I want to buy a new sewing machine and need some advice. I am a beginner, it will be my first machine...?

... I want it for regular sewing, repairing hems, cuffs, tore jeans, and to learn quilting and some embroidery.


I have been looking some Pfaff, Bernina, and Janome. According to YOUR experience, which machine would you advise me to get? Or what I need to look or paid attention to while choosing a sewing machine? I really want something that can grow with me while I learn more skills. Thanks!I want to buy a new sewing machine and need some advice. I am a beginner, it will be my first machine...?
my first machine was a very old Hilton sewing machine that I bought used. You've probably never heard of that brand because it is so old the company later turned into the White sewing machine company. Its very difficult to find a home sewing machine that can handle hemming jeans since you have to go through eight layers of fabric to make it over the flat felled seam that goes down the side (4 layers in that seam, plus you roll the hem twice for a clean finish, that's actually more than eight layers) . My fantasy machine is a Huskavarna Viking, but that runs over $1000. As a beginner, I would go with a Singer. Parts and attachments are regularly available everywhere as is service. Make sure you purchase one with a automatic buttonhole feature. The ones that have a multi-step feature don't make as nice of a hole. You should be able to find a nice basic machine for under $200I want to buy a new sewing machine and need some advice. I am a beginner, it will be my first machine...?
I think the Brother, from Wal-mart is a good buy,but I would be very careful when working with denium.......Or heavy fabric,,,,,I doubt if there is embroidery on this one......
All the advice you've received is very good. I agree that right now you probably would do well with a very basic machine and once you've mastered that then you'll know what you really want in a machine and can buy one of the more advanced models.


On that note, you might try sewing machine shops where they trade in older machines for more advanced ones. They usually sell the older machines at a very reasonable price and a guarantee. Another place to look is ebay, the penny saver paper, want ads, yard sales, etc.


One additional note: I used a Kenmore machine for over 35 years and it was great. Recently I traded up to an Elna Quilter's Dream Pro....I love it and like you, I will have to learn all over again how to use it to it's full potential.


Good luck and God bless.
When it comes to a sewing machine, you can spend thousands of dollars or a few hundred, it's up to you. Some people spend thousands for all the gadgets on the machine and never use them.





We make quilts, together, we've made about fifty quilts already. My wife is a professional tailor and uses the machines we have for everything.





We have two Euro pros from J.C. Penney's, they're very basic, cost about $200.00 and can sew through four layers of Levi blue jeans.


We have a very nice Brother with the Disney embroidery kit, works well for all sewing except the heavy duty sewing like the patching of four or more layers of Levi.





I have looked at the five thousand dollar machines and tried to compare them, mine are just as good for the money but, they're not computerized.
BTW, my FIRST machine was a treadle-- and I used it to make everything from curtains to a linen suit for my son.


Having spent a lot of time doing what you mentioned-- and more, this is my advice and worth every penny you paid.


Get a basic machine. Sears sells one for about $100. I bought one to take to quilting class and I was very pleasantly surprised at what it could do.


As time passes, you'll learn what you truly want to do-- then if you want, you can invest-- and I do mean invest-- in one of the big boys--


The basic machine WILL grow with you-- your skills with a basic machine will transfer to one of the big boys.


So, that's my advice.


good luck
http://www.cet.com/~pennys/faq/smfaq.htm





Of those three, I'd take the Pfaff, most likely. Bernies are good machines, but the accessory feet are pretty expensive and I don't like the controls. Janomes are good budget machines, but I don't like the feel of them, personally. On the other hand, I've not met a Pfaff or Viking or Elna I couldn't use immediately and mostly have liked very much.





Try before you buy... it's like buying shoes -- what fits me may not fit you, even if we both wear the ';same size';.