Fit 2 Stitch

Peggy Sagers: True confession: I have never purchased a sewing machine for myself.

For this series, I taught two young women to sew.

When we talked about which sewing machine to use, they both had been gifted sewing machines, so we skipped that portion of the lesson.

Then, after 55 years of sewing, I finally wondered what sewing machine would I purchase?

Almost everyone with a sewing machine has a favorite, but is their favorite machine right for me?

How should you choose a sewing machine?

Let's find out what works best for each of us and why, all today on "Fit 2 Stitch."

male announcer: "Fit 2 Stitch" is made possible by Kai Scissors.

announcer: Plano Sewing Center.

announcer: Elliott Berman Textiles.

announcer: Bennos Buttons.

announcer: Imitation of Life.

announcer: And Clutch Nails.

Peggy: As host of "Fit 2 Stitch," I'm thrilled to bring you series 11.

Our vision is to bring you knowledge combined with increased joy along your fabric journey.

Remember that the designer, the pattern-maker, and the seamstress, each play a different but very important role in the process of garment-making.

As I communicate with all of you, I hear the confusion in your questions, hence this series' theme, "Your Questions, Our Answers."

Our answers are deliberate and factual and a direct result of your questions.

So today, we begin with "Why do we sew?"

For some, it's a tradition in our families.

For others, it's how to make ends meet.

For still others, it's simply a hobby that enriches their lives.

All of those reasons start with the process of obtaining a sewing machine.

Today, our guest has been involved with sewing machines for 60-plus years.

He'll help us understand the features we want in choosing a sewing machine.

And so, his name is thus appropriately titled, "Mr. Sewing Machine."

Mr. Sewing Machine has been in the Dallas area, Mr. Jerry Hudgins, has been in the Dallas area for many, many years and everyone in Dallas knows Mr. Sewing Machine.

Mr. Sewing Machine had a second store in Plano, Plano Sewing Center.

His wife ran that store, Yonada, and now they've both retired and their son runs the Plano Sewing Center.

But, all those years, Mr. Sewing Machine, I actually thought that was your name for a while.

Jerry Hudgins: It was an assumed name.

It was an assumed name.

Hello, Peggy.

Peggy: Hello, it's so nice to be--have you here.

Thank you so much.

Jerry: I'm so happy to be here.

Peggy: Because if there's anyone that knows sewing machines, it's you and you've sold them for so many years, you know exactly what customers ask, what they want, what-- just tell us all, spill the beans, if you don't mind.

Jerry: Well, I've brought two friends of-- from my antique sewing machine collection, to help us today, okay?

Peggy: Okay, cool.

Jerry: First, I have a White.

This is one of the very first machines that White Sewing Machine Company made.

It-- Peggy: White Sewing Machine Company is actually the maker on that one?

Jerry: It is.

And 1876, this was manufactured, 1876.

It's a shuttle machine with the front and back movement of the parts, and it's--really, was quite a good machine for its day.

And over here, my second friend was manufactured by the Singer Company.

They called it the New Family Machine.

Peggy: Oh my goodness.

Jerry: This was the most popular machine in its day and it was copied by many other manufacturers.

It features a, what we call a fiddle base and it has a trans, meaning across, shuttle.

Peggy: So this is even before the light-- 'cause featherweight.

This is before that.

Jerry: Yes, this one, actually, it was manufactured and it started to be manufactured in 1865.

This particular one is one of the last ones they made in 1882 of this model.

They manufactured over 4 million of these.

Peggy: Wow, and does a sewing machine like this still function today?

Jerry: They function fine.

They sew just fine.

Peggy: Because there's not really a lot at those times that really could go wrong with sewing machines.

Jerry: No, there's not.

Peggy: That's not the case anymore.

Jerry: That's true.

That's absolutely true.

The problem with this one was a handcrank quite often, whereas this was pedal push and your foot, left both hands free to help.

Here, you had to crank this with one hand and sew with only one, so it was a little harder to operate.

Peggy: Little more coordinated there.

Jerry: It certainly is.

Peggy: So where are we today with sewing machines?

Jerry: Well, actually, we've come a long way.

In selecting a machine, we might look to the past to see-- give us some idea of how we should select a machine.

