I am tired of using my mothers all the time so can someone recommend a fairly decent priced (cheap, lol) but good quality one?
I'm going to send you the hand out I give my sewing students. Hope it helps.
Check Craigslist or ask around your family for an older hand me down! THe newer machines in the cheaper range are crap, they will only frustrate you! I recommend finding an older one for cheap or free and having it tuned up at a repair shop. I sew almost every single day on a Necchi from 1983, it beats anything I could get brand new for under $200-300. Answer by
I bought an inexpensive Janome Magnolia after years of using old, crap machines (Singer, Ricchar, even an ancient Necchi!)- it's been wonderful to FINALLY be able to get through a sewing session without broken needles, jamming thread, poor tension, etc. etc. Wonderful machine! I needed something sturdy enough to handle my kids learning on it, and my own... well...rough usage (I sew a lot of costumes, with odd thickness & fabric combinations. I've burned up a number of machines over the years!) Janome was recommended by our 4-H leader who has been a home ec teacher in a big public high school for the last 30 yrs.- I figured if they can withstand those stunts using them, then it would hold up for me! !
at 11:07 PM on Sep. 8, 2010
If you don't mind used, look on CL for a good brand (janome, bernina, even ooooold singers-early 80s or older). If you want new, Janomes are great machines and you get the most bang for your buck. You can get a hobbiest level Janome in the $250 range and it will be a nice, sturdy machine. It won't have all the fancy stitches but will have METAL parts and that's what's important. You want a METAL machine. The newer singers and brothers and kenmores (and other cheaper brands) have PLASTIC moving parts and they will break.
I'd talk to a mom and pop sewing store and tell them your price range and what you want to sew and they can make a specific recommendation for you. Answer by
Sears offers layaway now. They sell nice sewing machines at a good price, and they will have a warranty. I think the layaway is over 8weeks. I hope your search ends with a nice machine to call your own! Answer by
I am tired of using my mothers all the time so can someone recommend a fairly decent priced (cheap, lol) but good quality one?
I'm going to send you the hand out I give my sewing students. Hope it helps.
Check Craigslist or ask around your family for an older hand me down! THe newer machines in the cheaper range are crap, they will only frustrate you! I recommend finding an older one for cheap or free and having it tuned up at a repair shop. I sew almost every single day on a Necchi from 1983, it beats anything I could get brand new for under $200-300. Answer by
I bought an inexpensive Janome Magnolia after years of using old, crap machines (Singer, Ricchar, even an ancient Necchi!)- it's been wonderful to FINALLY be able to get through a sewing session without broken needles, jamming thread, poor tension, etc. etc. Wonderful machine! I needed something sturdy enough to handle my kids learning on it, and my own... well...rough usage (I sew a lot of costumes, with odd thickness & fabric combinations. I've burned up a number of machines over the years!) Janome was recommended by our 4-H
 leader who has been a home ec teacher in a big public high school for the last 30 yrs.- I figured if they can withstand those stunts using them, then it would hold up for me! !
at 11:07 PM on Sep. 8, 2010
If you don't mind used, look on CL for a good brand (janome, bernina, even ooooold singers-early 80s or older). If you want new, Janomes are great machines and you get the most bang for your buck. You can get a hobbiest level Janome in the $250 range and it will be a nice, sturdy machine. It won't have all the fancy stitches but will have METAL parts and that's what's important. You want a METAL machine. The newer singers and brothers and kenmores (and other cheaper brands) have PLASTIC moving parts and they will break.
I'd talk to a mom and pop sewing store and tell them your price range and what you want to sew and they can make a specific recommendation for you. Answer by
Sears offers layaway now. They sell nice sewing machines at a good price, and they will have a warranty. I think the layaway is over 8weeks. I hope your search ends with a nice machine to call your own! Answer by