Hand-held sewing machines are very popular on TV shopping
shows, eBay and Internet malls. It's tempting to want one for
such simple sewing chores as sewing on a button or repairing a
few loose inches in a seam. There are very small and
inexpensive sewing machines that call themselves "hand-held"
because no set up is required. A genuine "hand-held" machine
can truly be held in the palm of your hand and is more the size
and shape of a very large stapler.
Before spending your money, you need to carefully weigh the
pros and cons of such a tool.
Virtues Of The hand-held Sewing Machine:
1. The most obvious virtue is its portability. If you want to
sit in the den and watch TV with the family, or sit out on the
patio to keep an eye on the kids, the hand-held is perfect. The
standard sewing machine cannot be easily transported while a
genuine hand-held sewing machine can go anywhere.
2. They need no electricity. If you are camping or vacationing
in a hotel, this is clearly a huge plus.
3. The price is extremely modest, especially when contrasted
with top-of-the-line specialty sewing machines which can not
only cost thousands of dollars but are definitely 'overkill'
for mundane sewing chores. You can usually buy a hand-held for
under $30.
Disadvantages Of The hand-held Sewing Machine:
1. A regular sewing machine is quite stable, since it always
sits on a flat, hard surface. A hand-held sewing device is not,
and the result can be some pretty awful looking stitches, with
uneven tension, that can be easily pulled out.
2. They aren't as easy to use as a regular machine. It takes
some practice to get the hang of making flat, even stitches and
even many experienced needlewomen find themselves stymied.
3. The tension cannot possibly work like a more expensive
machine, so the result is often very inferior stitches that are
uneven, look sloppy and are less durable than a regular sewing
machine.
4. Because they are cheaper and therefore of less quality, they
are very liable to break easily and many owners have reported
strange phenomena, like their hand-held turning itself on
unexpectedly.
5. The feature that hand-held sewing machine users dislike the most is that, unlike a traditional machine, you can't pull the
threads at the end of the stitching when you're finished.
Instead, the user must keep running the machine in mid air
until there is enough thread to tie off the stitches.
As with so many consumer choices, the buyer must choose between
a low price and portability on one hand or a higher quality
result, and more expense and trouble on the other side. Be sure
you know your options before making your own decision.
About The Author: To understand your new home sewing machine
options, check out http://SewingMachineCentral.com for brand name sewing machines, both hand-held and traditional.
Hand Held Sewing Machine Review from the Editor of AllFreeCrafts.com:
Having owned two of these hand-held torture devices myself (both of them given to me by well-meaning friends), I wanted to add my voice to those giving a definite Thumbs Down to these so-called hand-held sewing machines.
In my experience, these things are inherently incapable of sewing. They look like they might work, and when they are SEEN on TV, they seem to work well, but in real life the only stitch they are apt to reproduce with any regularity is the one in your side - either from laughing or, more likely, sheer frustration.
If you still think that a hand-held sewing machine could simplify your life, check out the Amazon listings shown at right - but do scroll down and read the customer reviews at the bottom of the page before you decide to buy. Most of those say thumbs-down too!
Having owned two of these hand-held torture devices myself (both of them given to me by well-meaning friends), I wanted to add my voice to those giving a definite Thumbs Down to these so-called hand-held sewing machines.
