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Posted by Buster52 on April 12, 2009, 2:01 am
I have been looking for a new sewing machine. Not knowing the difference
between the brands, I am looking for some help. Most of the machine on the
outside look the same. So much so I must ask are they made by the same
company. Going from shop to shop, all say they sell the best. I would like
to know what brand and model to look for. I would like to keep it under
500.00. And would it be better to by an embroidery machine that will do
both.
Thanks
Buster
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Posted by BEI Design on April 12, 2009, 5:53 am
Buster52 wrote:
show/hide quoted text
> I have been looking for a new sewing machine. Not knowing
> the difference between the brands, I am looking for some
> help. Most of the machine on the outside look the same.
> So much so I must ask are they made by the same company.
> Going from shop to shop, all say they sell the best. I
> would like to know what brand and model to look for. I
> would like to keep it under 500.00. And would it be
> better to by an embroidery machine that will do both.
Start here:
There is a "what machine should I buy" FAQ.
http://www.cet.com/~pennys/faq/smfaq.htm
This is really not a question anyone here will be able to
answer definitively. It's a little like asking "What is the
best automobile to buy?" Everyone has a different opinion
and different needs.
For $500.00 your best bet for regular sewing, IMHO, is a
good *used* mechanical machine. My personal preference is
the Singer 401A from the early 60s, I own three and the one
I bought new in 1960 is still in constant use.
I also have a Singer Quantum XL 5000 embroidery machine
which I love. It will do regular sewing as well, although I
keep it set up for embroidery exclusively. I'm pretty sure
you won't find one for $500, even used, and I would not
trust any embroidery machine selling at that price. The
cost of an embroidery machine is only the beginning, you
also have to purchase designs (or software to digitize your
own), *lots* of threads, and stabilizers. I suspect the
total *initial* investment in my embroidery machine,
software, thread and stabilizers cost me well over US
$4,000.00 (and the machine was on sale for $2,600).
Beverly
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Posted by Betsy on April 13, 2009, 7:59 am
BEI Design wrote:
show/hide quoted text
>
> For $500.00 your best bet for regular sewing, IMHO, is a
> good *used* mechanical machine. My personal preference is
> the Singer 401A from the early 60s, I own three and the one
> I bought new in 1960 is still in constant use.
>
> I also have a Singer Quantum XL 5000 embroidery machine
> which I love. It will do regular sewing as well, although I
> keep it set up for embroidery exclusively. I'm pretty sure
> you won't find one for $500, even used, and I would not
> trust any embroidery machine selling at that price.
After lurking here for a while, I snapped up a Singer 401A when I saw
one on craigslist for $50. It was just what I wanted and I am very
happy with it. I have a Singer 301A that I love more, but it can only
do straight stitching without adding attachments. It is not good or fun
to sew lycra with a zigzag attachment. I have the 301 and 401 side by
side and still use the 301 if I have a bunch of straight stitching to
do. The one thing they don't have that is sometimes nice is a free arm.
The OP may want to consider why the old machine needs replacing and list
what you like and dislike about it. If it doesn't have a function you
want that is within your price range, look for a new machine. If it is
a good older machine that does everything you want that is in your price
range, but just isn't working as well as it should anymore, it may just
need a good oiling and proper maintenance to seem as good as new.
--Betsy
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Posted by Buster52 on May 4, 2009, 1:37 am
show/hide quoted text
> BEI Design wrote:
>> For $500.00 your best bet for regular sewing, IMHO, is a good *used*
>> mechanical machine. My personal preference is the Singer 401A from the
>> early 60s, I own three and the one I bought new in 1960 is still in
>> constant use.
>> I also have a Singer Quantum XL 5000 embroidery machine which I love. It
>> will do regular sewing as well, although I keep it set up for embroidery
>> exclusively. I'm pretty sure you won't find one for $500, even used, and
>> I would not trust any embroidery machine selling at that price.
> After lurking here for a while, I snapped up a Singer 401A when I saw one
> on craigslist for $50. It was just what I wanted and I am very happy with
> it. I have a Singer 301A that I love more, but it can only do straight
> stitching without adding attachments. It is not good or fun to sew lycra
> with a zigzag attachment. I have the 301 and 401 side by side and still
> use the 301 if I have a bunch of straight stitching to do. The one thing
> they don't have that is sometimes nice is a free arm.