Peggy: I think that's a great idea 'cause the same things are still, you know, still exist.

Jerry: They are, and I like to know when I see my antique collection, I like to just imagine the original owners of these machines.

Peggy: Oh, I can imagine, oh my goodness.

Jerry: They had many questions and the first one they needed to decide before they even bought a machine was what was their level of sewing?

Were they beginners or intermediates or advanced sewers?

You know, and ladies with-- by hand, used to make some elaborate clothing.

Peggy: Yes, and didn't use sewing machines at all.

Jerry: No, but these sewing machines speeded things up immensely for them.

Peggy: So what level they are, that's always something to consider first?

Jerry: That's the first thing.

Secondly, they might consider what kind of projects that they wanted to do.

And a lot of times, the projects they wanted to do were beyond their level of sewing but you've gotta buy for that.

Peggy: You do, and I think that's something that I see a lot because they wanna sew way up here and they're just not there yet.

Jerry: Not yet.

Peggy: It's like with anything, where you just wanna-- that's the reason we start is 'cause we wanna get up there, right?

Jerry: That's correct, and, of course, you know, in considering this they thought back then they made a lot of work wear, they made casual wear, they made probably even sportswear, you know, sportswear is more today.

They made home dcor and things like that.

Peggy: I bet home dcor was a lot of it.

Jerry: Yeah, you know, for the-- all the rooms.

I mean, first of all, just think, for their living room, they'd make pillows and cushions, scarves to go on tables.

They even did embroidery, believe it or not, with these machines.

There was attachments that allowed the stitch to make what we call a chain stitch, but they had to guide it in the motion.

They did all that.

Peggy: So you can really see that what they're gonna use it for is really important for what kind of machine they're gonna buy.

Jerry: Very much so.

So that's a big question they have to answer.

Peggy: And sometimes that changes.

For today, that changes.

We start in one place and we kind of migrate.

Jerry: We absolutely do.

The other thing is they had to think about is what area did they have to sew in and if they wanted to sew large things like drapes or quilts, then they were gonna need a much larger sewing area than they do today.

One of the things you might determine is with a machine, are you gonna need a table to set that machine on, or a cabinet for it to go in?

Peggy: Sewing can take up a lot of room.

Jerry: They can--it can, yes.

Peggy: We all know it expands in our whole houses, is what happens.

Jerry: It really can.

Peggy: So how much room they need and what they're gonna sew.

And what level they're at.

Jerry: Those are all pertinent questions they need to ask.

Peggy: For someone who's beginning, would you suggest maybe less features.

You don't need as fancy of a machine?

Jerry: Well, not necessarily but, like I said, depends on what projects you plan to do.

There are some people that only mend and that all you want is a mending machine, you don't need many features, you really don't.

Peggy: Sure, that's fair.

Jerry: But there's great savings in mending.

You know, when you go to a tailor to shorten the legs of your pants and you pay pretty heavily for that.

Peggy: Yeah, you do.

In all cases, it's the savings.

Jerry: It is.

Draperies alone, if you buy a new home, the cost of putting in draperies can run into the thousands of dollars.

So, many times the savings you have there will buy a very nice machine by doing the drapes yourself.

Peggy: Sure, that's very cool.

All right, so I consider my skill level, what I'm gonna do, what next?

What do I do?

Jerry: Well, the thing I would suggest is that you select the dealer that you wanna use, someone you can trust and you find trustworthy before you even select the machine.

Peggy: I think that's a great idea because you have so many needs in the beginning and you have somebody who can help you with the machine, but I guess my natural tendency would be it would cost you more but that's not really true, is it?

Jerry: Not really, it's not at all.

You know, if you use price only as your guide to select a machine, very possibly go wrong 'cause usually the cheapest machine is one that's not reliable, it won't do what you want, won't hold up.

So it's really no bargain at all.

Peggy: It isn't.

And that's a hard thing, I think, because you're just, for many reasons, we're sewing to kind of save money, the home dcor and the drapes and then, to spend more on a machine, we--I can't figure out why do I need to do that.

So, why is it better to--how do I know how much to spend?

Jerry: Well, as I say, let's go back to firstly the dealer.

Selecting a dealer.

