I'm excited, but I need your help...
 

Our 27 yr. old granddaughter contacted me from Charlotte, NC asking for assistance in choosing a first-time sewing machine. I am excited that she is finally interested in my favorite hobby, but I want to make the right suggestions. She said, "I want to learn to sew, Grandma, but I need help choosing an inexpensive sewing machine to see if I like it." I have a Pfaff 7570 with an embroidery unit which is my travel machine. I could allow her to take this home with her when she visits in May. But perhaps it has too many features to confuse a beginner. I don't want to discourage her before she begins. I also thought I could research what dealers are in her area. Just not sure where to begin. I would appreciate hearing any suggestions you might have. This is the first of 4 girls who has shown any interest.

How low budget? If you can go about $250 the Bernette 46 is a good basic machine. On the other hand if under $200 you may end up with one of the Brother or Singer models that will teach the basics but leave a lot to be improved on. I also like the White Jeans machine from long ago. Any machine that is in good working order, has a manual and someone near at hand to help will work. The Bernette has a dial stitch selector that you turn. The manual has a lot of tips and of course if there is a Bernina dealer there will normally be classes available. Best wishes to her on this new adventure!

Suggest going to a dealer to see what trade-in's they have available. A nice basic machine. Does she want to start with quilting, or does she want to start with garment making? If quilting - pretty easy as all she will really need is a straight stitch machine and not a whole lot of extra presser feet. If she wants to make garments she will a need a little more (especially in the way of feet). Also check Craigs list, but I would start with a dealer as those machines have been serviced and she'll get some (albiet limited) support. I was at my dealer yesterday in fact and they had three nice old machines for $75 - a Kenmore, a White, and something else I don't remember. They were cleaned, serviced and ready to go. If she's coming in May (and is willing to wait that long for a machine), research the dealers now and if they don't have one available "today" leave your name and number with them if anything should turn up.

If she spends less now on a machine to see if she likes it, she can spend more on other needs (fabric, thread etc), and if she likes it and wants to jump to a machine with more bells and whistles, she can keep this one as a backup (we all need a backup machine!).

I think it will depend on budget and what she wants to do with the machine.

That would be a sweet gesture for you to send her home with your machine, but I do think it would be overwhelming. She needs a basic machine to start out on. I sure didn't know you could get anything in the Bernina line for $250.

What wonderful advice! So many people buy too much machine in the beginning and never get the hang of it. Classes can be too overwhelming to someone who has never made an apron or such (like we did in Home Ec. thousands of years ago).

I think she might surprise you as to the bells and whistles she can handle. Yes, she may not need them all now, but remember she likely grew up with computers, and can do more on a computer and cellphone than most of us. Kids today are very tech savy. :)

You're right about the kids today being a lot more tech savvy, and with a comfort zone surrounding all things computerized. Still, this will be her sewing machine. I really think you need to know more about what she wants to do with it, and then help her make a good choice. Once you know her intentions, you can line up several machines for her to look at and try out. Would any of us buy a machine without giving it a test drive? Especially when it's so important that she like it and is comfortable with it? I wouldn't make the decision for her. Take her around and let her try out several machines, and let her decide what she's comfortable working on. The best thing you can do to help ensure success here is to involve her in the decision making process.

Anyway, that's my 2¢ worth.

Cheers!

I bought this machine for my daughter while visiting her in San Antonio, TX. I fell in love with it myself! It is an excellent first machine for a beginner and I would buy it for myself actually! Lightweight also so she can take it with her places if she decides on lessons.

http://www.hancockfabrics.com/Janome-3128-Sewing-Machine-Standard-Sewing-Machines_stcVVproductId81913199VVcatId539684VVview prod.htm

I have love my basic cheapo brothers forever, learned how to piece on them and still use them to this day. You don't want to spend a lot of money and find out she doesn't like it. Also if its just an occasional hobby these machines will last for years. I have one 19years old that still works perfectly as it did the day i received it for christmas as a child.

