I was at a sewing class, and was suddenly aware that everyone had fancy expensive computerized sewing machines. I was unexpectedly very embarrassed of my ~$100 Brother machine that I had gotten at Walmart a few years ago. :oops: Which was odd - because I normally don't concern myself with "material things" - no pun intended!
My original machine was a Kenmore that I'd had for about 25yrs - and had fixed 4 times during the last 2 yrs. Finally I kicked it to the curb, and bought the Brother. It seems fine for my needs - basic stitches, but impossible to sew button holes with.
So hopefully I'll get over being prideful until my machine dies a slow and natural demise! In the meantime - can anyone point me in the direction of a reasonably priced product that they would recommend?

If you are happy with it I would say it doesn't matter.
I bought a second hand Bernina from a friend that was upgrading.
Your friends may upgrade sometime soon and you can buy a used machine.

Maybe you ould go to your local dealer and see ifthey have any reconditioned ones. I love the vintage ones the best, and find them for under 20.00 usually!

if you're happy with your machine, don't worry about what others have. plus that's more money you can spend on fabric.

For class i would want a smaller machine. those big ones break your back especially the embroidery ones. I suggesty a Janome Gem for class. Most of my friends use that as their home machine too.

There is nothing wrong with your Brother! I have my nice big high end Pfaff and won't take it to classes because it is too heavy and big. I love it but I'm looking for a small, lightweight machine, probably a Brother!

I take my 25 year old WHITE to class!! My viking is too heavy to haul around, plus all I do at class is a straight stitch.

I remember that feeling from the first time I went to a quilting class with my little Pfaff Hobby and saw everyone else's (or it seemed to me) Husqvarna machines! Then, as the years went by and finally bought my own Husqy, it dawned on me that all I really needed was the perfectly good stitching of my little Pfaff! Plus, I didn't have to lug my "good" machine to class or risk damaging it's very expensive hide. :-)

If it sews straight and you like it, the heck with everyone else's machines!

Hey if it works for you and you know how to operate it with all its quirks and idiosyncracies, you are probably way ahead of anyone with their fancy machine. I know I haven't begun to explore the features of my machine and am using the basic stitching features the most! Don't be intimidated! I really wish I had my first electric machine to stitch on. That old Kenmore made the most beautiful stitches!

The classes I have attended only required a straight-stitch sewing machine, so I take my trusty little featherweight. I wouldn't want to take my embroidery machine, because you never know what damage a tiny bump might cause.

All my other machines are 30-50+ years old, and way too heavy to be lugging to classes.

I have an Elna [I love her!] Quilting Queen {whatever number}, she was 40% off and it's still a low end price compared to many others. My husband built me an awesome sewing table that she fits down into, and she's not going anywhere! I bought a Brother @ Walmart about $139 I think and it's going to do whatever I need it to do at classes. I even took a FMQ class with it and it was fine. My Elna is wonderful, but computerized machines can really be affected by lots of things, so "My Brother and Me" will be hitting the class circuit and Elna stays home!

I have an amusing story as to how I'm sewing everyday on a Brother Pacesetter 1250. I had lost 3 great machines to a burglary - a Pfaff 1475CD with all the extras (I never got to even use it, it needed servicing since it was froze up), a Singer Ingenuity that I used regularly, and a Simplicity serger. I guess my angel was watching out for me and directed me to a yard sale with a sewing machine sitting in the middle of all the offerings. I saw the case and thought, "I could use a good sewing machine case for when I get another sewing machine", but when I opened it there was a sewing machine inside. It was the Brother...hmmm, never been a big fan, I'd always used Singers. But, what the hey..I asked "How much?" I was shocked when she said $10! Well, this deserves another look. It looked almost new! Upon further examination, it was missing the foot pedal/power cord and the cover for the bobbin compartment. I had no idea how much the cord would cost, but knew they could be expensive, and no way to really check this thing out. So, being me, I asked "Would you take $5?" I mean what did I have to lose? lol And she said YES! The reason I say this was my angel was that I was going through a divorce and money was tight. When I called my local repair shop, he told me that he should have another power cord in a bin for cheap, probably around $10. I went in with the machine and he disappeared into the back with it. When he came back out, machine and cord in hand, he said "I have a power cord, but I can't charge you for it. It's been spliced, and perfectly safe, but I don't feel right charging you for it." I wound up spending $6 for a bobbin cover/plate and another $4 for some bobbins. So for $11 plus the cost of bobbins, I had a new machine. And it works great! I'll never say anything bad about a Brother sewing machine again (come on you Singer fans, you know you have, lol) Thank you angels, for this one and the subsequent 12 other machines I've collected since then (most in varying states of repair) I've learned how to set the time from this machine (which I've thrown out a couple of times, my fault) and hope to learn how to completely fix all of my machines. It's amazing what necessity will teach you! Love your machine, whatever its' brand might be...

