Well it’s a new year and I’ve been wanting to learn some new things. At the top of the list is Sewing! I actually did sew years ago. Back in the day…we were required to take Home Economics at school, where we learned all the important skills of keeping a home, like sewing,
cooking and setting a proper table. I remember I liked to sew and I even made a dress for myself for 8th grade graduation, using my Mom’s machine. After I got married I had a cheap machine, that didn’t work well at all and I remember spending many frustrating days, just trying to make a pillow with some trim on it! I finally gave up and put the machine on a shelf, where it’s been for at least 14 years. I have no desire to try to sew with that thing again! But I would like to get a machine that’s easy to use and see if I can get back into the swing of things again. I decided the best way to research my new machine, would be to ask some of my friends about the sewing machine’s that they use and what they like about them. I also thought you guys might be able to use this info too, so I decided to write a post about it. I’ve included some links so that you can get an idea of the prices of the machines, in some cases the particular model used, is no longer available, so I tried to find the closest one to it. Sooooo let the comparison begin!
My Machine: Brother LB-6770 Embroidery & Sewing Machine
I taught myself to sew a couple of years ago and finally bought a machine. My machine has a lot of fun stitches and even embroiders, but I mostly use it for straight stitching and easy sewing projects. I have really enjoyed it so far. I’m really excited to see what other machines people use and why they love them!! Thanks for including me and my machine in your series Karen!!
My Machine: Brother – Project Runway Model
My machine is a Brother Project Runway Model, and I bought it at Walmart for about $150. I love that it’s inexpensive, but it does an amazing job of handling whatever I dream up, and with 79 stitch options, I can dream big! It’s easy to maintain and really is a great budget friendly option for those that may not need a high end machine. I actually have 2 of them, and I’ve been using them over 4 years, and still love them as much as the first time I bought it.
My Machine: Singer 7422
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I hope you enjoyed this comparison of my some of my friend’s machines. I’ll let you guys know what I end up buying. If you sew and have a machine that you love, please let me know in the comments, I would love to get some feedback from you guys too!
*This post contains affiliate links
Suzan says
I am a pretty serious sewer and I have a variety of machines. My favorite for quilting is my Janome 1600DP and my favorite for everything else is my Brother CS6000i. The Brother was pretty inexpensive from Amazon but it has every feature (needle down, feed dogs that drop, snazzy stitches and LOTS of feet) that I was looking for in a new machine. For the price of the machine, I don’t think you can go wrong with a Brother and there are so many from which to choose!
Karen Watson says
Thanks for your input Suzan! The Brother machines do seem to be quite popular!
Anonymous says
I’m also a big fan of Brother. I have 2 Brother machines (one strickly for embroidery), a Babylock and a Juki serger. FYI… Brother also makes the Babylock machines. They are just marketed under the Babylock name.
Anonymous says
I have the Bernina Aurora 440, which I bought used on ebay, two years ago. The bernina shows how many hours the machine has been used (mine was used only around 100 hours). It is a GREAT machine, a real joy to use. It is expensive new but less than half price used.
Karen Watson says
Thanks for your comment. I have heard great things about Bernina! That’s so cool that it tells you how many hours you’ve used it!
Susieknitster says
This comment has been removed by the author.
The Prudent Homemaker says
I have a Janome DC3050. I am very happy with it. I sew a lot several days a week.
Make sure the machine you get has the stitches you want. I had a few specific ones that were very important to me.
Karen Watson says
Thanks for the tip about the stitches, I’ll keep that in mind!
WLWK4FD aka The Faux Fae says
I’ve been using a Sear Kenmore 10 Stitch for over 20 years and with regular maintenance (cleaning and oiling) it’s still running strong! Very reliable machines. Downside – no fancy electronic doodads but I seem to get by without them! LOL
Karen Watson says
Good to know about the Kenmore!
jenn says
Hi, Karen, I have an older Singer sewing machine that I just love. I mostly sew the basics so it’s perfect. Recently my bobbin winder stopped working on it and I did check around for a new machine, but there was so much negative feedback on new machine purchases, that I decided to keep my old one for now and just buy a separate bobbin winder. Works great.
