10 replies to this topic

[MachV]

Okay I am looking at buying a sewing machine, before now i have been sewing by hand, but i kida realise since i am doing more costumes all the time, that i really need to get my own machine. Espec since i have a lot more time constraints.

What would people suggest?

[Cat M]

I dunno.... all of my sewing machines have been 2nd/3rd and even 4th hand-me-downs through my extended family.

But I'd recommend looking around both for prices and for what you want.

I know that if I was buying a new machine that I'd be looking for something that:

-was a durable beast
-does a billion and one fancy stitches (because I'd use them for my gothic lolita fashion).
-has a good, lengthy electrical cable.
-did automatic buttonholes (my sister's new machine does this crazy thing where it measures the button and then automatically does the right size and everything.)

I also would probably go with a brand that I'd used before and knew to be a good brand. For me that's Elna & Bernina. But that's just me.

So I'd suggest knowing what you want out of a machine. If you only want to be able to sew a straight line and zig-zag, don't go spending the extra cash on the fancy-stitching machines unnecessarily.

[MistressFey]

Okay I am looking at buying a sewing machine, before now i have been sewing by hand, but i kida realise since i am doing more costumes all the time, that i really need to get my own machine. Espec since i have a lot more time constraints.

What would people suggest?

Every corsetmaker I know swear by old Singers. They don't have any fancy stitches or anything but they're solid and can sewing through 5 layers of any kind of fabric. I wants one preciousssss. I've also heard good things about Husqvarna.

However, my curent machine and my previous one have both been Brothers. The first one was purchased by my mother in the late 70's, weighed a ton, had a gazillion fancy stitches which didn't work by the time it was handed down to me and was super-easy to use. The second just appeared one day while I was at work, mum had decided that rather then getting the old one serviced she'd just buy a new machine (a Brother XL-2230). It's much lighter and therefore easier to transport, and also incredibly simple to use so it would be an ideal first machine. Last time I saw one advertised it was around the $200 mark.

The only downside is that being a new machine with plastic bits rather then the metal, teflon and Bakelite of the older ones, they're more prone to needing replacement parts. But (in theory anyway), plastic mass-produced parts means they're cheaper. Maybe.

[wenz]

Personally I'd get a solidly reliable older machine. And if it's going to stay in pretty much one place, then a 1960s or earlier Elna or Bernina are brilliant. They are mostly all metal parts - not plastics that get more fragile with age. They do weigh in solidly though, and are only 'portable' compared to a machine built into a sewing table. They sew more quietly too, though they need to be oiled, which the modern ones have the oil bed etc built into them
I've got a few machines myself,

a 5 year old Janome (cost around $700-800 & at the time their top electronic but not computerised model). It's buttonholes are great. In fact I get it out for all my buttonholes every time.

a year old cheap, lightweight, mechanical Janome (cost me about $200 that I bought to schlep to & from my Sewing Guild meetings).

an early 1960s Bernina 730 Record - the record had extras to the 730. I got it cos it uses a knee lever instead of a foot pedal, and since I broke a bone in my foot it b!tches after even a small bit of sewing with a foot pedal. Actually I got from ebay another identical one, to harvest the extra's- small extension table & carrying case.

a 1950s Elna grasshopper, their first model and also has a knee lever in lieu of foot pedal. This one's over in NZ & compared to the Bernina is lightweight weight. Like I say only lightweight compared to the Bernina, not compared to the plastic bodied & parts modern ones.

If you want to buy second hand there's a great place in Liverpool where I got my Bernina. They're open on Saturday & Sunday, and close enough to the train station for me to carry my machine. Sewing Machine Repairs are at Shop 1/20 Memorial Ave in Liverpool. Phone (02) 9602 8144. Their older machine's come with a 3 month warranty and they regularly do house calls in areas around Sydney so can service or repair it if needed without having to go out to Liverpool.

There's also a sewing machine repair place (that I think sells 2nd hand ones) on Parramatta Road around Annandale from memory - have gone past them on the bus to Ashfield. Their number is 95605764, and I think they're open on Saturday mornings.

[Silver Moonblaze]

I personally prefer the newer machines I have a Janome, which I've never had problems with - my mum has always had Singers and swears by them.

Whether you buy new or second hand, I'd suggest going into a store and finding someone that will take the time to talk you through all the machines, find out the features you need/want, and let you try them all out whilst you are there.

