# Anyone use those little hand-held "sewing machines" ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 8, 2005, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-those-little-hand-held-sewing-machines/311535 "2005-07-08T01:10:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-those-little-hand-held-sewing-machines/311535/1 "2005-07-08T01:10:50Z")
I’m trying to solve a very vexing problem. I am using sheets of carbon fiber. It’s a coarse weave- akin to burlap. But it lacks the texture of burlap threads and so cutting and working with this stuff is brutal. It comes unwoven really easily- and more easily when it’s wet with sticky epoxy liquid. :eek: The only areas that do not become difficult to work are the pre-sewn seams on the roll of cloth I bought. It occurs to me that if I tried to do a loose but useful basting stitch using my sewing machine, the foot that moves cloth along would rip loose the carbon fiber threads and wreck it. BUT- if I find one of those hand-held sewing machine doohickeys, I might be able to affect a basting stitch without pulling the fibers loose. Does that sound like a plan, and has anyone out there used one of these things? Do they work, even moderately well? I don’t need fancy and clean, I just need **some** kind of stitch that will keep the loosely woven fibers in place as I cut and glue them up in the form. Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-those-little-hand-held-sewing-machines/311535/2 "2005-07-08T01:40:20Z")
I have a cheap-ass $4 one from Discount Drug Mart, and it works really well. I used it for basting a quilt (which I wasn’t expecting work) and it did work - it moved a bit fast, but once I got the hang of it, it was pretty easy. Highly recommend it. E. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Violaceous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Miss\_Violaceous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Violaceous)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-those-little-hand-held-sewing-machines/311535/3 "2005-07-08T01:55:17Z")
Does your sewing machine not allow you to leave the foot lifted up? The cloth kind of bounces around, but it still works ok if you hold it taught. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-those-little-hand-held-sewing-machines/311535/4 "2005-07-08T02:01:14Z")
It may well, but this cloth unravels SO fast that I am inclined to find a way to move the stitching through the fabric, instead of the normal sewing machine method of moving the fabric through the stitching mechanism. Yes, if I lifted up the foot I could do it. However, and this is key- the upper foot would be lifted but the fast-moving and rather sharply serrated lower “advance foot” would still be moving back and forth, churning up the underside of the cloth and displacing tons of threads. Not good. ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-those-little-hand-held-sewing-machines/311535/5 "2005-07-08T02:47:29Z")
If you get one, DON’T get the Handi-Stitch - Mr.AFG works at Michaels’ where they sold them, and he said most of them were returned due to one problem or another with it. I have the “Sew Crafty Mini”, made by ProvoCraft, which I got from Michaels. It does a pretty good job. It runs on 3 or 4 (can’t remember exactly) AAA batteries. I’m not sure if it has a jack for an AC adaptor or not (I’d look, but it’s buried in a box under another couple boxes). ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-those-little-hand-held-sewing-machines/311535/6 "2005-07-08T14:06:17Z")
Huh. I bought a Handi-Stitch, from Michael’s even, and it worked fine for what I wanted it to (sewing a quick and dirty halloween costume). I was actually impressed at how well it worked for what I needed it to do. However, mine was really simple - sew two pieces of cotton together in a straight line. Not rocket science. I was aware that it was in no way a replacement for a proper sewing machine; I just didn’t want to sew the seam by hand - didn’t have that much time. It says it’ll go through several layers of denim, but I’m not certain it’s really that sturdy. Your burlap-type stuff might give it a workout. But if you can find one cheap, it might be worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2005, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-those-little-hand-held-sewing-machines/311535/7 "2005-07-10T01:55:08Z")
Well, now I have two brand names to work with. As for the burlap being too thick, fear not. I used the burlap analogy ONLY to try to explain how easily the fabric pulls apart in both weave and weft directions. It’s a very thin slick fabric, made entirely carbon fibers, woven into strands and then woven a la burlap. As far as thickness or toughness, I have no doubt but that either of these brands will do. And, I’m not even throwing together two pieces for a costume- I’m just in need of a basting stitch to make a seam so it doesn’t unravel. And, so it keeps it’s tension across the weave as I pull and adjust it. Once I soak it in the epoxy, it’s oogey and sticky and tough to work with. I’ll get one of these items tomorrow. I live near a Michael’s. And, will report back when I try it out !!