What is a good basic good priced sewing machine?

Question

What is a good basic good priced sewing machine?

Answer 1

Walmart has some for around 100.00, but can go up to thousand. According how much you want to do with it. Button holer, embrodery, custom stitiches, the best or just simple.

Answer 2

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

Best advice I can give you is above.   For a beginner, general purpose sewing machines need (I think):

-- very good straight stitch

-- good zigzag

-- a method of making buttonholes that doesn't drive you nuts

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

Nice to have, but not necessary:

-- triple zigzag

-- stretch and regular blindhem

-- a few decorative stitches (which can mostly be lived without!)

The best quality machine for the least money will be a used machine.  If you buy from a dealer, it will typically have a short guarantee (6 months to a year), often can be traded back if you decide to trade up, and you'll be taught basic machine operation and maintenance.

New machines on the lower end should be considered disposable -- they're often balky, require lots of tweaking to produce a good seam for a bit, and repair parts are not available.

Suggested reading, probably available at your library:

-- John Giordano's Sewing Machine Book

-- Carol Ahles' Fine Machine Sewing (especially first few and last few chapters on using and choosing a machine)

-- Gale Grigg Hazen's Owner's Guide to Sewing Machines, Sergers and Knitting Machines

If you're thinking about quilting or most home dec sewing, you really probably only need a straight stitch machine; a used one is often very inexpensive.  In fact, I've pulled machines off the curb the night before trash pickup, cleaned and oiled them, and sent the now working machine on to a good home with someone else.