[MissPenny]

I have been really wanting a sewing machine and perhaps might ask for one this Christmas.
What is a good sewing machine or shall I say what do you recommend?

[QueenAngie]

Can't address new ones.....the one I have was purchased right before my wedding by my now DH. It is a Singer.....over 25 years old now and still working great.

Boy, this makes me feel really old now....25 yo sewing machine.

I have always had good luck with it - zigzags, blind stitches, button holes.

I would like a machine that does fancy embroidery too, but I'm still happy with my Singer.

[Brandie]

Originally Posted by MissPenny

I have been really wanting a sewing machine and perhaps might ask for one this Christmas.
What is a good sewing machine or shall I say what do you recommend?

I have a Kenmore regular sewing machine ... it says Kenmore 28 on it but I'm not sure if that is the specific model. It was a hand me down.
Last year I got a Singer xl-6000 sewing/embroidery machine. I LOVE it to death =)
It sews so wonderfully and does awesome embroidery. Although, with the other machine, I use the singer strictly for embroidery and sew with the Kenmore. Mostly because I'm too lazy to switch out the embroidery arm for the sewing arm though.

[LeanyBean]

I was given my sewing machine by my DH's grandmother. We estimate it's 40-50 yrs old and it's still going strong. The brand: Montgomery Ward.

[kimchee67]

I have a Singer. It works great. I tried to learn how to sew on my mom's old machine that was about 15 years old and couldn't do it. I gave up. Then, a couple of years later I recieved my new sewing machine as a gift from my mom and could totally sew. I sware it was the ease of the machine that helped me learn to sew!

[Firespice]

I have a singer and it is bottom of the line - but works great.

you need to tell us wha tyou intend to do with the machine. if you are ony going to sew simple clotihng then a simple machine will do. if you want to learn to do alot of things ... or plan on sewing ALOT then you all need a better machine.

I sew WAY to much on my simple machine - but its all i have for now. I am sewing it into the ground (sad face) but i keep getting it serviced and that extends the life of a machine.

I would say get a used machine that has been referbished. I really perffer (as did my sewing instructor when i was going to school for fashion desing) a bernina 830. it has all metal parts if i remeber right. my mom has one of those too. you can do many things with them.

I would also sudjest that you get a serger if you are making clothign for your family to wear. I love my serger and would not be able to finnish an outfit with out one. it makes a much more profeshional look.

I would LOVE to own an embrodery machine - and if you want to do fancy things on your kids outfits (and have the money they can get expensive) I would sudjest that.

Older singers stand the test of time in the 80-90's Berninas were in there hay day, and i here Phaff is really good too (never used one).

I liek my singer serger better then my baby lock serger.

Good luck - and sewing is a GREAT tool to have and understand!

hugs
suzie

[westbrook]

My all time favorite machines are the Singer Slant sewing machines. I prefer the 401A, the 500A is the same machine with a more modern look, actually called the "rocketeer". One of the things is its smooth gear driven operation and an all metal body, these machines were made to last. I am still sewing on my 1957.

I like the late 60's early 70 Kenmore models. With a build in button holder rather then the buttonhole attachment my Singers use. The Bernina has an awesome buttonholer, built in and has a memory. If you make one it reamembers what size it was and makes all of them the same size until you decide you want another size. That is pretty cool!

If I had $200 to spend on a machine, I would not choose a new machine, rather I would go to the sew-n-vac stores and look at used machines. I can get a really nice machine for that amount of money, something someone traded in to get a newer machine.

You can find new machines for under $100 but then you can't expect them to last very long if you plan on doing more then mending from time to time. The old reliant familiar names aren't made here anymore. I figure since the machines made elsewhere need to be shipped across the ocean some of the under $100 has to be shipping costs. This leaves even less being spent on the manufactuing of the machines.

I have Singers, Kenmores, Montgomary Wards, and a Pfaff sewing machine. All of my machines are vintage.. or so I am told. My newest machine is a Kenmore which was made in 1971 my oldest is a 1913 Singer.

I have newer sergers <smile>

[kelliz]

Singers are good and lasting. We still have an old singer from my mum at my place!And it works absolutely fine, though its quite old!

[LeanyBean]

Singer has no longer made their own machines for the better part of a decade. The Janome company makes them and slaps the Singer label on them. Janome and Singer have been partnered for many, many years. I've been around a few sewing machine shops lately and found a machine that would fulfill my every desire and need for the things I would like to sew regularly. The price tag has shooed me away: 2500.00 USD. The embroidery machine my husband adores is made by Husqvarna and retails between 5000 and 6000. For now, as all us broke people out there, we use what we have and we push it to its limits. It keeps us creative.

[kelliz]

Originally Posted by LeanyBean

Singer has no longer made their own machines for the better part of a decade. The Janome company makes them and slaps the Singer label on them. Janome and Singer have been partnered for many, many years.....

well, i didnt know about that! thanks for the info!
Janome machines also are good ones, I used them before.