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Calling all those sewing machine mavens...

thetimewillcomethetimewillcome member
100 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
edited May 2014 in Chit Chat
So I want to sew my wedding dress, and I just spent hundreds of dollars on the material, and I bought a sewing machine, and I was wondering if someone could tell me what a bobbin is and what I'm supposed to do with it....

Ok...ok...I'm just kidding

My actual question: What do you recommend for a sewing machine? My mom is a big sewer and her sewing machine that she has had for 30-something years is broken (it's a Singer if that makes a difference). She can still use it, but she has to have this screwdriver to hold this piece...or something like that. She tried to get it fixed, but because the machine is so old, the part that is broken can't be found. I want to buy her a new sewing machine for her birthday coming up, but I was looking for recommendations from people who use them. I like to quilt, so I have a sewing machine, but I don't think she would like one like mine. She does a lot of sewing (e.g. making clothes, hemming her pants, making me potholders for Christmas (I love my mom), etc.). She also sews some heavy duty fabrics, think denim. I'm looking to spend $500 or less on it, but would be willing to spend more if necessary (again, I love my mom). She doesn't use all the fancy stitches, so I don't NEED a machine with all of them. If it happens to have them, that's ok. 

What say ye? Let me know if you need more information.

ETA: I'd also take non-recommendations. Meaning, whatever you do don't buy one of these...

ETF: The title...
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Re: Calling all those sewing machine mavens...

  • APDSS22APDSS22 member
    Fifth Anniversary 1000 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer
    Perhaps the title should have been "knotties who sew" or "sewing machine mavens" because I definitely read it as sewers...the pipes that carry our sewage.  I like Singer machines.  They're fairly easy to figure out how to use and that's what I had in Home Ec. in middle school so that's what my husband and I got when we decided to re-cover our couch.  Singer has been around as a brand of sewing machine for so long for a reason.  They're pretty good quality.  I would go to either a JoAnn's or a Hancock Fabrics and ask them about different models because someone who works in a fabric store is going to have better insight, especially if you don't need any fancy features but you want durability.
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  • JasperandOpalJasperandOpal member
    250 Love Its 100 Comments First Anniversary First Answer
    My mother has the Singer 4423 and she loves it.  Its maybe not as heavy duty as described but that depends on what heavy duty means to you (it struggled with some thicker leather but otherwise I haven't found anything it can't chomp through). It is a good solid machine that is really simple to use and does all the basic stitches.  http://www.singerco.com/products/2122/4423-heavy-duty

    I got a great deal on one of the Brother Project Runway machines and its not bad but I previously had a Singer for 15 years and I probably should have just got another Singer. It does have a lot more options than the Singer mentioned above. (I think it is the Brother PC420PRW but it is in storage at the moment so I don't know for certain. https://www.brother-usa.com/homesewing/ModelDetail.aspx?ProductID=PC420PRW#.U2UVDTlforw)
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  • kmmssgkmmssg mod
    Moderator Knottie Warrior 5000 Comments 500 Love Its
    Being a person who only sews buttons and emergency hems I definitely read "sewer" aka sewage...
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  • thetimewillcomethetimewillcome member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    LOL...thanks for the point out. I was thinking sewing machine, so I didn't think about it reading sewers..aka sewage.

    It does make me giggle though.

    Thanks for the recommendations so far
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  • Cookie PusherCookie Pusher member
    Knottie Warrior 2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    edited May 2014
    I have 2 Singers (one old from the 70s/80s, one new) and a small Sunbeam travel machine. I love my old Singer. Love it. I actually learned to sew on a very old Singer table sewing machine, so I'm particularly fond of Singers.

    ETA: If you have any serious fabric stores near you, the people working there should be able to give you good recommendations and you might be able to test out the machine before committing to purchasing.
    ~*~*~*~*~

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  • Fairyjen1Fairyjen1 member
    250 Love Its 100 Comments Second Anniversary Name Dropper
         Bernina. My mom is a professional seamstress and she has a Bernina. I also have a Bernina. We have had Singers in the past and they are okay, 

         I'll try and get the model numbers for you when I get home.
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  • NYCMercedesNYCMercedes member
    Sixth Anniversary 2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    edited May 2014
    My Singer cabinet died and took my Singer machine with it. I got a replacement on Craigslist. Find out what she has and see if you can replicate that model for her.
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  • artbyallieartbyallie mod
    Moderator Eighth Anniversary 5000 Comments 500 Love Its
    For a cheap but sturdy machine I'd go with Singer, but with your budget I'd think you can get Brother or Bernina. Janome would be another option in your price range. For the most part, I personally have used my Singer and the super-fancy Pfaff machines in the costume studio at the college I graduated from. I think we used Janome in my sewing classes in high school, but that's been so long I couldn't say how I liked them.
    image
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  • HaileyDancingbearHaileyDancingbear member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its First Anniversary Name Dropper
    I have a singer ingenuity and it's ok.  It gets the job done but not without me getting pissed and yelling at it at least a few times per project. Most of the time I turn it off then on again and it's back to normal, and that pisses me off- so there was nothing wrong, but it was still being a dipshit?  Wtf inanimate object, yelling will fix you.

    If I had the money I would get something nicer in a heartbeat, but I can't entirely knock what I have because it's still working and I've had it for a LONG time.  So I'd say Singer is nice,  but if you can afford better do it.
    image
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  • CMGragainCMGragain member
    10000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary 25 Answers
    Go on Amazon.com and check their deals.  You don't need more than a basic sewing machine.  These days tthat means a lot more than your mother's 30 year old Singer.  I bought a Brother machine last year that is very lightweight, and cost me less than $200.  It is so more advanced than my old Kenmore, and the only problem is that I have to check the manual before using it.  Most machines today have computer controlled stitches,
    httpiimgurcomTCCjW0wjpg
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  • ktjanesmomktjanesmom member
    Sixth Anniversary 500 Comments 250 Love Its Name Dropper
    I have my moms old Singer.  Its probably 40 years old and still works well.  Its most certainly what I will buy to replace mine when I have to. 
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  • CMGragainCMGragain member
    10000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary 25 Answers
    Singer sewing machines are completely different from the old days.  The company was bought out in 2004.  Their machines are made overseas.  They still make a good product, but it is nothing like the old Singers.  Brother is their biggest competitor.
    httpiimgurcomTCCjW0wjpg
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  • thetimewillcomethetimewillcome member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    Thank you for all the recommendations everyone. I really appreciate all the insight.
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