Karen Watson says
Thanks Jenn! I’m glad you were able to keep using your Singer!
Anonymous says
I don’t sew a lot compared to some people, but I hate, absolutely hate, machines that “hide” the bottom bobbin, they can be such a pain to load. just my opinion!
Jeanette
Karen Watson says
Thanks Jeanette! I’ll keep that in mind!
Anonymous says
Perfect timing! Your story is mine to the letter and I want to tackle sewing as well. I appreciate this post so much!
Karen Watson says
Oh good! I’m glad you found it useful!
Anonymous says
I sew on a 40 year old White machine that was my paternal grandmother’s. Still works great. Very similar to this one: http://www.riverwater.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/oldfaithful.jpg
This past Christmas I purchased a new machine for a 12 year old young lady just learning to sew. This is the machine I chose for her: http://www.amazon.com/Brother-LS2125I-Easy-To-Use-Lightweight-10-Stitch/dp/B000EOX28E/ref=sr_1_3?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1359651979&sr=1-3&keywords=brother+sewing+machine
It is a very basic machine, easy to learn on and so far, seems to be just the ticket.
Karen Watson says
Thanks for the input and the links! That basic Brother machine does look like it would be perfect for a 12 year old!
Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com says
Thanks for including me in your post Karen. I have enjoyed my machine and I love hearing what other people use and love. This was such a wonderful idea!!
xoxoxo
Karen Watson says
Thank you for participating Jen!! It’s so nice to have some expert opinions to help with my decision!
Jessica Kielman says
Great information, Karen! I have a brother that sews and embroiders as well…absolutely love it!
Karen Watson says
Thanks Jessica! I forgot you sew, I should have included you in this post too!
pipigirl says
lol… you and me both. many moons since home ec. i also enjoyed it. after hi school, itook my little brothers tops and pants, used as a pattern, and made summer jammys. actually turned out rather good i must say. bought a white barely used about a yr. ago for $25.00 hope i did ok. havent used yet, but feeling the urge to. thanks for the info. hope my machine is a decent one. i always thought they were better. we’ll see i guess.
Karen Watson says
Thanks Pipigirl! One of the other commenters above has a White, that she loves, so it must be pretty good! I know they’ve been around a long time, I have lots of old graphics with their ads on them.
Daughter of Eve says
I just bought a Juki Exceed F300. I’m pretty excited, but must admit, the machine knows more about sewing than I do.
Karen Watson says
Ha! That’s funny! I’ve never heard of Juki, I will have to look that one up.
JoJoand Eloise says
I have a total of 5 Machines all Janome.. I Love sewing with them. I started out with a inexpensive Singer and used it maybe 4-5 times and got some advice from an experienced sewer that said Janome is one of the best. I haven’t used anything else since. Love all the comparisons.. Looks like Brother is pretty popular 🙂
xo
Angelina
Karen Watson says
Thanks Angelina! I’ve heard of Janome but I’m not familiar with them, I will have to look into that one too!
Anonymous says
Hi Karen!
I recently bought a Brother Dreamweaver, and boy, does it do it all! It sews, quilts and embroiders. It is a dream to use, and it has so many different features. I just wish I was a little more computer literate, so we could make beautiful seams together. lol Also a Karen.
Karen Watson says
Ha! Cute Karen!
