Brandi

I am wanting to buy a new sewing machine, but I don't know which one I need to purchase. I think I would like a Brother. I am a beginner sewer and I don't know hardly anything about machines and I don't want to spend a lot of money. I am learning how to quilt. So can anyone offer suggestions?

NJ Quilter

In my opinion, the first step is to determine which features you want in a machine. Figure out which are must-haves; would like; sky is the limit. Determine your budget. Let your fingers do some walking through the internet and see which machines seem to have the features you want. You probably won't get much in the way of pricing except those carried by say Walmart; Amazon. If you have 1 or more dealers local to you, go test drive the ones you think you might like. Take samples of YOUR fabrics; sandwiches; etc. Even home dec and garment stuff if you do that. You'll want to see how the various machines behave with YOUR fabrics - not their tiny little sample pieces. Get pricing from the dealer(s).

When I was machine shopping ages ago, I made up a spreadsheet of features. Having used a variety of machines over the years I had already determined the brand of machine I wanted. It was coming down to model/$$/features only. If I had been looking at a variety of manufacturers I would have been making notes along the way as to likes/dislikes.

Take your pricing and notes home and study it for a while. Don't let any dealer pressure you into 'buy it now for x but if you want to wait, it will be y'. Stick to your guns on budget. They'll give you the same pricing a couple of days (and most times weeks) later.

Searching for a machine can be as much of a process as is quilting. Do you want a machine that you'll grow into? Or one that simply fits your needs for the immediate future?

Probably more than you wanted to know about buying a machine. Hope it helps, though.

sewmary

It is really hard for us to help you. When I didn't want to spend much money I bought machines for $700 and $800 dollars. You may think that is a fortune or not enough! Machines go all the way from really cheap - $99.00 to $10,000.

You got some good advice above.

After you have settled on a couple, use the internet to search for reviews on the machines.

Also, search this board. This question comes up at least a couple of times a week.

BellaBoo

I would suggest a Janome Jem machine. They are portable and very user friendly and sews great. I have an older Jem Gold bought years ago and it still sews like new. Not one problem. It will be a great back up machine when you are ready for a more advanced one .

MimiBug123

I agree with BellaBoo. I would get a Janome Jem or would look for a vintage Singer. The older ones are all metal and make beautiful stitches.

pyffer3

I bought a Brother CS6000i after Christmas due to some suggestions from this board. I absolutely love it. I had some problems last week with the walking foot jumping, but I think I fixed that and am sewing right along. It was only $145.00 on Amazon and came with loads of attachments. I still haven't tried out all the decorative stitches. I love that it has a button I can press to sew and not use the presser foot. Using this has helped when I want to keep a steady pace going and not have to rely on my foot holding down a specific presser on the presser foot. As others have said research on the internet before buying. That's what I did. Good luck.

nhweaver

I would look for a vintage singer, they make lovely quilting machines. For $200-300 or so, you can get a featherweight in good working condition. If your budget is less, I would check with the local classifieds, or craigslist. But first, do go machine shopping, at Joann's or Hancocks, or what every you have in your area. Hands on is worth its weight in gold. Good luck.

Minnesewta-sam

I would check with a few sewing machine dealers. Often they have really nice machines that have been traded in for new ones. These have been gone over and are in good working order...plus they may be able to even help with some classes if it is a brand that they normally carry. Good luck.

valleyquiltermo

When I decided I wanted to learn to make quilts some 30 years ago I bought a cheap brother at wal-mart.
It did some 20 stitches and cost me around $200.00 it is still going although I did retire it this last year. I do have several singers old, as in 301as and featherweights and a few 15 models and a berdinna embroidery machine and a gamill quilting machine. Who knew I'd love making quilts sew much, LOL

Silver Needle

I would go with vintage Singer. If you will only be quilting all you need is straight stitch. We bought a vintage Singer model 14-91 in a cabinet for $35.00. Brought it home dusted it off gave it a few drops of oil and now it is one of my favorite machines for piecing. Ask on the vintage section of the forum. You'll get lots of good advice.