Buying a sewing machine
06-28-2011, 07:12 PM
#61
Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 11
If you buy a used machine be sure that it works very good. If you get one that is difficult to run or the stitches do not look good, you will not be happy with your work. It is best to go to a local dealer and get the bottom of the line to start with. The Viking Machines hold their value. For the first year you can trade up and get the same as you paid for it on a new machine. Also the Viking never needs to be oiled and has a drop in bobbin that is so much easier to see,
06-28-2011, 07:17 PM
#62
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 757
Originally Posted by reeskylr
Originally Posted by Grandma Mary
Glad you are getting into quilting. If you decide it makes sense to spend less money and buy a smaller machine to see if you really like quilting, I say go for it. :-)
However, DON"T do what I did and buy a machine that says it's made for quilting. Be SURE it really CAN do the job. I bought a wonderful Brother CS6000i for $180, It comes with the extension table, the darning/FM foot, walking foot, needle down position etc. and I absolutely LOVE it... EXCEPT it doesn't have ANY room between the needle and the side of the machine (I'm a newbie and don't know what the side is called)!!!! For my quilting 101 class, I can't machine quilt my 72" x72" quilt because it won't fit, and I was very frustrated. Take someone with you that knows about quilting when shopping that you can trust. Have fun!
However, DON"T do what I did and buy a machine that says it's made for quilting. Be SURE it really CAN do the job. I bought a wonderful Brother CS6000i for $180, It comes with the extension table, the darning/FM foot, walking foot, needle down position etc. and I absolutely LOVE it... EXCEPT it doesn't have ANY room between the needle and the side of the machine (I'm a newbie and don't know what the side is called)!!!! For my quilting 101 class, I can't machine quilt my 72" x72" quilt because it won't fit, and I was very frustrated. Take someone with you that knows about quilting when shopping that you can trust. Have fun!
06-28-2011, 07:55 PM
#63
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Castle Rock, Washington State
Posts: 1,961
Originally Posted by Grandma Mary
Originally Posted by reeskylr
Originally Posted by Grandma Mary
Glad you are getting into quilting. If you decide it makes sense to spend less money and buy a smaller machine to see if you really like quilting, I say go for it. :-)
However, DON"T do what I did and buy a machine that says it's made for quilting. Be SURE it really CAN do the job. I bought a wonderful Brother CS6000i for $180, It comes with the extension table, the darning/FM foot, walking foot, needle down position etc. and I absolutely LOVE it... EXCEPT it doesn't have ANY room between the needle and the side of the machine (I'm a newbie and don't know what the side is called)!!!! For my quilting 101 class, I can't machine quilt my 72" x72" quilt because it won't fit, and I was very frustrated. Take someone with you that knows about quilting when shopping that you can trust. Have fun!
However, DON"T do what I did and buy a machine that says it's made for quilting. Be SURE it really CAN do the job. I bought a wonderful Brother CS6000i for $180, It comes with the extension table, the darning/FM foot, walking foot, needle down position etc. and I absolutely LOVE it... EXCEPT it doesn't have ANY room between the needle and the side of the machine (I'm a newbie and don't know what the side is called)!!!! For my quilting 101 class, I can't machine quilt my 72" x72" quilt because it won't fit, and I was very frustrated. Take someone with you that knows about quilting when shopping that you can trust. Have fun!
06-29-2011, 10:07 AM
#65
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,507
Originally Posted by joycet
I learned to sew on a featherweight. I know some of them can be very expensive nowdays. Why not try a Singer 301. IT's a workhorse and can do a few stitches. Yes I now own a 301 and love it.
07-03-2011, 01:10 AM
#66
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Queensland Australia
Posts: 1,388
Originally Posted by Prism99
If you do not know how to use a sewing machine, it would be extremely helpful to buy from a dealer who offers free lessons. I agree with buying a used machine if the dealer will offer lessons with it. Your Quilting 101 class will expect you to know how to use the machine, including how to thread it, how to wind a bobbin, how to insert and remove a bobbin, etc.
An alternative to dealer lessons is if your have a friend or relative who could spend an hour or two with you, teaching you how to use a machine. After that you will need to spend some time practicing to make sure you can do everything on your own before starting the quilting class.
If you can get free lessons only by purchasing a new machine, I would stick to a lower-end machine. Babylock, Brother, Janome and Sears Kenmore all have reasonable quality lower-end machines. Just be sure you are able to adjust the stitch length and stitch width individually. (The lowest-end machines often have a set number of "preset" stitches which do not allow you to make adjustments.)
This low-end machine can become your backup machine and take-to-class machine for later on, when you buy your all-bells-and-whistles more expensive machine.
Don't spend a lot of money on a machine now, before you really understand sewing machines and what you like/don't like. You could regret the purchase later, when you realize that this first machine doesn't have everything that has become really important to you. Give yourself some time.
An alternative to dealer lessons is if your have a friend or relative who could spend an hour or two with you, teaching you how to use a machine. After that you will need to spend some time practicing to make sure you can do everything on your own before starting the quilting class.
If you can get free lessons only by purchasing a new machine, I would stick to a lower-end machine. Babylock, Brother, Janome and Sears Kenmore all have reasonable quality lower-end machines. Just be sure you are able to adjust the stitch length and stitch width individually. (The lowest-end machines often have a set number of "preset" stitches which do not allow you to make adjustments.)
This low-end machine can become your backup machine and take-to-class machine for later on, when you buy your all-bells-and-whistles more expensive machine.
Don't spend a lot of money on a machine now, before you really understand sewing machines and what you like/don't like. You could regret the purchase later, when you realize that this first machine doesn't have everything that has become really important to you. Give yourself some time.
07-03-2011, 06:33 AM
#67
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: was Upstate NY, now NC & TN
Posts: 2,328
When I started sewing many years ago, I bought a cheapie Singer for $119 and I put about 200,000 miles on it before upgrading. It was what I could afford at the time, but it also made sense to me not to spend too much until I knew if I wanted to continue.
It was a mechanical machine with about 15 stitches but it served my needs. It forced me to learn the machine and its quirks (and they all have 'em). I would do the same thing over again. I would look at reviews of the low end machines and get the best one. If you sew for a year and then upgrade, you got your money's worth and have a backup.
P.S. Sears Kenmore machines are usually pretty decent for a low price. I would start there.
It was a mechanical machine with about 15 stitches but it served my needs. It forced me to learn the machine and its quirks (and they all have 'em). I would do the same thing over again. I would look at reviews of the low end machines and get the best one. If you sew for a year and then upgrade, you got your money's worth and have a backup.
P.S. Sears Kenmore machines are usually pretty decent for a low price. I would start there.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
justflyingin
Main
8
08-09-2011 09:36 PM