How in the world could you decide who's trustworthy and there are some things you just--all you have to do is to ask some questions.

Peggy: Okay, that's good.

Give us some questions.

How do I find that out?

Jerry: Well, first all, even if you're gonna plan on ordering online, you want to find out if this dealer has a storefront.

Does he have customers that walk in and buy machines there?

One that does not have a storefront probably doesn't have nearly as much experience in customer needs as one who's-- Peggy: Well, and you've actually experienced that because you've seen in this day and age where somebody had a website that was fraudulent or, you know, they took money and didn't send the product back.

You've seen a lot in your experience.

Jerry: Believe me, that's very important because-- Peggy: So, this is real-life experience which you're giving us.

Jerry: It is, and so determining a dealer, you've got to be really careful.

Actually, anything you order online you need to be very careful about the websites.

They have some fake things out there.

Our store in Plano, they put out a website that the only difference was we were dot net and they had dot-- Peggy: Com or the opposite, yeah.

Jerry: And they went to that and they placed orders and they placed orders for thread and several hundred dollars worth of stuff.

And they paid for it.

Peggy: And then the customer thought it was you.

Jerry: They thought it was us; it was not.

Peggy: So you have to be very careful to make sure it's a storefront.

Jerry: And the way to find out is to go down to that contact button and click on it.

If they don't list a telephone number, I would be a little skeptical because you should be able to contact you by phone if they need to.

Peggy: That's a great guide.

Jerry: In addition to that, you might ask questions about follow-up instructions and classes that you have on machines.

That tells you something about the dealer.

Also, you can find out online reviews and find out a lot of things-- Peggy: Yeah, that's a nice thing today.

You can look and some are bad and some are good but you can at least, kind of, sort through and see.

Jerry: You can sort through and, you know, just because you get one bad review doesn't mean a whole lot.

But if you have a large number of bad reviews, it-- Peggy: It's a red flag.

Jerry: It certainly is.

Besides that, you also-- my best advice really in that is to simply call 'em and talk to 'em.

If they won't listen to you then, they're not gonna listen to you, what your needs are afterwards.

So this gives you a clue.

Peggy: You know, in our talks, you had-- one of the tips you offered was about financing and I thought, the minute you said that, I thought, "Well, what if I'm just gonna pay cash for a machine, why do I need to worry about financing?"

And your answer, I thought-- repeat that, if you don't mind.

It was just so good.

Jerry: Well, simply this.

The institutions who finance things certainly do not want unhappy customers, so they will not, if it's really a bad dealer that have complaint after complaint, they will not offer financing.

So just by finding out the fact if it's offered, gives you a little assurance that this-- Peggy: That it's a trusted dealer.

Jerry: That's correct.

Peggy: Like, that's something I would have never thought about.

I thought, "Okay, I don't need the financing.

Let's just go with it."

But that's somebody else that's kind of certified them to make sure they're up and up.

Jerry: Yes.

Peggy: I like that.

I thought that was a great tip.

Okay, so I'm gonna find a good dealer.

I'm gonna find a good dealer so that I can trust them to help me navigate this process.

Don't feel pressure from the dealer.

Jerry: Not if he's a good dealer, and he really wants you as a client, not as just a one-time customer.

Peggy: Long-term.

Jerry: Yup, because--and one of the things that you can ask that's probably the last thing I could say but probably one of the best is, do they offer and some dealers do, some do not, will they offer full credit of your purchase for one year for the first year should you decide to move up to a better machine.

Peggy: Okay, wait a minute, let me understand that.

I'm not sure I heard what you said.

You said if I buy a machine and I use it for a year, I can take it back and they'll give me the same price back for my machine towards another purchase?

Jerry: They will credit it towards the--a step up, a better machine.

Peggy: Dealers will do that?

Jerry: Some will and that's a-- that gives you a clue right there of what-- Peggy: What a great deal, especially when I'm searching for a machine and I don't know what I'm doing.

If I mistake and I want this other machine, I can change my mind.

It's not like a car, you drive it off the lot, it's yours?

Jerry: That's the case.

Peggy: Oh, that's a great thing to know.

And some dealers will do that?

