What would you do?
 

My daughter inherited a Singer 4530 from her MIL, it seems to work ok, but has only one basic foot. She is really getting into sewing and would like a zipper foot, walking foot, etc, to be able to do more. She is on a super tight budget so I thought it would be a good Christmas thing to do. So, my question is, does it make sense to spend money on accessories for this machine or would it make more sense to buy a better but basic machine that has all the feet, etc.? From what I have read, Singer's of this age are not very reliable, and I would hate to have it stop working after buying a bunch of stuff for it...any thoughts? I could spend about 400 dollars for a new machine.

Ppersonally I would go with a newer machine with all the various feet. Brother is an excellent brand that is very reasonable.

Yeah I'd have to go with Dakotamaid on that one.

How attached is she to this machine? It would make sence to buy a new machine. I did in July and was so surprised at all the new things that are on machines today that was not on my old machine.:)

I brought my DGD very nice Brother through HSN and it has more sticthes and feets than my own brothers and I spent less than $400. But I would not tell MIL

I would go for a new one with as many bells and whistles as she can handle and keep the MIL machine for basic assembly and backup-Good luck

I would keep in mind that the MIL gave her the one she now has. Wouldn't want to cause bad feelings in the family.

I would not want to be in your shoes. A new machine would be nice , but the MIL factor .... Maybe wait a few more months to see how the machine she got from her MIL is holding up.

i would actually talk to her about it---is she really attached to the machine? she may not have any interest in a new machine-
also---would her mother in law be hurt- maybe not-
if you do go for a new machine tell her she should still hold on to the older one- you just never know when you might need a back up-
i have been on both sides of this---actually all 3 sides of this- my mil gave me an old machine years ago when i was sewing my kids clothes by hand- later that year my mother sent me a newer machine- i stuck the older machine in a closet- another year or so went by i got my sister sewing-on the old machine- that old (machine from mil passed around between family members for 20 years- then i gave it to my daughter when she turned 21- and had her own daughter to sew for- then her mil gave her a much nicer new machine a year or so later- one of my neices kids are now using the old-old machine-it is still in the family---we just pass machines around to whom ever needs one at the time- there are no hard feelings- as we could get better ones we did- no one ever expected us to keep on using the old one- the old one was one to keep us sewing until we could get a better one. i can think of 4 different machines over 20 years old that are still being used by siblings, kids, grandkids, neices/nephews- they are excited to get the machine- and as soon as they get a new one they either put the old one away-or pass it on until someone else needs it.

Good advice.