Customer Reviews

The Sewing Machine Guide: Tips on Choosing, Buying, and Refurbishing

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I got this book a couple of years ago when I wanted to update my sewing machine. (The 1960 Singer had about 160,000 miles on it.) The book showed me how to recognize quality in a sewing machine, and convinced me that the precision European machines from the days before computers are the real gems. I bought two of the high-rated ones, for far less than I would have spent on a new machine. I love them both - I am so glad this information was available.

I checked this book out from the library because it looked helpful in my quest to update my sewing machine. I liked it so much I bought a copy for myself to keep as a reference. The book covered everything I needed to consider before buying a new or used machine or whether to buy another one at all. The book is well organized and gave wonderful inside information from a person who, having repaired sewing machines for years, knows about all the makes and models. It did not appear to be biased toward one manufacturer or the other. If you are thinking about upgrading or replacing your machine, this book is very useful.

John states very early in his book that buying a sewing machine is like buying a car: buy the brand you like, know, or have the tools and skills to fix. This is very true and excellent advice, and since his brand preferences become very clear by the end of the book, I followed it and found my wife the best used Swiss-made machine I could afford. It is a great machine, and it completely revitalized my wife's interest in sewing. She evens wants to start quilting.

The biggest weakness of the book is that no details are offered as to machine brands differ mechanically; the reader is left to shop by features alone. In my case, this was no help, because mechanical malfunctions (and not a lack of a feature) that rendered my former machine worst than useless. These technical details are known, and I was lucky enough to find a former Singer wholesaler who could explain the differences between brands and models.

The section about how to finance a machine can be skipped. The repair section is interesting and useful, but it won't jump-start a dead machine. The list of great machines of the past is really good, but they are not to be found in the market (Although one did appear on a online auction). His price guidelines I found to be too high (yeah!) for this area.

It is a nice book, and very readable. The list of machines and the final chapter make the book worth buying.

I collect antique sewing machines. My newest one is a 1966 Singer 221 Featherweight. When I got this book, I gave it to my son who is just learning to sew. It was written in terms he could understand and had a lot of practical knowledge in it. For me, it was of no use. I have been sewing since age 11 and have taught myself most everything I know about machines. So, if you are just starting out, this is a great book. If you are an antique sewer like me, find another book like Charles Law's Encyclopedia of Antique Sewing Machines (limited print and hard to find). He tells you how to restore a black japanned finish with gold leaf without destroying the surface, what chemicals to use and not to use, and has many manuals for obsolete machines in the back of the book with diagrams.

Mr. Giordano has done an excellent job of leading consumers though the confusing maze of today's sewing machine market. Easy to read, educational and entertaining. Recommended highly if you are interested in becoming educated in the sophisticated world of sewing machines. An unexpected bonus - he's funny! Anyone would be well advised to purchase this book before buying.

Some chapters of this book weren't worth the time to read them.

The pricing guides obviously become obsolete right away. He indicates you couldn't possibly get a good sewing machine for under $150 even buying used, and that the only place to get a good used sewing machine is at a dealer, I disagree.

The section about finding your "Sewing Tempermant" was contradictory and just wacky.

Perhaps it's my fault for assuming that "refurbishing" would be about restoring a neglected machine to top condition, but it's actually about taking your old well-cared for machine, and cleaning, oiling and shining it up a bit.

"How to Modernize an Old Machine" is really just a collection of tips about changing your sewing habits. Mostly very interesting tips, but not really about changing your old machine.

Despite all of those complaints, I enjoyed the book and learned a lot. I especially liked the information on the brands, who made what when, and who's making it now, etc.

The chapter "Setting Up Your Sewing Space" is reason enough to read this book, and certainly isn't just for novices.

O.K., so some of the information may be outdated, but in the main this is an excellent overview of sewing machines, what they are, what they should do, what you might want when purchasing one, and how to go about shopping for, purchasing, then maintaining your own sewing machine. In a breezy style which doesn't even pretend to be void of judgement, the author manages to convey his own love of the sewing machine, and his enthusiasm for the care and feeding of same. I am enjoying this book so very much, and whatever is factually outdated is probably the website listing, and the other sorts of timely material he includes. I for one love this book and hope it undergoes a revision at some time. The very fact that he has opinions and is willing to share them makes this book very different in the general "how-to" milieu, where quite frankly there is far too much generalization to find useful where products are concerned. I would rather have his opinions, then sift them with a few others to come up with something useful. BUY this - you will enjoy it, especially if you are like me - one who appreciates sewing machines for who they are, and who likes the machines better than the sewing!

Certainly the prior reviews have not lacked in force of opinion. It is foolish, in my estimation, to expect a book in this price range and size to go into "restoring" sewing machines. Common sense should rule that out. It is also no primer in the heavy-duty repair of machines; the author rightly directs the reader to a dealer for that. What remains in an excellent guide for the average person in doing minor maintenance on a machine. As an owner and sewer for nearly thirty years, I wouldn't dream of taking apart my computer Bernina machines but had a good time dissembling some old Singer machines--and the advice worked! I saw nothing wrong with the author's advice on shopping and buying machines, though this might vary with geography and local dealers. Though I was already aware of it, I thought his section on who owns who in the sewing world, and where machines come from, was interesting. This was not meant to be investigative writing, and no doubt the author did not wish to injure independent dealers. I found his recommendations for how to shop for machines by price to be spot on, though of course prices do go obsolete. I particularly enjoyed the full-color photos of the steps involved in minor cleaning of the machines.

For this price, this is a great first book on sewing machines and their workings.

I have sewn for over forty years and I didn't think there was anything I could learn about a sewing machine. I was wrong. If you own a sewing machine, you will learn about routine care that will extend the life of your expensive investment (way beyond the limited info in your owner's manual). If you are thinking about buying a machine, this book will help you select the one that is best suited to your personality. The book is easy to read, and the excellent illustrations are easy to follow. A must have for every sewer.

Not only does this book give you solid info about purchasing a new machine, but good details on looking for top-quality used sewing machines. Mr G. also provides you with a step by step demo (with accompanying photos) on how to do that $50 machine cleaning your dealer wants to sell you. Now you can do it yourself at home!