Jerry: There's some dealers will do that and because they do know that you're gonna buy different machines.

So, first of all, you know, we have different types of machine.

The grandmother sewed everything with one machine.

But modern sewers today, use three or more machines of different types.

Peggy: Yes, I know the first rule of-- is when you're meeting a new sewer, don't ask her how many machines she has, because immediately you'll put her into the insane asylum or something.

I mean, if I ever knew at this point in my life I'd have the number of machines that I have, but they do become emotional, just like what you're talking about with these.

They just really become, like you said, your little sewing friends.

Jerry: They are and, you know, in a way, in commercial machines, they have dozens of different types of sewing machines, but in our home things you can place 'em all in, like, five categories.

You have the sewing category and then you have an embroidery category.

These are computerized embroidery machines.

Then you have sergers or overlock machines.

Those are excellent for sewing knits and for sewing stretch fabrics.

They can be used on most any fabric, but they're-- Peggy: Finishings-- Jerry: Yes, they do a great job, as you have said in previously.

You want the inside to look nice also.

Peggy: That's right, there you go.

Jerry: In addition to that, we have quilting machines and then we have a category we call specialty machines.

There are actually machines that will do your blind stitch for you so that when you're putting a hem, you don't have to do it by hand.

And that's all they do, but they're really pretty nice.

Peggy: But--and that's where it goes back to what you said initially.

You really need to kind of know what do you think you're interested in.

But that's why it really helps to where if I start in this area and I end up in this area, I can switch the machine out or I can do different things with it.

Jerry: You know, of course, you might wanna just buy a second machine, as a specialty.

Peggy: No, never.

Jerry: [laughing] Peggy: Okay.

Jerry: There's also a machine that's quite unique that actually will make a stitch that looks like it's done by hand.

That is, it will--the thread will go down through the fabric, come up from the bottom and back down.

From the top side, it looks exactly like it was hand done.

Underneath, you can see that it was done by a machine.

Peggy: That's so interesting.

I know with things that are already made today, a lot of times they say, "handmade," and handmade doesn't mean handmade.

It means hands on a machine, as opposed--you know, I think that's an interesting terminology.

Handmade is-- Jerry: I call that custom-made.

Peggy: There you go, custom-made.

Jerry: 'Cause you're gonna make something just for you, or just for a friend, and gifts is a great area that you don't wanna forget.

A lot of our people today that have embroidery machines, particularly, will keep what we call blanks on hand.

For example, towels.

If they have a special gift they need, they can get out that towel, put someone's monogram on it.

They've got a perfect gift.

Peggy: That's a really nice gift.

It's a really nice gift.

Jerry: And another way for savings that we sometimes overlook is earning money.

You know, you can get a lot of earnings by having an online shop that specializes in baby or toddler clothes that any design that you come up with.

Dogs, you can do a lot of things with dogs.

And during this pandemic, we had a lot of people that make masks.

Yeah, we really did.

So, there was some money made that way.

But, you know, that's another thought.

I also had a customer one time who made a great idea.

She bought top of the line machine and 3 months later she walked in the store.

She had financed this, and said, "Well, I just wanna pay off that machine.

I've paid--" Said, "How did you do that?"

Peggy: She'd made enough to pay off the machine?

Jerry: She had.

What she did, she would make a item, like, say, a blazer.

I think that was the first thing she made was a lady's jacket, kind of, a blazer.

She wore it on Monday to the bank and she knew 'em at the bank and she said, "Oh, look what I made with my new machine.

Look what I made."

And here's the secret: "I'm taking orders."

And the next week, she did some kind of gift with monogramming stuff and she went to church and she took it with her and said, "Look at what I did with my new machine."

Peggy: Oh, that's amazing.

Jerry: "And I'm taking orders."

Peggy: So I want you to move forward to these machines for me.

I want you to give me a dollar amount.

So I'm a new sewer, I've not bought a machine before.

Give me a dollar amount that I should at least start as a guide.

What do you think, your opinion?

Jerry: All right, in buying a machine, first of all, there's about four rules I like to say.

First of all, never ever buy by price only.

I think I've already said that.

Peggy: Yeah, but I hear what you're saying because-- Jerry: And second thing I would not seek advice from your family or friends because just because it fit Grandmother, doesn't mean it'd fit your needs.

