Sewing Machines

[Rachel]

I am planning on buying myself my very own sewing machine, but am still tryin to decide which machine to get myself.

Does anyone have any wisdom or tips they can suggest? Or if you have a machine would you recommend it/the brand?

I'm very excited about it, but don't want to make the wrong decision, as hopefully i'll have it for lots of years to come.

[Christopher]

Depends on what you want to do. For example, I have a cheapo sewing machine from brother (BM2600), it has all the useful features - straight line, zigzag, elastic stitch (and 22 others), and a lot of force behind it (goes through thin leather). It also doesn't need really specific bobbins, as long as they are the same size they can be plastic or metal.

However it's downsides are that it doesn't cope well with stretch fabrics (sucks them into the works), and the arm is too fat making sewing something onto a sleeve or leg rather difficult.

[smudgeoffudge]

Ask around. I think there are probably a lot of new machines on the market that are cheap. Not in price, mind you, but in workmanship. You know, it is sad, but they just don't make things like they used to. That is literally with everything. There are old sewing machines, blenders, cars, and just about any kind of item conceivable that work perfectly fine, and have lasted for generations, while new models wear out. The thing is, people back then expected their appliances to last forever. These days, people are so indulgent that they don't expect anything to last forever. Where is the fun in that? If something breaks, just get a new one. Yay, excuse to go shopping! People expect things to break these days, I think. It might be better to even by a used machine than some cheap knock off, if you want something that will last. Although, in the event that the machine does happen to break, replacement parts might be kind of hard to get.


I think, I just turned into my Grandma, with that little speech. LOL.

[Rachel]

I agree with you about your "grandma" speech! Even if you try and get some things fixed people just tell you "it's not worth it, buy a new one". grrrr.

[Ange]

My mom has an awesome sewing machine...I'm not sure what brand it is though, and it's at least 20 years old (see above speech about "they don't make things like they used to.") The neat thing about it is that it fits in a suitcase-like case with a handle when you aren't using it, so it's portable (sorta, it's like 30 pounds haha).

I would personally go for one that is simple, and preferably doesn't have all the pre-programmed stuff in it (other than different types of stitches, of course).

Actually, have you considered getting a used sewing machine from somewhere (flea market, auction, thrift store, etc)...? You might be able to find a neat/durable/"they made it like they used to" one that way, and you won't be shelling out full price.

*le sigh* way to make me want to sew again, by the way. I made my boyfriend a teddy bear before he went to Japan for a semester, but haven't made anything since.

[.neko.]

I've always wanted to buy like a vintage singer. THose things are so pretty and are supposedly indestructable if you take care of them.

Check out http://www.craftster.org, there are probably tons of threads on their forums of people asking for advice on buying sewing machines, and these people know what they are babbling about.

[Twizzler0171]

I've always wanted to buy like a vintage singer. THose things are so pretty and are supposedly indestructable if you take care of them.

I have one of these! ^_^ It first belonged to my... great-grandmother, I believe, and I inherited it from my grandmother. They are super pretty. I have to find a place that repairs sewing machines though, because it needs a tune-up. But I have sewn some things with it.

[Mongrel]

I've always wanted to buy like a vintage singer. THose things are so pretty and are supposedly indestructable if you take care of them.

I have one of these! ^_^ It first belonged to my... great-grandmother, I believe, and I inherited it from my grandmother. They are super pretty. I have to find a place that repairs sewing machines though, because it needs a tune-up. But I have sewn some things with it.

What kind of machine is it? My mom collects old sewing machines, especially treadles. In fact, there are six machines in the room with me right now.

[Twizzler0171]

I've always wanted to buy like a vintage singer. THose things are so pretty and are supposedly indestructable if you take care of them.

I have one of these! ^_^ It first belonged to my... great-grandmother, I believe, and I inherited it from my grandmother. They are super pretty. I have to find a place that repairs sewing machines though, because it needs a tune-up. But I have sewn some things with it.

What kind of machine is it? My mom collects old sewing machines, especially treadles. In fact, there are six machines in the room with me right now.

I think it's a Machine 221-1. That is what a booklet in with it says. =)

[Rachel]

I've actually got three old singers - two hand one and an early electric one. The two hand ones were inherited from my great-grandmother and my great-great-grandmother, and the electric one was given to me by my old housemate's mum as she didn't want it anymore. Unfortunately i need a machine that can do more than sew in a straight line (which the singers do very well), so i need to buy one.

I'd absolutely LOVE a tredle one

[3lla]

i've been experimenting around with different sewing machines and alas the only great one that i've found wasn't even my own >.<

I should go and borrow it

[Rachel]

I bought one!

Here it is:


It's awesome. I made a dress with it.

[Nessa]

Awesome choice Rach, that dress looks pretty amazing