Can anyone suggest a brand or model that meets the following requirements?
- 100$ or under.
- Not to complicated, but well equipped for clothes creation/altering.
- Available online or in stores.Can someone help me find a good sewing machine for making clothign?
They only thing you are going to find for less than $100 are the brands sold at Walmart, Kmart or Costco.
Another option is to call sewing machine dealers and ask if they have any used machines in this price range.Can someone help me find a good sewing machine for making clothign?
Buy a Singer sewing machine.They've been around forever
FWIW, the first 30 or so years I sewed (and made most of my clothes) I had a straight stitch only sewing machine with a buttonhole attachment. And sewed everything from silk chiffon to upholstery taffeta. I now sew for the entire family, make everything but socks, and use a 30 stitch VIking electronic and a couple of sergers. At your price point, used machines are your best choice, ime.
http://www.cet.com/~pennys/faq/smfaq.htm
What I want for beginners in sewing:
- a machine that doesn't scare you
- a machine that isn't balky (cheap new machines are often very
balky or need adjustments often and are rarely repairable --
just too frustrating to learn on!)
- very good straight stitch
- good zigzag (4-5 mm is fine, more than that is gravy)
- a method of making buttonholes that makes sense to you
- adjustable presser foot pressure (which helps some fabric
handling issues)
- accessory presser feet that don't cost an arm and a leg
(machines that use a ';short shank foot'; typically handle
generic presser feet pretty well. Some brands of machines use
proprietary or very expensive presser feet)
If the budget stretches far enough:
- blindhem and stretch blindhem stitches
- triple zigzag (nice for elastic applications)
- a couple of decorative stitches (you won't use them nearly as
much as you think)
- electronic machine because of the needle position control and
because the stepper motors give you full ';punching force'; at
slow sewing speeds -- mechanical machines often will stall at
slow speeds.
Please go to the best sewing machine dealers around and ask them
to show you some machines in your price range, *especially* used
machines you can afford. You'll get a far better machine buying
used than new, and a good dealer is worth their weight in sewing
machine needles when you get a machine problem -- often they can
talk you through the problem over the phone. While you're trying
things out, try a couple of machines (sewing only, not combo
sewing-embroidery) over your price limit, just so you can see
what the difference in stitch quality and ease of use might be.
You may find you want to go for the used Cadillac. Or you might
want the new basic Chevy. Might as well try both out.
Suggested reading: John Giordano's The Sewing Machine Book
(especially for used machines), Carol Ahles' Fine Machine Sewing
(especially the first and last few chapters) and Gale Grigg
Hazen's Owner's Guide to Sewing Machines, Sergers and Knitting
Machines. All of these are likely to be available at your public
library.
Used brands I'd particularly look for: Elna, Bernina,
Viking/Husqvarna, Pfaff, Singer (pre 1970), Juki, Toyota
New ';bargain brand'; I'd probably pick, if new was my choice:
Janome (who also does Kenmore).
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