Finding a quiet sewing machine
 

I'm looking for a quiet and portable sewing machine.
I'd like to take this machine to classes and retreats. Also, needs to be quiet enough for using in the family room. So that I can sew while talking and watching television with my family.

I have several vintage machine. I love these machines but they are loud. I hear others comment that their singer221 and 301s are quiet. Mine are not.
My only modern machine is Babylock Symphony. It is quieter than my vintage machines.

I don't mind purchasing a new machine. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

I have found if your vintage machine is loud then it needs to be oiled and greased. That also goes for the newer sewing machines. Most sewing machines need to be oiled, needle changed and clean out the lint every 8 hours or when you start to hear the sewing machine getting louder, the needle making a poping sound or just depending on projects you are working on. Vintage machines require being oiled for sure around 8 hours of use due to them being all metal inside. Where as the newer one have more plastic part inside. Make sure you are using sewing machine oil and grease. All machines need an over haul once a year, if you can't do it yourself take it in to be done. Check the vintage post on this forum for information on how. It's really not hard to do and it takes only a few minutes to get them back to there quiet running. My vintage are quiet until they need to be reoiled as are my newer one too.

If you want really quiet try a hand cranked vintage machine - keep it maintained and it won't be loud. Most of them are not all that portable. I think the 66, 99, 15 and 201 machines are more quiet than the FW or the 301 - those two more often have a clickety clack in the bobbin area.

Four years ago I went looking for a quiet sewing machine. I took a sound level meter with me and used it as I tried out various machines at different stores. I kept records in a notebook and found that Janome was the quietest. I admit that the sales clerks were amused, saying no one had ever done that.

I didn't buy a Janome, as I fell for a Pfaff, but at that time, it was the quietest. I don't know what model or anything, but if you are interested in that sound level meter, which I know not everyone has...this was my husband's...he told me that folks who are heavy into stereo music might have one, or they are available at Radio Shack for $39.

I found quite a variety of noise levels in the machines I tried. All were quieter than the machine I had been using.

Hope this is helpful...

Dina

Its funny how we all have different experiences. My 1975 Kenmore is the quietest machine i have. I'm often thinking of a way to get it into the living room so i can sew while DH is watching tv. Its my favorite machine for pieciing and i paid $35 for it at the ReStore.

Hand crank.

machines that aren't set-in can be a lot noisier, and it also can have to do with the table itself. Bouncing and echoing come to mind.

I had not thought about buying a machine that was quiet. But you are right they all seem to have their own song.

I have an old Elna SU and it is the quietest machine I have ever heard.

I used to have a noisy machine. I put in on top of that rubberized shelf liner stuff and then some material.. It got really quiet.

I did get a Pfaff Passport and love it. Again, the IDT was the main factor. Now I have a c hoice of either my FW or the Passport for classes, as both are lightweight. In fact when I travel to my daughter's I'll take the Passport.

I have a Brother NX-600. Everywhere I've taken it other quilters have mentioned how quite it is. One lady thought it wasn't working right as it was so quite. Don't think all Brothers are this quite.

I've just had a similar experience with a pre-loved Pfaff 2056 that I bought to take to quilt days. I also bought it for the IDT, not noise, but it's so quiet, often the girls don't think it's running when it is. One thing I didn't take into account prior to purchase was the weight and I almost wish I had now. It's very heavy. Maybe that's why it's so quiet? Nah, I've just got the absolute greatest tech at my local store!

I guess I never evaluated a sewing machine for how quiet it was. I love the sound of all my machines because it tells me I am accomplishing something. If they seem noisy I clean and oil (if appropriate), put in a new needle and off we go.

I was just going to post the same message. I don't use her often anymore, but will never part with her as she is an old warhorse that never faltered and never saw the inside of a shop for repair. I sewed on her for about 40 yrs. and still haul her out for tough jobs.

The weight and precision of how the machine is built adds to the quietness. It's hard to find that in the new models. The new machines I've tested all vibrated a lot unless sewing slow.

I have a Janome 6600 which is much quieter than my old singer or the small Brother I used to have. My DH still needs to turn up the TV when I'm sewing, but at least it isn't so loud that it gives us both a headache.

The Juki f600 is said to be a very quiet sewing machine. I am not sure how portable it would be though.

Oil and lubricate... even the 221-FW's... what a difference! I think that goes with many machines.

I too never thought of this when I shopped and finally bought my first Bernina.

So long as you can buy another machine (for quiet use), do consider the Janome--I recently bought a Janome Sewist ($350, or so) for the quetest demonstration when I went into the sales center; it is everything the lady promised me, plus she included several little cutesie extras (quilting foot and l/4" foot, if I remember correctly). It is pretty, and very light, easy to carry, comes in it's own self-contained case with all the little things you need with a machine; and is very quiet when I am sewing in a room-full of ladies piecing and talking. I took it to a retreat with me, and everyone loved it. I would recommend, though, for home use in a room where everyone is visiting and watching TV, that you place one of those slip-n-slide protectors under it. I think some folks call it a drawer liner.

Also, if you are really serious about the quiet, you cannot beat an Elna. Mine is from the 80s, the top of the line that year, and has never even been removed from the desk it was installed in when I bought it new in Texas. That one is my absolute treasure--but I also have an old Singer (either a 201, or 15 91, I can't figure out which), that I do all my quilting work on (piecing, putting bindings on, hemming every quilt that I have made since about 2008); plus two of my FWs are very quiet. I haven't figured out yet why the other two are so noisy, but they are. I just don't use them enough, I guess.

Good luck, and let us know what you come up with.....Merry Christmas.

My Featherweight is very quite and smooth plus it comes in a case and can be taken with you wherever you want to go. HTH

I just bought the Juki f600. It is really to big & heavy to take to classes. It's OK re quitness but not nearly as quite as the Brother NX 600. I understand the NX600 is also made by Juki. I also have the Juki 2000 (straight stitch only), love that machine. Really don't think the F600 is as well made as the 2000.

I have found that if you are using a free standing machine, setting them on mouse pads makes them much quieter since it muffles any table noise.

I have a Viking Sapphire and it is not loud at all, and has all the features you need

Mine are all quiet, I just take my hearing aids out when I sew!!!

Pat in MN

Dina, I've been sewing on my Singer since 1984 I believe, I got a Janome Silver Gem at an Estate auction and you would have thought I had just discovered the wheel from all the squealing I was doing about how quiet the Janome was. I was having everyone come listen to the comparison of the 2 machines. My dream machine someday is a Janome 6600p

Kris P you have my dream machine! Someday I WILL own one :D

I have a Singer 401 Slant O Matic, Viking Quilt Designer, Bernina 830 and they are all quiet. I put them on a $149 desk from Walmart that sits on carpet and I don't know if that helps make them quiet, but I can turn the TV on normal sound and hear it well as I sew. I think it's the cheap desk on carpet that keeps them quiet, honestly.

Note to decky above: I nearly fell off my chair laughing at your comment......

same here and my DH was peaking over my shoulder and gave himself away... :cool:

This reminded me of the day I attended a Patrick Lose class at the local Pfaff store. I bravely took in my Viking and didn't worry too much about what the store owner thought.....as we were sewing our first session, Patrick looked around and asked who was using the Viking? I was busted then! (he is a big Viking fan :-) ). So they do have their own song.....

Thanks for all the responses. I have a singer 201 that I need to dig out and clean up. Thinking the horizontal bobbin will be quieter. Someone had asked if the 301 and 221 were oiled. Yes they are. love finding vintage machines, cleaning them up, then gifting or donating them. They are great work horses and very affordable.
Happy Holidays!