Features to look for in a sewing machine?

waterfaerie

Hi,
I want to buy my first sewing machine but I don't know where to start because I don't really understand many of the features the different types all have. I will be using it mainly for experimenting with making my own clothes and possibly bags and simple household things. I was wondering if anyone knows what kind of features I should be looking for in a sewing machine for these purposes?
Thanks!

gollyitsolly

Buy a basic machine with a buttonhole feature. There,s no need to get one with lots of extras because you can make practically anything with a simple machine. They all come with an instruction manual so even if you have never used one its easy enough. And practise your stitches!

cacac

hi,
depend what you want to do with it. If you want to work on simple pieces or to do embroidering and stuff like that.
So for simple use you will choose the simplest model and so on. You can go in a shop and ask to the seller for few explanation of different model. There is so much model that is difficult to say what to choose in a few lines.
But is good to know that is better to put a beat more money in your machine to have good quality and if you take well care of it you can keep your machine for years and years ( my mother have the same machine since a least 20 years! and still work very well).
For the price most of the time more they will be expensive more they will good quality and with a lot of featuring. But Know that you probably will not use the fancy featuring. Sometime the basic is better.
Then don't choose the first price
Finally is good to avoid a brand like Toyota, or Singer (breakdown often) or even Brother is not so good.
I have a Pfaff and I am very happy with it, apparently Bernina is also a good brand.
Hope i help u:)

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gollyitsolly

Have to disagree there, Ive had a Brother for years and its great.

cacac

Sorry:D, no offense but I was thinking that Brother is not very strong sometime...maybe this is true just with the first price? or maybe I am totally wrong...:(




http://www.chaoticcacac.canalblog.com

nudge

Me, my mum and my aunt have Janome machines. They're very affordable and mine has earned me lots of money. I have put all sorts of crap through it (my aunt bought me goggles to use with it because of the stuff I put through it). I have made handbags and endless clothes on it, I've stitched paper and plastic on it too! I bought it second hand 8 years ago and it's still motoring and it got me through 3 years of the Grafton Academy, it's my baby. It even stitches the bums back into my carpenter boyfriends jeans, can't be bad!

Das Kitty

As long as it does straight and zig-zag stitches of varying widths and lengths and has a buttonhole function you're sorted. Also look into a zipper foot but you can buy them separate.

I have a Brother and I love it, especially the bobbin loading, it's so simple and light.

My sewing teacher swears by her Pfaff and my mum loved her Singer until it gave up the ghost last year.

You can get lucky with the Lidl and Aldi ones but the tension can get damaged in transport. They do take them back and replace them 100% though. 4 or 5 girls in my sewing class got them and only one had to exchange.

I bought mine from Bedford Sewing and Knitting in the UK and was very pleased with them.

Enii

Where is the best place to buy a sewing machine in Dublin?

gollyitsolly

I bought mine in Argos. The Singer shop is in Parnell Street. Clerys or Arnotts possibly. Brother used to have a place in the Airport Industrial Estate on the Santry Road.

Enii

Thanks for the info.!

hairymolly

I got my machine in lidl couple of yrs ago. Has extra features that I havnt had use for yet. So far so good.