Beginner machine?
 

As of right now, I have no sewing machine at all. I do EVERYTHING by hand, and actually like doing it that way. BUT I know once I get into quilting, I will get to certain points where I will want a machine (like the actual quiliting part!).

I don't want anything too fancy or expensive; basically something cheap(ish) that will get the job done if I don't ask too much! Is this a 'decent' machine to start with? http://www.walmart.com/ip/Singer-Con...chine/17167244

Thanks!

I have a friend who bought a Brother sewing machine at WalMart and likes it for a back-up machine. Don't know about the Singer. You might want to consider the size of the throat area if you will be quilting on it. I have done a number of Queen size quilts on a machine that has an 8 inch throat and would not want to work with one smaller than that. Suggest you look on Craigslist or something similar for a good used machine. I use Bernina and Baby Lock, have friends who have Janome and are very happy. Shop and try out before you buy.

If you want something simple and relatively inexpensive, look at the Brother machines. Brother has a good reputation and doesn't charge as much, for the brand name.

Personally I wouldn't buy any new Singer machine, especially a low end one. I would recommend finding a dealer and possibly getting a higher end machine that's been traded in, plus they know what they sell unlike machines sold at a big box store. I would check into a Janome or a Brother, they have a fairly good reputation.

I got a Kenmore by Janome refurbished on Overstock. Made a good number of quilts on it. Check out Overstock.com. Low shipping, no sales tax.

The other two machines I was looking at were Brothers. Someone mentioned an issue with throat size, so I'm not sure about that, but this is them:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Brother-XL...achine/6005475

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Brother-70...ebate/15029529

I also have a Kenmore by Janome that I got at Sears and it does a great job. It's not picky on thread and I've never had to adjust the tension either. I now have a top of line one but this one stays set up in my room and used too.

The throat size is the area from the pressure foot (needle) to the right side of the machine. Just remember if your are gonna be quilting you will need room to stuff a huge quilt through while you are quilting.

I have a Janome and recently bought a Pfaff. However, the Singer you mention won the overall 'Best Buy' award on the UK's No.1 consumer magazine when they did the Best Sewing Machine test.

Check reviews on Amazon before making a decision. Many of the reviews provide valuable information about the reliability of a machine, tension sensitivity, etc. You can also look up reviews on http://www.patternreview.com

I looked at the Brother links you provided. They both look as if they have unusually small harp (throat) sizes, which would make it difficult to fit a quilt under.

I'm not sure, but both machines look as if they have all built-in stitches. You really want the ability to change stitch width and stitch length on all stitches.

These machines would probably be okay for piecing, but maybe not so good for machine quilting or for machine applique (because you want to be able to modify the stitch length/width).

I went on Amazon, did a search on Brother sewing machines, selected the department of "sewing machines", specified between $100 and $200, then ordered the results by average customer review (machine with highest rating is listed first). This is the Brother I came up with:
http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Afford...dp/B000JQM1DE/
I believe I have seen others on the QB mention that they are very happy with this model. It does look as if it has a small harp size, however, and I'm not sure if it has adjustable stitch width and stitch length. Looks as if it has 3 needle positions, which is a nice feature to have.

You may want to check if a machine has the needle-down option. Love that on my machine!

don't buy one from walmart or kmart go to a sewing machine store and look for used or something older and give him a price you do not want to go over. They will help you and if you need to know how to use it they will help you.

I went on Amazon, did a search on Brother sewing machines, selected the department of "sewing machines", specified between $100 and $200, then ordered the results by average customer review (machine with highest rating is listed first). This is the Brother I came up with:
http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Afford...dp/B000JQM1DE/
I believe I have seen others on the QB mention that they are very happy with this model. It does look as if it has a small harp size, however, and I'm not sure if it has adjustable stitch width and stitch length. Looks as if it has 3 needle positions, which is a nice feature to have.

You may want to check if a machine has the needle-down option. Love that on my machine![/QUOTE]

I purchasedd this Brother about 6 months ago and LOVE IT!!

Tomorrow HSN's TS will be a Singer but whenever a co is on the show a lot of the other machines will be on sale. They usually will have some with free shipping and extra payments. Last year I bought a Singer Featherweight 75 for 212.00 but I had a 20% off coupon and it was on sale. You always get extra attachments and you will have until Jan 31 2013 to return it if you don't like it. They carry Singer, Brother, Juki and Janomes.

I'm sorry the singer hsn special will be Wenesday not tomorrow, Duh!

I'm with the lady who suggested going to a sewing machine dealer and buying an older machine that was expensive at one time. As a beginner you will get frustrated by a cheap machine and quit quilting. You need to sit down and sew on them. All of us have our favorite machines that necessarily will not be your favorite!

My daughter just recently bought a sewing machine. She picked the Viking E20. It seems like a good machine. We are going to play with it tomorrow. She just wanted something affordable and basic for right now. It does have a darning foot and she can get a walking foot for it. I can't remember how much room is in the throat area, but she wasn't sure she would do her quilting. For the most part, she brings it to me, and I quilt it on my machine or we would hand quilt it together.

