Sewing Machine
 

I own several machines. I have a PFAFF 7550 (16yrs old). Still runs like a champ,but because it is computerized I take it in for PM once a year. It is easier to find a Bernina machine and a certified Bernina tech,,just incase. There is a Huskvona here that belongs to one of my daughters and she loves it. Most of the machines that I own are Singer and they are all 50 or more years old. Dont discount an older machine. They are mechanical,ya cannt hurt them as long as they were made before 1976,preplastic cogs. My altime favorite is Singer 401A, you put a little black cam in the top to do special stitches.
Unless you are an experiences sewer stick with a machine that isnt to fancy. I sew for the public,my PFAFF has 199 built in stitches and I dont use them very often.
When you do purchase,get a machine from a dealer so you can have some lessons on your new machine to help you get familiar with it and will have someone to call incase you have a problem with it.
Happy shopping!!

I mainly use an 1896 (lol) Singer treadle. It has attachments for special stitches and techniques. I also have a more up to date Brother that I got at Costco for a bit over $100.00. It has about 20 built in stitches... I haven't used all of them yet.

for a beginer I will recomend something simple when my daughter started sewing I bought her a brother from walmart I paid about $90.00 for it and had more stiches that what she needed, but they are good to have.. buy something simple and cheap, and after a few years you can buy a better one if you still sewing..
hugs,

I second Carmen's advice. Go to Walmart or Costco. I'm a beginner and my first machine was a Brother from Costco -- only $139. It has like 100 stitches but I really only use one or two. The only thing I suggest is getting an auto back stitch function. It's a pain to hold the back button and hit your pedal -- at least for me it was :) I like hitting a button and the machine back stitching for me.

Once you get the hang of sewing and know you enjoy it, you can get yourself something fancier. And you'll know what features are important to you.

I dont enjoy machine embroidery and I dont use a serger,but Im sure that there are several here that do.

oh I LOVE my serger, i don't have an embroidery machine yet, I got an IPAD instead...LOL i do with my regular machine and my serger. i love the clean finished seams of the serger, I mainly use to finish my projects, my mom uses her most of the time but again she is way more experienced than little me...
hugs,

My treadle doesn't have reverse:(. But then again I only paid $50 for it.:D

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I agree! I hate having to hold down the button to back stitch. I have a very basic brother sewing machine. My parents bought it for me as a Christmas gift. I love it, but I am a beginner too. It is all I need right now but I have to confess I have been eyeing a brother machine on hsn that is a sewing,embroidery machine combined. It's around $500 but I'll have to save or ask for one as a present from the hubby. Lol. Here it is:

Brother Embroidery and Sewing Machine with USB Port at HSN.com

I have a sewing/embroidery machine from HSN too. It's the Singer Futura and also a gift from my husband. I have not done much with the embroidery part because I'm still learning about stabilizers, etc. I'd like to take an embroidery class too. But it sews really nice. I use my brother as my "class" machine.

Since you have a bit of time till you're ready for your machine could you go to a sewing machine dealer and tell them what you want to do and how much you'd like to spend? Most dealers have used machines that have been traded in,checked out and are more reasonable in price. They will usually offer a warranty of some sort and classes and let you try out different machines. I went the superstore route but when there was a problem I was pretty much on my own. :(

I have all 3 types of machines and use all of them for different functions. Be forwarned tho, machine embroidery can be addictive :p and in some cases expensive!


My machine family is:
Singer Featherweight 221
Singer 337
Singer Pro Stitch
Janome Magnolia
Singer Serger
Janome 300e (embroidery machine)

See what I mean? They just keep following me home!:eek:

LOL, I have a singer 9876, a singer serger, and a singer feather 221 that belonged to my mom.. I yet to venture and buy an embroidery machine.. soon I hope...
hugs,

Another thought,if you buy your 1st machine from a dealer-save your reciept- then whenever you want to trade up the dealer will usually give you a better trade in price. At least mine here did ;)

I recently purchased a Singer with more stitches than I will ever need. I chose a moderately priced one. Around $200 from Joannes. Before this one, I used a very old Singer which basically sewed forward, back and zig zag. The harness vests in my pictures were made with that one.

If you are a beginner, I would say...don't go expensive, but don't buy the bottem of the line either. Some will tell you Singers are no good, and some will swear by them. It is a personal preference. I've been sewing a long time. I chose the machine I have because it had an automatic threader. Which basically means it was getting hard for me to thread the needle and now I don't have to use bifocals to do it!:D

Good luck!

