sewing machines

[Chickies-duckies-etc]

My knowledge of machines is a few years old now.

There are some very good suggestions already here about brands. The biggest thing is for her to know WHAT she is planning on using the machine for, and chose a machine that will do the job. Basic clothing construction, decorative stitches, heavy fabric, light weight, etc. Then pick a model of machine that will do that. A machine that sews light weight fabric might not handle denim or canvas for example.

The decorative stitches a machine can do can vary also. Most of the stitches built into a machine are variations of a zig zag. Back and forth in different patterns. If a true stretch stitch is needed, she needs to know if the machine can do that. There are a few other stitches that require forward and backward stitches as well as the back and forth to create. The blanket stitch is one. If she wants to use those for applique, for example, then she needs to make sure her choice can do that.

Stitch width in the decorative stitches can also vary by manufacture.

The store she buys it from is also important because they are the people she will be dealing with for instructions and repair if there is a problem. Repair costs can be huge, she needs to be able to use the warranty that comes with the machine. If she buys from a store a long way away, the local store may not honor the warranty.

The new machines are computers also. Good and bad.

 

[sewchick]

Here's my experience. I am real hard on sewing machines and have went through a few. The best one I have is my Janome DC2007LE. It's an older model and I will buy a new Janome for my next one. Probably next spring. I have had a singer..lasted ONE WEEK. I had a viking...lasted 2 years. This one Has lasted 4 years and it still runs like it did when I bought it. I use my machine a lot. I sew over pins, I go full blast, I use it daily and I truly do not take care of it. So if it can stand my punishment it can stand just about anyone. I sew a lot. A real lot. If you going to buy a janome buy an upper end one. They have more stitches. I like the idea it has a threader on it. It threads the needle. Love that. If you sew a lot it sure comes in handy. Another thing, I would never use an embroidery machine for regular sewing because it would take too much punishment and honestly they are way too expensive to be doing that. One for regular sewing and one for embroidery. Just my two cents.