maviskw

Just last week there was a thread about small machines. The Ikea SY was mentioned, but no one seemed to own one. I'm thinking about looking at it when I get near an Ikea next month, they only cost $69 I think. Does anyone know anything about this machine?

fmhall2

My backup machine is a Brother CS6000i, and I do love it. It is very lightweight so I can take it to classes, and it works great You can get a new one under $200. Mine was a refurbished one and I got it for $125. Refurbished means that it is in factory new condition. Incidentally I got it from Ken's Sewing and Vacuum on line. He is an authorized Brother on line dealer. His shop is in northwest Alabama. He is very reliable - I have bought two older machines from him.

miriam

It amazes me to look at the engineering in the old machines. They were so intricate and yet they have held up over such a long time. Each of them is different in how they work. It totally fascinates me. Then I look at an old Japanese straight stitch. No nonsense there. It is so amazing how these are put together!!! You sure don't see much when you look in the new plastic and stamped metal machines - is it any wonder they don't hold up and you can't get anybody to repair them??? I guess I can't bear to see the old vintage machines discarded by the same people that talk about everything being 'green'... Wanna go green? Get a vintage sewing machine and learn to use it - the cost is less than ONE service call for your newer machines and with the internet you can probably find a service manual and fix anything that would go wrong. Almost every city seems to have someone who is buying machines at yard sales, fixing them up and selling them if you aren't comfortable doing the repairs.

Carol34446

I have a brother SQ9000 I bought on Overstock (also from Ken's) and it was less than $150 ( bought for the 80 stitches) with free shipping and is a good sewing little machine, and there are a lot of older machines all metal out there with out all the fancy stitches much cheaper. Check craigs list, e-bay and newspaper, or free cycle. I also have a singer 201-3 (grandmother's machine), Kenmore bought late 70's Model 1521, not to many stitches but all metal and sews great and now have the vintage machine bug so have a 1911 White treadle and 80's singer with cams. Ran out of room so had to quit, but still have my heart set on a white 211, from 1960's as my mother had one I loved to sew on and I let her give it away, drats. Even check with local dealers as they get trades in on new machines. Good luck and let us know what you get.

MargeD

I lucked out and got an older Brother machine with just some basic stitches at the swap exchange at our town's incinerator/dump. I was looking for a machine for my daughter, someone was carrying the machine in it's original box, I asked if it worked - he said yes, his wife just doesn't sew any more. I took it home, it sews great, in fact I think it does a better closer zig -zag stitch than my Janome, however it never made it to my daughter, as I use it for a back-up machine when my machine needs to go in for a checkup. My girl friend brought me a Sears Kenmore machine, but it does have something wrong with it; but she says she has a Janome that she picked up recently. I'm so glad I have a friend like her. Who knows, maybe I'll actually give my daughter a sewing machine for her to keep.

jollyquilting

for 300 you should find a nice machine that is wonderful. I still like my Janome, but I also have a featherweight too

Rose Bagwell

I have a Brother SQ 9050 as my backup and to take to classes. I love it and it is only 200.00 at Wal Mart. I love it and it sew great.

quilting in my60s

I also think a Brother from Walmart would be a good back up machine. I have the embroidery/sewing one and have had no problems with it.

Marysewfun

I, too, have a Brother machine from Walmart (sewing/embroidery) so I am backed up in both hobbies. :-)

Marysewfun

jlm5419

For a backup machine, you can't go wrong with a vintage machine. I have found them at yard sales for as little as $10 or $15, and the all metal ones will outlast me.:-)