Peggy: There's been so much change.

Jerry: So many things have changed.

You need to know current information.

And then the third thing is that you wanna be really careful at big box stores or online only dealers because they really-- you can't really have any knowledge--they don't have any knowledge that you can heed.

And fourth, you wanna be real careful about your dealer.

As we said earlier, you select a dealer.

Now, on the machines-- Peggy: What's my price, though?

What's my price, what do you think?

Jerry: All right, here is a great way to--about price.

Peggy: 'Cause you've sold sewing machines for a long time.

This is a good-- you know the prices.

But what's-- when I'm starting out, what do you think?

Jerry: Well, let me just say this.

Determine the most that you can spend and once you've decided the most that you can spend in your budget, simply call that dealer that you've selected and you feel--have trust in, and tell them the projects you want to do.

Peggy: And see if they meet.

Jerry: Yeah, and then ask what's the best machine that you can give me for this price?

Peggy: Now, that's good advice.

Jerry: Yeah, and a trustworthy dealer-- Peggy: What's a reasonable amount?

I mean, it's not $50, but what's a reasonable amount to start with?

Jerry: For a basic beginner-- I'll put it this way.

I would not buy a machine under $500, I really wouldn't.

Peggy: Okay, 'cause you know the machines, you know what's gonna last, you know what's gonna give.

So $500 is a good place to start.

Jerry: Right, right, and selecting the machines-- Peggy: I think that's a great number to know.

I really do, Jerry.

I know it's hard to always say 'cause there's price points all over the place.

But I think it's really know-- that it's really hard to know what do I even start with, like, where do I get in the box, so thank you for doing that.

Jerry: Now, on your modern machines and I believe these are your machines.

Peggy: They--yeah.

Jerry: We have what's called a front-loading bobbin and here, the bobbin case comes out of the machine and that leaves it susceptible to--for damage or to lose, and then we have a machine that we call a top drop-in bobbin.

And here, bobbin case doesn't come out at all.

Generally, those are smoother operating machines because they're rotary.

Peggy: The drop-in?

Jerry: Yeah, the drop-in because it's a rotary.

It goes round and round.

Whereas the front-loader has a oscillating hook that turns back and forth, and this causes vibration, even though some very expensive machines do use that.

They do.

The main thing is you must have quality in whatever you select.

And that's why I gave you the dollar figure I did.

Peggy: Sure, where you're really looking for the parts to be quality--as quality as possibly can be.

Jerry: Right.

Peggy: Because I know I've seen plenty of customers that buy an inexpensive machine and they're unhappy and that's hard to see.

Jerry, thank you so much for being here.

I mean, these are just things I just wouldn't have thought of and so I really appreciate the whole concept of the dealer and finding that trust, building in that trust and how to find it.

Thank you so much for being here.

Jerry: Thank you, Peggy, for having me today, and I hope this gives some information that aids someone and it's been my pleasure.

Peggy: I know it will.

Thank you, sir.

Jerry: Thank you.

Peggy: I met Jerry so many years ago and just, I knew him and I knew what he did and I knew everything about him.

I knew that he had the knowledge and I've, you know, gone to him numerous times to just figure this out and get what I need.

And you know, one reason I just wanna bring on here is that we love to sew is simply because we can do crazy things that you certainly couldn't buy.

And a customer of mine did this and the colors, the patterns, the verbiage, everything, every time she walks into her room, she says, it just brings her joy.

There are great lessons to be learned when pairing fabrics and patterns, selecting fabric for a pattern, or choosing a pattern to match a fabric is critical as a first step in designing a garment.

Designer Michael Faircloth knows the points to consider at this stage of design.

He will share his process and tips that can simplify your design journey.

Learn design details from an expert next time on "Fit 2 Stitch."

announcer: "Fit 2 Stitch" is made possible by Kai Scissors.

announcer: Plano Sewing Center.

announcer: Elliott Berman Textiles.

announcer: Bennos Buttons.

announcer: Imitation of Life.

announcer: And Clutch Nails.

announcer: To order a four-DVD set of "Fit 2 Stitch," series 11, please visit our website at fit2stitch.com.