Sewing machine purchase (advice please)

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kingoftheroad

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Weird request on a motorhome forum, but I've noticed lots of subjects discussed on here since I joined and I am a bit stuck.
I want to get my wife a sewing machine for Christmas, she's used one before, but is relatively new at it, she wants to have a go at the odd bit of dressmaking, alterations, etc, can anyone recommend a good alround machine, that she can grow into, so to speak, as she develops more skills, i thought I'd start the budget at around £250, if she knew about this purchase, she wouldn't want me to pay to much, so less than this amount would be good.
 
I bought the Singer 4423. Think it’s the heavier duty one, from singer direct on their website or from Hobbycraft, think Singer. Anyway I love it. Can do all the basic stuff but has the option to use more detailed stitches or buy extra feet etc. would certainly recommend it.
 
According to my wife Janome and Brother are decent ones, she has both, don’t know why as she has only got one pair of hands.
 
Madmag said:
I bought the Singer 4423. Think it’s the heavier duty one, from singer direct on their website or from Hobbycraft, think Singer. Anyway I love it. Can do all the basic stuff but has the option to use more detailed stitches or buy extra feet etc. would certainly recommend it.
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Great will look it up
 
Mikeco said:
According to my wife Janome and Brother are decent ones, she has both, don’t know why as she has only got one pair of hands.
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Multi tasking, their brilliant at it

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My Mother was a needlework teacher so used her machines for years. After she died I inherited her very old but incredibly dependable Pfaff one. German engineering at its best but very very heavy. It finally gave up the ghost after about 60 years of use. I now have the Singer, compares really well with it but agree a few good makes out there. Just don’t go too complicated. Most have lots of different stitch options and the facility to add more advanced stitch feet at a later stage.
 
Madmag said:
My Mother was a needlework teacher so used her machines for years. After she died I inherited her very old but incredibly dependable Pfaff one. German engineering at its best but very very heavy. It finally gave up the ghost after about 60 years of use. I now have the Singer, compares really well with it but agree a few good makes out there. Just don’t go too complicated. Most have lots of different stitch options and the facility to add more advanced stitch feet at a later stage.
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Just looking at all the specifications on each model is blooming complicated, thought the purchase was going to be easy
 
Unless she is going to be into fancy stitching then better to start simple. Go for something that is going to be robust. Also if for repairs etc which is what I do then I went for a heavier duty one as can mend jeans etc. mine came with a few extra feet such as for buttonholes but not used them yet.
 
I’ve just replaced my very old basic Toyota I bought fur £120 withe Necchi for £140 from Aldi. More complicated options than the Toyota but I’m looking forward to using it

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Got a bit of a thing about sewing machines (as well as motorhomes!) and have been looking at about that price range for a machine for my granddaughter. Just don’t go too cheap or it will be incredibly frustrating to use. I’ve got a Juki, other good makes would be Brother, Pfaff and Janome. A good independent dealer could be very helpful, I wouldn’t touch Hobbycraft or John Lewis. You don’t need a huge variety of stitches, look for adjustable width as well as length of stitch, a feed dog that can be lowered, a one piece buttonhole and maybe variable speed, together with a few different feet which snap on. Good luck!
 
Mikeco said:
According to my wife Janome and Brother are decent ones, she has both, don’t know why as she has only got one pair of hands.
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My wife has suggested that a Brother would be a good start/buy. 👍

Ian
 
Ann bought one a few years ago. She didn't know which one to go for so bought the Janome one they use on the sewing bee program £250 she's delighted with it and would recommend 👍
 
My wife uses her sewing machine a lot. Probably been around the clock a few times on her previous Brother machine.

Replaced that after 10 years service with another Brother with computerised settings…....£350.