I have two machines that I use - my mom's Singer 301A from the 50s and my Singer that my Mom and Dad gave me for graduating high school in 1969. I love them both. I have considered getting a new fancy one, but I haven't. I would rather spend the money for fabric!

There's nothing wrong with your Brother. Yes, the fancy, computerized machines are nice, but most of my students don't bother to bring those to classes. They mostly opt to bring their lightweight and/or back-up machines. Honestly, I've been thinking about taking my older machines to classes just because my computerized ones are SO heavy.
You need not be embarrassed about your Brother. I've seen a lot of really nice things made on less expensive machines. If you can make it work, great!
I've also heard that you only actually use 20% of your machine's functions, so why spend more money on more features you won't use?

If you check around this board, you will find some wonderful quilts being made on cheap little Brother machines. Some folks are quilting Queen and King size quilts on those little guys.

Mine is a Brother XL2600 and my only complaint with it is throat space. It pieces anything I could ever want it too. Save your money for fabric if you are happy with your machine.

Today I am using the same Kenmore that my mom gave me as a graduation present from college in 1980, and it has outlasted 3 marriages, 5 kids, several weddings, many draperies, quilts and even slipcovers! I clean and oil it in between projects, have it serviced once in a while, and dread the day when I will have to replace it. I wish my car was this reliable!

i'm all the time telling people you do not need an expensive computerized machine to create beautiful quilts! and the brother machines are good, inexpensive machines...nothing wrong with that...and (all those people) in the class with the fancy machines...did you ask any of them how much they actually (use) the extra features? i have an expensive viking; came with the embroidery unit...lots of special capabilities...i don't think any of us have embroidered anything with it in at least a year...and an occassional decorative stitch may be used...but basically...98% of the time all it does is a basic straight or zigzag stitch...big time overkill! don't be ashamed of owning an inexpensive basic machine...as long as it does what you need it to do that is all that matters :thumbup: after all--look how many people are quilting with feather-weights---can't get much more basic than that and certainly no computers...they didn't even have that word when they were made...and they work well. my granddaughter has a brother machine that is as old as her...and works just fine...and she is very proud of it!...and at the sewing school we had students who would fight over getting to use their (favorite) brother machines...they never wanted to 'deal' with my machine

Don't be embarrassed about your machine. It serves your purpose and you are happy with it, that's what matters :) You got a machine at a great price leaving more money for fabric. :)

Ditto, I have a 301a. At first the smirks start, then when they realize my straight stitches blows the doors off their fancy machines...I just grin. I'm quite proud of "Old Martha".
I do have a very nice Viking, but the 301 is awesome!

I have a Brother that replaced my older Brother, that replaced my original Brother. The first one cost me $79 on sale at WalMart 10 years ago. The second one I bought for $139 on eBay when my daughter took the first one to college. The 3rd one I bought for $189 at WalMart on sale last year so that my DH could have my 2nd one. His little old $80 Brother kept losing tension after 2-1/2 years of nearly constant sewing. I like my new Brother...it was inexpensive and it only weighs about 12 pounds. It has a bunch of special stitches, and can do block letters too, and came with an extension table. I love these little Brother's to do piecing on.

Hallaleujah! Sweet music to my ears! Thank you ladies - that is exactly what I needed to hear. I feel like Charlie Brown...... "It really IS a nice little sewing machine."

I love my little Brother sewing machine. haven't used all of the fancy stitches yet but have made some nice quilts, place mats, etc. for family and friends who love them. I do wish it had a bigger throat space as I'm trying to learn FMQ, but all in all, my Brother machine is just right for my needs.

My youngest machine is a 1974 Singer, and I am totally happy with what I have.

Does your machine do all that you need it to do? If so, have fun and don't worry what anyone else thinks :-)

I have a friend who teaches quilting classes and who gets very frustrated with the ladies who show up with TOL machines that they can't even thread! She is there to teach her technique, not basic machine operation. A lot of the time she isn't familiar with the machines in question because she is a Bernina user herself.

