Any sewing machine recommendations?

homealone_2

SunnyGirl wrote: »

You only want a fairly basic one to be honest. There's no point paying for a machine that'll do 4 different types of buttonholes if you'll never use it! I do a lot of dress making & even though I've made many different things the most used settings on the machine are - straight stitch (often useful if you can vary the length but not essential) & zig zag for finishing off edges. Some machines have an overlock type stitch but I have always just used a zig zag. Keep your needles sharp and change them often if the material you're using is heavy duty, they're not expensive. Finally, always always do a test bit of sewing on a spare bit of material to test for tension.

If you're a complete novice (apologies if you're not!) I found The Readers Digest Book of Home Sewing brilliant. I got a copy from the library & used it so much that I bought one from eBay. Good luck & enjoy yourself!!

thanks, there are two of these books avaiable on amazon which one do you mean?

diable

Aeshna wrote: »

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

My Mum until recently was still using one of her 3 singers with manual foot pedal,one of the others had an electric motor attachment, I once suggested that I should buy her a newer model, boy if looks could kill then I wouldn't be writing this lol

My GF would advise otherwise as she has two flatbed industrial overlockers in her loft

Aeshna

Well I ended up posting a wanted ad on my local freecycle - only to get an instant reply from my mother saying she still had my grandmother's old electric sewing machine in her attic!! She bought it not long before she passed, so it's in as-new condition, I'm delighted and it's extra special to me since it was my grandmothers. It's a New Home 641, so by no means up to date exactly, but it'll do me just dandy! Just need to finish tidying my midden of a house and then I'll take the time to sit down with it. Also turns out that the old Singer that was part of the desk that belonged to my grandmother was secretly removed from the desk before it was thrown out and promptly stashed away in a corner by my father (he hoards!!! but I'm so glad!) so he's going to create a base unit for it and then I can enjoy that too!!! I'm so excited!!

Thanks for everyone's comments, I do love this site!

Aeshna x

Rummer

Hello

My head is spinning full of information and I need some advice. I have decided to buy a new sewing machine as I have a number of craft projects I would like to pursue from making clothes to curtains. There have been previous threads on sewing machines and which to buy but they appear to out of date.
I would like a computerized machine with a good variety of stitches, a speed setter, ability to sew a wide range of fabrics and at a sensible price (under £300). If anyone can offer advice I would be so grateful!

Gothdolly

Best advice I can give is go to a few sewing machine shops or a craft exhibition if there are any on near to you and try machines out.

I'm looking for something myself and have yet to find 'the one'.

Good luck in your quest.

Rummer

Anyone have a Brother BC2500? It is on the pricey side but it has all the features I am looking for, just wondered how other people had found it.

flea72

i would say if someone was looking to invest £300 in a sewing machine, they would be at professional level, rather than a hobbyist

Computerised machines are ok, if you are going to be doing alot of sewing, but if you are only looking at making curtains and some clothing, then really the less twiddles and fiddles, the better

I have always found speed settings make sewing harder, as its another button to worry about. With a foot pedal you control the speed by touch and tend to do it without thinking. with the speed setter, i find in the rush to adjust it, i accidently grab at other buttons on the machine, and end up sewing areas i didnt plan on. perhaps you get used to it in time, but for me, its another hindrance to my sewing

All machines can sew every kind of fabric (unless were talking industrial strengths), its using the right type of needle that makes all the difference

I dont know on your personal sewing experience, but £300 would be an upgrade machine to me. for doing basic sewing, you should be able to get a decent machine for well under half that. Tesco have a machine for £25 at the moment, which for the jobs you require would suffice. However if you want to go for a name brand, then Janome/New Home have the widest selection in your price range, and ive yet to find any of their machines a dud

Flea

natc

I thought i had asked about this a few weeks ago, but cant find the a thread on it....oh well! Im now at the stage that i can buy a sewing machine (yeaaaahhh :j) and have been looking for one for a while. Two that keep winking at me are the brother 2125 (only £68 at argos at the mo) and janome 2050 (£89 at sewing machines direct), mostly because they are cheap, and because they same beginner friendly. Firstly, does anyone have any of these machines and can comment on them? Im an absolute beginner, and will be making (or trying!) roman blinds, cushion covers, curtains and alterations etc for my home. Are these machines any good? The brother 2125 has some mixed reviews on argos, and cant find any on the janome 2050.

Also, if i decided on the janome 2050, anyone had any dealings with sewing machines direct? Ive heard that coopers (sewingmachinediscount) are to stay away from, but not anything about sewing machines direct.

Help/advice would be very much appreciated.

ivyleaf

Hi natc, I noticed your post had slipped onto page 2 with no replies yet! I can't comment on either of the machines you mention, but there is a sewing forum (www.thesewingforum.com, I think), I think if you joined that and posted there you might get some replies.

HTH, and good luck with your sewing

Hippychick

I bought a machine from sewing machines direct a while ago, they were very good, nice quick delivery and my machine is still working perfectly.