i want to buy my daughter a sewing machine this will be her first one what is a good brand that would be sold in walmart target other areas are the singers still pretty good they dont look like there is much to them

I've had Brother and Singer (both sold in Walmart) and for the same money I'd pick a Brother over Singer any day.

I recommend a Janome Jem. Janome is a very easy brand of machines to learn on and the Jem line is light weight. So as a diehard Janome lover, that's my recommendation! :thumbup:

For sure, others are going to recommend other brands and you should consider everyone's comments before making your decision. If you get the chance to test-sew on a machine before buying it, that would be the best.

I don't recommend new Singer's either. The older ones are good, but not the new machines.

Good luck! :)

I think the Singers you find at WM and Target are good beginner machines and you may find they last a very long time. They don't have a lot of bells and whistles but enough that a beginner has some specialty stitches they can use. Just be sure your daughter knows how to thread top and bobbin and she should be good to go.

Here is my two cents worth... a machine, Singer or brother, for under a $100 is a great deal for a beginner. Or pick up an older used one from a dealer or sew/vacuum center or repair shop.
You don't know until they get one, just how interested they really may be.

If they use it for 3-5 years, treat it well, keep the bobbin area clean, it will be a great machine for them. Most of the new machines don't even require oiling. Then maybe look to upgrade :wink:

There really is not a need to take these inexpensive new machines in to be serviced, at $50+ each time... It is more affordable to just replace them every 3 years. You can always find these lower end machines, new, for $100 or less. The same price or even cheaper than two service/maintenance bills :D:D:D

I have a little Singer Touch and Sew that I like a lot. I've never sewn on any other brand. But mine has a few built in stitches and sews very well. I bought it because it had the blanket stitch for applique. Now, when I learn to applique, I'll be set!:O)

I would recommend checking locally on craigslist or papers for an older mechanical sewing machine. I, too, would say no to a modern Singer. If you prefer a new machine, I have a really nice machine I purchased for $149 from easyterms on ebay to take to guild meetings. They have a lot of good prices and many models. Just depends on what you want to spend and if you might want to use it as a portable to take to classes - if your daughter will let you!

Having taught 3 granddaughters and 2 grandsons to sew, I have learned the hard way not to buy too simple of a machine. You will throw your money away unless it has at least 20 fancy stitches. These kids have grown up on video games and learn a sewing machine in a snap. They will have the cleaning down pat in minutes and oiling. Then they will try every fancy stitch. Too simple of a machine will bore them and you will lose their interest I taught the 2 grandsons to make Christmas stockings 3 weeks ago. Johnny has made 10 more on his own and Johny has made only 3 but he increased the size double for his teachers all without anyones help. They are 10 and 7. Good luck!

I have been looking too...all the research I have done and people I have talked to...I would buy a Brothers not a singers.

I agree with you...I bought a Kenmore in April not knowing I would get into quilting or sewing for that matter...I wish I would have paid the extra for a computerized one to make the fancy designs. Now I am looking for a better machine with more bells and whistles.

I received this week in the mail (free shipping to home) a 25-stitch free arm sewing machine, Brother XL-2600i that I ordered online from WM. It is for my little GS. I have been trying it out the past 2 days and really like it. The stitches are lovely. I am pleased with this purchase.

That is an excellent little machine. Have fun!

I have no idea. I would make sure she really wants to sew before I would spend very much money. DD has a 100.00 Brother machine from Wal Mart for about 6-7 yrs. and she has not had any problems with it, she quilts on it also. She is quite pleased with it.

Ditto :thumbup: Good advise. I was in a sewing repair shop and a lady came in with one of those machine. He said they are not repairable. He did not offer to sell her anything.
I've had this guy repair my many machines for over 20 years. I don't count them it is bad luck besides I can;t count above 12. :D

I just bought my granddaughter (she is 5) a Janome Sew Mini for $47.99 (discount and free shipping!!) from Allbrands.com. It does a straight and zig-zag stitch. I have Janome HT2008 and love it.

I prefer Brother. I have had mine for 30+ years and it is still going strong.

I have a Janome Jem and love it. Very light weight. Simple to thread.

Please support a reputable local sewing machine dealer. A good shop will most likely have some good trade ins that have been checked over and serviced; and will stand by your purchase. If people don't shop locally for sewing needs, it won't be long before the shops will be even fewer and further between than they are now. You might also give her a gift certificate at a good shop because after Christmas they will have plenty of trade ins.

I also bought my daughter a nice Janome Jem from a dealer a few Christmases ago for a great price, she got as many free lessons as she needed to learn the machine. Later on if she wants another machine, she can trade it in or sell it privately and has a built in relationship with a trustworthy dealer. You get what you pay for, and any machine under $200 would be a mistake imho, unless it is a pre-loved good brand: Janome, Pfaff, and the better Brother machines; also Viking or Babylock. (Kenmores used to be made by Janome, not sure about them now tho.)

