Sewflower

New one but maybe one with universal attachments she could use maybe on the Singer also.

QuiltNama

I have 3 old Singers and they sew like a dream, 1-1963 Pfaff that still sews perfect (inherited from my Grannie) and 2 newer Kenmore machines, both are close to the top of the line. Guess which one is in the shop???LOL The 3 year old Kenmore. Have purchased all of my Singer feet for the different machines for reasonable prices. My FW has gone to every retreat, class I have given or taken over the last 10 years and never missed a beat. I would suggest she take the machine her MIL gave her to a trusted service man. Have it checked over and see if he thinks it's worth keeping, and if it is, have it cleaned, serviced and fix any potential problems. Then decide where to spend the money for new machine or feet. Most service people will not charge anything (or very small fee) if machine is not worth fixing. Just a suggestion from someone obsessed with quilting and sewing machines!!!!!!!!!!!!

majormom

I was thinking the same thing! I don't think basic feet for a Singer cost that much. Maybe it would be better to get the basic feet and when (if) the Singer breaks down, really go all out getting her a great machine.

jhoward

I think this an excellant idea. My daughter has my mother's Singer, we are going to pass it on to other family.

misseva

I'm not familiar with this model of Singer but you might want to look on the Vintage thread on this site. I have a Singer Featherweight from 1936 and it sews like a son-of-a-gun. Will your daughter really use a zipper foot? I haven't used one in a gazillion years. I do have a generic walking foot that cost less than $20. That's one I can't do without. I'd never buy new if a few dollars would get the old one up & running.

Doreen

I would also go with a newer machine. You may find that parts for the older machine are hard to find.

jamsbuying

Hold on to the machine, even if she gets a new one!

SUZAG

Check out the thrift stores and e-bay...I have gotten many feet there and the Singers are pretty generic...50 cents a piece! I would let her go with the MIL machine for a while longer and then when you do buy her a new machine, she will appreciate it so much more and want to keep the MIL machine for backup! Too much chance for hurt feelings!

homebody323

I've never owned a brother machine, but a couple of my customers bought them from WM and were most unhappy with them. For me the answer is to look at a few machines including trade ins of the various top machines like elna, bernina, and factor in the cost of walking foot, zipper foot if they don't have them. Talk to a couple of repair men and get their point of view of fixing up the existing machine with the feet she wants - don't talk to them about trading it in. They will be figuring in their heads the value of it to themselves to resell and if it's a good machine they will talk it down. About 15 years ago I had my elna super cleaned it was a '74 and I paid $600 for it new. Service man offered me 600 for it in trade. I saw later that my friend had traded hers in and he was selling hers for $800. They were identical machines so I figure he saw a good deal coming his way. Profit on the new sale/profit on the trade in. I'm still using that '74 for most of my everyday sewing and piecing and frankly prefer it over my Viking D1. Quality is very important and the plastic parts of the new machines doesn't always make for a sturdier, quieter machine.
I always keep my existing machine, buy new and hand the old machine down to another as was mentioned in an earlier post. I do keep certain machines for my use. One for heavy duty, one for fancy embroidery, one for everyday sewing. To me the walking foot can make or break a purchase when the person wants to quilt.

mimisharon

It helps to have a good straight stitch back up machine. she may decide to keep the machine to use when she's just straight stitching blocks, etc. I would surely talk to her about it and encourage her to keep the machine MIL gave her for back up.