If you are using a portable, give consideration to the table/surface you are using. Even a piece of batting or old placemat under the machine can help reduce noise.

Dayle

My now-vintage Bernina 1230 is the quietest machine I have ever used. I have a lot of vintage Singers, but none "purrs" the way my Bernina does!

I agree with keeping vintage machines well-oiled. Usually a noisy machine means that things are rubbing against each other (which is not a good thing!). The finer the machine tolerances, the quieter the machine.

Me, too. This is an amazing machine with a beautiful straight stitch - it's quieter than any other machine in the "herd." (includes a 66, 15's, a 27 treadle, a 128 treadle, a 28 hand-crank, a 316G treadle, a 221, a 301, a couple of 401's, 403's, 501, 503, 750 and a few Kenmores from the 60's and 70's, a modern Singer and a modern Brother)

The serger is the noisiest thing in the world, but I can put up with the noise for something that's so useful. :)

My Baby Lock humms. After I got rid of the Pfaff that ran like a tractor DH came up and told me how much he loved my new machine. The sewing room is above his office and he claims that he cannot hear the Baby Lock.

My Janome 6600 - while I love it - is NOT quiet. To those that suggested foam or batting under the machine, this would not help the Janome. I had thought it was quiet but when I tried to get away with sewing while also on a conference call (boring board meeting) THEY heard the machine. In addition, the Janome is constantly beeping at you for something or other and the thread cutter is very noisy.

My Huskvarna Viking Lily 535 is quieter than the Janome ... how much quieter I don't remember. But it still beeps.

I agree with some of the others. If a foam mat under your current machines doesn't do the trick, try one of the older machines like a featherweight. If it's the beeping that is concerning you, perhaps a dealer/repair shop can turn that feature off.

I agree on the Baby Lock. Mine, a Quilter's Choice is very quiet. I go to a quilting bee and people comment on how quiet my machine is.

I think my Viking Platinum is very quiet - provided the bobbin is pretty full. You would think I'd learn by now that when the machine gets louder, the bobbin is getting lower and I wouldn't sew 10 HTS's with no bobbin thread! It's quieter than my FW but I think that's the foot - the FW does purr. The Viking will beep at me if I'm being stupid or changing settings but that's about it.

Earplugs for hubby?

I agree. My Featherweight is by far my quietest machine.