sewing machines

[soozmac]

I am planning on buying my 1st sewing machine soon, and learning how to use it. I don't want to spend flipping great wodges of cash, so can anyone recommend features I should look for? Or if you know of a great make/model, please let me know. Thanks!!

[nku]

Hi, I can't help but I was just about to ask the same thing, lol!

[Bromsgrove]

Hello! I have had a PFAFF for a number of years,it has been excellent, I imagine they still make them. Collect a handful of fabrics of different textures and composition and take them to a machine shop, remember even the worst machine will perform reasonably on cotton. Check that on a straight stitch you can reverse, this saves having to fasten off ends. A good and variable width zig-zag, and a neat and easy to work buttonholer are essentials in my opinion, as is a stretch stitch. A flat bed machine which has a removable section leaving a sleeve arm is a great asset. Give your fabrics a good work out. There will be other features you can also choose, finally make sure you can lift the machine, some are very heavy to move about! Hope this is of help..

[Sachs]

Hi sooz - A light is a must!! The amount of times I've sewn in the evening & needed to use that! Reverse stich option for finishing off too! Don't buy a too complicated one for your first machine xxx

[Jugglering]

I would agree with Bromsgrove and Sachs with the requirements. However, if you intend keeping it in one place (say a dedicated sewing room) then I would actually go for a heavier machine because there is nothing worse than a machine that keeps moving over the workbench whilst you are sewing 20m of curtain fabric up ! Go to a specialist sewing machine shop and try out a few first - it's important that you have a trial first (bit like you'd test drive a new car!). There are some brilliant shops that sell good quality machines on line, once you've worked out what you need. I bought my Bernina Traditional (a really solid workhorse with a tremendous recommendation but not the cheapest in the world) from Jaycotts - free delivery and it is beautiful !

[terambulan]

Check out this site

http://uk.freecycle.org/

Because they r electric they can't be sold 2nd hand.....but you may find a free one here.

Get electric if you plan to sew big garments/curtains/upholstery.

[Therema]

Ive had a little sewing machine sitting in my house since Feb this yr, i bought it from the Lidl store for �40, i know of someone who works in a shop sewing with allsorts of machines and she recomended it to me as she bought one for her home its a Lervia make (i havent used it yet* but its quite a nice first machine