Portable Sewing Machines?
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 6
I am looking for a lightweight, but reliable, portable sewing machine of reasonable quality (and reasonable price) to use while traveling. I have a wonderful Bernina 440 which I use for my major quilting projects, but would love to have something to for piecing and routine sewing when I have to be away from home. I'm traveling by auto, so I don't need to check it on a plane or anything like that, and will likely have it set up in one place for a few weeks at a time. Any suggestions? What have you used and liked--or what to steer away from? Any help is greatly appreciated.
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Anchorage, AK
Posts: 1,392
I love my Janome Jem Platinum...they have a couple of other similar ones..Gold I think is one. It weighs only 12 pounds, you can drop the feed dogs, it has several basic decorative stitches, does buttonholes (in case you ever want to put one in a quilt LOL), needle up/down, lock stitch, and it even has a start/stop button in case you ever want or need to sew without the foot pedal. I've had it for about 4 years and don't travel without it. It is made by the same company that makes the Elna, and since I have an Elna for my big machine, all my attachments can be traded between my machines. It also takes the cardboard pre-wounds bobbins, which is a plus for me. Not sure what the going rate is for these, but I got a deal on mine for $300. May even be some reconditioned ones out there now.
#5
If you can't find a featherweight, try looking at the Janome line. They have some reasonable machines and some of them come with a 'hard' case which is great for travel. I don't find them to be heavy to carry either. They're just great workhorses.
#8
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Oakville,ON
Posts: 170
This summer I bought a very basic Brother at Wal-Mart for $89CND (since our dollar is at par with the US it's the same price)!!! I've had no problems with it at all, and was great at my parents cabin at the Lake.
The feed dogs do drop, and it came with all kinds of stuff, which was interchangeable with my Janmoe stuff I already have.
Some people may not agree with me but I am only at my parents for the summer, and for the price it was perfect for me.
I have a Singer Genie, from the 70's I got for $15 from a church, it's about 19lbs. and has a cool case that contains the foot so it's very compact. It doesn't have a free arm, and the feed dogs don't drop, but I know someone who just puts cardboard on top of the feed dogs!
I also have a cool little pink Kenmore I got for christmas 2 years ago, and it is a Janome rebadged. I know a few months ago they had the same machine in blue at sears.com.
Good Luck finding something you are going to like!
The feed dogs do drop, and it came with all kinds of stuff, which was interchangeable with my Janmoe stuff I already have.
Some people may not agree with me but I am only at my parents for the summer, and for the price it was perfect for me.
I have a Singer Genie, from the 70's I got for $15 from a church, it's about 19lbs. and has a cool case that contains the foot so it's very compact. It doesn't have a free arm, and the feed dogs don't drop, but I know someone who just puts cardboard on top of the feed dogs!
I also have a cool little pink Kenmore I got for christmas 2 years ago, and it is a Janome rebadged. I know a few months ago they had the same machine in blue at sears.com.
Good Luck finding something you are going to like!
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,453
i have the janome platinum jem. 12 pounds, a little work horse.
they also have the Jem gold, runs around 300 new.
there is one on ebay right now..
http://cgi.ebay.com/Janome-Jem-Gold-...item35adc2ad96
$20 shipping
they also have the Jem gold, runs around 300 new.
there is one on ebay right now..
http://cgi.ebay.com/Janome-Jem-Gold-...item35adc2ad96
$20 shipping
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Onebyone
Links and Resources
9
12-06-2016 07:15 AM
bkay
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
8
06-14-2016 04:19 PM
SingerSewer
Main
10
06-22-2013 06:24 AM
ArchaicArcane
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
13
03-16-2013 10:20 AM