I've recently become a Brother convert. I have the Project Runway machine and I bought the Laura Ashley Limited edition. I like the drop in bobbin. If your daughter is going to be quilting, the Needle up/down option is really useful.

I love my Janome Jem

I am in the market for a light weight sewing machine to take to classes and a janome jem is the way I am leaning..tried it out at a local shop and really liked it...and I too think shopping at local shops,provided they give good service it the thing to do...when you can...but then I am the proud mother of a young daughter who has a little local fabric shop in bostons south end ...

I bought my Janome Jem about 8 years ago and have never regretted it. Relatively inexpensive and very lightweight. I bought it locally. I try to buy locally especially at the mom and pop stores. If I have to resort to the big chain stores, I always search the internet. Another thing I do, I pay either in cash or with a check at my local quilt shop. THose credit card fees add up. I will do anything to keep them in business.

I bought my Janome Jem about 8 years ago and have never regretted it. Relatively inexpensive and very lightweight. I bought it locally. I try to buy locally especially at the mom and pop stores. If I have to resort to the big chain stores, I always search the internet. Another thing I do, I pay either in cash or with a check at my local quilt shop. THose credit card fees add up. I will do anything to keep them in business.

I've read all the comments regarding the singer brand - I purchased a Singer 7470 four years ago and recently upgraded to the Singer Quantum L500 - neither machine has given me any problems and sews beautifully - I purchased from HSN - I loved their payment plan options.

I just looked in the paper the other day and they had at a nice sewing machine dealers, machines for about $250, brand new. I would definitely go for something like that because they come with free classes and warranty and repair them as well. Jan

Gotta go with the Janome Jem. It is light weight but sews like a dream. I bought one to take to my quilt group. My 9000 was way too heavy and way to expensive to tote around. 6 months later I was in a car accident and "killed" my Jem. First thing I did when I could leave the house was buy a Jem Platinum . That was 6 years ago and it is still as good as new. Great thing are the quilting and walking feet.

do not recommend singers anymore either. got a Brother LS-590 at Joann's and they are on sale now for 79, with coupon and I think 10% in house and online. believe hancock's fabrics also has. 25 stitches with ability to combine for more. great little workhorse. my old brother held out for 20 years until movers broke it. not the quietest I have heard but great little machine for lovely price.

The new Singers aren't up to par, in my experience. I sold them for 1 1/2 years. Even the most expensive ones just aren't worth it; too many internal plastic parts, & very noisy.
The older Singers from 1960-mid 1970s and earlier are wonderful machines. By about 1980 they started to go downhill, the company was bought by someone who was only after a profit; rather than a good quality machine.
I bought a new Singer in 1986 and had trouble with it from day one, the store wouldn't take it back and refund my money.
Sharon W.

Thanks for this info! I just went online and bought one for Chirstmas for my GD (she is 7)

I bought a Brother just before Christmas about 8 yrs ago to make pillow cases, etc. for the grandchildren who were coming into our lives. Well, 6 quilts and several bags and about 100 pillow cases later, I still love my Brother and knock on wood no repairs!!

love mine ..plain and simple

I bought a low priced Brother at Wal Mart for taking to sewing class and just loved it! It's the Project Runway model. Hope you find the perfect machine!

I'm a Pfaff girl myself. I teach sewing and quilting and see all brands of machines brought in by students. All of the people that bring in the Janome Jems really like them and they seem to be a good machine. I have students that bring in really cheap machines that don't sew well and they get very frustrated and don't enjoy the experience of sewing when they have machine problems. Like others have said, go somewhere you can sew on the machines before puchasing.

How do you like the Jerome Mini? I have one and I have not used it yet. Let me know how she likes it.

wouldn't rec. a new singer from any place. Now if you can get a hold of and older one that would be ok. What does she want to sew? I"d say for a beginner one with fewer stitches would be the ticket.

I've sewn on many machines and currently own 4 and a lot seem to be made in the same place and just re- badged.
I would check as to which one had the best button - hole system, easy - to - drop feed dogs, as well as buying a quilting foot, walking foot and quarter inch foot. Then you are set to develop into piecing and quilting as well as straight sewing. As for the Walmart brands, I would tend to opt for the Brother.

for what you buy one at Wal Mart or Jo Anns for you can get her a little Bernette from a dealer for about $99. It's worth it to buy from a dealer because if you have problems they are right there. If you buy from the others, you have no tech support behind you. Good luck

I just bought a Brother at WM. It was $135.00. I really like it. It is light and easy to use and I like it better then my Bernina which is 5 years old. I wouldn't buy a Singer either.
Enjoy

I have had two Singers and they broke all of the time. I talked with the repair person and he said that Singer is not the same Singer of many years ago, they are now made in Japan, I also had a Brother and LOVED it, now I have a JANOME and LOVE IT!!

I have had excellent results with brother's, they are very reliable and not to pricey