Im looking at buying a sewing machine, can anyone recommend a good value, simple to use machine?

Question

I dont want anything too complicated!Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

A really good value is a used machine. Check your local sewing machine repair place. They sell refurbished trade-ins, and you will get MUCH more for your money than a new. They will have sales assistants that will be able to advise you on one to fit your needs, and future abilities.

Answer 2

I have a Singer sewing machine, specifically, a Singer Simple. I think it would work well for a beginner.

Answer 3

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

Please go to a local sewing machine shop and try some machines out -- it's so much easier for a beginner to have someone show you the basics than it is to try to thrash through them by yourself with aid of manual and maybe a dvd.  

As far as value goes, the best values are going to be among the used machines; for new machines, Janome seems to be about the best for quality at a low price.  Do NOT buy one of the non-repairable cheapies from any maker unless you enjoy being frustrated.

My list for beginners:

-- very good straight stitch

-- good zigzag -- you probably don't need anything more than about 4-5mm wide

-- buttonhole making that doesn't drive you nuts

-- adjustable presser foot pressure (very useful for fabric handling problems)

Nice to have:

-- blindhem and stretch blindhem

-- a few decorative stitches

If the budget stretches that far, consider an electronic machine -- the stepper motors used on these mean that the machine runs well at low speed with no stalling characteristic of mechanicals.

Anything over that is gravy.  Do NOT buy a machine on the basis that *this* one is the same price as *that* one but the first one has 20 stitches and the second has 40, therefore the second one is the better deal.  Almost always with budget machines, a machine with a few stitches is going to be less fuss and bother than a machine with a lot of stitches at that price point.

Answer 4

I bought myself a small singer sewing machine, it's really simple to use, look for the lowest priced ones,  because the more expensive they are, the more complicated features they add to them....... mine i got on sale for like $50 I think , a few years ago, and  i love it, though the prices may have changed by now, i'm not sure...... you can try looking at walmart, or a craft store, though......

definitely stick with a singer brand though, they have replacement parts and things you can buy almost anywhere, i had make the mistake once to get a diff. brand, and so when a piece broke, the parts had to be specially ordered, it was a mess.......