Sewing machines

[KaraBoo]

Ok. Let me have it. What machine do you recommend for someone who will mostly be making household items and sometimes clothing? I don't need a fancy machine with embroidery stitches and all that. I'd like some ease in threading cuz I seem to mess that up. LOL

And what does it mean when a machine is "computerized?"

[sabrinat]

I recommend a good basic machine p/u from a thrift store or garage sale. While there's nothing "wrong" with an expensive machine from a big box store, you'll get a much better machine if you find an all metal machine and get it serviced.You can also check craigslist and machine dealers for a good deal. Freecycle is actually where I score my very first vintage machine and after that I was hooked. :

[Think of Winter]

Originally Posted by sabrinat

I recommend a good basic machine p/u from a thrift store or garage sale. While there's nothing "wrong" with an expensive machine from a big box store, you'll get a much better machine if you find an all metal machine and get it serviced.

This is what I did, and I'm really happy with it. The machine was free (got lucky there) and I spent $85 having it serviced and $3 on new bobbins. It's solid and works great. I was replacing a $150 computerized machine that I'd dropped, and I like my new one a lot better.

A computerized machine has a screen for selecting your stitch type, length, and width. But every time I turned mine off, I had to re-enter the stitch I always used, among other irritating little things. I didn't really use the fancy stitches anyway. I prefer embroidery if I want that look, and they really suck thread. Btw, the board is what went when I dropped it, and the repair estimate was $300.

[dis]

IF you can't find something used, I know many many many people who are happy with their basic Kenmores. That's what I have - it's not fancy, but it does the job!

[cristeen]

If I were going to pay for a new machine, I'd probably get this one. It's more likely to outlive you than most of the machines made right now.

[courtenay_e]

Originally Posted by cristeen

If I were going to pay for a new machine, I'd probably get this one. It's more likely to outlive you than most of the machines made right now.

Whee! That looks a LOT like the singer I grew up using. I LOVED that machine!! If the innards are metal, I WOULD get that one, if you have the money. The drop in bobbin is just SOOO much more convenient than the standard ones. This, from somebody who grew up using the drop in style and had to re-learn threading bobbins as an adult because it'd been soooooo long since I'd seen one like that in home ec in seventh grade (and I just learned enough about the machine to get my project done--I'd been sewing for seven years by then).

But yes, otherwise, I really DO suggest either going to a garage sale or one of the old timer sewing machine and vaccuum repair shops and seeing what they've taken and fixed up for sale. The oldies, with all metal parts, are really WONDERFUL when they are running smoothly.

[lightheart]

my rec for a straight stitch only machine would be a singer 15, 66 or 99.

for a zigzag capable machine, a 401.

look on these sites to learn more, collector sites, not selling ones.

http://ismacs.net/singer/models.html#household

http://www.needlebar.org/cm/index.php?cat=59

don't get confused too much about the das and numbers yoou see behind the model numbers, it ususally designates how it is motored either with a foot pedal, knee bar, a treadle, an internal or external drive belt motor...

needlebar 15's are in the folder "improved family" (IF)

I'm not totally sure what the 'real' definition of a computerized machine is... I think of the ubber high end machines... talking in the thousands of $'s as being compuerized, you can actually hook them up to your computer and do extra things... embroidery I know, possible other things....

Then I think of some of the higher end but not outrageously expensive... upper hundreds of dollars as being 'computerized... they don't link into your home computer but they have electronics in them... memory with stitches and such, sI know that magnets should be kept away from them because of 'boards' ....

Then there are just electric machines... I think of those as working on a toaster, if your brave enough to do simple wiring then you would be comfortable opening one of those up and tinkering around with their inards... basically just run by electic.

The ones I love are the ones that have no wires on them at all, the treadles and handcranks... all metal ones, they are the ones that will last a lifetime and won't hurt you uless you drop one on your foot... they do have memory in their stitches just like the fancy ones....you just don't turn the dials !

[lifeguard]

Great advice here - interesting how similar people feel about their machines!

I have a singer that is about 30+ years old. It works fabulously! My grandmother bought it for me 2nd hand as it was the same machine she'd been using for years.

The all metal works in the older machines definitely make them hardier.