Any sewing machine recommendations?

Lillibet_2

Hi everyone

Thanks for all the replies, I never imagined there were so many sewers out there!

Would you believe that after all the research, this morning I have managed to get one off of Freecycle (as long as the poster doesn't sell it out from under me at the last minute like the last person:mad:) Apparently it's a Cooper, 30 years old, mega heavy & only does straight stitch but is fully working, has a manual & does zips & button holes. Hopefully it will be a good starting point at the very least but even if it isn't then I haven't lost anything, and I'm hanging onto all your advice in case it doesn't work out or for when I want to upgrade!

Thanks everyone:T:A:T:A:T:A:T:A:T:A

culpepper

look here for sewing machine reviews/
I did this recently when buying my new machine and found exactly what I wanted.Most of the sewers are american but the makes are popular.

tawnyowls

I bought mine in either Aldi or Lidl about 8 months ago for the princely sum of £40. Make is Delta; has 20 different stitches - straight, zigzag, etc, and 4-step buttonholing. Very impressed with it; well worth looking out for.

pianeet

tesco have got one in there sale at the moment for £40.41 it is a homedream model

annie-c

I have received and given away a machine on freecycle - I thoroughly recommend it!

Kazonline

Oh no... I feel another 'I want' coming on.....

Unable to find bedding that my boys like (and I can afford - always clashes) I've been considering making my own. I do have a very old singer that I inherited from my grandad (he inherited it from an elderly aunt!) - but have no idea if it works!!!! This thread has inspired me (as I type this actually!!) to pull it out and see. Will have to wait til next week - but fingers crossed!

It's a shame that there aren't classes available locally to teach the 'basics' for nervous beginners like me.

Pavlovs dog - Don't know if you're anywhere near Pontypridd but there's a little 'tardis' of a sewing shop on the high street.

Kaz

halia

Sorry If I've missed a thread on this - I did search but couldn't find what I wanted.
I need a recomendation for a beginners sewing machine, light, relativly cheap, and button holes please!

buying online a bonus as its difficult for me to get out to big shops for things like that (no car)

sonee2405

£49 in woolworths at the moment -can't remember the name but its a good one for a beginner

csarina

Look on the net, do a search for sewing machines, you will fins several firms, although I deal with David Drummond in Edinburgh, and have done for many years,

Make sure you get something that does a little more than you think you want, its a common mistake to buy a basic machine and then realise that it does not do what you want. You need straight and zigzag stitch, an eleastic stitch for sewing stretch fabrics and an automatic buttonhole,one with a foot that you put the button in the back and it automatically sews the correct size hole..............look at something like a Janome Gem its easy to use and light weight as well as having quite a few stitches.

If you can find a local dealer and try out several machines, do not buy anything you are not happy with, and do not be pressured into buying something you are not sure about. If you find something you like, do a comparrison on the internet, that will give you a lever with a dealer on price..............

fizzel81

im looking into getting one so i can start basic repairs with boys stuff, to take up my curtains then hoepfully move on to something more as such
what is a good machine for a starter? and are they really worth buying, would like to think i would use it alot?
dont want ti jump in buy one and then it sit there gathering dust.

any help/ideas and advice would be great