Carmen both of my Singer seniors came from my mom,you can't beat the 221 for denim,canvas etc. and the 337 does a beautiful zig zag stitch. Plus, they're almost indestructable! :D

Turn the garment around and make two stitches forward to lock in a seam.

Ya'll hang on to the 221 Singers. They are like gold to people that collect old machines or do alot of quilting.

My PFAFF has a button to lock in a seam instead of backstitching. Ive been sewing so long that it is just old habit to use the backstitch button.
You could learn to do "free hand" embroidery on the sewing machine. That is something that I have done and it is fun. My mother used to embroider flowers (very detailed) on towels,garments and linens with this method.

I wouldn't trade my seniors for anything, LOL, when we left because of hurricane Ike I packed up the pictures,the important papers,the Singers & Janomes and the furkids. My hubby asked if I was sure I didn't want him to load all my patterns & fabric too?:p I thought about it!

Yep,the older machines would make any trip that we had to make,and there are a few. Singer 201, 2-301s,401A and a tiny lil 99. I love my older machines,they can make the most perfect buttonholes time,after,time,after,time. I have all of the attachments and cams for all of my machines so I can pick one up and run out the door with it. The PFAFF stays in a cabinet.

A newer model machine is ALL plastic and nylon and therefore doesnt weigh much. Most pre-1975 machines have cogs that are made of metal and therefore are going to weigh more. The trade there is that you cannt overheat and melt or wear down the metal cogs. I sew alot (couple of hours most days) and I have worn out a couple of machines that would of cost more to repair than I paid for them. Because my PFAFF (1995) machine is much younger than the others and computerized it goes in for PM EVER year when I am on vaca. It costs me $100 to $120 just to get it cleaned and adjustments made and it can only be touched by a certified PFAFF tech,because if something is broken on it they are the only ones that can purchase parts. My PFAFF was a gift to me when my last child was born. I personally would not purchase a machine from Walmart or Costco or Sam's. I have taught sewing and so far the cheaper machines have only caused frustration to my students. If you purchase a new machine from a Sewing Machine Dealer you usually get lessons on how to run the thing along with it. I believe that you are in Dallas,there is a very nice dealer that carries several makers of machines located in the mid-cities Richland Sewing Center. They also give classes. If this is to far,you might look up a quilting shop close to you and ask if they know of a dealer in your area that carries several types of machines.

Yes, I'm getting the hang of it, lol.

I just bought a Featherweight 221 last month... I'm still cleaning and oiling it so I haven't actually sewn with it yet... keeping my fingers crossed. They command quite a price on Ebay!

Great idea! I'm torn between learning to do freehand machine embroidery or getting one of those fancy machines, lol. I have plenty of time to decide though.

I tell people that sew is like painting,only with fabric. I have watched the embroidery machines demo and they dont seem to need your hand involved,you purchase software or program them to make what you want. I like to be involved in the creativity.
A couple of Christmas's ago I made linen shawls for EVERY girl in the family. I did free hand celtic knots on each of them. Some were big in the middle,some small and on the ends,some smaller and in each corner. To me it was alot of fun and I spent time thinking about each person that I was making something for. Even my 16yr old daughter loves hers.

I dont know alot about embroidery machines,but I do know that I used to watch my mother blend colors just like when she painted and she made some beautiful things.

I just bought a Featherweight 221 last month... I'm still cleaning and oiling it so I haven't actually sewn with it yet... keeping my fingers crossed. They command quite a price on Ebay![/QUOTE]


The nice thing is you can open it up and SEE inside to clean and oil and adjust. The newer machines are sealed and take a special tool to open (that I dont own). In the older handbooks it actually TELLS you how to trouble shoot and sometimes fix your machine.

I collect older machines and people tend to drop their unwanted older machines off at my house,think of it as a sewing machine rescue.

I have a great machine tech that specializes in vintage machines. Not sure what I will do if he ever retires.

I'd agree with other members buy an inexpensive beginners machine.

I'm no help, mine is an Elna made back in the mid '60, it's built like a tank.

I don't know the weight of any newer machines but my Featherweight comes in at 11 lbs.

The 337 weighs 23 lbs.

Not meaning to hijack this thread but here's a link for Singer service manuals:
April 1930's - A Sewing Shoppe...Parts, Manuals & Supplies