Replies

1. 
   kayl | Nov 14, 2004 04:49am | #1

   Just a thought... maybe you really want two machines... an old

   straight stitch "war horse" machines for the blankets, maybe

   something like a Singer 301 or other stoutly built machine, and

   another that's got all the tailoring bells and whistles.

   Some of the old mechanicals with good motors and a new set of

   brushes do really well with heavy fabrics, and can be had for

   perhaps $10-100. That would still leave you with a good piece

   of cash for a fancier machine. Something you might want to

   consider... (I don't know a Pfaff 130) will your current accessory

   feet fit a new Pfaff? If so, that might save you a fair amount

   there over switching brands.

   FWIW, I have a Viking 350, the predecessor of the "better" Viking

   Lily model. It's handled everything I've thrown at it, including

   a little Kevlar and a bunch of Cordura, with great aplomb.

   That one runs about $700 around here, last I looked.

   However, if I had to do a lot of sewing on heavy fabrics like

   the wool saddle blankets I grew up riding with, I'd dig out

   an old straight stitch machine or consider one of the

   industrials, geared down because I can't sew as fast as the industrials can. <g>

   (my first experience with an industrial machine was trying to

   make muslins of some freshly drafted custom pants patterns.

   I did a lot of ripping to get those darts sewn correctly! -- it

   wanted to gallop, and I wanted a nice slow walk!)

   Kay

1. 
   SewCreative | Nov 21, 2004 07:47pm | #2

   Threads did do a machine comparison, within the last year I think, and the link to the article is on the Threads home page.