I have a 1961 Singer 503a.....it is my dream machine! I had a Kenmore embroidery machine..In the 12 years I had it I never embroidered! I mean I did do a couple of initials but no way have I ever had $ to spend on those $$$$ cards it took. Plus it would NOT fmq. Then the computer started going wacky. Some days it would sew and others it wouldn't. That was a top of the line Kenmore when we bought it. Now it did sew LOTS of flannel diapers and some clothing. But 12 years only? I absolutely love the 503! It does all the fancy stitches I need and it does beautifully on fmq! I never have to worry about a computer going out on me either. I can service it and oil it myself. Its made good and will last me the rest of my life. So now if I can get a case for it and I ever need a machine to take to a class I will proudly take my 503a!

those who take a fancy machine to class are just showing off....any machine that sews a straight line is good enough!

kwiltamomma,

Your lawn quilt is beautiful! I haven't seen my lawn in months under all the snow.
Quilter 68

I went to a quilt retreat with an old Singer that had a broken lever that raised the presser foot. The only way to raise the lever was to take off the end of the machine that conceals the light bulb. It looked like a jalopy in a room filled with Cadillacs. Some of those machines costs thousands.

Guess what? It isn't the machine that really makes the difference. Expensive or not it is still the sewer/quilter that makes everything work. If our great-grandmothers could work with some of those ancient machines, we can do well with whatever machine we have as long as it is in good repair.

Featherweights prove it to us all.

Enjoy and that is enough.

ali

Dont worry. Nobodyelse cares. The smaller machines are nice to take to classes.

I have a Pfaff that I used to take to classes, but no more. It ended up breaking. Now I take a 1938 Singer that only straight stitches. I can't hurt that one.

Mary

You have all you need to make a quilt. I bought my second Pfaff because the computer burned out of the first one. That was 5 or 6 years ago and I haven't even had the embroidery unit out of the case. I love the stitch and will keep it for a long time, but my next one will be basic, like a Viking that just sews a good straight stitch. I wouldn't drag my heavy machine to class anyway, I take my Gem. Enjoy your classes!

My class machine is a 1956 301A. She did everything the pretty little machines in the class did. My 'good' machine is a 1974 Elna Star. Between the two, they can do anything a new machine can do except embroider and neither one is going have a meltdown on me. When you get older, you'll come to realize that 'less is more' - wish I could remember to apply that to my fabric stash.

I know how you feel. I have a Bernina, yes that fancy brand! BUT it is 25 years old. Nothing fancy about it. I love, love, love it. It sews wonderfully. I have spent $16.00 on it, in the 25 years I've had it. It doesn't have any of the bells and whistles that new machines have, and I'm sure I would love them. I don't see a new machine anywhere in the near future for me, but that is ok, mine does 99% of what I want it to do. It is very heavy though, so I was soooo happy when I was given a Singer featherweight, that is the machine I take to class now. If you like your machine, that is all that matters.

I have an old Singer & an old Kenmore (my fav). I won a Babylock Quilter's Choice, which I do use, but I'd have been happy to keep on stitching with the Kenmore as long as I can sew. The Babylock is lighter, so it travels with me, but I rarely use all the fancy stitches it offers - straight & zig-zag do most of my quilt projects just fine. Your Brother probably works fine for you - don't worry about what others use.

All 3 of my machines are Brothers, and I am perfectly happy with all of them. Don't let them TOL knock it, I have never had a problem with any of mine in the 10 yrs. I've owned them... well, not accounting for operator errors. LoL! I started on an old White my MIL gave me since the feed dogs were broke, and it FMQ'ed beautifully but that is all it would do! Then she gave me a student model Singer and another Singer she had laying around and they didn't sew half as good as my first $80 Brother from Wal-Mart. I have been hooked on 'em ever since. By a newer one every few years, just because it does something new I want to try.

If you are happy with the machine you have and it does what you want stick with it.Material things don't matter(no pun intended). On a lot of these computerised machines it is just more bells and whistles to push and you won't use a lot of the functions. But it is you preference, hope this helps.

All I have is brothers and whites. They are great machines.

The funny thing is, they were probably looking at your machine enviously too thinking how smart to bring a lighter machine!

I have a computerized Kenmore and I enjoy sewing with it so much. Yes,I look at other machines and think how nice to have the bells and whistles. Then, I read the manual and find out that I can do some of the same things-so, I enjoy my machine, lug it to class and know that I can sew just as well as the next person with my machine. It's your heart that counts!