Simple Sewing Machine?

[bee_pipes]

My wife has a sewing machine she uses for everything. I am not allowed to touch it. That has probably worked out for the best - it still works. When I worked at a feed store we had something called a Singer Handi-stitcher. It was a hand-held affair for stiching feed bags shut. Kind of crude, but built like a tank and almost indestructible. I'd like to find something simple - and inexpensive - that I could use for patching jeans and such. My wife is pretty good about it, but I'd like to be able to sit down with a pile of torn jeans and patch the bejabbers out of them without having to prevail on my wife to do it or interrupt her in her projects. Is there any such animal out there? It would need to be rugged and simple.

Just wondering...

Regards,
Pat

[theresehirko]

When I patch jeans or pants, I just use a strong darning needle and strong thread. Can't get much simpler than that.

[annabella1]

The kind of machine you used for sealing sacks made a chain stitch using one thread. A chain stitch can be pulled out easily (to make it easier to open the bags) you dont want to use that kind of machine in patching pants. There are a few cheap machines out there that use 2 threads with a bobbin but I have not used any I would recommend. Hand sewing or iron on patches are another alternative. But if you want to do it by machine it would be best to get a quality machine.