I am a brother lover too. My first machine was a brother and I've just stuck with them over the years. You can get them pretty inexpensively and it's a great no fuss - user friendly beginning.

A Bernette is NOT made by Bernina. It's made for Bernina...completely different than Bernina made machines. Personally, I'd wait and see how she likes sewing on your Pfaff and then go from there.

all of the kids in my family learned to sew with brother machines from walmart- priced between $89 & $139---they were great beginner machines- easy to learn even had speed control- and 3 of them are still years later loved & used- not wanting to upgrade :)
it makes sense to me to spend $89 as apposed to $250 for a machine that might be used for a few months then go live in a closet for years---and the brothers from wally world held up to lots of different kids using them---ages from 5-23. i always recommend them for anyone who is just learning to sew- if they get the (sewing/quilting bug) and really start sewing all the time they will hold up and give the person time to save up for an upgrade- machine with more 'bells & whistles'

The Bernette isn't a Bernina and they will tell you they don't support it if you call them.

I bought my daughter a Brother ... think it was a runway model for about 150. Does a great job and has enough stitches to entertain also.

I have a brother used it for years bought my Gd a $76 dollard machine at Walmart and it sews beautifully

Charlotte's Craigslist is usually full of nice used machines. I live about 4 hours from there, and have driven to Charlotte to pick up things because they have been such great bargains. I would suggest looking there for a machine, because I am definitely a vintage machine lover.

I just have two basic machines. A Singer and a Brother. Both have served me well. Now, if she intends to do some FMQ, she will need a more advanced model.

I would purchase her a used Bernina, a 1090, or QE150. User friendly for beginners.

I agree, have her test drive a machine or two to get the feel of it! Best way to go!

If you can send your pfaff home with her I think that would be wonderful, the 7500 series are work horses. You don't see all of the stitches until you open the lid to change thread and don't have to use them until you are comfortable. I have several machines that do all kinds of things and have never used 90% of those stitches. Personally what I think would be more discouraging to her would be to get a cheaper machine that is much harder to use for the basics or has issues and is frustrating.

I have a White's Jean machine and love it. In fact I had it serviced with the idea of giving it to my GD who is showing an interest in sewing. It is a work horse and would be perfect for a beginner.

My friend has a new Brother that her DH bought for her at Walmart several years ago. when she needs something sewn she calls me and I use her machine. It is really a nice machine. Easy to thread and sews nice and quiet. don't know why she won't try to do any sewing with it. I have a lot of Singers, 1 Brother, 1 German made Dressmaker, a Sphinx, FW, 301, 1 Futura, and I forget all the others. Need to get my place set up so I can use them when I want. Forgot to add I have a Brother commercial that sews many thousand stitches a min. also a Juki serger, Singer serger and have tables for the Brother and the Juki. so need lots of room to set them up.

If you can spare the machine, I'd let her take it. Kids ( and I consider 27 a kid!) are pretty technology savvy, so I'll bet she'll master that machine before you know it, and will be hooked. It will be great for her to learn on a good machine, so she can see if she wants to spend more money for that kind of machine when she chooses her own.

I just upgraded to a Singer Confidence Quilter, and taught my 29 year old DD how to sew on it. It was easy for her to use, and she enjoyed using it. I paid less than $250 (New in box) with free shipping via Ebay. Oh, and I love the machine, too!

I would go to Wal-mart and buy one of their Brother sewing machines. They are pretty dependable, as I have owned three with only taking one to the shop in 30 years. Be sure to teach her how to keep it clean under the feed dogs.

I agree with MacThayer and MaggieMae. Let her be a part of choosing the machine after finding what she actually wants to do with it. Make it simple so she doesn't get discouraged. And encourage her to go online and utilize all the good YouTube videos on a plethora of different subjects, all about sewing/quilting/embroidery etc.

The runway machine by Brother is an excellent choice for a beginner and is relatively inexpensive. If you buy it from a dealer you get warranty support and service. Also lessons on how to use it.

