I agree with everyone else. It seems to me that there are lots of good machines out there for sale. Craigslist.com has a sections about garage sales. Some people having garage sales will list if they have a sewing machine. Also, in many places there is a site called (name of your city)garagesales.com. Both of these allow you to choose the garage sales you go to and not have to run all over town looking. You can also look at garage sales in nearby towns that may offer a good sewing machine. Lots of blessings on your search.

Absolutely!! Keep looking for a good deal! There is bound to be one out there with your name on it! :thumbup:

And BellaBoo, I LOVE your Avatar!!

You can't quit !!!! You're a QUILTER !!!!!!!!!!!!

My son and his family live in Livermore - what a small world. When we go to visit them I take my machine and mend, make curtains or what ever. A great town.

Glad you found a machine. This group is really great.

I have been looking at vintage machines on ebay. The Singer 301 was the next model Singer made after the Featherweight- they seem to go for around $80.00 plus shipping. You might be able to find one at Goodwill or another secondhand store. They are supposed to be a wonderful workhorse of a machine and all metal parts! Good luck on your search. I feel your pain!!!

Very true......I definitely would not get another Singer now.
Once the younger boys took over the company when their father retired, they chose to go with the bottom line instead of retaining quality.

I have a machine that was bought in 1970 (in a cabinet no less!) and it was what I started quilting with 6 years ago. Then the bobbing case area "froze" and as I learned, one of the metal gears broke. The replacement part is plastic unfortunately. But it's nice and clean and ready to go, except that I have since gotten two newer machines and thought I'd "give" it to one of my DIL's. No interest so far. Maybe someday I suppose....unless I sell it first.

If you sew every day, you had better get yourself a back-up machine. Haunt the second hand shops and the newspaper for good buys.
The first time my Viking broke down after about 24 years, (Thank goodness it was still just under the warranty of 25 years) I felt like I had lost part of my body!!! My husband found an inexpensive machine on Overstock and sent for it. It arrived in just a few days and, although it was not my beloved Viking, it did keep me happy for the several weeks it took to locate the out-of-stock part Vicky needed.
Now I have one to sew on every day and one that I use occasionally when I have a big project on the main machine!!

Sewing is the cheapest therapy in the world.We are all getting old.I am now 76 and i am going to quilt until whenever.Get yourself another machine you are worth it.It is cheaper than medicine and the best anti depressant in the world .Do not give this up!

Don't give up! I bought my Featherweight at a garage sale. I see "older" sewing machines all the time. Let everyone know you are looking for another machine--I read about fellow board members finding machines everywhere! I know you will find one too!

Don't give up!

Sign up free for freecycle.org in your local area. I see people giving sewing machines all the time. If you offer some 'stuff' free a couple of times then you can post a 'wanted ... working sewing machine', and might actually have a couple of people offer you a free machine.

Or get an inexpensive one on Craigslist. I got a beautiful Singer 15-91 in cabinet for only $25 a few months ago.

where there's a will.... there's a way

I'm so sorry. You may want to look at goodwill or thrift stores for another one.About 2 years ago my husband got me a machine at wal-mart, I really like it.This machine has some of the bells and whisles and it wasnt to pricey. At Christmas time they have a brother that only does straight stitch for around 50 to 60 dollars and a lady I know got one and loves it.That would be a better ideal than not sewing.This way you might be able to make some quilts and sale them to buy a better machine.Any way I do hope you get anpther machine>

HEY AGAIN MONA LISA. HAVE YOU LOOKED ON TODAYS BUY SELL OR TRADE BOARD. I was setting here and thinking of your broken machine and saw this ad a lady wanting to depart with a sewing machine she bought and never used. May be worth your time to check it out!

Hang in there. Presently i am using a 25 year old Brother
Buttonmatic sewing machine and it works great. There a plenty of cheap machines to be had out there if your not too fussy. I just saw one at goodwill for $10. Where there is a will there is a way.

True to that! I just bought Janome Serger, 4 thread, with differential feed for $ 25 today! I wish you just as good luck in your hunt.

I don't know where you are, but I'm sure I have a machine I could spare until you find just what you want. What state are you from? I'm in Iowa, NE part. Are you close???

Like a lot of them said check Goodwill,Methedest Mountain Mission,maybe even a consignment store yardsale.Please don't give in so easy.You look real hard or post a add in a paper some one might be willing to sell you one that way.

Mona Lisa -

Lots of good advice on this thread. I bought a very nice traded-in Pfaff 1475 for either $300 or $400 a few years ago. Since then I have found 4 vintage machines that are awesome performers for $80, $20, $15, and $45. The $20 was a Featherweight. Just keep an eye on thrift stores, Craigslist, the classifieds in your local paper, and estate and yard sales. Consider the adventure of the search.

I hope you enjoy the search and find a great machine.

Darren