 - Bernina
List Price: $17.09
Sale Price: $3.99
Today's Bonus: 77% Off
The seller's description definitely leads you to believe this is a Bernina product: "Bernina grade A bobbin case" is the verbatim description. This is NOT a Bernina product and doesn't come close to Bernina quality. It is poorly constructed, the spring-hinge is loose and sloppy, it is badly polished with metal burrs that catch your skin and thread. Email to the seller has yielded zero response. Buyer beware.
Ditch Quilting Foot P60494 - Janome / New Home, Kenmore
I bought this so that I could make a quilt and it work great! The foot fit my machine perfectly and I was able to make a lovely quilt! I've since used it for multiple projects and it works perfectly! A great addition to my sewing tools!
Klass Machine Needle Universal Size 120/20 5 pc Card (5 Pack)
I was so sick of my sewing machine needles breaking that I asked my sewing instruction to recommend the best--and these are it! Made in Germany, they last so much longer than my other needles, and don't really cost any more. Highly recommended for those who want less frustration and more quality!
Brother(R) VX1435 Mechanical Sewing Machine
I got this machine a year ago as a beginning sewer. I really loved it and was able to learn and make many things with it. I discovered and confirmed that sewing was going to be my 'thing'. I did not want my husband buying anything too expensive or fancy just in case I ended up not liking to sew.
Its a basic model and I don't need all of the fancy extras anyway. But now a year later, as my sewing confidence is growing and I am moving on to try new things, the machine stopped working right. There is some sort of problem with the thread. Its not the tension, I have tried everything. We have oiled and dusted it, changed thread, bobbins and fabric. The manual is terrible and not very helpful. The machine still runs but after a few stitches, the thread either breaks or comes out.
It may be a simple problem to fix but not something we can figure out. Since my husband got it for so cheap (and even on sale) he decided to get me a new one instead of paying to have this machine repaired.
We got a Husqvarna Emerald for $299. (a basic model) There is no comparison in how it runs its sturdier and even though its a basic model it has many nice extra features and the manual is great.
Having said that, there is no way that one year ago I'd have wanted a $300 machine not knowing if I would like sewing or not.
The Brother worked great and was easy to learn on, I just think it should have lasted longer than a year. 3 Months ago I probably would have given this 5 stars. Thats how happy I was with it until I started having these frustrating problems. (and an added note...a Husqvarna never needs oiling! How about that?)
Its a basic model and I don't need all of the fancy extras anyway. But now a year later, as my sewing confidence is growing and I am moving on to try new things, the machine stopped working right. There is some sort of problem with the thread. Its not the tension, I have tried everything. We have oiled and dusted it, changed thread, bobbins and fabric. The manual is terrible and not very helpful. The machine still runs but after a few stitches, the thread either breaks or comes out.
It may be a simple problem to fix but not something we can figure out. Since my husband got it for so cheap (and even on sale) he decided to get me a new one instead of paying to have this machine repaired.
We got a Husqvarna Emerald for $299. (a basic model) There is no comparison in how it runs its sturdier and even though its a basic model it has many nice extra features and the manual is great.
Having said that, there is no way that one year ago I'd have wanted a $300 machine not knowing if I would like sewing or not.
The Brother worked great and was easy to learn on, I just think it should have lasted longer than a year. 3 Months ago I probably would have given this 5 stars. Thats how happy I was with it until I started having these frustrating problems. (and an added note...a Husqvarna never needs oiling! How about that?)
TruForm Armatures: Individual Figure Armature 12"
I received the TruForm 12" armature expecting the plastic bones and hardware to mount to my homemade figure stand. It arrived composed of foam ribs, pelvis and skull, but wire arms, legs and no mounting hardware on the spine. Apparently I misread the description for this one as the models show are the 18", 24" and 36" with the plastic bones and mounting hardware.
Despite how minimal it is, it's quite interesting to look at. Apparently the folks at TruForm took time honing their skeletal craftsmanship to an art as the skull is quite correct to my surprise. The orbits will fit 6 mm BB's, though eyes at that exact scale are actually 3.5 mm. It's a gray, not white foam that makes up most of the armature's bone structure which has a simplified version of the bone shapes themselves. It arrived with one leg slightly longer than the other, but with a little coaxing it evened out. If anything a few modifications can add "bones" to the wire, mostly shaping some plumber's putty (epoxy) or Apoxie Sculpt can help.
What is a bit of a mystery is how to attach hands to the armature at a later time and still be able to mount it on my homemade armature stand. The spine on this model (12") is a doubled up heavy gauge aluminum wire that makes up the neck, arms and legs. It might take some coaxing and modifying to make it like the ones in the picture, but it's certainly doable.
