Anyone Have A Provo Craft "Sew Crafty" Mini Sewing Machine?

[MickeyEars]

Hi Guys!
I saw it on Ebay and it's so cute but does it actually work? If anyone has one what's your opinion of it? I cannot sew in any stretch of the imagination so I don't want to purchase a regular sewing machine. I would only be using it for scrapbook pages so any thoughts and/or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Carla

 

[piratesmate]

I picked it up for like $5 either on sale or with a coupon. I have a full-sized sewing machine, but couldn't imagine setting it up just for scrap pages. LOL

I like it fine for sewing a straight stitch. It took some getting used to - especially for ending. You can't backtack to hold the stitches...it's a weird knot. I wish it had a zig-zag stitch, but for now it's enough for me.

I just bought colored bobbins at CKC...I'd gotten tired of always having to use white. I haven't used any of them yet though.

Oh - and quite a while ago I broke down & bought the power converter...I got tired of looking for all those batteries!

 

[MickeyEars]

Thanks for the review, I'm glad it actually works!!! I'm not sure if I should buy one of these or maybe spend $30 more and get one that does a zig zag. I really like the looks of a zig zag stitch. I would definitely purchase the adapter and the colored bobbins if I purchase this one.

Thanks again!
Carla

 

[piratesmate]

At the time I bought mine, I didn't know there was one with a zigzag stitch. I probably would have skipped it anyway because I have the full-sized machine. However, I found out a couple months ago that the zigzag no longer works. Of course I've had the machine since the first month I was married....in 1975! If you can afford it, I'd definitely say get the better one! The zigzag stitch just looks so cool!

 

[RRBB]

Yes, I have one. I wish I could say good things about it, but after only a couple small projects it quit working. No matter what I've tried I just can't get the thing to work anymore. So in my opinion, this cute little machine is a big waste of money. If you're really interested in sewing on your pages, go with a better quality machine and stay away from the sew crafty mini. Otherwise go ahead and invest in this machine and you'll have an interesting paperweight in no time.

 

[Tinker326]

I have one too, and don't like it.

I have yet to be able to actually use it on a page. The first time I used it, I just punched holes into my paper & ended up ruining my layout. This was my fault, I found out, as I threaded it wrong. But the instructions on how to thread it were too confusing for me (I'm not a sewer by nature).

When my mom came to visit I had her look at it (she is a sewer) and she threaded it correctly for me. But it still acts up on me & I can't get it to keep stitching without missing stiches & such.

So for me, it was a waste of money . But I'll attribute some of that to my poor sewing skills in the first place.

 

[piratesmate]

Well, as I said it did take some getting used to. I didn't think I'd need to practice on scrap paper as it suggested since I've been sewing since I was 10. While I haven't done more than mending & hemming in recent years, I've made myself a winter coat & men's pants...2 of the more difficult projects you can undertake.

Well, I was wrong! LOL I used it in my first circle journal & the seam wasn't straight & I was saying bad words by the time I finally got the thread tied off. But after practicing a few more times I find it quicker than dragging everything upstairs & opening the big machine, etc.

 

[BuzzBelleMom]

I bought this machine so that DD could use it to sew paper. I had a heck of a time getting it to work and then found out that you cannot have a speck of glue on the paper to hold it together. That gums up everything and you are in trouble.


I sold it on a thrift sale for like $2.


Maybe I am biased because I can sew, but I think you would be better off buying a real machine for $50 on sale somewhere. You could get several types of stitches on a real machine (straight, zigzag, buttonholes, etc). It might be more expensive, but over the long haul, definitely worth it.

 

[MickeyEars]

Thanks everyone for your replies, I was afraid it was too good to be true. I think I will just spend a little more a get a real machine.

Thanks!
Carla

 

[Mike.Wazowski]

mine went to the dump a year ago - jumk