Lola says
I’m a Husqvarna Viking fan! I have two machines, the basic Emerald 118 and I just bought an embroidery machine in December. They’re awesome work horses! I’ve been sewing since I was a little girl and learned on my mom’s Kenmore from the 1970s and I still love that machine. I have a Brother serger (bought on Amazon) and that’s a good machine too. I’ve been told by a couple service shops to stay away from the Walmart Brothers and Singers since they cost more to repair then to buy a new machine. Its best to stick with the Vikings, Janomes, Berninas if sewing is your passion. 🙂 I’ve never had issues with my Viking and I’ve put my Emerald through her paces! I blog at http://www.thetreasurehunts.com or on FB http://www.facebook.com/thetreasurehunts
Karen Watson says
Wonderful! Thanks for your input!
Anonymous says
In a “former” life, I used to sew for a living – not little things but serious couture stuff and my mother used to be a movie costume designer. Now I just sew now and then but we BOTH swear by Bernina! Mine is 20+ years old, their 1010 Anniversary Edition (just saw one on EBay for $350 ish) I sew everything from silk to upholstery and it makes a decent buttonhole. Don’t think you’d ever use a machine with ooodles of stitches – this has enough and you just don’t usually use anything but straight, zig-zag and an occasional scallop. Hope this helps!
Karen Watson says
Yes, that helps a lot! I loved hearing about your background and your Mother’s background too! It sounds very glamorous!
T. Cashion says
I love my Brother cs600i. It is a great machine at a great price. Got mine at Walmart for $134.
T. Cashion says
That should be cs6000i
Karen Watson says
Thanks T! Another Brother fan!
Jann says
At one point in time I had 5 sewing machines in my sewing room.My favorite is the Brother NX600. Love this machine. I kept the Brother XR65 as a back-up machine and gave away the other 3 machines I have. I don’t think you will be dissapointed with a Brother.
Karen Watson says
Thank you Jann!
Susan D says
I have a Kenmore Mini Ultra. It was my mom’s and I love it just for that reason. It is very easy to use and I mostly use it for straight stitches for pillows, curtains, hemming and I also did a sofa slip cover with it. Definitely a good machine for a beginner like me.
Susan
sunflowerhugs.blogspot.com
Karen Watson says
Thanks Susan! That’s so great that you are using your mom’s machine!
20 North Ora says
I sew several hours each day and for years made pillows for designers. I have a Husqvarna Viking, a Janome and a Singer. The Viking is definitely my all-time favorite (all metal, never needs oiling) and the Janome is my second favorite. There’s things I like about both of them. The newer Singers are not what the old ones were. But, I have to have spares in case of an emergency.
The Vikings are a little more expensive but I don’t think you’d ever wear them out.
Good luck!!
Judy
Karen Watson says
Thank you Judy! Several hours each day? That’s impressive!
Melissa says
I actually work at a family owned sewing store. My advise go talk to your local sewing dealer, not a big box store. If you talk to a knowledgable dealer about what you are wanting to do and spend they should be able to give you some good choices. Dealers also get different models of machines then the big box stores do. Most dealers will also show you how to run the machince so you go home knowing more! 🙂
Karen Watson says
Great advice Melissa!
Sherri says
I do slipcovers and I love my White 1788 Heavy Duty. Apparently it was originally destined for a Home Ec class so I figured it would be sturdy enough for me. It’s not electronic and just has basic stitches, but it easily does everything I need it to. I paid around $300 13 years ago. Sometime I’ll save up for a proper industrial machine, but for now this works great!
Karen Watson says
Thanks for your feedback Sherri!
Pendra says
I’ve got a Kenmore Model #385.19153 and I just love it. All the stitches are pre-programmed you just hit a button. It came with all the bells and whistles and I don’t think there isn’t a thing I couldn’t do with this machine. I can even monogram. The buttonholer is great, you just put on the buttonhole presser foot and slide the button you are using into the back of it and it sews the perfect size you want. Our family has had Singers and Kenmore’s for probably 45 years and have NEVER had a machine break on us… with regular (at home) maintenance I think they will probably outlive me! Good luck hon!
