Originally Posted by Aunt Retta

I got a new sewing machine last year. It is a Bernette 65. Twice now the timing has gone out. I took the machine to get it fixed, and the repairman tells me it keeps having problems because it was meant to be used 5 to 10 hours a week. I sew more like 30 hours a week.

I really don't have much money. I am disabled with Kidney disease, which is very expensive. Any way what I would like for a machine is a long arm, with lots of different stitches, with embroidery etc. But finances as they are I am very limited. I have been saving for a small laptop computer, and an I-pod. But could use that on a machine if I need to in order to be able to continue my sewing without so many repairs or time with my machine in the shop. I found at JoAnns a Singer machine that looked small and strurdy. It says Heavy Duty right on the machine, and it was only $199. Does any one have any feelings about would this machine hold up to 30+hours of sewing a week?