I hate to say it, but I think my sewing machine is on it's way out. I've had it for about 5 or 6 years. I bought it at Goodwill on a day when all sewing machines were half price. I ended up getting it for only $10. It's a Necchi and I love it!

I have another newer Brother model, but it's just not the same. I use it only for winding bobbins. :mrgreen:

My mom usually helps me to get my machine running smoothly again, and told me that it's just getting old and probably worn out. I told her that I wanted to get a tune-up on it, but she said no one really repairs sewing machines anymore and that I should just start using the other one.

Is she right? Can I save my favorite machine? Or is it time to get something new?

Don't do it. Show us a picture of your Necchi. I just saw one over Christmas that was stunning in design, still worked great, and was older than me (and I am 51). I wanted it but shipping it here would have been prohibitive even if I could have talked the owner out of it.

I have a 30 YO Bernina and a 40 YO Elna. Both are great machines, the Elna needed parts when I first got it and people DO fix sewing machines.

So get it tuned up, keep the Brother as your backup.


tim in san jose

Thanks Tim. It's good to know that I should be able to get my machine repaired. That would make me very happy! :D

Oh I bet you'll be able to get it repaired. Find the right person to do it--ask folks you trust before you drop it off anywhere. Afterall--it's your baby. :D

Our local good will store sells sewing machines at from 3 to 10 dollars. These old machines are not picky at all, buy more old one che ck your garage sales too. I have several old machines, most just needed jut oil and new needle and sew great. :D

I have a Necchi that I paid over $400 for and have never really been able to use it. I hate it. I have sent it to Florida to be repaired. I have had taken it to a local shop to have it "fixed". He told me that Necchis are junk. I asked him what I could do with it, he said "use it for a doorstop". I ended up buying a very old singer and love it. Im thinking about buying a new singer for the different stitches.
Judy in Ohio

Here's a picture for Tim

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/d...y/DSCN0888.jpg

If you really love your machine and how it works, I would say do what you can to get it fixed. If it is beyond repair then go with a new machine, but try to get it fixed first. I have a 1957 Brother that looks exactly like a featherweight. I love it and when it broke beyond where it could be fixed, I kept it and waited until technology caught up. Now I have my favorite machine back. I love it even though it only sews in a straight line. Oh, but what a straight and perfectly stitched line it sews! Trying to find a machine that we 'love' can be very hard and replacing them can be very difficult. However, that said, perhaps you can go try out all the newer models and brands at the store and see if there is one that you really like.
~Tiffany

From what I have heard, new Necchis are junk. And so I have also heard that about new Singers.

So... you take a chance. What I do know is I am never giving up my Bernina 830 nor my Elna Super. I used a borrowed Bernina 1530 on the three day quilt. It sewed nice, but half the functions either didn't work correctly, or only worked sometimes. No thanks to your computerized sewing doobobbers.

tim in san jose

Yes you can save your favorite machine and learn how to do it yourself and save a lot of money.
Hi , I usually read when the newletter comes in and havent' posted before but this is a subject that I had to deal with.
My baby was a Viking from the 1980's I carried it around for over 10 years since I knew it would be expensive to fix. Hoping I would one day be able to afford it.
I bought a cheap new Brother from Walmart to use and of course it was junk. So I went to a thrift store and bought an old machine and used that.
Through another group I found a group that will walk you through repairing your old sewing machines. Its not as hard as you might think most times. I ended up repairing my Viking , that was difficult, But it saved me 350.00 that a repair man wanted. Mostly he just wanted me to turn it in and get a new machine. So glad I didn't listen to him.
I now have about 10 different machine. I love the old Singer slant machines. But I did buy a new Brother QC1000 which so far I really enjoy. But I would never use it to sew through upholstery material.
I don't know the rules about providing a link to the repair group , I was on another group that didn't allow it. But if anyone want's it let me know
Good luck