Hugs,
~Pendra
Karen Watson says
Thanks Pendra! It would be fun to be able to Monogram things, I hadn’t even thought of that!
the teacup incident says
This whole discussion with comments has been so helpful! I’ve been using my grandmother’s 1974 Singer for sewing and paper crafts. Its a real workhorse but only has two stitches – straight and zigzag. The bobbin is also “hidden” which is a pain to deal with. I mostly sew simple fabric projects (pillow covers, napkins, table runners, bunting) but I want to explore more unique projects such as purses and applique. Its great to hear what other people find useful. Thank you for posting this comparison of various lower cost (and used) machines 🙂
Karen Watson says
Thanks Teacup!! I’m so happy that it helped!
Anonymous says
I have been sewing for 40 years and have made about everything; my wedding dress, a tailored wool coats and jackets, drapes, heirloom smocked dresses, kid clothes, etc. I have a Viking 1+ and it is an amazing machine. The Vikings are made by Husquavarna and are sturdy workhorses that need very little maintenance. If I could, I would buy one of the older 46 Series of Vikings, which came out 30 years ago and are still going strong.I have heard it said that Vikings are the Cadillacs of sewing machines and Berninas are the Rolls Royces.
I would NEVER buy a machine from a big box store. Your local sewing machine dealership is your friend, and should take the time to show you all of the features of each and every machine. You should bring every kind of fabric you can think of to sew on, and they should provide lessons after purchase to show you how to use your machine.
If money is an issue and you possibly can, buy a high quality used machine at a dealership. You will be getting much higher quality than if you bought a new machine for under $500. The older, non-electronic machines were wonderful and rarely wore out, like any Singer before 1960 (when they started going down in quality). The old machines are metal and may not look as pretty, but they are tried and true. I had a sewing teacher who collected, used, and swore by older, mechanical sewing machines; he had 28, all set up to do his shirt tailoring tasks perfectly.
You will do more straight stitching than anything else, so make sure your prospective machine can do that perfectly. Believe me, you will not need the 207 diffferent stitches that some machines feature. You will need forward, backward, and zig-zag; anything else is gravy.
Anonymous says
Agree the old Singers are best. I swear by my Singer 401A which was the model used in MY Home-Ec class. All metal, basic stitches plus a few “fun” ones. But then, I’m old-school (pardon the pun) and have no desire for computerized, programmable stuff. Worked at a sewing store through high school and I had to make all my clothes to work there.
Singer 401A’s are always in demand on eBay which is a testament to this model. Around $200ish depending on what accessories are included. Good Luck and thanks for your wonderful graphics!
Karen Watson says
Thanks to you both, for taking the time to share all of this info with the rest of us!!
Laura Strack says
I use to sew on my Mom’s machine, taking her worn out pillow cases and I’d make new linens for my barbies! I would use the pillow cases that had pretty tatting/crochet on the edges or 70’s pattern prints. My Barbies had beautiful beds! That was a long time ago and I too want brush up on my skills. This post is perfect timing for me. as well. I can’t wait to see what you choose.
Karen Watson says
Thanks Laura! I used to make things for my Barbies too! So fun!
Beverly Ritch says
Thank you for such a perfect topic!
Your post fits me to a T also. Except I really wanted to take Shop instead of Home Ec! haha
I have a very large, beautiful material that I am going to have to tackle soon. It is destined to be our dining room curtains. I have to admit that I am terrified. I will be using my mom’s sewing machine, that I doubt I have ever laid eyes on. Think I better practice before I try the curtains tho!
Karen Watson says
You’re welcome Beverly! How sad that you couldn’t take Shop class, but that’s how it was then, things are so different now! Good luck with your curtains!
Deb says
I taught myself how to sew about 24 years ago on an old Singer my mom gave me. It didn’t have a bobbin winder so I had to wrap the thread on the bobbin by hand…I guess I really wanted to sew! I now own a Bernina 730 which is a monogram machine also. I love that it can be connected to my laptop and I can import designs from a CD. Still learning how to use all the fancy things it does but enjoying every minute.
