What's a good beginners sewing machine?

[mamascarlett]

Up 'till this point I've mostly sewn by hand... growing up, whenever I used my moms old Singer, the needle would break, or something would happen to scare me off of it. :P
What would be a SIMPLE machine I could work small projects on???
Thank you, o' wise Mamas!

[dealic]

I want to know too. I want a sewing machine too, but I have only used one once ever, in home ec for a week in elementary school. And my pillow was majorly deformed then.

[BurgundyElephant]

I was going to say that I have a Kenmore for sale, but shipping would be prohibitive, then I saw you're actually not far from me. So PM me if you're interested.

So, when I started sewing I bought a front-loading bobbin Kenmore on the rec. of all my needlework friends. It drove me crazy! The thread used to tangle all the time. I took it back to the store and bought a drop-in bobbin Kenmore. (The machine I'm selling). It is a great machine and I would recommend Kenmores to anyone learning to sew. They are good machines and I never had any problems with mine. The thread never tangled and it is very strong.

Later, though, when I started sewing A LOT more I also got into embroidery so I bought another machine, this time a Brother PC6500 which does machine embroidery as well. It's a strong machine as well but I LOVE the embroidery stuff. Probably not something a beginner needs, though.

I also have a Kenmore serger, but I never use it. My sewing isn't something that needs a serger. When I used to do more clothes I needed a serger.


I would recommend that you go into Northwest Sewing and Vacuum and look at the machines there. They also do free usage classes is you buy a machine from there.

[Teddy'sMom]

When I wanted my first machine I asked this same question of family and friends. The answer I got was Kenmore. I have had good luck with my low end Kenmore so far. I have heard some bad stories about low end Singers and Whites.

[georgia]

I wouldn't recommend buying a machine from a store that doesn't offer support. Sears doesn't have staff, generally, that know much about sewing. YMMV If it were me, I'd buy somewhere locally where you know the owner or that you can go in for help when you need it. Hands-on help, IME, makes all the difference.

[courtenay_e]

I agree. I have had my serger for three years, and go back in REGULARLY for help with the darned thing. It's great that there are people there who not only care that I like using it (frankly, i don't...I've used commercial sergers that were MUCH easier to use/thread, but it's definately better than nothing!!), but that I know how to use it properly. that said, i bring it to a really great guy in a shop that only repairs sewing machines in our area. I trust him more than the "remote" guy that I only get to talk to on the phone who does the repairs for the place where I bought the machine.

[courtenay_e]

Oh, as far as what kind? I also learned on a drop in bobbin machine. I think that, maybe, if you can find a really nice OLD singer (by old I mean early seventies or sooner) at a repair shop with a repair person who can do "support" and show you how to use it, how to adjust the settings, etc, they tend to be very reliable and functional machines, and you may get years of use out of it (I had my first one for eight years, and my mom had it for 20 years before that, I think, maybe fifteen) before you're ready for a new one. The only reason I got a new one was that i was moving out, and my sister claimed my old machine (mom had "given it to me to USE" not keep)...and I got one almost exactly like it, and used it for another 9, before my husband brought me a NEW machine...frankly, I still use the old singer easily as much as I use the new one (though the new one is a well built machine...).

all that to say, find something inexpensive, till you decide what you want/need/like in a machine...but know that you can get inexpensive AND high quality (much higher, actually, than what you'd get for the same price at places like sears/target, etc) in a well built old machine.

have fun!

[AngelBee]

:

[Becky75]

Originally Posted by courtenay_e

Oh, as far as what kind? I also learned on a drop in bobbin machine. I think that, maybe, if you can find a really nice OLD singer (by old I mean early seventies or sooner) at a repair shop with a repair person who can do "support" and show you how to use it, how to adjust the settings, etc, they tend to be very reliable and functional machines, and you may get years of use out of it (I had my first one for eight years, and my mom had it for 20 years before that, I think, maybe fifteen) before you're ready for a new one. The only reason I got a new one was that i was moving out, and my sister claimed my old machine (mom had "given it to me to USE" not keep)...and I got one almost exactly like it, and used it for another 9, before my husband brought me a NEW machine...frankly, I still use the old singer easily as much as I use the new one (though the new one is a well built machine...).

all that to say, find something inexpensive, till you decide what you want/need/like in a machine...but know that you can get inexpensive AND high quality (much higher, actually, than what you'd get for the same price at places like sears/target, etc) in a well built old machine.

have fun!

I appreciate all these tips as I look for a starter machine for my 12 yo dd. I also want to tell the member whom I've quoted here that I LOVE your icons. My DH always carries our baby in her sling when we shop.etc, because he loves to, and I literally LOL'd at the fly-by-nursing. Been there, currently doing that!!!
: We have 4 GIRLS and one boy angel!: : age 12 : would be 8 : age 7:age 5:age 1

[p.s]

hugs