Any sewing machine recommendations?

annifranakapan

I'm so glad you asked this Ashena as I'm in a similar quandry. I keep looking at sewing machines but don't really know what I'm suppossed to be looking for or what features (if any) a sewing machine should have .

I'm sure someone will be along soon to help out!

A

columbine75

I have a Janome MyStyle 22 - was expensive, but well worth it, I made the money back in the first month by making curtains for the bay window in the lounge (compared to the quotes we had for having them made). It's nearly always in use, whether it's taking up trousers or rehemming. Yesterday I fixed a flag pole sleave with it!! It's an excellent machine, easy to use. Heavy duty enough to sew yards of curtain fabric without slipping, yet delicate enough to machine quilt. It doesn't have hundreds of stitches, but what do you really need hundreds of different stitches for anyway.

I took a sewing class last term and they had these as the class machines, so they must be fairly good and robust, I think, and most people who had bought a machine as a result of the class had bought one of these (I had mine way before!). At the moment, I am making a handbag and it's tough enough to sew through three layers of upholstery fabric and three layers of pelmet vylene (sometimes 6), without protesting!

I don't work for Janome, honest, I just really love my sewing machine!

anneevo

Hi Tracey,

I saw the sewing machine on TV and it does look really good. I've never used a Toyota machine myself but as an aside - I recetnly took my Toyota car for it's MOT and when I phoned to book it in the guy at the garage said 'That's a pass then'! Just to point out that they make very good machines, so I'm sure that would apply to sewing machines as well. Just one thing to be aware of, with a 10 year guarantee I imagine that would entail getting a yearly service by a registered Toyota engineer which you'd have to pay for - that's how those types of guarantee usually work. Though I have never owned a Toyota machine the 2 machines I've had in my life (one for about 20 years and the one I have now about 15 years) have never been serviced and have never had any problems). What I liked particularly about it was that you shouldn't need to adjust the tension so long as you use the correct needle for the fabric you're sewing and as they said it will sew from organza to heavy upholstery fabrics. Also if you saw it on Ideal World you have a 30 day money-back guarantee so I'd say go for it. In fact I was so impressed I did think about buying it myself it's just that my current machine has a lot more embroidery stitches. Hope this helps
PS the price is very good for the machine, others at that price wouldn't be as good.

Regards
Anne

Pink.

Hi Tracey and Aeshna,

I've added your threads into the sewing machine recommendations thread for this year so that you can read back over what others recommend and to keep all the replies together.

This earlier thread may help too:

Any sewing machine recommendations?

Pink

Aeshna

Thank you Pink-winged, I was sure there must be a thread there somewhere!! Off to read from the beginning now!

Aeshna x

Aeshna

annifranakapan wrote: »

I'm so glad you asked this Ashena as I'm in a similar quandry. I keep looking at sewing machines but don't really know what I'm suppossed to be looking for or what features (if any) a sewing machine should have .

I'm sure someone will be along soon to help out!

A

Isn't this place just fantastic?!! :T

Anyone out there still using an old Singer or similar and who might want to comment on whether's it's wise to go down that route? Or does everyone use nice modern ones nowadays??

Aeshna x

maggie111

I inherited an electric sewing machine and my friend used it who has her own non-electric sewing machine.

Obv can't comment on the difference in price etc, but she said the leccy one is fab because it is so much faster, and with the old one you can only use one hand on the fabric, the other has to turn the wheel!

HTH.

homealone_2

my kids had all clubbed together to buy me an ex demonstration model sewing machine from a company called jsm distributors (stay well away) they took the money back in march no problem but since then kept messing me around with despatch dates and so today finally gave up and asked for a refund, i dread to think how long that will take. i have never used a machine before and my needs our simple as a beginner but obviously want as inexpensive model as possible. could someone please point me in the right direction as a newbie. grateful for all suggestions

KT1985

I have an E&R Sub 22 from Argos, and I love it. Much easier to use than the cranky old bernina from school.

Pink.

Hi homealone,

These earlier threads may help:

sewing machine recommendations

Any sewing machine recommendations?

I'll add your thread to the most recent thread later to keep the suggestions together.

Pink