I went ahead and got the 24" model as well, so if don't use the or modify the 12" one, I'll probably keep it as a curiosity.
Despite how minimal it is, it's quite interesting to look at. Apparently the folks at TruForm took time honing their skeletal craftsmanship to an art as the skull is quite correct to my surprise. The orbits will fit 6 mm BB's, though eyes at that exact scale are actually 3.5 mm. It's a gray, not white foam that makes up most of the armature's bone structure which has a simplified version of the bone shapes themselves. It arrived with one leg slightly longer than the other, but with a little coaxing it evened out. If anything a few modifications can add "bones" to the wire, mostly shaping some plumber's putty (epoxy) or Apoxie Sculpt can help.
What is a bit of a mystery is how to attach hands to the armature at a later time and still be able to mount it on my homemade armature stand. The spine on this model (12") is a doubled up heavy gauge aluminum wire that makes up the neck, arms and legs. It might take some coaxing and modifying to make it like the ones in the picture, but it's certainly doable.
I went ahead and got the 24" model as well, so if don't use the or modify the 12" one, I'll probably keep it as a curiosity.
Fiskars 12 Inch Classic Rotary Paper Trimmer
List Price: $80.59
Sale Price: $48.64
Today's Bonus: 40% Off
This is a fantastic trimmerI love it. Have never had a problem with the cutter not cutting all the way to the end. It will cut 2 layers of cardstock easily (at least mine does), it cuts thin chipboard (cereal box thickness), and you can get blades for it in bulk at local fabric stores. You can also get different blade stylesdeckle, wavy, pinking, etc. I have had this trimmer for about 10 years and would buy it again in a heartbeat. It's my ONLY trimmer!
NSI Rock Tumbler Classic
List Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $39.09
Today's Bonus: 22% Off
This is a great little tumbler to polish rocks. If you have no idea about rocks or how this machine works you need to do a little research. This is not the type of item to just buy and expect to polish rocks in a weekends time without even having to read the directions. The tumbler is also recommended for children ten years or older.
To polish rocks properly it will take a solid month of tumbling and is a three step process. This means the tumbler will be running for the entire month. The first step takes about a week, the second about two weeks, with the final step about one week. Between the steps all you have to do is clean out the barrel and the rocks and put back in with new water and the next level of grit/polish. Besides occasionally making sure the tumbler was sealed properly and is in no danger of walking itself off the table it requires no other attention. The tumbler does make some noise tumbling but not a ridicules amount. You obviously can't place it in your bedroom or living room and expect it not to be heard. Placement in a basement or garage is ideal. The power draw is minimal as it only uses .15 amps and 10 watts. Therefore, if you pay 10 cents a kWh, then the amount it will run up your electric bill for a month of constant running is 73 cents.
The instructions that come with the tumbler are also pretty good, but they do need followed. The tumbler is durable but you need to lube two points as indicated in the manual or you will put excess stress on the motor and you will burn it out. The drum seals quite well and easily if you follow the instructions on sealing which requires you to make sure the "O" ring is properly seated and you put a light coating of oil on the rim of the barrel to complete the seal.
Refills for the tumbler are extremely easy to find. Starting with the order form including with the kit where you can order parts, grit, rocks, etc. You can also purchase refill kits at Walmart, Target, and Kmart. There are also dozens of places you can also order refill stuff off the internet.
Overall, this is a great little item but it is not for everyone. If you or your children can't delay immediate gratification, or don't believe in reading/following instructions then this item is not likely for you. If you can't believe the noise it makes because you insisted on setting it up next to your bed, or can't believe that it costs less then a dollar a month to run then this is also not likely for you.
Zipper Repair Kit Vislon ~ Universal #5 Molded Slider ~ Black
This zippers are strong black zippers and would have been great except for the fact they are just zippers. There is no "repair" kit included, just plain old zippers. I contacted the seller and apparently you need to remove the stop from the garment and take off the old broken zipper and replace it with one of these new ones. Then, you need to replace the "stop" with another one which does not come with the zippers. How is this a "repair kit"? Either I return them and start all over again or go out and find a seamstress who can do this for me. I dont want to wreck my favorite fleece taking off the stop.
Small Task Basket, 3-1/2 Inches
List Price: $8.95
Sale Price: $7.11
Today's Bonus: 21% Off
This thing is a must if you need to clean a bunch of small parts in your ultrasonic cleaner. It is good for cleaning springs, trigger groups, hammers, sears and many other firearms needs.
