Sewing machine?

[SarahL]

Hoping this is the right place for this...

My brother and his wife are expecting their first child in December (yay!). It's kind of a thing in our family that a relative makes the new baby a twin sized quilt as a gift. Thing is, the relative that used to do it is no longer able. When both my kids were born, my brother (yes, my brother) did the quilts for them. I'm wanting to do the quilt for his baby.

Problem is, I have NO sewing skills whatsoever. I cross stitch, but that's about it. I've always wanted to learn to quilt but so far, with my two toddlers, that hasn't happened. Now, for this particular project, I'm not talking about piecing or anything like that...we're just slapping a couple of pieces of pretty fabric together with batting in between and yarn tying it to prevent bunching when washed.

I had been planning to hand sew this quilt. But honestly...that has been a pain. A major pain. It's taking forever and I just don't have that kind of time. I've been wanting a sewing machine anyway, because I DO want to do actual quilting and curtain making and stuff, but haven't bought one.

So my question is...can somebody point me in the right direction for a good machine to buy, that will do what I'd like it to (no really heavy work, just a basic machine), that's user friendly enough that I'll understand how to use it, and that is relatively inexpensive (money is SUPER tight)?

Thanks!

[Merczilla]

Check Craigslist. I don't buy new machines...don't do computerized. Too many things to go wrong. Not knowing where you are in WI, I looked and there's a Bernina 730 in MUKWONAGO (on Milwaukees list) for $250. Wonderful price for a straightforward machine.

Probably more than you'd want to spend, but there's 930 in a cabinet for $750 in Duluth. I have a 930 (and a 910) and it's one of the most sought after machines.

The 930 is from early 80's and the 730 is earlier than that. They are workhorses. You could also look for an older SInger featherweight. THere's a nice SInger in a cabinet for $120. Does forward and reverse and that's about it for the older Singers (I'm talking 1950's on back). Looking through Milwaukees list, there's lots of old SIngers for $50-$100 that are just your simple straight stitch machines. Nothing fancy. Although the machines themselves are really cool looking. lol

I also have a Pfaff 130 which is highly sought after by sailors for making sails with. Another workhorse.

I would avoid the newer plastic wonders, as they mostly computerized and break really easy. You also have to take them in to be fixed, if the necessity arises. The older mechanical ones are pretty easy to fix yourself for the most part. You can take them apart and un-gunk them, or oil what needs to be oiled, or replace/fix whatever part may be broken.

I have 7 or 8 machines (now how'd that happen? lol) and I use my Bernina 930 the most. My daughter is using the 910. I love my "old" machines.

Of course, you'd want to make sure they work first.

[N2dolls]

I would try Overstock.com, Walmart, or borrow a machine from a friend. I have had my electronic machine for over 15 years and I have never had any problems with it. Maybe that's from before they started making them more out of plastic.

[Rene S]

IMO, I would stay away from low-end machines. I had a White from Walmart and it was nothing but trouble. I spent more time adjusting than actually sewing--frustrating.

Keep in mind that if you buy a used machine, you'll probably want to take it in for a cleaning/adjusting at a sewing machine shop. In the Milwaukee area, that costs around $75-100 FWIW.

I have a Janome from Hancock Fabrics and I love it. Yes, it's computerized, but it's run several years with no problems.

[motherofmolly]

your basic singer sewing machine. they are around $80 i think. i purchased one 12 years ago and used it to quilt and now a little bit of everything. it works great and i havent had to have it fixed yet.

quilting the top, batting and bottom together just requires the straight stitch. you can either go around your designs and sew it making that pattern on the back, or you can do simple lines. i took a class at the local park dist in quilting and learned what i needed there.

you can also check at your local salvation army. amazingly, this is the place that sewing machines go when older people no longer need them. most are perfectly fine, but some need a minor repair that can be done at a sewing machine shop. you can always call and ask and see if they get one in they call you. our local salvation army can not give them away. dh's grandpa's girlfriend picks them up and keeps them til she finds someone to give them too. she says they beg her to come and get them.

[saversavory]

if you have no sewing machine skills, i personally would try to find a drop in bobbin machine, but th ats probably going to be a little tricky. The most i find( im a machine wh0re so i always look) are vertical bobbins. they are just a tad trickier to get used to IMHO. Logic says to not go low end, but not everyone's budget allows the "dream machine" purchase. I have many machines and gadgets and sometimes the cheaper is the workhorse.

A few tricks that might help you:

basting gun and tabs that go with it.
Sticky spray( quilting spray). Nothing sucks worse than having pulls in your fabric.

Also, as for machine, its nice to have one that you can lower the feed dogs on so you can sort of free hand quilt with it ( to hold the batting in place)

[SarahL]

Thank you all! You've been very helpful...ideas I hadn't thought of and information I didn't have (the straight stitch? I would've had to figure that out on my own!).

I wish I DID have sewing skills. My mother hated it and so never taught me, and I'd really like to know. I'm hoping when the kids are a bit older I can take a class or find someone who'd like to teach me. In the meantime, though - thanks for the help, I appreciate it!

[saversavory]

joann fabrics offer sewing workshops and things like that, ive never been but i have heard good things about them? and good luck and have fun!

[thickbluebug]

Was a die hard singer lover until my mom bought me a new and fairly expensive singer in the 90's.
Piece of junk.

Spent more time working on it than sewing. The teflon kept getting chewed up.

When the singer was on the fritz I was borrowing my mil's Brother machine to make mends and sew lace on socks and crafts.
Wasn't a drop in bobbin like the old singers but it wasn't hard to conquer either.
Very inexpensive machine, plus I saw what looks like the same one a few weeks back in Walmart.
Sews back and forward and basic stitches like zig zag around $70 now - back then it was like $59. Plus the bobbin housing is metal, very important to me after dealing with teflon parts.
Brother LS2020.

My niece was visiting for the summer and sewed on this machine - all by herself and she had never sewn one stitch before. She made a sleeping bag cover with a drawstring and a buckle flap. Even sewed the nylon handle straps on using this machine. She never broke a needle and she sewed over a few pins too .

Very easy and reliable machine.

[rheavon]

A Singer or a Brother would be a good bet. Definitely check out craigslist or ask around. Sometimes people keep sewing machines with every intention of using them- but then never do.

I own a Bernina now, but I still have my Singer from years ago. I tend to use that one as my "portable" machine since my Bernina is one big lead brick of a great sewing machine.