sewing machine users?

sairy2005

I used to sell sewing machines and this £100 part exchange is some thing we told all customers. The price was bumped up already. (not saying your man is the same though!) I think you should ask the seller to refund your money and then go some where reputable like John Lewis.

Janome are a very good make by the way. They used to be New Home and have been going for years. But the machine he is selling you is probably only worth £190.

wigglebeena

sairy2005 wrote: »

But the machine he is selling you is probably only worth £190.

Having looked at some Janome sites, I think that's true. I bet I know which model he's going to come up with - and that's exactly what it costs, brand new, no p/e. The £300 ones are pretty much industrial use will-sew-elephant-hide versions.

I bet salesmen just hate the interweb.

wigglebeena

Pretty pretty please, if anyone wants to chime in with recommendations of the machine (hopefully model, not just make) that they just love to bits and have been successfully using for ages, I would be eternally grateful. I have pretty much had it with second-hand, I am going to get a nice new one with a good long warranty. So get yer votes in (please!)

Also if anyone wants to chip in any advice of what I should be looking for in terms of functionality (stitching types, special gizmos, stuff I definitely don't need etc) that would also be very geezery of you. I'll be doing basic dressmaking and small crafty stuff like tote bags at first, but might get more advanced as time goes on. So I don't want anything TOO basic: something I can grow into.

Rikki

Take a look at the John Lewis web site for sewing machines. Click Here

Not necessarily to buy from but to give you a good idea of what each machine can do. Work out the type of sewing your interested in and match this to the machine. Janome now have a very good range of sewing machines now

Personally I have an Elna sewing machine. I've had mine over 12 years now and I'm very happy with it.

I'll have a look at them and see which I'd buy if I just wanted a basic machine with a few extras.


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Rikki

This one or this one from John Lewis with two year's Guarantee would be my choice for a beginners sewing machine with a little extra. (So you don't want to upgrade straight away)

If you can get to a John Lewis shop the ladies are normally great at giving demonstrations and letting you try out different machines. Most sewing shops should.

I'll have a look at some other online shops too.

I have found an Elna one (see post #21) my prefered choice of sewing machine.

Zed42

My mother has had an Elna for about 37 years and it's still going strong. Consequently when it was "my turn" to make such a purchase, I went with an Elna 2007 from John Lewis. I've been exceptionally pleased with it.

csarina

Sorry but I am a diehard Janome fan I have had 8 and they have all been great machines, I have a top of the range 11000 and a little 4800 just now. They make several very good basic machines, but I would say if you are looking for a machine, try several and then get one that does a bit more than you want it to. There are several threads on here re sewing machines if you can find them.

Regarding ebay you can register a complaint with them and if you want get your money back, I would certainly get a second opinion on the machine and then go back to ebay, how did you pay, if you paid by paypal its quite easy to get your cash back. I had a problem with a plate rack earlier this year and I put in a claim and got my cash back.

Rikki

I buy some of my patterns and bits from www.jaycotts.co.uk They sell sewing machines too.

Olliebeak

My first machine was a really ancient (possibly 1900's) Jones hand-operated one (complete with a boat-shuttle) - had that for three years to get used to sewing.

Second one was a new (bought for my 21st birthday) Jones very basic electric one - had that for about five years until it was stolen.

Next one was my mothers, a german manufacturer, bought new in 1964 which I had from 76 to about 82. On that one I did lots of sewing commissions for friends, family and neighbours. As a result a member of family offered to swap her sewing machine for mine as a means of paying me for the work I'd done on a set of bridesmaid's dresses.

I STILL have that last machine (the swapsies one). It's a Singer 401G - one of the first embroidery machines that Singer manufactured and was made in 1956. I've been using it regularly, still sewing for friends, family etc, for over 25 years now.

There is no machine on earth that could tempt me away from this one - it does all I want and MORE besides. There's functions that I've never even used on it. There are so many combinations of embroidery stitches that I've never been able to calculate them all. It also blind hems. Have to admit though that because it was made in 1956 - it's iron and is really heavy to lift onto the table to do any sewing - Mr Ollie has his uses some times!!!

Rikki

I've just had a look at the sewing machines on the Jaycotts site and they have the Elna 2310 for £149. 5 year parts and labour guarantee, with free delivery. :T

If I was buying one I would go for this.



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