Looking for a reliable backup machine
 

I am looking for a reliable backup sewing machine for those times that mine is in the shop getting a tune up or heaven for bid has an issue. I will search craigs list and my local vendors but am wondering if anyone has any suggestions about a machine and about what it should run. I am just looking for something to do piece work - nothing fancy.

thanks in advance!

How about a Singer Featherweight 221. Get one of the older ones, not the new plastic ones. They are small, very portable, very reliable. They do a straight stitch, that's it, but is great for piecing. I've gotten all mine from eBay for less than $225 (which included shipping & handling), or you can get one from a reliable dealer for $350-$400.

If you want a newer machine that has a few bells and whistles, the Janome Jem is a good one, as are the Berninas. My suggestion is to start looking around and trying out the machines.

Check with your local Sewing machinee dealer for a used one. sometimes you can get a good bargain if they have a machine they took on a trade in.

You need to determine how much you have to spend before getting carried away!!! The Featherweights are wonderful machines (I have one) but their smallness is sometimes a liability too.

Also, check local shops for school buy-backs. Sometimes the schools don't take the machines they order and you can get a very good machine for bargain prices.

Schools don't order machines anymore, at least not in this area. The machines are bought by the teacher out of her budget for the class. The ding dong teacher here, bought one embroidery machine with her home ec part of the budget even though most of the machines are broken or non working, all plastic portables. She said she wanted the machine for the class to do monogramming on bought clothing but the kids weren't allowed to use it, only her. A few parents complained but nothing was done about getting the machines fixed. :thumbdown:

May also be able to find one at a thrift shop. Just give it a good look over. Check your local newspaper, my friend got a Featherweight for $50.00. One of the relatives couldn't get it to work and gave her a garbage bag full of scraps and parts to the machine were thrown in. She said she made out like a fat rat and she did. The machine's bobbin case wasn't in correctly. needed cleaning and she's been using it for about 6 months. She love's using it. Just gotta look!

my faithful back up machine is a 1956 singer 99-K...picked it up for $20...it stitches the most perfect straight stitch imaginable- is a little work horse- I love it!...best $20 I've ever spent! when I bought it made a large lonestar and for the first time ever ---every single point is perfect, every seam meets perfectly- it is my 'dream machine' (I do have a nice $800+ Janome that is a nice machine too) but for a nice straight stitch- piecing machine the singer is great.

I was hoping not spend more than 350.00 - I will start looking around. I was so upset when I thought I would have to go a weekend without sewing. My husband got a good laugh outta that one! He was able to fix my issue and I was up and running again. I do not want to be there again!

I have a brother sq9050 that I love and it runs around $240 at walmart. It comes with all the quilting feet too.

I forget many quilters only have one machine! I carry a back up for my take to class/sewday machine.

This is my back up as well as my machine for class. and I love it as well

My backup machine is a 1952 Featherweight. I find that I am now using it daily for piecing. I use my Bernina for machine appliqué and FMQ. I love that Featherweight and the fact that I have been able to make all needed repairs. In the beginning, I did not like the fact that it has to be oiled so often and in so many places; but I have become accustomed to oiling and actually enjoy it now.

can't go wrong with a Brother sewing machine! have loved everyone I've owned.

This was rated best small machine in Consumers Guide

http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...W#.UZsHUZVCS0s

Too bad were not closer i bought our school machines! They had 3 dont need them all!! Ones just sitting in my basement in its table!!

I purchased a husquvane viking 100 at a price range you mentioned. I bought it new from create and craft tv site when it was a bank holiday weekend special offer. May bank holiday is coming up keep your eye on the web site and see if any offers .

I'm on to my second Janome (bought new one for more features/portability). I prefer it to my fancier Pfaff.

You don't say what brand you have at the moment, but given the choice, I'd be buying the same brand so your existing feet and bobbins fit :)

I bought an inexpensive Singer machine as a backup. It's been in the repair shop once already. If the gears weren't made of plastic, probably wouldn't have had to take it in.

Our local sewing machine repair offers good used machines (with metal gears)... prices range from $100 up. Rather than pay to get the Singer repaired again I will buy a good older model.

I'm in the vintage Singer school of thought. I love my Viking - has plenty of bells/whistles for me. Have a fw for classes/travel. Have a 99 in a table that I picked up for $35 and an electrified redeye 66 that needs to be refurbed for $50. That one will go into an existing table that I have.

My favorite machine is my featherweight which I use for just about everything.

The one I gave my daughter who is a novice sewer is the inexpensive Brother machine that is under $100 at Walmart. I have had several of these thru the years and have passed them on to various friends and family who want a machine.

My sons search the yard sales for machines and last week one of them found a nice Montgomery Ward machine (that weighs a ton) with a 1984 date on the serial plate for $2! It seems to work just fine. The lady said it had some bobbin tension problems, but I think that is probably because there are three different style bobbins in the storage section and I'm sure only one is going to be right for it. They said they had not yet tried out any of the decorative stitches on it.

