Low-End Sewing Machine Recommendation
 

My son wants to get a sewing machine for his wife for her birthday. He asked me for a recommendation and I don't think I can help him. It's been awhile since I've been machine shopping. But I said I knew who would be able to help! QB!

He doesn't want anything fancy and would like to stay in the $100-$300 range. Is that even possible? I guess I'm looking for personal experience with a low-end, reliable machine. I used to have a Kenmore that I loved! But I don't know the quality of them now or even if they're around anymore.

Thank you for your help.

Kenmores are long gone. In that price range a Brother from Walmart would be his best bet.

I would suggest a Janome Jem. They are $200 on Amazon and are very good machines.

I agree about a low end Janome or even a Brother. I have a low end Brother and love it but lots of my friends have the Jem and also love them.

My advice is to get the best machine for the money. If she is a beginning sewer (sewist, whatever) and has struggles with a low-end cheapo piece of garbage machine, that could kill her interest. Check with the local quilt shops, guilds, and dealers to see if there is a gently used mid-level machine within his price range.

Another thought - years ago, my husband got me a re-manufactured Brother from Overstock, and that little machine was my daily driver for 8 years, until I got my big Brother 1500. I still use that little machine every now and then, it works great.

I'd suggest he go to the local Janome dealer and buy something in his price range there, so that she can go back for help and instruction afterwards. You can get a decent machine with stitches and extras for that price range, and I have found Janome to be reliable and easy to understand.

Another vote for going the Janome route. Some of the low-end janomes have pre-set stitches that can't be adjusted in length and width but they are sturdy and made well. Most are vertical bobbins such as 2206 and 2212. The Jem Gold at $200 or the MyStyle 100 at $200-$250 have drop-in bobbins and positive reviews. There are Brother machines below $300 that have more stitches and features and those machines work out well most of the time but do not have the consistent track record of the more basic Janomes at the same price point.

Kenmore's are not long gone, you can pick up vintage ones quite easily for that price. And often, that is going to be the best machine for that range of money. Go over to the vintage section and ask that question. Easy enough to fix and get up and running.

I vote vintage Kenmore also. he will have to be looking at yard sales, Craigs list etc. I found one last summer, with all attachments, including cabinet and stool for $45 . a bargain to say the least. the Singer store I know has vintage
singers he rehabs and resells.

Thank you all for your thoughts and advice. I wish my son had the time to look for a used machine. With his schedule, it will have to be a quick buy.
I currently have a Phaff and love it:) After reading the comments, I may look at the Janomes when mine tires out. Not too soon, though, I hope!
I am passing all the comments on to my son. Thank you all again! The good news is that I may have a new quilter in the family:)

I have purchased two Brother machines from Costco for my daughters. They are both happy with them, and you get that great Costco customer service.

Keep your eyes open for estate sales also. Check the local sewing center. JoAnn's, Hancocks, Walmart. There are lots of videos on nearly every machine out there for $300.00 or less.

Lots of sales going on at Hancocks and JoANns

I purchased a Brother XR37T for my granddaughter and so far it has been a good machine. I looked at some of the Brother machines at big box stores but was told by the dealer I bought from that most of the machines sold through Walmart and the like have plastic parts inside, whereas the XR37T and most likely some others have metal parts inside. I can't prove she was being truthful but took her word for it.

I didn't want just a straight stitch but wanted a mechanical, and one that had a few of the fancy stitches and of course zig-zag for finishing edges. I paid $299.00 in canada. It came with a video on how to work most of the feet and how to set the machine up which was nice. Saved a lot of reading.

Pretty much all sewing machines made these days have at least some plastic parts in them. The only machines with all metal parts are vintage machines. However, there are differences in both the quantity of plastic parts in a machine and the quality of the plastic parts. Whether there is a difference between the low-end machines in a dealership and the big box machines, I don't know.

CS6000i from Walmart is my favorite. Needle down, feed dogs down, 60 fancy stiches etc, etc. I started with a $699.dollar singer that was for quilters....Wrong....It is sitting on the floor in the corner. It came with an extension table (Brother) and was $159, 2 years ago.
Marie

Janome Gem or the Brothers machines are dependable good machines for that price.

Amazon has a lot of nice machines for under 200.00. They carry brother and janome.

Low end brothers are also pretty solid, my mechanical from overstock is about 8 years old, and my walmart brother is about 4, neither have given me any issues even my walmart brother sewed through super thick layers with no issues which really shocked me. Brothers also tend to come with more accesories

Any of the Janome or Brother machines in that price range will be great choices. The Brother's tend to have more stitches and options, the Janome's tend to be slightly longer lived. Both are well reviewed. I'd choose a Brother PC-210PRW or if he can stretch the budget just a bit... the PC-420PRW.

Several of my friends have purchased a Brother machine for quilters from WalMart. It is around $199 and comes with the 1'4" foot, walking foot, extension table, and some other things. It has a good variety of stitches and does letters as well as fancy stitches. They all love it and consider it a good buy for the money.

I have one of the Brother machines that are available at Walmart and most fabric stores. I paid $135 for it several years back. It has about 80 decorative stitches, came with several attachments, is light weight and sews like a dream. I love it. And, best of all if you don't like it after getting it home and trying it out, it can be returned with no questions asked.

