Comments on: The Home Ec 101 Sewing Machine Buying Guide

By: Kendra

Kendra — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:02:03 +0000

I’m shopping around as we speak…I think I’m more confused than when I started. Like you I started with my mothers Singer Genie. I’m off to a dealer this weekend. Hopefully they can help me. I found one on the walmart site but I’ve heard bad things about their machines being made with plastic parts to cut down on the cost.

By: Traci

Traci — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:08:01 +0000

i grew up sewing on my mom’s old 1970’s bernina. when i went to college, she bought me a cheapo walmart one (a brother i think) that i *loathed.* (she has it now and thinks it’s fine, but i wanted to throw that thing over a big cliff and/or into a large bonfire.) so when i finally had enough money to buy a good machine, i went to the bernina dealership in town and got a pretty basic model. so far, it’s been wonderful. i <3 my bernina.

By: Judith

Judith — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 21:13:24 +0000

I researched the Brothers sergers and discovered the absolutely best price on on the one I wanted from Amazon (along with free shipping), so I ordered it. My husband was thrilled that I got what I wanted.
I am waiting till the 12 days of Christmas (when life is less crazy) to open it and start to play. Have lots of knit fabrics bought to make baby clothes for my coming grandson, so I’ll really have fun!
Wish me luck!

By: WRC

WRC — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 02:25:56 +0000

I have a Singer 328K Style-O-Matic. I’m guessing it was made in the early 60’s (same vintage as me). I bought it for $65 in the mid-80’s with my income tax refund and it was the best $65 I ever spent. I love love love my machine.

By: Thankful

Thankful — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:57:19 +0000

I have my aunt’s Singer from the early 60s. It can’t do buttonholes, but the thing is a hoss when it comes to sewing well and fast.

I concur about finding a dealer when purchasing a new machine–specialty retail is the way to go. I love the place I take my machine for maintenance, and the ladies who work there not only know their stuff, they have time to really answer questions.

By: Keter

Keter — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:17:05 +0000

I had a White Westinghouse from the early 1900s that I grew up using until the motor shorted out and I couldn’t find a replacement. I was really poor at the time (early 80s) and doing a lot of sewing for my family, so I bought a top of the line Kenmore (on credit), figuring it would be reliable. The thing was a total lemon and Sears flatly refused to honor the warranty. Borrowing friends’ newer machines and a few trips to a sewing machine dealer convinced me that anything modern under $1000 (probably $2000 by now) would be a disappointment. (Although I fell in lust with an embroidery machine that can be programmed and run by a computer…only $10K…)

The machine I have now is an old Singer I found advertised in Thrifty Nickel or Greensheet for $75. It was absolutely GOOEY with a mixture of dried up oil and extremely heavy cigarette residue, struggled to run, and had no accessories. I got it for $50 and had it professionally serviced. It took two months of soaking it in penetrating oil, but the machine came out like new. The guy who fixed it told me that most of the old machines that get sluggish or even bound up (but the motor still hums) are just gooey from the old formula of oil and are just fine once cleaned.

I found a bunch of aftermarket specialty feet on sale for $1 each at a fabric store, so I bought nine or ten different feet for it – even one that creates covered cording for upholstery, and was able to get a huge box of metal bobbins also for cheap. Shortly after that, I was in a flea market and found a complete zig-zag and decorative stitch accessory with six cams that fit it – I think I paid another $10 for that. A garage sale yielded even more cams and fabric hoop for delicates. I think I now have every accessory for it.

A few years ago, I did some research online and found out that the machine was made in 1953 in England of all places, and was able to download a complete parts list and manual for free from a UK site (sorry, I no longer have the link). Aside from normal oiling and cleaning, it hasn’t needed any service in the 17 years I’ve had it. The accessories are a little finicky to set up, but work perfectly, and I’ve been able to do quilts, curtains, alterations, even boat upholstery on it. So I would definitely recommend looking for a stout old machine that is gooey with oil and fixing it up.

By: Judith

Judith — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:41:31 +0000

Thanks, Angela. It’s good to hear that you found your mother’s serger useful. Thirteen pairs of pajama pants!?!?! Wow!

I’m going to check out the Brothers site and read some manuals. I will go to a sewing machine dealer this weekend and learn more ….. my husband just offered to buy a serger for me for Christmas! I can’t turn that down!

By: Angela

Angela — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:09:50 +0000

I hace a Pacesetter by Brother… My parents got it for me for my high school grad present… I did not use it for many years and now a week does not go by that I don’t use it. I also got mine from a dealer and that is who I bring it to when ever it needs anything, like to get cleaned and gone through every couple of years, it will make it last so much longer. I am also getting a sewing machine and table from some one that left it in there apt when they moved out. I have no idea what that machine is like, but hey I can either give it to my kids to sew on or gift it to some one that does not have one.

About the serger, I will be getting one hopefully soon(this is the second part to my HS grad present and I have been out of HS for almost 10 years now). My mom has had one for many many years and as it is awsome to make cloths and crafts, I warn you, do not sew quilt blocks together on it… I have learned that they show the thread when strtched for quilting and the seam is much too bulky. I barrowed my moms a few Christmases back and make 13 pairs of PJ pants as gifts… it when so fast and the look so nice with the clean edge.

I know Brother manuals you can download for free, Singer want you to pay to download theres… atleast that is what I could find.

By: Badbadivy

Badbadivy — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:02:42 +0000

Allison, I’d definitely take it in to a repair shop and see if it can be repaired. It is soooo much less expensive than buying a new machine. They can also get you the feet you need for it. You can download a manual online, most likely.

By: Allison Wonder

Allison Wonder — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:33:07 +0000

My SIL gave me her old machine. I honestly don’t know whether it works or not; the foot is off, and I haven’t taken it in to have it looked at. Also, no manual, and I know nothing about sewing (I actually want it to use on greeting cards).

I’m sure I’d use a machine if it was working (and I knew how to use it), but it seems like too much money to spend to get a new or decent used one. I guess I could scour the classifieds, though…