Vintage ad promotes the best sewing machines

So much of life is about being in the right place at the right time. Consider "Three Smart Sisters," a circa-1940 ad from the Prelinger Archives on Archive.org.

In this charming period piece, three sisters want to go to a dance but have nothing to wear, and their father won't cough up any money for new gowns. As the young women stand sulking in front of their home, a Singer sewing machine salesman just happens to stroll by. He sends them to the Singer Sewing Center, where the girls learn how to make their own attire. ("Three Smart Sisters" is not as dramatic as Chekhov's Three Sisters, though it too tells the tale of a trio of siblings frustrated by their circumstances. To find out how this mini-drama unfolds, watch the ad.)

Singer has long been synonymous with sewing and was on the spot in this ad, but the company's models didn't stand out in our March 2009 report on sewing machines (available to subscribers). Read what our experts have to say about the 18 mechanical, electronic, and embroidery sewing machines we covered. Also learn how to choose the sewing machine that's right for you and get the most from your machine.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Check out "She Caught On Quick," another Singer ad on the Prelinger Archives. This ad is also from 1940, but its message is appropriate in today's economic climate.

New home content on ConsumerReports.org, March 2009 issue

You'll find tons of home-related content in the March 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, now online and on newsstands. (Some reports are available only to subscribers.)

Sewing machines: Our report, with tests of 18 models, reveals several standouts.

Vacuums: Find the vacuums that offer the greatest value. Plus, coverage of stick and handheld vacuums.

Interior paints: Manufacturers are touting no- and low-VOC finishes. Our report takes a closer look at the numbers and performance.

Should you refinance? With rates lower, is now the time to get a new mortgage?

Warnings on glass cleaners: Some safety warnings for children and pets aren't easy to see.

Vintage appliances: Many readers remain loyal to their kitchen appliances.

Look for these features when buying a sewing machine

Fuzzy pricing, warranty loopholes, inconsistent service, and other issues can make shopping for a sewing machine a tangled mess. For instance, you’ll find straightforward pricing at major retailers, but these stores tend to sell fewer models and their repair services vary—some offer no service, others might provide only a list of places to bring your machine, and some might send out your sewing machine to be fixed. Independent dealers might appeal because they service the machines they sell and might even offer sewing lessons, but since they set their own prices—and some won’t quote them over the phone—comparison shopping among independents is not easy.

No matter where you shop, learn about the important features below so you can get the right machine for your needs.

Look for our upcoming report on sewing machines, which will be online next week.—Kimberly Janeway

Adjustable presser foot Controls how tightly the sewing machine holds the fabric in place; various settings prevent puckering in fine fabrics and stretching in knits.

Adviser programs Found on LED screens, these recommend stitches, settings, presser foot and more.

Auto tack Makes a few stitches close together that serve as a knot.

Automatic buttonholer Sews a buttonhole in one step, eliminating the need to stop and turn the fabric or manipulate selector dials. This feature is preferable to a four-step buttonholer, which makes a buttonhole with a forward zigzag stitch, bar tack, reverse zigzag, and finishing tack.

Bobbin-thread lift Brings the bobbin thread to the sewing surface so you don’t have to insert your fingers under the presser foot.

Feed-dog adjustment Lets you drop this toothy mechanism below the sewing surface for freestyle embroidery, darning, or quilting.

Free arm Allows you to stitch small circular areas when working on cuffs, pant leg hems, armholes, and other areas.

Needle down Lets you place the needle in an up or a down position when you stop, making it easy to lift the pressure foot and turn a corner with out a jump stitch.

Top-load bobbin Lets you drop the bobbin directly into the machine without fiddling.

Essential information: Read our most recent blog posts on sewing machines, including this inside look at our testing, tips on making costumes and getting the most of your machine, and details on an organization that helps kids.

February 2009 update: Our report on sewing machines is now available online. Find the best sewing machines in this report.

What's on your mind: Our most popular blog posts of 2008

Before we get too far into 2009, we thought we'd look back at the most popular posts on the Home & Garden blog from 2008. The 10 blogs below generated the most buzz last year.

Inside CR Test Labs: Sewing machines
This sneak peak at our March 2009 report on sewing machines (shown) generated quite a thread in the comment box. Around 150 readers chimed in, including the commenter who implored, "please don't lump in embroidery machines with general sewing machines." Roger that, as you'll see in the full report, coming in the upcoming story, whose issue is on sale and online in February.

Own a tankless water heater? Take our survey
Some 1,200 readers answered that call (another 100 commented directly to the item). The results of the online survey informed our October 2008 report on tankless water heaters, in which we revealed significant variations in installation costs, energy savings, and overall satisfaction.

Mold can be a problem for some front-loading washers
Here, we reported on the buildup of mold that many readers told us was occurring in the rubber gasket of the door to their front-loading washer. Sixty commenters jumped into the issue, some supporting the claim with tales of foul-smelling clothes, others reporting no complaints with their front-loading washing machine.

Why Consumer Reports doesn't rate specific models of mattresses
Not everyone rested easy with our explanation of why we don't rate mattress models. Wrote one commenter: "I subscribed to CR specifically for a mattress report and instead get a report on why you don't do a mattress report." Visit our new mattress product page for more details on mattress shopping.

Buying Advice: Portable air conditioners
Cooling the air was obviously hot on readers' minds when this blog posted on June 20. Our take on portable air conditioners is lukewarm at best—not only do they deliver less relief than manufacturers claim but the units also tend to be pricey.

Greener cleaners go mainstream
The launch of a line of natural cleaners from Clorox prompted this March 24 post.

Buyer's guide to pellet- and wood-burning stoves
Surging home-heating costs in recent years has fueled interest in alternative ways to keep warm during the winter. Hence the flurry of comments to this buying guide. In fact, there's been so much interest that we're now planning a testing-based report on these products.