I went to "feel around" the entrance level Brother machines sold here. They are so light!
I am not sure if weight is an indication of power/strength, but weight does give some assurance of a solid built (to me, at least).

I would look for a vintage Singer--maybe a 15-91 or a 66. Both have large throat areas and will still be sewing when we are dead and gone! The 15 is referred to as "the beast". I have both of them and love them!

I would go for the second. It comes with a walking foot and you'll want that! I have two brothers love them. It was about being affordable for me! I spend more on fabric.

You might want to look at the Brother that has 100 stitches It has alphanumeric stitches to make quilt labels It is a great beginner machine My friend has one and it handles great and has a nice selection of stitches only cost 199

I think a brother PQ1500s wouls suit your needs since you want it mostly for FMQ

Well, I made the jump! I ordered a machine on amazon.com, and I should have it by Friday! Here is what I went with:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o00_s00_i00

If you just want a basic, inexpensive machine, go with vintage. They will last longer than a cheap Singer from wally world. And vintage is much better suited for machine quilting. You should be able to find one for less than $50. Check yard sales, Craig's list, estate sales.

When looking for a new machine I was told to buy the best I could afford!

I have an older Brother PC-8500 that I love, and a Brother 9000 that I bought as a back up and I love them both. I think you will really like the one you purchased.

For anyone looking for a used machine, I would definitely check to be sure that parts are still available for any electric/computerized machine before buying. Computer parts are no longer available for the 8500, so once it's dead I'm sunk. Most people don't think about that when buying an older computerized machine ...

Even though I am a die hard Singer fan.......I just got a new Janome and I have fallen in love.....just saying

I agree with Jo ford. I have purchased two machines on Craigslist and both have been excellent. One was a 15-91 and the other is a babylock.

Joanne

If you are going to quilt on the machine, the larger the throat the easier it is. That would be my first concern. I did a queen on my Babylock, 7 inch throat. I then bought a Janome with an 11 inch throat, what a difference. So think about it before you buy. Maybe a used one would be the way to go.

I have this particular Singer machine model and really enjoy it. It quilts just fine, never had an issue with it at all. I would love to own a Janome some day but until then I will continue to use my Singer.

Check out the top of the line USED machines. You will progress rapidly once you start using a machine and see how much it adds to your productivity and you will want more features. With new machines, the cheaper ones have a lot of plastic parts and they don't wear for a long time, sometimes the tension is a nightmare, and they can make for disappointing sewing if they have to make frequent trips to the shop. Make sure you get a manual with any used machine, if there isn't one with the machine when you purchase it they are available on line. Go to a place that lets you try out machines and spend some time trying them out to see what features you like, don't buy the first one you see and hope for the best. If you have a friend who has several machines ask to try them out and have her/him show you what features they use most and tell you how they use them. Good luck and happy sewing!

I just bought a Pfaff Ambition 1.5 and it has the bigger throat and so glad I did it has an 8 inch throat .. But I still wish I would of went with the 11 inch throat for quilting .. Just an thought for you ...

Can't go wrong with Janomes. Allbrands.com has several in your price range. here is a link to a computerized machine, free shpiping, no tax....it is a few dollars more, but worth it. Good luck.For got the link,,,go to allbrands.com and type in 8077 the model number. it is $249. Compare the features and remember that Janomes are a better made machine with a good warranty. Allbrands back there machines whereas WalMart would be difficult to deal with if you have a problem with the Singer. I have purchase four different machines from Allbrands for my daughters and we have been very satisfied.
Diana in TX

My best friend has that machine by Singer and loves it.

Keep an eye on Craigslist. I've picked up a couple simple machines for $25 each. Generally they are heavier and sturdier than a cheap new one. They can have problems, but then I've had a new one blow up on me too.

The 'throat' area is actually called the 'harp.' Don't know why; that's just the term.

I would respectfully steer you toward a vintage machine like a Singer 15, 99 or 66. You should be able to get one for under $150 in excellent condition, and it will last you for many years to come, unlike the 'white plastic wonders' that are available for a similar price.

I have a Kenmore from Sears. It is a work horse and never let me down. I had it serviced once just to get it delinted and oiled ($69.00) and I know they'll be around if I do have a problem.

I have a Bernina machine but I also have a lightweight Brother that I bought first to see whether I would really like quilting. The Brother is very nice and weighs only 11 pounds. I bought it from Wal*Mart.

That machine looks like a great deal...has needle up/down and speed control...and Janome is an excellent brand.

If you can find a used Janome Memory Craft 3000, it is a wonderful workhorse. I've had mine for 20 years and not a lick of problems. I bought a Janome Horizon last Feb., paid a lot for it, and, although it has many nice features, the MC3000 is still my baby!

I have used a Bailey successfully and without any problems. See link below:
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/for/3391197943.html