# Recommend a sewing machine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 4, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-sewing-machine/461992 "2008-09-04T14:52:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-sewing-machine/461992/1 "2008-09-04T14:52:19Z")
I’d like to buy an inexpensive and easy to use sewing machine to do a few basic things, like hemming curtains or making a simple Halloween costume. Any recommendations? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-sewing-machine/461992/2 "2008-09-04T15:02:10Z")
I have a Brother machine – [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JQM1DE](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JQM1DE). It’s ridiculously easy to use, lightweight, came with lots of attachments (some of which I use), and cost less than $200. It’s my second Brother – the other was a reconditioned model (also less than $200) which lasted me for almost 10 years. I’ve had this one for about a year and have made a bunch of quilt tops on it. It’s easy to thread the needle and wind the bobbin. The instruction manual is easy to understand. Customer service is good. I don’t know how it would work for special fabrics like silk or denim – I just use cotton fabric. Someday I’d like to have a high end machine, but this’ll do me for now. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Perro\_Fumando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e9c0ed/32.png) [@El\_Perro\_Fumando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Perro_Fumando)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-sewing-machine/461992/3 "2008-09-04T16:25:39Z")
I personally have a Husqvarna Emma (limited edition), but my mom bought [this one from Target](http://www.target.com/Singer-30-Stitch-Function-Sewing-Machine/dp/B0009OE06M/qid=1220545373/ref=br_1_11/601-0674465-3531348?ie=UTF8&node=3440471&frombrowse=1&index=tgt-mf-mv&rank=price&rh=&page=1) a few years ago when her Sears machine from the 70’s finally died. She really only uses it for what you’re describing, and it suits her needs fine. I’ve used it a couple of times, and found it to be quite good. ---
**Author:** ![AT\_Love](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@AT\_Love](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AT_Love)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-sewing-machine/461992/4 "2008-09-04T16:42:22Z")
I’m not much of a seamstress but I was raised with a singer and by god i’ll die by it. You can almost always find replacement parts for them and they last forever. I got an older model at the goodwill for twelve bucks and after oiling it up it works very well. ---
**Author:** ![PerditaX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@PerditaX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PerditaX)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-sewing-machine/461992/5 "2008-09-05T01:09:49Z")
> [@AT\_Love](#): > > I’m not much of a seamstress but I was raised with a singer and by god i’ll die by it. You can almost always find replacement parts for them and they last forever. I got an older model at the goodwill for twelve bucks and after oiling it up it works very well. I have a 1909 Singer treadle sewing machine. It still works beautifully, and can sew through anything (jeans welts, canvas, etc). When Mom and Dad brought it down to me, it needed a new belt and some long bobbins. I got them at the local Singer shop! ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-sewing-machine/461992/6 "2008-09-05T04:15:18Z")
The woman who writes the [Dress A Day blog](http://www.dressaday.com/dressaday.html) wrote a great piece called [How to choose a sewing machine.](http://www.dressaday.com/2008/01/how-to-choose-sewing-machine.html) It gave some great advice. She’s so right. it’s really difficult to tell you what to buy because ergonomics and budget and usage and so many other factors affect that decision. All that said, don’t buy a Singer from Walmart or Target or any other discount retailer. I have no specific recomendations beyond that. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2008, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-sewing-machine/461992/7 "2008-09-05T11:49:26Z")
Despite what **Miss Woodhouse** said, I have the same machine that **El Perro Fumando** ’s mom does, also from Target, and it does straightforward seams fine – and since that’s all the sewing I do, it meets my needs just fine.