[Starfire Phoenix]

I have a 6 year old Janome, which I paid a lot for. It has a lot of fancy stitches, and it's so sturdy, with a very powerful motor, and I have never had any issues with it at all. I love it to pieces! Before that, I used to use a Brother machine, which had a lot of problems. I find I enjoy sewing a lot more than I used to. lol I agree with silvermoonblaze, go into a reliable store, and make a list of things that are important to you and they can advise you on what would be good for you. Keep an eye on sales as well!

[wenz]

yeah, I'd agree that whether it's old or new, if they treat you like an idiot (happened to me at one store) then they're not going to be helpful if there's a problem with the machine. After sewing more clothes than I can remember, being treated like an idiot that couldn't know what accessory sewing foot I need wasn't pleasant. And if I knew what I needed and they were trying to tell me otherwise, how were they going to treat a newbie.

If I was buying new, I'd get a Janome ... they're well made & reliable. I'm not at all brand loyal, because I grew up using my mother's Elna, or Singer or Bernina. My sister's first purchase was a Husqvarna and that was really good too (early 80s model). Mind you it must have died at some point, cos she had a new machine when she moved to Sydney about 11 years ago.

I also have a broken mid 1970s Singer I was given 15 years ago. I kept it cos I use the table it's built into. The repair would cost about $100 for parts plus labour, and I keep thinking I should get it fixed and donate it to a refuge.

[El Presidente]

I'll add my 2cents for getting an old(er) machine - by this I'm talking the metal ones too.

Because they're metal they are are sturdier than their modern plastic counterparts. Which is a definite bonus for costumers since we do tend to ask a lot from our machines. My little Bernina 810 is still going strong after <mumble25mumble> years, and it will do run&fell seams in (garment) leather or denim quite happily. It has 6 stitches and I think I use maybe 3 of them (straight, zigzag for buttonholes, and the blind hem if I'm in a hurry). Machines that do 999 stitches are fine, but how many times do you think you'll sew little ducks around a hem The older ones tend to be a bit more affordable too.

But I will say this, and it applies to all sewing machines (well, all machines really)....

GET THEM SERVICED!! Regularly. If you're buying an old one do that first thing before you even think about sewing with it. And if you're sewing every day of the week, regular means every 6 months, but if you're like most of us who are 'binge' sewers (aren't deadline wonderful) every one to two years is fine.

And do remember to oil them occasionally and clean the lint out of the bobbin race. Lint/dust + oil make a very good grinding paste - do you really want to do that to your machine? There's other preventative maintenance you can do at home that's covered in most machine's manuals, but if you've bought a second hand one chances are you won't have the manual. So check out this site www.sewingmanuals.com and you might find one for your machine.

In terms of brands, the old metal Singers had by far the best/most reliable reputation of any of them, but they did go downhill when they went to plastic. I'm a Bernina fan myself, simply because it's done me so well over the years, though I do own a 1950's era Singer with knee lever too. And I know other people swear by Janome or Huskvarna. But don't let 'unknown' brands scare you off - chances are they'll be OK, it just means they went out of business many years ago.

Good luck in your hunt

[MachV]

Thanks for all the advice.

Servicing a machine would be no issues for me, I could do it myself. I was a apprentice fitter and turner in the sandlers shoe factory, and most my day was servicing industrial double needle singers. I'm kinda thinking of buying one off the factory and fixing it up, but I would also want something smaller. Since these machine you have to stand up to use them.

But i also want to get a domestic one.

[fairyprincess]

I swear by Janome's machines. I used bernina's at school which worked fine and I used to use Mum's first sewing machine (yes the ones that weighed a tonne and a half.)

What ever you decide on, I would suggest you go to a sewing machine specialist. They know what particular machines can and cannot do and would have recommendations to a model that would best suit your needs.

As other have suggested, think of what you will need it for, it makes all the difference.

I would not recommend going to spotlight, they rarely use machines or know the qualitiy and difference between their stock.

Happy sewing and good luck with your purchase.....Let us know which one you get

[wenz]

I'm kinda thinking of buying one off the factory and fixing it up, but I would also want something smaller. Since these machine you have to stand up to use them.

Trading Post has some industrials listed - Consews I think. The place on Parramatta Road (near the cnr of Johnston St and on the left hand side heading towards P'matta) has industrials as well as domestic, from memory. The only reason I don't go industrial is the space needed, just don't have it. They are so good to use though. The machines in Ultimo's footwear dept are so much older than those in the fashion sewing classrooms.