Good luck in your search!

I have a Laura Ashley Innov-ís NX2000 so I am leaning towards a brother now that you mention the sharing bobbins, feet etc between machines. Great advice - thank you all!

I just bought another equal machine. I use one for piecing and the other for FMQ. Both are equal and I can switch to the other if needed. I do have two old ones and one about 18Yr.s old. I like the newer ones and they don't eat fabric at the beginning of the seam. Both of my always use ones are straight stitch only. That is all I do.

I received a Singer 401 Slant O Matic for Christmas. It's a 1960 sewing machine. I finally used it last weekend in a quilting class and found it makes the most beautiful straight stitch ever. It has many decorative stitches and it came in a case with lots of feet for $195 from a second hand store. They had three of them.

They are awesome machines. Real workhorses and inexpensive and will last forever. I grew up sewing on one and traded it in on a Viking. I realized later what a mistake I made, so my husband bought me this Singer 401 to make up for my error. I'm a happy camper again.

Brother cs6000i
 

I have had this machine for almost two years and use it every day. It is a tremendous workhorse and you can get it at Walmart for about $150. Can't say enough about this machine. It's fabulous!!!

I found a Brother CS6000i new in a box for 130 - it uses the same bobbins, feet, etc as my current machine and will fit my plexiglass thing that fits in my sewing cabinet. I think I will buy it - just need to do a bit more research tonight.

I bought an older New Home at my aunts estate yard sale for $50. She has only used it a few times. I fell in love immediately. Recently I saw one at a local sewing/vacuum repair shop for $95. My first machine was a 301a also purchased from a sewing machine repair shop for $75. These are good places to find older workhorse machines reasonably.

Think vintage! I have 2 FWs for piecing, but my favorite back up is a 1951 Singer 15-91. That thing sews like a dream and makes beautiiful stitches. The FMQing is lovely on it, as well.

There are lots of machines out there looking for owners! How much do you want to spend? WalMart has low end Brothers which are great machines. Are you looking for barebones straight and zig zag stitch? Depends on what your needs are.

I have the Brother SQ 9050. I can not say enough POSITIVE about it. In fact, 5 other ladies from our guild went out and got the same machine. WalMart $197.99. Lightweight, includes walking foot and hoping foot. My daughter in law has a Janome and this reminds me a lot of it.

Just last week there was a thread about small machines. The Ikea SY was mentioned, but no one seemed to own one. I'm thinking about looking at it when I get near an Ikea next month, they only cost $69 I think. Does anyone know anything about this machine?

My backup machine is a Brother CS6000i, and I do love it. It is very lightweight so I can take it to classes, and it works great You can get a new one under $200. Mine was a refurbished one and I got it for $125. Refurbished means that it is in factory new condition. Incidentally I got it from Ken's Sewing and Vacuum on line. He is an authorized Brother on line dealer. His shop is in northwest Alabama. He is very reliable - I have bought two older machines from him.

I have a brother SQ9000 I bought on Overstock (also from Ken's) and it was less than $150 ( bought for the 80 stitches) with free shipping and is a good sewing little machine, and there are a lot of older machines all metal out there with out all the fancy stitches much cheaper. Check craigs list, e-bay and newspaper, or free cycle. I also have a singer 201-3 (grandmother's machine), Kenmore bought late 70's Model 1521, not to many stitches but all metal and sews great and now have the vintage machine bug so have a 1911 White treadle and 80's singer with cams. Ran out of room so had to quit, but still have my heart set on a white 211, from 1960's as my mother had one I loved to sew on and I let her give it away, drats. Even check with local dealers as they get trades in on new machines. Good luck and let us know what you get.

I lucked out and got an older Brother machine with just some basic stitches at the swap exchange at our town's incinerator/dump. I was looking for a machine for my daughter, someone was carrying the machine in it's original box, I asked if it worked - he said yes, his wife just doesn't sew any more. I took it home, it sews great, in fact I think it does a better closer zig -zag stitch than my Janome, however it never made it to my daughter, as I use it for a back-up machine when my machine needs to go in for a checkup. My girl friend brought me a Sears Kenmore machine, but it does have something wrong with it; but she says she has a Janome that she picked up recently. I'm so glad I have a friend like her. Who knows, maybe I'll actually give my daughter a sewing machine for her to keep.

for 300 you should find a nice machine that is wonderful. I still like my Janome, but I also have a featherweight too

I have a Brother SQ 9050 as my backup and to take to classes. I love it and it is only 200.00 at Wal Mart. I love it and it sew great.

I also think a Brother from Walmart would be a good back up machine. I have the embroidery/sewing one and have had no problems with it.

I, too, have a Brother machine from Walmart (sewing/embroidery) so I am backed up in both hobbies. :-)

Marysewfun

For a backup machine, you can't go wrong with a vintage machine. I have found them at yard sales for as little as $10 or $15, and the all metal ones will outlast me.:-)