need to know about sewing machines?

Question

i am starting to play with crafts and am thinking of buying a sewing machine but dont know which to buy. i dont want to put a lot of money into it but want one that will do the work. anyone know what kind and where a good place to get one.
thanks

Answer 1

You will need to think about what you want to do with the machine, (like do you want to do fancy stitches or do you want to be able to sew heavy fabrics like duck cloth and canvas.)

With this in mind you best go to the kind of sewing machine shop that does repairs and trades in sewing machines when people buy a new one.
Mostly they sell the trade-in machines for small prices, and as they want to keep you as customer, they make sure that the machine is in good condition.

There you will have to choose between several different machines.
I would go for a basic machine by a big brand, (singer, brother, there are more) rather than a fancy machine from a smaller, cheaper brand.
If it has zigzag you can use it for most jobs, the rest is not needed, unless you know you want to do fancy dressmaking. (I do not know what you think when you say crafts.)
If you want to be able to stitch heave cloth, tell the people in the shop, as you will need an industrial machine or at least a strong household machine.

My mother has a Singer, she bought it in the 1950's it is still in top condition, been back to the store maybe twice in all those years of sewing. (Now not as much, but she used to sew for a family with 4 kids.)
Newer machines do not have as good a reputation, but there some as good.

Buy a good but older machine now, and get a new machine later if you feel the need.

Answer 2

If you can find a Singer made before 1980 they are good. Newer Singer's are plastic machines made somewhere overseas. My Mom had an old one too and when it died in '88 she got a new one that didn't even last 6 months. Went to a sewing machine shop and talked with one of the mechanics (yes sewing machines have them) and he told her the bad news about how good old Singer sold out to some overseas company.

Personally I have a Brother that I got from Walmart. It has a plastic cover but the mechanism inside is metal. I payed just under $100 for it 4 years ago and it hasn't let me down yet. I even sew canvas and denim with it. I do oil it quite often as when it isn't oiled regularly it runs quite rough. But that goes for all machines whether they are brand new or not. Other than that I have only had to change the needle for the different weights of fabric. I have recently been sewing spandex (swimsuit) and have no problems with it.
But do also check out sewing machine shops as they might also have beginner lessons and then even after purchase if you forget how to thread it or need to be reminded of where to oil it they are there to help.

Answer 3

The best thing you can do is go to a sewing machine dealer. Explain to them EXACTLY what you are looking for and what you want to accomplish with your sewing machine. You don't want to buy a machine that isn't capable of doing what you want it to do.

I love Pfaff machines -- and I am the first to admit that they are pricey but they are worth every penny. Pfaff has many machines from all price levels. Sturdy beginning machines like the 1142 are available but if you can afford to get to a Pfaff 1527 which is when the IDT (aka dual feed) option first appears, you won't be sorry. In the lower end Pfaff machines you won't get lots of bells and whistles but you will get quality.

Brother machines are less expensive than Pfaffs and they are packed with lots of bells and whistles that make sewing easy. They are easy to thread, easy to learn and great starting machines. I recommend the Brother PC210 as a beginning machine, but if the price is too high, I would go to the PS-3700 which is a great value.

Please get your hands on the machine and try it out before you purchase it. Don't buy a machine in a box, unless you have had a chance to see first hand with a floor model. If possible, sit down and sew a little to get the feel of the machine.

Answer 4

You want to make sure you buy the machine that does what you are planning to do. My first machine came from a sewing machine repair place and I don't regret getting a used machine that the man had reconditioned. It was perfect, it was an old Bernina, it was over 30 years ago and I still have it and use it. The repair guys will not try to sell you their latest and greatest like a dealer. Save the dealer experience for later when you're hooked and your needs have changed or your business can pay for it. The cheaper discount machines (Brother, Singer, White) from Walmart, Joann's,etc are primarily plastic throwaways and I've yet to meet a repairman that recommended them.

Answer 5

The distilled wisdom of several hundred years of collective sewing experience, both professional and amateur

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