Sewing Machine

mittow

I am looking to buy a new sewing machine. A couple of months ago I purchased a used Janome model that was pretty old; for £35. I managed to make one thing with it before it started giving me grief. The machine started bunching up on the bottom of the fabric, I've tried looking on the net and fixing it myself with no avail.

I've decided to get a new machine, but sort of feel bad about having the old remaining broken and unused. I don't know where to start looking/what to look for in terms of a machine that would be suitable for a novice.

I found this machine (through a link on this forum): Ace-1401 - darn it! Can't post a link because I'm a newbie! It's from ace apparel craft equipment.

I would be able to trade my old machine in and get a new sewing machine in the process. Is it a good deal? Is the machine suitable for a novice? Can you see the machine lasting me a decade?

I am open to suggestion as to what to do with my old machine, and ay ideas regarding new models that maybe suitable for me.

Many thanks for your help in advance
Regards

Craftyscholar

Do you have a sewing machine shop anywhere near you?

If you can go to one you could try different machines - most shops provide some training - plus you could get a reconditioned machine which could be a better deal than paying the same amount for a new machine with fewer features.

darleydame

Hi
I would recommend a Husquvarna, I have had one for over 25 years, I made all the families clothes, all our curtains so it did a lot of sewing, but it stopped working in reverse recently and as it was computerised wasnt worth fixing. I replaced it with a very old Husqvarna basic model which is excellent andhave done several new covers for sofas which involve sewing through 4 thicknesses of thich fabric at times with no problems whatsover. I got mine from Joy sewing machine (google it) but they had supposed to service it before they sent it out but I have my doubts this was done. I think it waas an ex school machine and had no cover or instruction book which you can download off the internet for a small fee from USA
Bernina are also very good.
Look on ebay or find a sewing shop in your area that might have a notice board. I have seen people giving machines away on freecycle.
Sell your old one for spares repair on ebay or give it away on freecycle but just check first that you havent dropped the feed dogs by mistake as that would cause problems. Also is the bobbin threaded correctly and the bobbin tension is not too loose. Put the bobbin in the case and hold the thread it should drop slightly if you pull it.

dander

Janome are one of the best makes you can get for a sewing machine. Personally, I would start by taking it to a sewing machine shop and getting it properly serviced (or getting a sewing machine repair man who does housecalls). Sewing machines are like cars in that they really do benefit from being properly looked after - and they are reasonably simple machines which can usually be fixed. With Janome being a very big name in the world of sewing machines, you also have a machine which a service centre should be able to easily get replacement parts if need be.

The machine you are looking at is a cheap no-name machine - the chances are a lot of the inside workings will be made of plastic and therefore more fragile, and it's not a manufacturer that most sewing machine service centres are affiliated with, so it won't be as easy to care for in the long term and may even be impossible to get spare parts. If you do become a keen sewer, you may also find you want to extend what you can do with your machine, by buying additional feet, quilting attachments and that kind of thing - very easily done with a big name machine, but you may find it isn't possible to get things to fit a machine like the one you mention.

If you were a complete novice and you didn't already have a machine, then it might be worth giving the Ace machine a go, working on the basis that you won't lose too much money if sewing is just a fad, and if you do become a very keen sewer, you can always upgrade later on. But since you've already got a machine that is going to be far better quality and a better long-term bet than the Ace one, i think you'd be wiser to get a professional's opinion on that before you give up on it.

As craftyscholar mentioned, you will probably be able to get a much better machine than that Ace one for the same kind of money if you buy secondhand from a sewing machine shop - they will usually sell reconditioned machines with a guarantee.

I should add that I am not usually someone who holds any store by brand names at all, but good sewing machines are not throwaway items - they can last for many, many, many years if cared for correctly.

diable

Your machine may just need a service, what is the tension set to and are the needles new?

Suzy_M

Another vote in favour of a proper service. - Search yellow pages and if there is one that sells second-hand machines it's a good indication of the quality of servicing.

ormus

dunelm mills were selling brand new machines for 50 quid. last time i was in there.
even branded machines were only 100 quid.

newleaf

Yes, do try having it serviced. A shop near me will do a full service for £40.