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I’ve sold sewing machines for over 50 years until I retired but still service and repair the odd one or two!NONE of the new machines compare in build quality with the ones made 30 or 40 years ago! You will be able buy a cheap computer machine for around £250 to £300 but I personally would buy a good mechanical machine and having worked on all the major brands I would buy a Janome! They make all their own products which may sound a funny statement to make but a lot of well known names buy from factories in CHINA!and have their brand put on them!I wouldn’t buy any machine made in China or Vietnam myself.and be wary of machines sold as Heavy Duty.I know someone who sent for a. Well known make of machine which was marketed as a heavy duty and found it wouldn’t go through curtain headings .She rang them and told them it wasn’t fit for purpose!They refused to give her a refund so she gone back to old Bernina.If you want any further advice contact me
 
Some good advice there from robrace. You need a get a decent one so that your wife enjoys using it and can do the bits and pieces she wants otherwise will be stuck in a cupboard and not used. Mine is a Janome, it is “out” all the time and I am currently stitching through two thicknesses of dog lead webbing and two thickness of rabbit skin to make toys for the dog. I never use the fancy stitches.
 
Another (y) for Brother, I've got an Inovis15 and love it.

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I have a Toyota that I have had for years. I bought a Brother overlocker last year. If I was replacing my Toyota I would be looking at a Brother or Janome. Nothing fancy no embroidery stitches or anything like that.
 
My wife has Singer, Janome , and a couple of Brother, all very reliable. I have Black and Decker, Myford and Makita, tit for tat.
 
WillH said:
My wife has Singer, Janome , and a couple of Brother, all very reliable. I have Black and Decker, Myford and Makita, tit for tat.
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I have a myford ml8 ....yours?!
 
Management inherited a Brother from my mum because it was too heavy to lift on to the table. It was used for gang show costumes until we we retired from scouting.
For occasional home use we found a nice smaller one in Dunhelm Mill. I can’t rember what make it is management likes it and finds it easier to lift on to the table.
 
Mum's got an old Singer with a hand wheel on the end. It's fantastic build quality, solid cast steel or something with a varnished wooden base. Probably had it from new 🤔

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robrace said:
I’ve sold sewing machines for over 50 years until I retired but still service and repair the odd one or two!NONE of the new machines compare in build quality with the ones made 30 or 40 years ago! You will be able buy a cheap computer machine for around £250 to £300 but I personally would buy a good mechanical machine and having worked on all the major brands I would buy a Janome! They make all their own products which may sound a funny statement to make but a lot of well known names buy from factories in CHINA!and have their brand put on them!I wouldn’t buy any machine made in China or Vietnam myself.and be wary of machines sold as Heavy Duty.I know someone who sent for a. Well known make of machine which was marketed as a heavy duty and found it wouldn’t go through curtain headings .She rang them and told them it wasn’t fit for purpose!They refused to give her a refund so she gone back to old Bernina.If you want any further advice contact me
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This is the only professional that has offered advice as far as l can tell,l would take it.
 
robrace said:
I’ve sold sewing machines for over 50 years until I retired but still service and repair the odd one or two!NONE of the new machines compare in build quality with the ones made 30 or 40 years ago! You will be able buy a cheap computer machine for around £250 to £300 but I personally would buy a good mechanical machine and having worked on all the major brands I would buy a Janome! They make all their own products which may sound a funny statement to make but a lot of well known names buy from factories in CHINA!and have their brand put on them!I wouldn’t buy any machine made in China or Vietnam myself.and be wary of machines sold as Heavy Duty.I know someone who sent for a. Well known make of machine which was marketed as a heavy duty and found it wouldn’t go through curtain headings .She rang them and told them it wasn’t fit for purpose!They refused to give her a refund so she gone back to old Bernina.If you want any further advice contact me
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Great advice from everyone and Robrace, over 50 years sales and repairs, wow, i wasn't expecting this amount of experience to come to my aid.
What's your thoughts on best choice, with regards to a mechanical Janome, for occasional use
 
John Lewis are doing a special offer on the Janome 7025 ( it's a John Lewis special ) at around £260.
 
I’d go for an old Bernina.

They’re incredible machines - the stitch quality is fantastic and they’re far more solidly built than modern machines they just purr along. There are various options for fancy stitches and for dressmaking they’re fantastic. I have the model in the listing below.

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We have an all so going & dancing Janome that cost over 400 quid quite a few years a ago. Never use any of the singing & dancing features on it.
The Sewing Bee use basic Janome machines that's what I would buy her.

Even I can use it have to keep looking at the instructions but I have taken up dresses for daughter, made fitted sheets for Motorhome and a couple of pairs of trousers with it.

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