I realize it’s Friday, but I didn’t get this post finished last night. Sorry!
Maybe I’m the only one who is bothered by this, but I’m throwing this out there anyway.
I hate all the extra stitches and complicated menus to find said stitches on new sewing machines. There. I said it. I have no need or desire for dozens/hundreds of fancy stitches that I’ll never use. I want a basic machine that does all the important stitches and buttonholes, and that’s it. All those extra stitches do is make it harder to find the one you want in the menu. I’d rather have a simple machine that does a select few stitches flawlessly than a fancy machine that does a mediocre job on dozens of stitches. Why is it so hard to get a basic machine with all the buttonholes, adjustable presser foot pressure, and a knee lift? Are there seriously that many people who want to stitch lines of wobbly pinecones or deformed maple leaves on their garments?
As an example, my current machine is a Pfaff that I bought in 2009-ish. I’ve had issues with it from the beginning because it’s buttonhole feature isn’t worth a damn. I’ve used the decorative stitches maybe 3 times, and each time I’ve been slightly disappointed with the quality of those stitches when they were done because they weren’t perfect. Yes, I’m a perfectionist, but then, aren’t most people who sew their own clothes? Isn’t that kind of the point? If we weren’t perfectionists, we’d wear just whatever in the hell we could find on the rack and be done with it. I’ve always felt that if it were a few less tricks of a pony, it might do a better job on the critical bits.
Anyone else with me on this?
Splinters & Stitches 
Yep, I’m with you. “Feature bloat” on all kinds of devices makes me nuts. I’d much rather have a sewing machine that makes routine tasks easier than 300 useless stitches. I’d gladly trade 290 of those stitches for a gizmo that tells me when my bobbin has run out.
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THIS!!
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If anybody FINDS a machine that does a good job on the few important things I’d love to hear about it.
ceci
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Preachin’ to the choir sister! 😉
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I have two computerised sewing machines that I rarely use, and an old mechanical Omega Denim machine that I sew with for about 10 hours a week. It has few stitches and a four step buttonhole, but it sews consistently, reliably and dependably.
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Never heard of that brand before, but it sounds like the Omega is all a gal can ask for! 🙂
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I have a Bernina 1008, and it sews flawlessly. It is one of the last non computerized ones made so it only has about 16 stitches. It has the trademark six step buttonhole. That being said, sometimes a little interfacing or paper helps makes the decorative stitches nicer.
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I had a machine that did a 4 step buttonhole, I’m having trouble envisioning the other two steps–but if it makes for perfect I’d be thrilled to do it! 🙂
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I’m with you on this. Call me “ole skool” I kinda like my basic sewing machine. Like you, just give me one that makes beautiful buttonholes and basic stitches, bells and whistles are unnecessary for me.
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The older I get, the more “old school” I seem to become, LOL!
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I bought my machine to get a handful of features I really wanted and I ended up with another 60 stitches that I never use. Maybe someday they will make a machine that you can custom order – just ask for the features you want? Wouldn’t that be grand!
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Yes! A choose my own adventure sewing machine! 😉
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