I have an inexpensive Brother, and I am happy with it.

I have a 35 year old Kenmore that is still my most reliable machine. I have a Babylock a year old and I still depend on the Kenmore for things that the babylock does not do well. No comparison in quality. I've seen them at resale stores for 25.00 and am always tempted to pick them up. Mine was the store model and high end. I paid $600 for it 35 years ago which was a lot at that time and it has been thru many years of sewing and quilting. I have had it in for tune-up only twice in it's life.

I bought a Janome that was a floor model. It was a $599 machine and I got it for $400. I love it! Se. If your Janome dealer has any floor models to sell.

I saved $2,000 on my floor model Janome. They repacked it in the original box, full warranty, and i have been happily sewing ever since. Paid cash, no trade. Sew happy!

My 2 cents, he is buying a gift. "New" vs, vintage is my choice. Unless his wife expressed a desire for vintage. He probably understands her buying style in other items.

sandy

Juki HZL 27 Z! Comparable in price to big box stores but it has metal, not plastic, innards, sews like a dream, and won't frustrate the beginner sewist.

Another vote for the Brother Cs6000i. I bought mine from Amazon. Good sturdy machine, but too small for me once I really got serious about quilting. I made at least 5 quilts on it though, so I think it's good for beginners. It comes with the quarter-inch quilting foot and an extension table. It has a needle up/down button which is another great feature for piecing.

I gave mine to my niece and nephew (who were 8 & 12 when I gave it to them). They have had it 2 years now and abuse that machine pretty bad and it's still working. It won't last forever (plastic gears) but for the price I paid for it I've been impressed at how rugged it's turned out to be. I know for a fact they've sewn through cardboard with it, LOL. They are able to thread it, change needles and do basic troubleshooting on it.

I"d try a thrift shop. A cousin of mine bought her daughter in law a Kenmore with several built in stitches...works really great for $25. The dil was interested in making some summer clothes for her daughter. Now if she sees she really doesn't like to sew my cousin isn't out much. Just a suggestion.

I'll add my vote for a brother or Janome in that price range-I actually have a low end Walmart Brother-the CS6000i (or I did I gave to a granddaughter, still going great after 7 yrs) and the Janome Jem Silver from approx 12 years ago, the ASG Anniversary model. Also still going strong, gave that one to another granddaughter & bought a used one for a 3rd granddaughter. I also keep a low end Brother at my daughter's house on the other side of the country.
Janome now makes Elna & Necchi-both lines have machines that are the same as the Jem's. The Necchi TM8, Travelmate, is the same machine as the Jem Silver. I missed the ones I gave away so much I recently bought the Necchi for $199. These are great machines especially if space is limited or if a machine is needed for classes or travel. I do a lot of sewing everyday so must admit those machines were not my main machine but I still love them, never let me down and often used.

I have one of the Brother sewing machines from walmart and I have been using it for years, it is easy to use, easy to learn to thread, just an easy machine. I have even quilted a king size quilt on it. Not easy but it can be done. Anyway I vote for the brother.

I have a Brother CS6000i that I bought 3 years ago and it has been good for me. Just wish I could get a drop down table for it to go into instead of the extension table that came with it. Love this machine. Light weight and very portable. Amazon for $150.00

Add me to those suggesting the Brother CS6000i. I have this one for when I need something my Juki TL2010Q can't do (that machine is straight stitch only). It is exceptionally easy to thread and use. Stitch quality is great and it is very portable. If you plan to do much quilting, the throat area is pretty small, so consider that. I got mine from Amazon for under $150 and find it well worth the price. It has a lot of features for an inexpensive machine, including speed regulation, a needle threader, ability to drop the feed dogs, and a lot of stitch options. Mine came with a ton of feet as well. While it seems slow compared to my Juki, it really is quite fast enough for most anything you would want to sew at home.

Check out Hancock.

I have a Brother SQ9000 from Walmart. $199 before tax. It is closing in on five years old, and I LOVE it. Go take a look.

I have a Brother from Walmart as a back up and I love it so much I use it most of the time now.

mmac71 - From your location, it sounds like you're either a military wife or brat. If I'm wrong, forgive the assumption. I was born in Conn., lived in Chicago, Kentucky, NM, FL, West Texas and now SE Texas. I was an Army brat and an AF wife.

Another vote for the Brother line. I've owned several and never had any problems. I've always sold the one to upgrade to another. If he can afford it, as someone else suggested, the Brother PC420 is fabulous. It's my daily driver and Amazon has it right now for $369 with free shipping and their returns are super easy if she doesn't like it. I had the Brother CS6000i and upgraded to the PC420prw. There was a big difference, most noticeably in the quietness of the 420. But both are good.

I would recommend the Janome Gem 760. I have that Machine and I love it. I take it to quilting classes as it only weighs 12 lbs and has lots of stitches.

the main thing is to get a good machine so that she has no problems. If she is just learning machine problems will turn her off sewing/quilting.

I bought a Brother machine for $79.00 at Walmart and it is a terrific machine.