How To Purchase A Sewing Machine

Have you always wondered where to start when it comes to buying a sewing machine?

In this episode, Sandra gives her daughter, Kim, advice on what type of machine to buy and the places where she can look for one.

Step 1 Sewing Machine Dealers

Interview different dealers in your area. Ideally it would be good if they taught classes on site, so that when you are ready to learn more, you know of somewhere to go. Make sure that they are really helpful.

Comments

[whiteoakart]

I am looking to buy a sturdy simple machine. As you noted: straight, zigzag, and buttonhole.  I also do not want a piece of cheap junk made in some 3rd world factory by children that will last exactly one year.  What kind of price range should I be looking at?  What manufacturers make well built machines?  I had the opportunity to buy a really nice commercial grade German machine at a fraction of the cost from one of my clients for $800, but this is way out of my budget.

[frollard]

Singer, Bernina, and a few others jump out as being classic quality last-forever machines; but they are NOT all built the same.  DO NOT buy one for I would say less than 200 dollars.  (i.e. all the crap you see at wal-mart).  It's the same company, but they just rebuy/rebrand no-name stuff with the high end name (by licensing the trademark name) in order to sell it at the wal-mart price bracket. 

If you can swing it, get the german machine designed to last for 3 lifetimes at a discount.  Beg borrow or steal to get that machine :D

[frollard]

Step 1:  DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES buy a sewing machine 'new' for less than a hundred dollars.  These wal-mart machines are absolute garbage.  The machining tolerances used to manufacture them are crap, and they will not last one one-hundredth as long as a machine that costs 3 or 4x more.  Don't cheap out.  You don't have to go super extravagant, just please for the love of god do not waste your time with these machines.  They are underpowered, and will just cost you more in Rogaine after you rip all your hair out.

[DarkStarPDX]

FYI, the attached YouTube video is marked private. It will need to be marked public in order for others to watch it.

[Sandra Betzina]

Thanks for letting us know. I've gone ahead and made the change. Please let me know if you are able to view.

~Karla
Sandra's Assistant