Advice for a new sewing machine?
 

Hello! I've taken quite a bit of time off of quilting (went to college, got married, all that jazz). I have an old Singer 5932, which is very difficult to quilt with and has seen many good years of use and should probably just retire now while it is still ahead. :)

Does anyone have a recommendation for a new sewing machine that I can also do free motion quilting on? Needs to not be crazy expensive (my husband is in full time grad school to be a pastor and I work for my church), and a long arm is completely out of the question.

Thanks! :)

What is your price range.

$200 if possible

I'm not sure where you can find a machine for $200.00 You might check with your local dealer to see what they have in used machines. Not sure they will be as low as that tho. Good luck

Maybe spread the word to family and friends that you're looking for a reasonable machine? I agree with nammie to 7- hard to find one that price. Good luck! And congratulations on all your accomplishments :)

Any machine can be used for free-motion quilting. Lower end machines will give you grief with a small throat (difficult to get the quilt through) and mechanics (sturdiness and stitch quality). Maybe you could try doing some smaller quilts on the machine you have. A lap quilt should not be a problem. If you cannot drop the feed dogs, then you can cover them.

Looking for a new machine, look for used machines that were trade-ins. You may get a good deal that way. Make sure the machine has the needle down option. That is an absolute MUST for me. I also like motor speed selection, good lighting (but that can be supplemented with exterior LED light), a large throat, and a good-sized extension table. My machine also HAS to do a good blanket stitch and a consistent straight stitch.

Good luck.

I would consider a vintage machine with multiple stitch capabilities. I've discovered that you can find an abundance of Sears Kenmore machines on any of the typical online sites. I would take any model 158.xxx machine in good condition - they're mechanical and most have several stitch options and are solid performing machines. May be 35-40 years old but much more reliable than the plastic machines you pay the same for today! It's just a thought for the budget you're looking at.

Good luck and Happy Sewing soon!

I was thinking vintage also. I bought my Singer 503a for $45 then spent another few dollars for a set of cams. I love this machine and it has a good strong motor and a knee bar. The Singer 15 and clones are also nice but are straight stitch only. I bought one on EBay and spent more on shipping than I paid for the machine.

Brother makes a quilting/sewing machine with a larger throat - maybe 8 - 9 inches - for about $200. It is computerized so you also get a variety of stitches, if you like fancy stitches. You can usually find it in Walmart, and it is likely that it is also sold on Amazon. I like Brother machines; I think I get a lot of bang for the buck, so to speak.
One thing that is very important to me is the quality of their user documentation, and the Brother machines that I have had have excellent user guides.

Have fun shopping.

I agree! Those old Kenmores are awesome! I can usually find them at the thrift store for $20 or less. You want the front-loading oscillating hook, not the drop-in bobbin models. The newer Kenmores with the plastic cover are OK, but not as sturdy as the older metal ones.