Distinctive Adjustable Zipper Piping Cording Sewing Machine
List Price: $12.99
Sale Price: $7.99
Today's Bonus: 38% Off
I ordered this foot to sew decorative twist cording around the edge or in the seam of a decorative silk pillow I'm making. I could easily sew the cording in with any foot. But I wanted to sew really tight up against the cord so none of the lip would show through the seam. I also wanted a nice top stitch along side of the cording like 1/16 inch away. No other foot could get me that close. This foot is amazing! It's adjustable so I can slide (left to right) the foot close to the cording with the needle either right on top of the foot or right next to it. It worked either way. I am using my Singer Futura for this project. It fits perfect. My machine has a low foot vs. some Singers that have a high foot or other brands with a slant foot. Make sure you hand tighten the knurled screw once you choose where you want the seam, so it is secure or it will not sit flat on the fabric. I also adjusted my needle (left to right) using my stitch width selector so I could fine tune where I got the seam exactly. It arrived super fast the next day (using 2 day Prime shipping). It was already assembled in the box, I just unscrewed my snap foot assembly and screwed this one on I saw another reviewer had some trouble with this. I searched You Tube when I was searching for a foot to solve my dilemma one video had many types of feet (this one included) that let me see it in action. Worked perfectly for me. A very good idea to purchase and have as part of my sewing tools.
Janome Resin Extension Table (1600) Series By The Each
This is an excellent table. It fits my Janome sewing machine really well as part of it flips up to allow me access to my bobbin. Much better than the average extension table. Would recommend highly to anyone with a Janome sewing machine.
Avery Self-Adhesive Laminating Sheets, 9 x 12 Inches, Box of 50
List Price: $28.99
Sale Price: $12.99
Today's Bonus: 55% Off
I initially used this for "chore cards" for my children that easily got soiled, bent, wet, etc and loved the results so much that I bought some more. It is super easy to use and makes paper items that you want to last so much more durable. The only reason I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is that I found that sometimes it didn't cut real smoothly and I would have to go back and re-trim the edges, but that may be the paper cutter I was using. Also, it has a split back to make peeling the paper off easy, but it is only in one place, so if you are using it for smaller items, it can be hard to get the backing off. Overall though I really love this product and can find all sorts of uses for it! Plus the price was great.
SINGER CE-100 Futura Sewing and Embroidery Machine
What makes this product so attractive is that by connecting it to a computer you can get an endless amount of embroidery designs. It is also a full feature sewing machine.
I bought this item for my wife's birthday. It does everything that is advertised. The sewing functions are straight forward, and everything worked as it should.
The embroidery isn't as staight forward. The instructions are very poor, and limited. Although I have to admit, that I figured most of it out fairly quickly. The embroidery is slow, and of course you have to change thread for every color change in your pattern. The designs came out looking good. I also downloaded some free designs from other sites, and they worked just as well.
My problem with this machine is two fold. The one we bought broke after only a few hours of use. It was a minor problem. The bobbin holder had a crack where the tension screw goes in. At first everything was fine, but within a few hours the thread started catching in the crack until it was unusable. I'm sure that this won't be a problem for most customers.
The second problem is much more severe in my opinion. No one has parts for the machine, and it's near impossible to even get a parts list. One item that doesn't come with the machine that my wife wanted was a zipper foot. The part number for that item was listed in the book, but when I went to find it, absolutely no one had it. I even wrote Singer's part's department, and they wrote back telling me to call.
It's a neat machine. As long as you get one that works, and aren't concerned about parts availability, I don't think you can find a better ebroidery machine for less money.
I bought this item for my wife's birthday. It does everything that is advertised. The sewing functions are straight forward, and everything worked as it should.
The embroidery isn't as staight forward. The instructions are very poor, and limited. Although I have to admit, that I figured most of it out fairly quickly. The embroidery is slow, and of course you have to change thread for every color change in your pattern. The designs came out looking good. I also downloaded some free designs from other sites, and they worked just as well.
My problem with this machine is two fold. The one we bought broke after only a few hours of use. It was a minor problem. The bobbin holder had a crack where the tension screw goes in. At first everything was fine, but within a few hours the thread started catching in the crack until it was unusable. I'm sure that this won't be a problem for most customers.
The second problem is much more severe in my opinion. No one has parts for the machine, and it's near impossible to even get a parts list. One item that doesn't come with the machine that my wife wanted was a zipper foot. The part number for that item was listed in the book, but when I went to find it, absolutely no one had it. I even wrote Singer's part's department, and they wrote back telling me to call.
It's a neat machine. As long as you get one that works, and aren't concerned about parts availability, I don't think you can find a better ebroidery machine for less money.
Master Adjustable 32-Sheet 3-Hole Punch, 11/32 Inches Punch
List Price: $89.49
Sale Price: $49.95
Today's Bonus: 44% Off
I bought this punch for the larger sized hole. It worked well for about a month, then the middle punch started shifting so it would not cut through the paper. Unfortunately, I waited too long for a return, so this item will become a seldom-used two hole punch. Be warned.