Should I get this second machine?
Hi, Everyone,
I could use a little advice on whether or not to buy a second sewing machine.
Before this past fall, I had been a hand quilter for roughly ten years. I still love hand quilting, but then I bought my first sewing machine in September. It's a Juki TL-2010q. I absolutely love it. Beautiful lockstitch machine; perfect for quilting. I'm so glad I have it.
Here's the thing: having a sewing machine has opened me up to garment sewing. I'm still very much a beginner, but I've made a few skirts, several bags, a dress and I'm working on my second dress now. Garment sewing, at least for me, is way more challenging than quilting, but I just might have found my next big hobby. Since the Juki 2010q has only a straight stitch, I very quickly discovered that it was somewhat limiting for garment sewing. I started eyeing Juki's other machines and fell for their Exceed line, thinking I would continue to make do with only the straight stitch and, maybe in six months or a year, I'd buy a Juki HZL-F300 (the lower end of the three Exceed machines).
Today my lovely and amazing sewing teacher mentioned that she was going to get a new machine for classes and offered to sell me her Juki HZL-F400 for $500 (the F400 is the middle model). It's been used for classes and by her for probably a year or more, but she offered to take it to her mechanic first for a tune-up and cleaning. It's the same machine I use in her classes and I know I like sewing on it.
A new F300 runs for about $600 and a new F400 (the machine she wants to sell me) runs for $900. Five hundred dollars for a year-old F400 seems like a good price to me. Though I know it's been put through its paces, I trust her mechanic will make sure it's in good shape. What do you think? Is it a good deal?
Here's another thing: I'm a little concerned about buying such a fancy machine when I'm so very new to garment sewing and when I already bought a new machine only six months ago. Shouldn't I get a few more dresses under my belt before I buy a new machine? Or, should I jump on a good deal for a machine I know I like?
Sorry for the longwinded email…I really appreciate the good advice on this site.
Best,
AsabrinaO