Any sewing machine recommendations?

Fourcandles_3

I can't comment on the brother machine, but I have the earlier Janome model of the same range. It's fantastic. It was my first machine (I now have about 9) and I still do about 85% of my sewing on it. Very good for a beginner, easy to use, straight forward instruction booklet and fairly robust. I've sewn leather and alsorts on it.

Really love it.

tryingreallyhard_2

Hi,
I bought my machine many years ago from sewing machines direct and thought they were really good. They're still going so they must be doing something right.

Personally I wouldn't touch brother machines with a bargepole - too many bad experiences with them. Janome are a good make though, easy to use and pretty reliable, so I've heard.

Hope this helps

Gangstabird

Hi, I bought a Brother about 10 years ago and it sat there waiting for me to start. I think I sewed a hem. 10 years down the line and I can't stop using it. It was a beginners model, it's really easy to use and apparently does buttonholes really easily. I can't vouch for that as I am scared of button holes, but I have made curtains/blinds/cushion covers etc. So I can only go on what I know.

Oh and I bought it from Argos too!

natc

Hi everyone, thanks for all you replies.

ivyleaf - ive been on sewingforum, not a lot of feedback actually, so thats why i came to trusty mse, its my place for all the answers i need! Love it. Thanks for the luck - i need it!

Hippychick/TRH thanks for your comemnts on sewingmachinesdirect, yes they must be doing soething right, not seen any bad comments about them.

TRH/ganstabird, 2 conflicting comments - oh no!!! I think its a case of just get one and see isnt it? Funny how ppl have their favourite brand. I dont really want to spend too much on a machine, not yet anyway, as i am a beginner, and wont be doing anything particularly fancy yet, and dont really know how i will do, although my mum will probably borrow it so it will get used. The £68 brother one is tempting because of the price, but maybe its not a very good model, quite a few bad comments. Janome via sewingmachinesdirect maybe a winner. Think ya get some free stuff with it too. Argos is just easier to get to and take back if necessary - ooooh decisions decisions!!!

Fourcandles_3

natc wrote: »

The £68 brother one is tempting because of the price, but maybe its not a very good model...

I was told by a dealer that the budget Brothers and Singers do not match the quality of the budget ranges of other machines anymore. She said if you are spending several hundred go for them, otherwise you get more and better from the lesser known. I wasn't in the market for a new machine at the time either.

I do have a cheaper Brother machine and it's a good machine, but it is also about 15 years old.

natc

Fourcandles, do you know if the toyota 2050 at £89 would be an ok model? THe budget brothers etc are supposed to be, from what ive heard, very plasticy and not sturdy machines, but not heard anything about the toyotas.

Thanks for your reply : )

Fourcandles_3

Do you mean Janome?

I have the earlier model as I said and it's fantastic. Having said that have you looked at Coopers sale dept?

http://www.sewingmachinediscount.co.uk/special-offers/1.htm

Personally I would go for the Janome, but ideally you should try it out get a feel for it yourself. Do you have a local dealer?

natc

Also, seen SMD (sewing machine directs own brand machine) for £89.00 which seems to have more features than the brother, anyone had/got a SMD that can make any comments?

Spoken to Russel at sewing machine direct, he was very very helpful, nice young man!

flea72

if the prices/twiddles are similar, i would always go with Janome over Brother

Ive never heard anything bad said about Janome where quality is concerned, whereas Brother can be a bit hit and miss

Flea

natc

Thanks flea, think that was the impression i was getting. If you get chance, would you mind having a look (or anyone!) at the links for the machines that smd are proposing as begginer, decent machine...

SMD own make (although Russel did not try to push me to get this, he did say its a good seller, but i should go for something else, a brand if it makes me feel better, but has decent spec)

A brother one that he said is better qulatity than the argos one ive seen, something to do with a ratchett? I have no idea!!!

A janome one low end but still, he said Janome are good.