Buzzword: Radon
Of all our 2008 Buzzwords, none resulted in as many comments as this entry on radon. Several weeks later, The New York Times ran a story covering concerns about radon in countertops, raising the buzz again.

Tip of the Day: Don't get ripped off by an alarm company
Dozens of readers responded to this blog with their own experiences with alarm companies, crooked and credible alike. One unlucky homeowner tells how she was swindled out of $360.

Are EdenPure space heaters just a lot of hot air?
That question spurred significant interest from readers. Some defended their EdenPure space heater, others didn't recommend these appliances. Read our report on space heaters for more information.—Daniel DiClerico

"Sewing" the seeds of generosity

For months now, the folks testing our sewing machines have been making buttonholes, blind hems, zigzags, and zippers using the 18 machines that will appear in our March 2009 ratings-based report, on sale and online in February.

One of the last tests they conducted was of the machines' quilting abilities and features. The testers assembled countless scraps, but instead of throwing out all of the material, they used them to make a 3.5x4.5-foot baby quilt for a coworker expecting her first child in January (shown).

If you have leftover fabric from your own or your sewing circle's projects, consider donating it to Project Linus, a nonprofit group that over the last 13 years has made more than 2.6 million blankets and afghans for seriously ill or traumatized children. Project Linus, whose slogan is "providing security through blankets," accepts donations of clean, unused cotton and cotton/polyester material. Get more details on donating by contacting a Project Linus chapter in your state.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential reading: Read our First Look on the Brother Innov-is 40 sewing machine, which is featured on the reality TV show Project Runway. And join our sewing circle by posting a comment below about your own projects or sewing machine.

February 2009 update: Our report on sewing machines is now available online. Find the best sewing machines in this report.

Use your sewing machine to make a Halloween costume

Batman, Indiana Jones, Iron Man, and Tina Fey, er, Sarah Palin are some of the popular picks for Halloween costume themes this year, according to the Sewing & Craft Alliance. Chances are you'll see a few McCains and Obamas, too, in search of candy if not votes around your neighborhood on Friday, October 31. (The costume shown is a monster from the organization's Web site.) 

If you're hoping to save a few bucks by making your own costume or want the challenge of creating a DIY design, know that you don't have to be a sewing expert to design a good-looking getup. "Many patterns are for beginners, and the instructions are clearly written and generally not complicated," says Linda Griepentrog, a spokeswoman for the Sewing & Craft Alliance.

To keep what should be a fun project from fraying your nerves, look for a costume that's easy and inexpensive to make—your kid will likely wear it only once. A historical-reproduction costume, for instance, might win praise from friends or a prize at a school or town contest, but it could be a lot of work.

No matter the outfit you pick, follow this advice from Griepentrog, who's been sewing costumes for decades:

• Factor in the weather. Don't choose a skimpy costume if the Halloween weather tends to be chilly in your town. Allow enough room for your child to wear clothes under the costume or consider making it out of an insulating fabric, like fleece.

• Design for safety. Avoid using dark materials and add reflective ribbon to the costume, especially important if your child will be trick-or-treating at night. Hem the costume short enough to prevent tripping and don't sew on a long tail for, say, an animal-themed costume.

Make large eyeholes in the mask. Or use face paint instead of a mask. If the costume material is flammable, remind your princess or pirate to be careful when near lit jack-o-lanterns. (Note: The labels on the ends of bolts of fabric might have information about flammability, especially if the fabric could be used for children's sleepwear. Unless it is specifically stated that a fabric can be used for children's sleepwear, you can generally assume that a fabric is flammable.) You'll find more safety advice for costumes in this post from the Consumer Reports Safety blog.

Look for more good costume tips on the Sewing & Craft Alliance Web site. And share your ideas for creative costume ideas by posting a comment below.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: We're working on a report on sewing machines for the March 2009 issue of Consumer Reports. Step into our labs to learn more about our ongoing testing of sewing machines and read our buying advice for these appliances.

February 2009 update: Our report on sewing machines is now available online. Find the best sewing machines in this report.

Inside CR Test Labs: Sewing machines

One of the busiest spots these days in our Yonkers, New York, headquarters is a lab in which you'll find four people sitting among hundreds of swatches of cotton and bolts of chiffon, corduroy, and denim. They're not reviewing washing machines or laundry detergents but are diligently testing sewing machines for our upcoming report (see photo, right).

In early September—which happens to be National Sewing Month—the testers were making straight and zigzag stitches and buttonholes on cotton swatches to gauge ease of use for the machines. One tester repeatedly had to refer to the owner's manual, scratching her head as she tried to figure out how to use one of the machines. (Just like our readers, who have been clamoring for a report on sewing machines, our testers have varying levels of sewing experience.)

We're testing 18 different models, including some from brands your grandmother knew and one that's familiar to project-oriented fashionistas who keep an eye on the runway.

We're checking out mechanical and electronic machines, some with a foot pedal, others without. Some machines have automatic threaders, eliminating the tedious job of having to thread the needle. My vision's still pretty good, but an automatic threader seems a worthwhile feature.

One electronic model even has an LED screen that displays videos with step-by-step instructions. It's a lot quicker than reading a manual or calling your mom. Note that we conceal the brand and model information from testers so that they remain objective.

Our full report on sewing machines is scheduled for the March 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, on sale and online in February. Until then we'll keep you updated on our testing. To tell us what you're looking for in a sewing machine, post a comment below.—Kimberly Janeway

February 2009 update: Our report on sewing machines is now available online. Find the best sewing machines in this report.

Essential information: Read our free buying advice for sewing machines.