sewing machine help please

[klf73]

I have no idea how to use one but am going to learn.... I want to purchase one that is good for beginners but will work later on too. I want to eventually learn how to quilt etc.... recommendations please?

 

[Dar]

until you learn about the bells and whistles that are available i would just go with the $70 wal-mart cheap model... I have that and have been using it for 10+ years with NO problem.. Or you can check freecycle, or craigslist.. a lot of sewing machine repair places will sell cheap used ones

 

[klf73]

like the brother one they have?
I don't do freecycle...I never could get anything on there. I was always "too late" for everything

I will check craigslist too, don't know why I didn't think about it...

 

[saddina]

Quote:
Yep i used one of those for years. I just upgraded to the PE 350 one.

 

[Dar]

yep mine is the brother.. and now that I am getting better I will upgrade soon.. and my DD will get the brother one.. I could not justify killing a machine because I did not know what the heck i was doing and then having to repair an expensive machine

 

[klf73]

kicking myself now, they had a brother one on sale on black friday and I walked by it so many times and just decided that I didn't need it yet

hate when I could have saved $$

well, dh always says whats done is done and no use letting it bother me now. Thanks again for the help

 

[eastbaychicks]

Have you checked craigslist? There are a lot of machines on there.... and an older basic model that someone took into get tune ups will sound great. Use your ear.

Look what I found: A Brother....
http://maine.craigslist.org/art/1691592097.html

Good luck.... while you're there make sure to stitch out a sample of basic stitches.... straight (test out the different stitch lengths), zig zag (test out the different widths). Look closely at the formation of the stitches. The top and bottom threads should be well formed and tight. If it's loose and loopy run.

Good luck!

 

[klf73]

thanks, I checked it out on mapquest and it is over 2hr drive, and with 7 kids I would rather pay full price than to do that

I will check it out tomorrow, see if I can find something closer to Portland

 

[klf73]

forget it, it's too late to be messing around, I totally forgot to post the link I wanted to and now I lost it

 

[eastbaychicks]

Just keep an eye on craigslist. I just found a really nice Bernina for a GF, we've been looking since November. It finally came up and we drove 1.5 hrs to pick it up. Saved a ton of money!

You'll find something for a fair price close by, just check every couple of days or once a week. Good luck!

By the way.... PLEASE don't pay full price for the machines in the craft stores. At the very least go to a sewing machine shop and buy a used machine. The new ones you buy for 100 aren't very good.... they break very easily, and are actually quite difficult to sew on. The other day I saw a really nice Babylock machine for pretty cheap 150 ish and it actually had a metal bobbin (you'll be happy to have this after you break the plastic one), and some really great ability to do basic sewing.... it's worth looking into.

I've worked with a lot of ladies learning to sew and these 'cheapies' are very loud, easy to break and have a tendency to start off really fast.... ie they don't slowly accelerate.