Showing posts with label Elna120. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elna120. Show all posts

Nov 7, 2014

U saradnji s Elnom


Dragi čitaoci, Štepalica je počela da evoluira kao blog, a ja se nadam da ga vodim u pravom smeru, koji će meni, kao autoru, doneti nove sjajne prilike, a vama obezbediti zanimljivo štivo za čitanje i pristup informacijama koje vam trebaju.


Pre nekog vremena me je kontaktiralo srpsko predstavništvo Elna šivaćih mašina, sa ponudom da uspostavimo saradnju koja bi svima mogla biti interesantna. Moram priznati, bila sam prilično uzbuđena zbog ovog poziva, i jedva sam čekala da čujem kakav vid saradnje su imali na umu. Osmislili smo nekoliko načina da udružimo snage, među kojima se najbrže iskristalisala ideja da testiram različite modele Elna šivaćih mašina, i pišem kritike istih ovde, na blogu. Kritike bi trebalo da vam približe različite modele iz Elna programa i daju vam sve potrebne informacije koje vam mogu zatrebati ukoliko se odlučite da sebe častite novom mašinom.

Postovi ovog tipa će biti sponzorisani, ali će njihova sadržina biti pisana iz moje vizure, i na osnovu mog iskustva tokom korišćenja modela mašine o kom pišem. Kako bih što realnije pisala o modelima, napraviću po nekoliko odevnih predmeta na svakom od njih, koristiću mašinu oko mesec dana i na osnovu toga dati svoje mišljenje i preporuku.

Meni će biti posebno interesantno da isprobavam različite modele mašina, jer sam navikla da radim na staroj mašini, koja je otprilike moja vršnjakinja, pa nemam mnogo iskustva u korišćenju novijih i savremenijih modela.

ELNA 120


Prva na redu je osnovna mašina za šivenje, model Elna 120.
Kod ove mašine me trenutno zaintrigiralo to što je veoma lagana. Naviknuta na staru, metalnu mašinu, prijalo mi je to što Elnu 120 mogu da nosim jednom rukom, što je veoma zgodno ukoliko nemate kutak za sivenje, već mašinu morate da odlažete nakon korišćenja.
Mašinu sam testirala duže vreme, tokom kog sam sašila tri košulje, dve suknje, dve haljine, kao i dekorativne zavese. Reklo bi se da sam mašinu istestirala temeljno, i koristeći sve operacije koje se najčešće upotrebljavaju.


Elna 120 ima veoma kompaktno kućiste, u kom je skriven osnovni set prateće opreme: paralica, kalemi za donji konac, papučice za rupice za dugmad, za skriveni rajsferšlus, za cik-cak bod, kao i za slepi bod, pločica za slobodan vez. Dužina, širina i vrsta boda se lako menjaju, rotiranjem odgovarajućih dugmića u potrebnom smeru.

Moram da napomenem da uz ovaj model dobijate samo jednu iglu, i to debljine 90, pa preporučujem da odmah uz mašinu dokupite i igle svih debljina.
Igla ima dva polozaja u kojim može štepati: središnji i krajnji levi položaj, što je odlično za lako određivanje širine dodataka za šavove, ali i za precizan prilaz liniji šava. Mašina podržava rad sa dva konca i duplom iglom, ali ista ne dolazi u osnovnom paketu, pa je morate dokupiti.

Mašina ima samo jedan mod brzine boda, koji se reguliše pritiskom na papučicu. Ukoliko ste početnik, ne morate da brinete, mašina štepa normalnom brzinom, a papučica je prilično osetljiva na dodir.

Odlična karakteristika ovog modela je platforma za rukav, koja omogućava lak prilaz šavu u slučaju da šijete uske cevaste oblike (poput rukava i nogavica). Nisam imala prilike da isprobam rad na platformi, ali već mogu da zamislim koliko bi mi ona olakšala krpljenje nogavica ili prišivanje zakrpa na rukavima. Bez ovog dodatka, šivenje je znatno teže, ponekad i nemoguće.



Elna 120 je izuzetno tiha (pogotovo naspram moje stare mašine), što je milina za uši prilikom rada. Mačina radi glatko, motor ima odličnu vučnu snagu, što znači da mašina može da podnese i rad sa debljim materijalima, poput teksasa. Kada sam šila suknju od debljeg kepera mašina je bez poteškoća štepala i one delove gde se preklapa po 6 slojeva materijala.

Posebno me oduševilo kako mašina sije rupice za dugmad. Postupak se obavlja u 4 jednostavna koraka, a uz korišćenje odgovarajuće papučice ste sigurni da ćete napraviti uredne i simetricne rupice za dugmad. Ukoliko i pogrešite, rupice možete relativno lako da oparate, a da pri tom ne uništite matetrijal. Moram da priznam da će mi najviše zbog ove opcije nedostajati Elna 120.


Papučica za rupice ima podesivi klizač koji određuje dužinu rupice za dugmad. Prilikom testiranja mašine shvatila sam da se klizač ne može fiksirati, zbog čega je prilično teško napraviti više rupica za dugmad tako da sve budu iste dužine. Međutim, uz malu i jednostavnu improvizaciju se i ovaj problem može rešiti, a ja vas častim tutorijalom koji će vam skratiti muke. Naime, iza klizača stavite komad šibice ili čačkalike odgovarajuće dužine, i selotejpom ga fiksirajte kako ne bi ispao. Drvce će poslužiti kao graničnik i fiksiraće klizač na mestu, a rupice za dugmad će biti identičnih dužina.



