I’m trying to get back into sewing after a long hiatus so I need to get a sewing machine. I went to Walmart, and they have a range of Brother and a few Singer machines. I just need a basic machine that can sew straight, zigzag, do buttonholes and maybe a few other things, but that’s it really.
Any of y’all Dopers out there what sew can give me the skinny on how reliable either of these types of machines are, or suggest others? I’m not looking to spend a whole lot of $$, but I don’t want to have to buy another machine in the foreseeable future if I can help it. I’d appreciate whatever assistance y’all could give me.
Try find a small independent sewing machine specialist who refurbishes. Then get a good 20-year-old singer or something. I found a guy who offered to do this for CDN$125, though he hasn’t called back yet… If all you need is straight, zig-zag and buttonholes, the old machines rock, will last forever, and for the price will be way better quality than current ones.
Plus the reverse switch is a lever that can be left in reverse while both hands are free to guide the work. No, I did not once end up in the emergency room having the front third of a sewing machine needle extracted from my finger because of not having this feature. What makes you think that?
Ditto Viking - I have a plain ol’ zig-zag Singer that my ex-hubby bought in 1973, in I think Taiwan. I have never taken it to a pro to have it serviced - I took it apart enough to make sure all applicable parts were well oiled, and have used a lot. Just last Fall, I made a dress-jacket of a pain in the arse material, but the machine worked beautifully. Anyone I’ve ever known to sew, used Singer. My Mom made my wedding dress and veil (with train) on a Singer, many years ago.
Avoid anything by White and current-model Singers like plague.
A few years back, Singer switched from Japanese-made machines to Korean and Chinese builds, and the quality suffered tremendously. White is fairly cheap and cheerless stuff.
As long as it’s not been abused or simply worn-out, a 10-20 year old Singer is proably a good bet - provided you get it from a shop that will stand behind it and give you at least a couple days to try it at home and be sure it’s the one for you.
Have a look at the Husqvarna Viking line. They’ve got everything from ulta-basic on up to computerized machines that, if they don’t have ethernet jacks, should. My SO has a “Freesia” and is just tickled pink with it.
I’ve got a refurbished Husqvarna Viking. It’s got a lot more toys on it than you’re seeking, but it was a good deal, and it’ll go through very thick fabrics - like multiple folds of denim - with great ease. The only thing I don’t like is the reverse button, but I’ve learned to live with it.
Check Consumer Reports. Some of the cheapest are also the best. I cannot recall what brand mine is, partly because I never heard of it before I hauled out the CR review.
I don’t sew much, but my 62-year old Singer sewing machine is still going strong! Yep, I said 62!! It was made in 1941 (based on the serial number), and is a 221 Lightweight. It had belonged to my great-aunt. As far as we know, it has only been serviced once, last summer when I tried to start it up and it jammed up. It just had some dried out oil deposits that needed cleaning. The lady in the store I went to claimed that once it was cleaned up, it would probably last longer than anything she actually had to sell at the time. It’s basically all metal, and those things just don’t break! I used it to make a T-shirt quilt for my sister. i still have all the original feet, the original box (with key!), one original needle (or at least one from that era) and an original bottle and tube of oil and lubricant (niether one are empty, but likely not really useable). Most of the guilding is still in place, too.
Anyways, I know very little about sewing, but I like that machine! I’d recommend an older Singer as well - maybe not as old as mine, but what the otherś said!
[sub]yeah, I just wanted to blab about my machine hehe[/sub]
viking and Suisaidh, thanks for the advice. I’ll see if I can’t find me a refurbisher. I’d heard that the older Singer machines are better than what’s out there now, and now I’m even more sure that it’s true. When I was taking lessons, I used to sew on an old Singer machine that for some reason kept shocking me, but other than that I had no trouble. And, I never thought about how I took for granted something as simple as sewing in reverse.
gotpasswords and FairyChatMom, I’ve never heard of the Husqvarna Viking line. I’ll have to look into it. I’ve actually not heard of the White line either, and I think it’s a shame that the current Singer machines have fallen so far from grace. Thanks for the warning about them.
DeVena, Bernina sounds familiar. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for that tip.
hedra, I’ll check out Consumer Reports. That was going to be my next stop, but I had to stop and ask y’all knowledgable Dopers first.
mnemosyne, [giggle] I’m so jealous! Wow. A 62 year old machine that still works. They really don’t build stuff the way they used to. [sigh] So, you looking to sell your machine?
This house has a number of good to excellent older sewing machines.
The 50’s pink Husquavarna is but one…
Theres a singer treadle AND the “portable” mini-Singer from the 40’s that came with the wooden card-table that it sets into. I think there’s still another Singer and a late 70’s vintage sears model that are all metal.
And I can’t sew. Too dyslexic to make it work right.
As someone who has been sewing since age 5, I agree with other posters who recommend you try a small independent dealer and look for a refurbished machine. (Don’t get me started about current Singers!) My mum and I both use a late 60s touch ‘n’ sew from Singer…
My main machine, though, is my Singer model 127K – it was just 100 years old on 3 April…
I have not had one lick of problem with it. After working with fuzzy fabrics ( fleece and flannel) I clean the interior of dust. Takes all of 1 or 2 minutes.
It has the basic options and I don’t even use half of them.
If you are looking for basic, once in a while sewing, I couldn’t recommend mine any higher.
Alot of chains ( Hancock did this recently) will have end of the year closeouts or refurbished machines (Viking and Husquvarna) for a fraction of retail. Ask around.
The problem with the sears/ kmart/ zellers models is you probably won’t get to try them out before you plunks down your cash. One roommate of mine had a department-store machine, which drove me nuts, because you could not start a stich at low speed. You’d press on the pedal a bit, and it would make struggling-engine noises, and you’d press a bit more, and a bit more, and next thing you know the thing had sewed 2 inches at full speed. Not so good for buttonholing… So that’s another thing to look out for.