Karen Watson says
Thanks for your input Deb! So funny that you had to wrap the bobbin by hand!
Quilt Junkie says
Great (and possibly controversial) topic Karen! I have a fleet of sewing machines; my “favorite” depends on what I’m working on and where I’m working on it. For a beginning sewist who doesn’t want to spend a ton of money while learning, I can recommend the Brother Project Runway edition from Wal-Mart. I’ve been incredibly impressed with this machine! It does nearly everything my high-dollar machines do, and weighs less than my vintage Singer Featherweights, making it perfect to take to classes and such. It’s a little workhorse and I’ve been extremely impressed with it.
Karen Watson says
Thanks Quilt Junkie!! That helps a lot!!
Anonymous says
I chose JANOME MAGNOLIA ….I had a Baby Lock for 15 years, that I loved, but when the Bobbin winder knob froze up I wanted a new one, so I did a TON of research & listened to people’s comments on Amazon about the brands to choose from. Jan. 2013 I finally choose a Japanese model, JANOME Magnolia #7318 for $250.00. I did not want complicated digital features and I am SEW in love w/it now. The instruction manual is very clear& it has a 25 year warranty. It is simple to operate and I feel so confidant using it now, I’m even teaching my 7 y/o Grndtr. to sew on i. Check it out.
Regards,Sherry.
Shabby Pink Stamper says
Hi Karen,
I have quite a few sewing/embroidery, quilting, embellishing and serging machines. Yes, I am addicted to creating! I just wanted to share my favs. The Viking Husqvarna SE machine is quite the work horse. I am able to sew through 7 layers of fabric. I made slip covers out of canvas and it made it so easy. It also does embroidery beautifully. My lastest machine is the Baby Lock Ellisimo and I just love it! It really makes the sewing experience so much more enjoyable. I love the automatic threader and the large screen. It has way too many wonderful features to name. Hope you check them out. Thank you so much for your awesome downloads and tutorials! I so enjoy all your stuff!
Brian and Ami says
I agree with all the Janome love. My mom worked in a sew & vac shop for years and got to try out many sewing machines. She agreed that Viking was the high end but that Janome was another great option. I bought a Janome DC1050 off of ebay for $300 about two years ago. It was a little more expensive than a big box machine but has been worth every penny. It is easy to use and sews smooth. I am not a professional by any means but I have been able to sew kids costumes, pillow cases, curtains, holiday crafts, and a quiet book for my kids. The warranty is also amazing.
Erin S aka Nanasrcool says
Hi Karen,
Like you, prior to almost 2 years ago, my only sewing experience was in Home Ec in high school. Didnt really care for it then to be honest. I became completely disabled April of ’09. Having worked my whole life while raising 5 children, finding myself not able to work and all but one of my children grown and on their own, I was seriously losing it! I decided to make window treatments for my home.
My mother bought me a used Singer 7426 for my birthday. I had a friend come over and show me how to thread it and sew with it. I then decided that for my window treatments, I wanted them to be pieced with a stained glass window effect. Also, I wanted roman shades instead of panels. I read all I could find online and watched every tutorial I could. That lead me to quilting. I fell in love with ALL of it! Now I sew all the time!
I fell OUT of love quickly with the Singer. It was just so LOUD and the vibration was very bad. Not sure if this is because of it being used or what. I purchased a used short arm quilting frame & machine. I got such a great deal on it. It came with the original Inspira Frame & a Viking Mega Quilter with the 9″ throat. This machine is almost identical to others made by Pfaff, Juki, Janomi and Brother. All I have been told by many dealers are almost identical. It also came with a stitch regulator. This was too good of a deal to pass up. She had barely used it and upgraded to a AQPS set up. The whole thing cost me only $1000.00. After a year I still think it was the best deal EVER!
