Replies

1. 
   sewchris703 | Sep 15, 2009 08:28am | #1

   My best advice is to take fabric that you would blind hem to dealers and try out the machines yourself. Then buy the machine that you are comfortable using and gives you the results that you want. I hem on a old used Baby Blindstitch CM606. I mainly hem wool, linen, and midweight cotton. My friend owns a Babylock blind hemmer (don't know the model #) which she loves.

   Chris

1. 
   legwork | Sep 16, 2009 03:42am | #4

   Thanks Chris for your suggestion to try hemming with different fabrics.  I wander if blind hemmers work well with fine fabrics as well as wool, cotton and more forgiving fabrics.

   Eva

   Edited 9/15/2009 8:45 pm ET by legwork

1. 
   sewchris703 | Sep 16, 2009 06:26pm | #5

   I have a bite adjustment (how much fabric the needle penetrates) on my blind hemmer. Less bite for wool and more bite for linen, cotton, and silk. On light weight fabrics like broadcloth and muslin, the stitches do show a little. Like dots on the right side. Just like blind hemming on the sewing machine, it works best when the thread can embed itself into the fabric. So on really fine fabrics, like chiffon, voile, china silk, charmuse (sp), I'd do a hand hem or top stitch by machine.Chris

2. 
   kelker | Sep 17, 2009 12:49am | #6

   While working with a lady who made custom drapries, we used a very old blind hemmer on everything from very sheer sheers to heavy quilteds.  We changed the tension, of course, and always tried a sample piece first.  Her machine happened to be a very old industrial Singer --- and one she vowed never to sell!  She would have it serviced regularly, which I believe is the key to keeping a machine running at its best -- just like a car.    PS --We ALWAYS changed the needle every time we started with a different fabric. 

   One last thing --- don't be afraid to look into refurbished machines --- check your yellowpages for sewing machine repair for a reputable repair person --- He/she will always know where to find quality 2nd hand machines.

   Edited 9/16/2009 5:51 pm ET by kelker

2. 
   stillsuesew | Sep 15, 2009 10:14pm | #2

   We just had this discussion. Search discussion 10117.1

1. 
   legwork | Sep 16, 2009 03:38am | #3

   Thanks, I will look it up.

   Eva