What's a good choice for a second sewing machine?

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03-28-2014, 06:52 AM

#21

Mazda

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Join Date: Feb 2011

Location: Oklahoma City

Posts: 1,020

I like having my big, heavy machine & my travel machine the same brand. At least on my Brothers, that makes the feet work on both machines.

03-28-2014, 08:24 AM

#22

ManiacQuilter2

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Join Date: Jun 2011

Location: Southern California

Posts: 19,131

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nammie to 7

I sew with Berninas so I picked the 350 as my backup machine. Cheap? No, but that is the brand I want to sew with -- and I'm worth it

I agree. I stuck with Bernina so the feet and bobbins are interchangeable.

03-28-2014, 10:29 AM

#23

mike'sgirl

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Join Date: May 2012

Location: starke,Florida

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I just bought a Featherweight to take to classes. I love it.

03-28-2014, 11:40 PM

#24

Silver Needle

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Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: Mechanicsville, IA

Posts: 1,497

My vote is for a featherweight or Singer 301, if all you are going to be doing is straight stitching. There is an after market foot called "Lil foot" that gives a perfect 1/4" seam as long as the needle shaft is straight and the foot aligns perfectly with feed dogs. They sew as nice a straight stitch as my Bernina 880 (which I love). That said if you feel you need a zig zag, I would go with a 3/4 size Bernina. I don't know the number, mine is referred to as a White Pearl.

Last edited by Silver Needle; 03-28-2014 at 11:45 PM.

03-29-2014, 03:35 AM

#25

twinkie

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Join Date: Jun 2010

Location: Alabama

Posts: 15,368

I would suggest a Singer Featherweight. They are a little on the expensive side but have a beautiful straight stitch and they are soooooo easy to maintain. Also, the older machines are little workhorses.

03-29-2014, 04:53 AM

#26

janiesews

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Join Date: Feb 2008

Location: Iola KS

Posts: 2,834

I love my featherweight for taking to classes and retreats. Sews very nice.

03-29-2014, 04:59 AM

#27

JustAbitCrazy

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Join Date: Jan 2012

Posts: 4,783

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lori S

One thing to consider is being able to interchange your bobbins and your feet. Having a second machine is great... but if you need to purchase more feet it can get pricey in a hurry.

This is exactly what I was going to suggest.

03-29-2014, 06:02 AM

#28

Stitchnripper

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Join Date: Nov 2009

Location: Mableton, GA

Posts: 11,203

All good suggestions - but - it is not always easy to come upon a featherweight or a 301. I finally found a featherweight at a decent price after literally a few years of looking at every garage sale/estate sale/flea market I could come across between here and Atlanta. I haven't yet even seen a 301. I don't want it through ebay or any place with shipping since over on the vintage thread there are some pretty bad stories of bad shipping and machine damage. Also some success stories, but me personally, I am not willing to take that chance. I have three low end mechanical Brothers, all different, and all wonderful machines. One at each of the son's homes and one here.

03-29-2014, 07:28 AM

#29

SingerSewer

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Join Date: Jul 2011

Posts: 433

I found a Husqvarna Emma machine at a thrift store for $20 had it cleaned ($65) and I take it everywhere. It sews very well and perfect as a travel machine.