Best Sewing Machine for sewing Clothing?? Help!?

Question

I'm looking for a sewing machine in the <200ish range. I intend to use the machine mostly for sewing clothing. I have read reviews for Singers, Brothers, and others but I am really overwhelmed by the options. Could anyone please suggest to me what features should I be looking out for, or specific models of machines that would fulfill my needs and price range! Thanks in Advance!

Answer 1

The only thing I&#039;d add is avoid mechanical one-step buttonholes!  And I&#039;ll reinforce the idea that you&#039;ll get a far better pre-loved machine for $200 than you will a new one.  You may NEED a very light weight machine for some reason (some folk do), but it won&#039;t be as robust or as good as a decent weight pre-loved heavier machine.

Answer 2

My friend just bought a simple singer that does zigzag, buttons and button holes, a few other stitches, for around $200 used/refurbished from a machine repair shop. He is really happy with it. It will stitch the pockets back on his shirts and do minor patch jobs on his jeans and that is all he is asking of it.

Suggest you go down to a machine repair shop and ask to try out some of their machines they have for sale. You might get just what you need that way in the price range you are looking at.

I would get one that does basic zigzag, buttons and button holes, and maybe a few other stitches. Brands at this price range don&#039;t mean much.

The machine I was looking at when my machine had a burnout was a top of the line Janome!! But we found a new motor for my bernie 830, so I am not looking at a new or another machine for probably the rest of my sewing life.

Answer 3

Boy, did you get a great answer from Kay! The only thing I can possibly add is that you can sometimes find great machines at yard/garage sales for VERY little - people upgrade and just want to move the old one out. I&#039;ve gotten a great vintage machine for $1, a &#039;modern&#039; Singer Featherweight for $20, and a MemoryCraft 6000 ($1000 new) for $2 - at those prices, you can afford a gamble.

Btw, if all else fails and you&#039;re trying to decide between two machines, pick the heavier one - it&#039;s more likely to last.

P.S. I&#039;ve had TERRIFIC experiences with Kenmore machines!

Good luck and happy shopping!

Answer 4

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

What I want for beginners in sewing:

--  a machine that doesn&#039;t scare you

-- a machine that isn&#039;t balky (cheap new machines often are very balky or need adjustments often, and are rarely repairable)

-- very good straight stitch

-- good zigzag (4-5mm is wide enough, more is a bonus)

-- a method of making buttonholes that makes sense to you

-- adjustable presser foot pressure (which helps with some fabric handling issues)

-- accessory presser feet that don&#039;t cost an arm and a leg (machines that use a &quot;short shank foot&quot; typically handle generic presser feet pretty well.  Some brands of machines use proprietary or very expensive presser feet.)

If the budget stretches far enough:

-- blindhem and stretch blindhem stitches

-- triple zigzag

-- a couple of decorative stitches (you won&#039;t use them nearly as much as you think!)

-- electronic machine because of the needle position controls and because the stepper motors give you full &quot;punching force&quot; at slow sewing speeds, unlike mechanicals that often will stall at slow speeds.

Please go to the best sewing machine dealers around and ask them to show you some machines in your price range, *especially* used machines you can afford.  You&#039;ll get a far better machine buying used than new, and a good dealer is worth their weight in sewing machine needles when you get a machine problem -- often they can talk you through the problem over the phone.   While you&#039;re trying things out, try a

couple of machines (sewing only, not combo sewing-embroidery) over your price limit, just so you can see what the difference in stitch quality and ease of use might be.  You may find you want to go for the used Cadillac.  Or you might want the new basic Chevy.  Might as well try both out.

Suggested reading: John Giordano&#039;s The Sewing Machine Book (especially for used machines), Carol Ahles&#039; Fine Machine Sewing (especially the first and last few chapters) and Gale Grigg Hazen&#039;s Owner&#039;s Guide to Sewing Machines, Sergers and Knitting Machines.    All of these are likely to be available at your public library.

Used brands I&#039;d particularly look for: Elna, Bernina, Viking/Husqvarna, Pfaff, Singer (pre 1970), Juki, Toyota

New &quot;bargain brand&quot; I&#039;d probably pick: Janome (who also does Kenmore).