Cheap Back-up
 

Can you please tell me if there is an inexpensive machine that will sew a straight and perfect 1/4" seam consistently? Some are just fine for crafty things but I need a back-up ASAP for piecing. Crooked seams drive me crazy. Thanks for being there.

Singer 301 or a Featherweight. The 301 you can usually get for less than $150 and much better than a disposable, plastic machine.

Sewing straight and a perfect 1/4" depends on the sewer not the machine. Do you have a marker of some kind to guide you. Even painters tape will do. Probably not the answer you were hoping for but fact.

I have to respectfully disagree. My regular machine does sew perfectly straight 1/4" seams, it's just getting a tune-up. I am using my daughters machine and it's not straight. I would be the first to admit to my shortcomings but this time, it's not me, it IS the machine.

Another vote for a Singer 301, a Singer 15 or a Japanese 15 clone. A straight stitch machine usually sews a straighter seam than a ZZ machine and these metal oldies do it well. The 301 is lighter than the 15.

Have to agree with the others in recommending an older metal machine. I was very lucky to inherit my mil's 1948 Singer 15-91. I was accustom to sewing on my Singer 1036(zz & ss) I purchased in 1979. It was a pleasant surprise to discover how well the 15-91 sews a straight seam.

I vote for the 301. Sews great, simple to use, lightweight, and stores easily.

i do the best 1/4" seams when i use the machine that has a 1/4" foot with fence... it's an old kenmore

301 are great machines! I have one and I love it. Never had a machine that did not sew straight!!!!

I had a machine that the feed dogs moved crooked. I couldn't sew a straight seam without a fight. It took the repairman a long time to figure out it was the very slight crooked movement of the feeddogs. He recommended not wasting money fixing it. I didn't mind, the machine was given to me because it wouldn't sew straight. I though yeah right. LOL