Sewing Machines: Tell me About 'em

[DecemberFlower]

I'm sure there's lots of people here with sewing machines. I'm in the market for one, and I'm just wondering what's good. So, if you have a sewing machine, please tell me a little about it, if you like it, how easy it is to use (and if you think a totally sewing machine noob will be able to figure out how to use it), and whatever else you think I should know about sewing machines.  

[I be me]

singers have always done really well for me, and my mother, and my grandmother.  

[knitting_needle_ninja]

My mom used to have a singer, and it broke down constantly. If you're going to get one, make sure it's at least 20 years old, though it might be hard to find replacement parts or service for an older one (I don't know).  

[kochi~mochi]

I have an Elna Elnita225, a hand-me-down from my mother. It works really well, but then, its an older machine thats been taken care of. When you're told "if you break it you'll have to buy yourself a new one" its kind of motivation for taking care of it.

Janome makes an inexpensive machine called the 'Sew-Mini' - its normally $60, and goes on sale alot around here. Its not the best quality, but we've had ours for around a year now, and as long as don't sew heavy fabrics with it, it hasn't given us any real problems. Its definatly straighforward, easy to use. The best thing is that it has all the extreme basics of a full size sewing machine - straight and zigzag stitches, winds a bobbin, goes backwards - unlike the 'toy' sewing machines. Its lightweight, and we use ours alot. If you're looking for an inexpensive one that you can take with you places, i recommend it.

I've used other machines, but not enough to tell you what they are or why they were good. I learned to sew on my Elnita, our Sew Mini has been used often, and neither of them are hard to use.  

[Silver Mist]

YourAzureGoddess

I don;t suggest Singers unless you can get one that's an older model and in good condition. The newer ones (1990 and beyond) seem to be made out of mostly cheap parts and they seem to break down. However if you can find a 1960's model singer it will likely last for-freakin-ever

The old Singers are dream machines. My mom has my grandmothers from when grandma first got married over 55 years ago. Its beautiful!

But their right- singers from about 1980 on are CRAP. I have my moms from when she went away to college (over 25 years old) and it breaks constantly, depsite being far from over used.

Unlike our 60 year older singer which I have tried to murder on occassion, I swear. I use it for my period sewing, so super heavy tapestry fabrics. Doesnt blink.  

[DecemberFlower]

Okay, good to know about the Singers. I was looking at them, since I thought they had a reputation as good machines, but I see it's only the older ones.

Where does one go to look for older machines? I've only been considering something new out of the box. I didn't even think of trying to get a used machine. surprised  

[Lexi Marie]

Bernina's are great machines. We use them in the costume shop at my univeristy and they are in use about 10 hours a day six days a week (on non-tech week weeks) and the machine that we are using right now are about ten years old and they are still doing fine. Mine has been through a year of heavy duty sewing and is also doing just fine. If you find a bernina dealer you can look at their used machines which work just as fine as the new machines.

I echo the thought on Singers, don't get one unless you get an older one. My mom's was only used for about three or four months of intense sewing before it had to go in for major repairs and it's never workd quite right ever since. If you can locate one of the cast iron singers (or whatever metal it is) they last for quite a long time and will sew through just about anything (and yes that does include fingers on occasion).  

[Silver Mist]

An OLD singer can get expensive. My mom has had several offers from people wanting to buy (the guy at the repair shop keeps trying to steal it when she takes it in every three for a tune up and timing check- its only flaw is its timing gets slightly off about eveyr three years). Her best offer yet- $450.

But really, thats about what some new ones cost. And this is for a 1950's cast iron singer, with its original table, button holer and everything. We still have the sewing box that came free with it.  

[KiwiDragon]

I recently (well, like a year ago) bought my first sewing machine and I bought the green Hello Kitty (the brand is Janome)one from Target. I did a lot of researching and this one was in my price range (about $100), easy to use, and reliable. I haven't had any trouble with it so far. I'm a complete sewing newb, but I was able to easily hook it up, and get going with at least a simple straight and zig zag stitch. It doesn't have a million fancy options, but that was fine with me. 3nodding

I also have an older White model, but I can't use it. My boyfriend however (yes, he sews) uses it frequently and he likes it. He mostly uses it for patching jeans, so I at least know it goes through denim.

My mom has a REALLY old Singer, and it scares me. When you first start to use it, it smokes and it's loud. It is about 50lbs of machine, but it still works if you can get over how scary it is! wink  

[~Viva~Per~Amore~]

Our current store of sewing machines consists of a Bernina, Pfaff, and Janome. The surgers we have are currently are Bernina, Janome and White.

I love working with the Pfaff machine because it is really smooth, so make sure that what ever model sewing machine you get, chack and see that it has an upper dog foot. The Pfaff also has a million stitches that are easy to switch too which is another reason that I love using it. The problem with the Pfaff is the price, they are usually in the higher price range but the quality makes up for it.

I ahve mostly worked with the Bernina ever since I was little. As long as I remember, we have never had to send it into the shop or get replacement parts for it. It is strong and reliable. The only problem I would have with it would be when I would get a tangle in the thread and it would cause a jam and I would have to ask my mom to help me fix it, but of course I was younger then and that problem is happening less and less with more experience.

I ahve rarely tried the Janome because it officially belongs to my sister, so I don't know how it sews, but I have noticed that it has an easily used back stitch which requires no use of the hands, but the knee instead.

I wouldn't quite invest in a surger yet because it isn't necessary and a zig-zag stitch will do well enough to hold the fabric and keep it from fraying, so I would invest in a surger later when you may be doing projects that are very large or for someone else.