Which sewing machine make?

piggles1

Hi all, I thought this would be the best section to post in:

Can anyone recommend a particular make of (cheapish) sewing machine that is the most sturdy and reliable? I've just moved house and need to alter a lot of curtains and linings plus I have a pile of trousers to take up and I think it'll pay for itself pretty quickly if I spend around £100. I've been hand sewing for years but now I have too much to do by hand.

I have some bonusbond vouchers but they can't be used in my local department store or online, so I've got to go into a shop. They can be used in argos but I need to get a good make so it doesn't break after five minutes.

So I was looking at either a Brother or a Singer, would that be right?

I don't need it to do anything fancy. Any ideas what to avoid, what's good, what make do you generally use?

Many thanks,

Piggles1

ScarletRibbons

I've been sewing most of my life. I'm about to say goodbye to my current machine, a Jones machine, which was probably state of the art when I bought it in 1974!

I've just ordered a Brother RL417 from Tesco, at about £95, but boosting my Tesco vouchers has brought it down to £75ish. Brother and Singer seem well reviewed, you might look at Janome as well.

Good luck in your search, hope you find something suitable.

gsymoo

When I brought our house I got a sewing machine for the same reason. I brought a Janome Jem, that was over 17 years ago and its still going strong and has been used alot.

It was the most basic model at the time but had the basic features like reverse stitch (great for start / end sewing).

Now I've been sewing I wish it could:
Drop the feed teeth (would allow machine embroidery)
Alter stitch length.

I keep thinking I'll buy a fancier model but I do love my little machine!

FairyPrincessk

Brother, Singer and Janome are all respectable brands at the lower price points. I don't have any experience of mitsubishi sewing machines, but my instinct would be that as long as it had good reviews they would be fine as well.

piggles1

Thanks all for the suggestions

I don't think I can get a Janome because my vouchers limit me to certain shops although they seemed good when I looked them up. The vouchers won't even work at tescos.

I think it'll be a singer 2250 compact. It has good reviews and looks like it does what I need including having a free arm which I think you need to sew trouser hems up, and you can alter the stitch length (thanks for that reminder gsymoo).

Although I'm also looking at the brother AE1700.

But at least I'm down to a choice of two now. I just need to make sure it can sew through thick curtains. Both say they can but I'll check more reviews first..

MoonJelly

I have a basic Janome and it has been brilliant.

I dare say you can check ebay and find a machine at a good discount or a second hand. Many people sell their machine because they are getting a more advanced model.
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thriftwizard

For sewing through thick curtains, you'd do well to invest a little extra in - or borrow - a hand-cranked old Singer, Jones or German machine, and the correct needles & thread for the weight of fabric. You can go very, very slowly with a hand crank (or treadle - but they take up a lot of room) which allows the needle to slide through the fabric properly rather than trying to punch through. Very few of the less-expensive electric machines have variable speed controls which let you limit the speed; it's all done by the foot pedal and some are very responsive & will go slowly, and others are not! Plus the effort of going through thick fabric - or several thicknesses of thinner ones - for any length of time is hard on the little motors. I use both hand/treadle and electric, for different jobs, but for the tougher ones it's human-powered every time.

PS - if there is a good sewing shop near you, why not pop along & try a few? The feel of a machine is quite important and what feels right to one person doesn't to another. Also, you may pay a bit more, but a good shop should give good after-sales service too.

Sezzagirl

Have a look at this one. It's got good reviews and is very reasonable


(So much so that I've just bought myself one. Yet to try it but very pleased with the "feel" of it - weight, design, etc )




http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4602576.htm


Is slightly cheaper in Hobbycraft but depends where you can use your vouvhers


Have fun

Sezzagirl

ps lots of reviews on Hobbycraft

piggles1

thanks very much all

thriftwizard i'm going to see if I can sew more slowly with the curtains. they're not especially thick, but when I did hems by hand, and especially the blackouts, I got pricks in my fingers from the back of the needle trying to push it through!

Sezzagirl I had a look at that one yes, and it almost was the one I wanted but for a review from someone who said if they were buying again they'd go for a slightly more expensive one.

So I've gone for the next one up:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4602569.htm

arrives tomorrow

There's nowhere to put it at the moment because the table's covered in house-move rubbish but I'll give it a go when I get to the curtains. I'll have to do that soon in case it isn't strong enough and I need to return it. Cross fingers!

Piggles1

purpleivy

If anyone needs sewing help, the best place to go is https://www.thesewingforum.co.uk.