Sewing machine for beginner for small animal hammocks?

Question

I'm a total beginner. I would like to start sewing small animal hammocks using fleece and some quilting material. Any ideas as to which machine would be best and under $100? I have been told to get an automatic threader... or something along those lines. No clue what that means, but would certainly appreciate any help you can give!

EDIT: This will only be used a few times every few months to make 3-4 hammocks each time so I don't need anything too fancy. I simply cannot afford to go over $100 in my current financial situation. =(

Answer 1

This is a loosing battle that I have with every person who wants to purchase a sewing machine for around $100. For every person I try to convince that $100 is not enough for a sewing machine, there are two that say they bought theirs for $100 and they love them. I cringe whenever I hear someone wants to buy a sewing machine for about $100 because I see the fall-out every day.

I'm a sewing iinstructor and I see them all. Cheap machines don't last and they don't sew well -- many think it's operator error but it's not them--it's the cheap machine! $100 sewing machines are meant to be tossed if anything goes wrong. They are not an investment.

Compare a sewing machine to a car. If you were to buy a car for $100 ... you wouldn't expect the car to do very much and you would EXPECT it to give you trouble and not last long.

The same goes for a sewing machine. It doesn't mean you have to spend thousands of dollars to get a good machine...it just means that you need to raise your beginning sewing machine to a minimum of $300 (give or take) in order to get yourself a machine that is going to work and is going to work well.

The Pfaff 1144 is a sturdy mechanical machine that is also a good beginning machine. It runs around $300. It doesn't have many bells and whistles, but it does have a great automatic buttonhole and an automatic needle threader. It isn't a fancy looking machine, but it is built well. http://www.pfaffusa.com/159.html

If $300 is too dear, the Pfaff 1133 would be the lowest model I would recommend. It runs about $250. http://www.pfaffusa.com/150.html

For a beginner, I think the Brother machines that start around $300-$400 are perfect. They have a lot of built in stitches, they do buttonholes, they have all the bells and whistles you could dream of (automatic threader, needle down, automatic tie-off) but most important--they are very user friendly and easy to learn on. This model that just came out and runs about $400: http://www.brother-usa.com/HomeSewing/ModelDetail.aspx?ProductID=NS40 However, this machine is a mechanical one that I've seen it priced between $250 and $300. I can recommend it: http://www.brother-usa.com/HomeSewing/ModelDetail.aspx?ProductID=PS3700.


PS: Automatic Threader is usually a lever that you push down and a tiny wire is placed through the eye of the needle. The thread is hooked around the wire and it pulls the thread through. Needle down position means that the needle will stop in the "down" position so the fabric won't move out of position when you stop sewing and the tie-off buttons will make knots at the beginning and end of your seams automatically for you.

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I know I make people upset with my answers. But I can't help but point out that if you want to sew thick fabrics such as a fleece, a $100 machine may give you more problems than it is worth. (Jamming, missed stitches, etc.) I'm sorry you can't afford a better machine...I TRULY wish you luck and hope you find a good one. Sewing is a passion of mine and I always want the best for beginners. And I always loose this argument because money is always an issue over quality.

Answer 2

I disagree with the answer above. You are a beginner and what beginner wants to spend $300 on a machine when they don't even know if they will enjoy the hobby and continue sewing? A $100 machine is fine for a beginner. It is a basic machine that doesn't have 6500 different stitches, which will only confuse a beginner anyway. If you enjoy sewing and want to upgrade, you can research better machines then.

I initially bought a $100 or so machine at Target for $65 on Black Friday and it was just fine. It only has a handful of stitches, but I made my daughter's Halloween costume using it. It does not limit you. It didn't have an automatic threader, but again, if you are not sure if it is a hobby you will continue with, why get all the extras.

Hope this helps! Good luck with your hammocks!

Answer 3

Automatic threaders have a bad habit of breaking. If you can see the eye of a needle, you can certainly thread it... and if you can't, there are manual threaders available that I can use with my eyes shut.

For what you're planning, I'd send you to the best sewing machine stores in town to ask about a good used machine in your price range... you'll get a lot more for your money with a used machine, and a lot less frustration. (I wore out a cheapie machine in less than a year of intermittent use). An old Singer 15 or 99 or 301 are all possibilities for good straight stitchers (all you really need for what you're planning at the moment)... and these are easy to find and amazingly durable. A Singer 401 is another possibility -- it's a sturdy cam machine that can make a number of stitches by inserting a cam to produce the stitch. Any of these machines have the potential to still be sewing in 50+ years.

Otherwise:
http://www.cet.com/~pennys/faq/smfaq.htm

Answer 4

My first machine was a Kenmore. It was very sturdy, and lasted me a long time. It is probably a little more than $100. I would stay away from the really cheap machines at places like Walmart. If your machine is not working well, you are going to get frustrated, and not enjoy your new hobby. An automatic needle threader is handy if you are over 40, as it's hard to see to thread the needle. But, you won't get that on an entry level machine. You can buy separate needle threaders, which are just a wire loop that you can stick through the needle, catch the thread and pull it through.

Answer 5

I bought a 30 year old sears kenmore at an auction for $8.00!!! one of the best machines I ever owned! I quilt and it's wonderful for that. Nothing fancy, not all the buttons, but does a fine job. If you're just starting out, try auctions or other sales. If you get a machine for little or nothing, you're not out a whole lot. My first machine was a Brother, 25 years later I'm still using that also, I paid under 100.00 for that machine, and all it's been through and all it's sewed, still runs like a charm! Good machines can be found in your price range, you just have to shop around. Good luck.

Answer 6

These for real are good,cause i'm 34 and have no idea what i'm doing.I patch my pants and what not.My lady (prettiest)girl in the world used to do this whilei was at work,unfortunitly she was in a terible acident when i told her to take my Vette,if i would have fixexd hers she'd be here.I cry my self to sleep.
http://crafts-sewing.hsn.com/singer-battery-operated-singer-chainstitch-sewing-machine_p-2349127_xp.aspx?webm_id=0&web_id=2349127&sf=ct&dept=ct0052&cat=ct0053&attr=211&ocm=ct|ct0052|211&prev=hp!sf!dept!211