Since this is a "learn to sew" situation, I would look for a nice used machine at a dealer.

Hi Polly13 When my daughter wanted to make a quilt for her 1st child I was quite excited, she never had an interst in sewing not to mention quilting she would say "I do not understand why you make quilts what do you do with them?" Now she knows. she made her firs quilt and her little girl sleeps under "The blanket of love" every night. NOw to get to your question I let her take my singer touch and sew that I have had from age of 17 years old. And then a couple years later I picked her up a Singer quilting machine that she love.

I bought my DD's first machine, a basic machine where I worked with a discount. She learned to do alot of sewing but still had issues with it later on. So when it was time for an upgrade because her first machine was just not wotking right even with service, I took her to the dealer where I had purchased my best machine. I had her try out the different machines, and bought the one she liked the best. It had a few more stitches but was still listed as a basic machine. What my DD wanted was a machine that when she put her foot on the pedal, it ran without any hestitaion. that is what she found. The price and the kind of machine maybe limited buy what budget you have, but you can still get a good machine for the money.

I would buy her a feather weight - basic workhorse - simple - she can get a more advanced machine if she likes it

After not sewing for 30 years, I bought a 250.00 brother from Walmart and I was not pleased. I paid for lessons at a dealer and the very first thing that happened when we sewed several layer together is the shaft that holds the needle and foot bent. The instructor came over and straightened it with his hand. Then he said the cheaper machines were not made with the same quality steel as the ones sold by dealers. (I now know this to be true) I think the Brother would have been ok for piecing or simple garment making. But it was useless for home dec. I gave that one to my granddaught who likes light sewing and I bought a Pfaff. But I would have loved a vintage sewing machine just as well. Some of the very cheap one don't make a good seam and the tensions won't hold. I think that's the worst kind and will discourage your GD if she has a fussy machine.

I learned to sew on my mothers Brother in the 1970s. When I got married my hubby had bought me a sewing machine as a present prior to the wedding. Then after my kids came along, we traded that machine in on the top of the Line Viking machine at that time. I still have the Viking, plus a Brother and a EuroPro. All still work.

Thanks for clearing this up. I guess I assumed too much (and you know what that makes me).

I got a very nice Brother with 60 stitches for $150. I think that is a reasonable price for a good beginner machine. It is a Brother CS6000i, and I do love it. I also have a Pfaff 7570 with the embroidery unit, but I wouldn't give that to a beginning sewer. I think it would thoroughly frustrate her, but my Brother would be great. I use it for my beginning sewing students, and it seems to have worked out well for beginners.

The Pfaff 7570 might have too many bells and whistles for a beginner. You should be able to find a basic machine that will be good for her to learn on. Most dealers have good refurbished used machines for sale.

Having learned from experience, I would rather have the bells and whistles on the machine than get to a point where I felt ready to try to whistle, only to discover that I couldn't because I didn't have the right equipment.

If your granddaughter is like me, she will jump into something and figure it out if she has the tools to begin with. There's nothing more frustrating than wanting to try something only to discover that your machine can't do it, you have to order a different foot, etc. If she is coming for a visit, why not spend some time with her in your sewing room teaching her the basics and then visit a few machine dealers. Once she realizes just how much fun sewing is, I bet you might be surprised at what she can accomplish. I bought a dressmaker machine, because that's what I had always used my machine for in the past. Now I'm a quilting fool! LOL

You might consider what shops are in her area so that she can get her machine cleaned and serviced from time to time. Once you know what they sell, seek out a "previously loved" machine from a reputable dealer in your area. Having a knowledgeable tech is so helpful!

The Janome has some nice little machines for under $150. Especially for learning on. I bought the $99 on sale for one of my DD's and she loves it. Very lightweight and basic stitches. this Christmas I bought the $179 one on sale for $129 for another DD. My machines are 2 Pfaff, Brother and a Babylock serger but they were not cheap.