Mašina nema kofer u koji bi se mogla zapakovati, pa savetujem da je zaštitie nekom prekrivkom, koju možete i da sašijete.
Takođe, mašina stiže obilno nauljena, što je odlično za negu uređaja, ali ume i da trajno ufleka konac. Zbog toga savetujem da prvo isterstirate rad mašine na nekom komadu tkanine, koji vam ne treba, i koristeći beli konac štepate po tkanini sve dok konac ne postane snežno beo. U suprotnom se može desiti da vam mašinsko ulje ufleka i tkaninu na kojoj radite.

Uz mašinu stiže i detaljno ilustrovano uputstvo za upotrebu, na srpskom jeziku.

Sve u svemu, ova mašina je odličan izbor za sve početnike, kao i za one kojima je potrebna kvalitetna i stabilna osnovna mašina za kućnu upotrebu.


Nov 6, 2014

Collaboration with Elna


Dear readers, Štepalica is evolving as a blog and I hope I'm taking it in the right direction that will bring me some great opportunities, and that will provide you some interesting and useful information.

Some time ago I was contacted by Serbian brunch of Elna, with a collaboration proposal. I have to admit I was rather excited about it and I couldn't wait for us to meet and discuss about possibilities of working together. So we thought of several ways we could join forces, but the most prominent one was having a column here on the blog, where I would write about different models of sewing machines they offer. The reviews would provide all the necessary information about numerous sewing machines that you minght find useful when buying one.


The reviews will be sponsored, but their contents will be written by me and according to my experience while using each of the machines. In order to make my writing as accurate as possible I will sew several items with each model, I will use each machine for at least a month and I will give my recommendations based on the experience I get during this time.

It will be especially interesting to me to try out the different models since I am used to working on an old machine that is almost my age, so I don't have much experience with sewing using more modern machines.

ELNA 120


The first machine in a row is a basic sewing machine model Elna 120.
What immediately intrigued me about this machine is that it's really light. I am used to the old full metal sewing machine, but it felt good being able to carry Elna 120 in one hand. This is especially conveninet when one doesn't have a sewing room and needs to frequently dismantle the machine and put it away after using it. I tested the machine during for a while, and made three shirts, two skirts, two dresses and curtains using it. I think I tested the machine thoroughly and I used all of the most commonly used operations.


Elna 120 has a very compact case which stores a basic set of equipment: seam ripper, bobins, pressing feet for sewing buttonholes, invisible zipper, serging, and blind stitching, and there is also a special plate for free motion embroidery and sewing. Stiches and their withth and length is easilly regulated by rotating corresponding buttons in the desired direction.

I have to add this machine comes with one needle only, and that's the thickest needle you can find, so I recommend buying a set of needles in all sizes.
The needle can be set in two positions: central and left, which is great for determining the width of seam allowances or for easier access to the seamline. Also, the needle has two lifting positions for thinner and thicker fabrics. The machine supports sewing with two threads and a double needle, but this needle isn't included in the basic toolbox so you need to buy one additionally.

The machine has only one mode of sewing when it comes to setting the speed. If you are a beginner, there's no need to worry about this, the machine has a normal speed of sewing and the pedal is rather touch sensitive so you'll regulate the speed quite easily. 

A great feature of this model is the sleeve arm that enables accessing a seam on narrow tubular items (like sleeves and legs). I haven't had a chance to try out the arm, but I can imagine how useful it would be when mending knee holes or attaching albow patches. Without the sleeve arm the sewing is so much more difficult and sometimes even impossible.


Elna 120 is rather quiet (especially when compared to my old machine), which is great when working. The machine runs smoothly, the engine is rther strong and can pull heavy fabrics quite easily, which makes the machine perfect for sewing thick fabrics like denim. When I was making a twill skirt, the machine ran smoothly even when stitching over 6 layers of thick twill.

What made me love this machine were the buttonholes. The sewing is done in 4 simple steps, using the special pressing foot, which enables making identical buttonholes with such an ease. Even if you make a mistake while making a buttonhole, it can be easily ripped of without destroying the fabric. I think I will miss Elna 120 mostly because of this feature.


The buttonhole pressing foot has an adjustable slider that determines the buttonhole's length. While testing the machine I realized the slider cannot be fixed in a position, which made making the buttonholes with the same length quite difficult. However, with a minor imporvisation this problem is easily resolved, so I made a short tutorial that will demonstrate my point. Place a piece of toothpick behind the slider and fix it in place using ia piece of adhesive tape. The piece of wood will serve as a stopper and will fix the slider in place, thus making the buttonholes that all have the same lenght.



The machine doesn't come with a suitcase, so I advise you to make a cover that you can make yourself.
The machine is heavily oiled, which is great for maintaining it. but the oil might stain your thread and fabric. Therefore I reocmmend testing the machine using a white thread and a piece of cloth and keep stitching until the tread becomes snow white.

The machine comes with detailed and illustrated user manual.

All in all, I think thi model is a great chioce for beginners, as well as for those who need a quality basic sewing machine for home sewing.