> The OP may want to consider why the old machine needs replacing and list
> what you like and dislike about it. If it doesn't have a function you
> want that is within your price range, look for a new machine. If it is a
> good older machine that does everything you want that is in your price
> range, but just isn't working as well as it should anymore, it may just
> need a good oiling and proper maintenance to seem as good as new.
> --Betsy
Betsy,
I am a guy (Straight) who once a year helps the girls in our local
Rainbow Girls Assembly sew dresses for Grand Assembly. I bought a cheep
Brother sewing machine from Wal-Mart. As long as I sew straight stitches it
works fine. Any zig zag it brakes the tread. So I was looking for a
replacement. Something low cost that would do button holes and zig zag. I
was at Sears and found a Kenmore 385 19606 on sale for $220.00. It has a lot
more bells and whistles then I need. But the price is right. It has worked
great so far. I am questioning just why Sears is closing them out.
Buster
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Posted by BEI Design on May 4, 2009, 3:24 am
Buster52 wrote:
show/hide quoted text
> > BEI Design wrote:
> > > For $500.00 your best bet for regular sewing, IMHO,
> > > is a good *used* mechanical machine. My personal
> > > preference is the Singer 401A from the early 60s, I
> > > own three and the one I bought new in 1960 is still
> > > in constant use. I also have a Singer Quantum XL 5000
> > > embroidery
> > > machine which I love. It will do regular sewing as
> > > well, although I keep it set up for embroidery
> > > exclusively. I'm pretty sure you won't find one for
> > > $500, even used, and I would not trust any embroidery
> > > machine selling at that price.
> > After lurking here for a while, I snapped up a Singer
> > 401A when I saw one on craigslist for $50. It was just
> > what I wanted and I am very happy with it. I have a
> > Singer 301A that I love more, but it can only do
> > straight stitching without adding attachments. It is
> > not good or fun to sew lycra with a zigzag attachment. I
> > have the 301 and 401 side by side and still use the
> > 301 if I have a bunch of straight stitching to do. The
> > one thing they don't have that is sometimes nice is a
> > free arm. The OP may want to consider why the old
> > machine needs
> > replacing and list what you like and dislike about it.
> > If it doesn't have a function you want that is within
> > your price range, look for a new machine. If it is a
> > good older machine that does everything you want that
> > is in your price range, but just isn't working as well
> > as it should anymore, it may just need a good oiling
> > and proper maintenance to seem as good as new. --Betsy
> Betsy,
> I am a guy (Straight) who once a year helps the girls
> in our local Rainbow Girls Assembly sew dresses for Grand
> Assembly. I bought a cheep Brother sewing machine from
> Wal-Mart. As long as I sew straight stitches it works
> fine. Any zig zag it brakes the tread. So I was looking
> for a replacement. Something low cost that would do
> button holes and zig zag. I was at Sears and found a
> Kenmore 385 19606 on sale for $220.00. It has a lot more
> bells and whistles then I need. But the price is right.
> It has worked great so far. I am questioning just why
> Sears is closing them out.
Let's see if I have this straight:
1. You bought a "cheep" Brother sewing machine at Wal-Mart,
but it doesn't sew very well, so,
2.. You came here asking for advice and received some.
3. Ignoring the advice, you bought another cheap machine at
Sears which "has worked well so far". <and good luck with
show/hide quoted text
that>
4. Now you want to know why it was cheap/closed out?
Is that about it?
I am still using the very expensive (for the time, and
adjusted for inflation - it cost well over four month's
wages) Singer 401A I bought new in 1960. It has been in
constant use for well over 48 years. It sews a perfect
straight stitch, perfect zig-zag stitch, and with a terrific
attachment sews perfect buttonholes. It will continue to
work perfectly long past the day your Brother and Kenmore
'cheep' machines are serving as door stops or anchors.
You want to know why Sears is closing them out? Probably
because a new line of equally 'cheep', disposable machines
is about to be released, and they want to sell them to more
suckers...er...customers.
HTH,
Beverly
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> the difference between the brands, I am looking for some
> help. Most of the machine on the outside look the same.
> So much so I must ask are they made by the same company.
> Going from shop to shop, all say they sell the best. I
> would like to know what brand and model to look for. I
> would like to keep it under 500.00. And would it be
> better to by an embroidery machine that will do both.