Because I hated the Singer so much the Viking became my primary machine. I loved how it sewed. Very smooth! Great stitches and no, or very very little vibration. It had the features I really wanted such as, needle up/down, knee lift and thread cutter. It is only a strait stitch machine, but I actually never used any other stitches so that wasn’t a problem. I still wanted to buy another machine though. I wanted to keep the Viking on the frame. It is a very heavy machine. Moving it back and forth was a real pain & not something I could do alone! After reading review after review, taking what I had read as well as cost into consideration,then adding in the features I really wanted. I chose the Juki HZL F400. For all it has on it as far as features, it is MUCH less expensive than comparable machines. It sews like a dream! I do a lot of free motion quilting off the frame & found that the Juki does this as well, if not better than the Viking did.
My suggestion to anyone buying a machine, do your research! If you are considering a particular machine, talk to people that are using it and have used it for a while. You will learn if it is quiet (a HUGE thing for me), smooth, picky about threads, has tension problems and other things that you need to know going in. Sewing machines have become major purchases. Some are VERY major purchases. I spent months doing my homework when I bought my Juki. I knew it would be my primary machine and I needed it to fill all of my needs and be something I enjoyed using, unlike the Singer which I wanted rid of almost immediately! I just had NO experience sewing and therefore no clue what I needed and wanted in my machine. I would also never buy a high priced machine if you have never sewn before. You will find that when you get into it, a certain type of project will be what you enjoy doing and will probably do almost exclusively. Such as some enjoy making clothing, others home dec stuff or quilting. Different machines have features for different sewing styles. Be relatively sure of what you enjoy and find a machine that matches that, instead of finding one that has tons of features you just do not need and will never use!
Hope this helps!
Erin S aka Nanasrcool says
I wanted to add,
I love your blog! My comment may be long, and I apologize. I have lupus and bad brain fog. I have found the hardest thing for me to do is say what I need to say briefly. Finding the words is so hard for me so I am sorry if this is long. However, this is something very important to me and a lesson I learned the hard way!
Karen Watson says
It’s no problem at all Erin! I really appreciate your thoughtful comment and advice!
Eva says
hello
,I have been sewing for 40 years and if I had my wish I would spend all my time creating something on my sewing machine.I have and still enjoy a Riccar machine I bought in 1973 It is all steel inside and out and I have never needed anything but a simple clean and oil.It’s a work horse and sews everything from fine silk to leather and canvas It has stretch stitches,100 embroidery stitches and decent buttonholes, what else do you need?..I also have a very old and beautiful White Treadle machine that sews nicely.if all you need is a straight stitch.I think you should buy the best quality you can afford as cheap machines can lead to frustration with breaking thread,bad tension and really take the fun out of learning to sew which is very discouraging.I have sewn on most machines.The basic Janome is a good model and held up well in a class setting of beginning sewers over a 4 year period with few problems.I agree that the Bernina and the Viking-Husqavarna are the cadilac and the rollsroyce of machines.
Joanne says
I’ve read all of your comments and have a wealth of info. This is a major investment for me, as I started quilting and need a machine to handle bulk. My old singer is a workhorse but I need something for quilting. Also, thank you for the interesting stories that made me smile! I will let you all know what I decide on.
Liz says
We get a many of the Singer 9960 Quantum Stylist 600-Stitch for repair in our shop. Our customers love this sewing machine.
Carol says
Hello! I am new to sewing and have been on craigslist shopping for a used sewing machine, I currently found a viking emma for 200. I cant find the original pricing and not sure if what im getting is good any advice on the machinery, etc
Thank – you, for your time.
(this is a link i found online)
http://www.worldofsewing.com/old_site/sewingmachines/husqvarna/emma.htm
sewing machines says
If you are one of the people who wanted to try out sewing, then finding the Best Sewing Machine for Beginners is what you should be doing.
Roxanne says
Thanks for the sewing machine comparison, was helpful to me.
I am thinking of buying Janome DC3050 from Amazon, I also read reviews it seems a good sewing machine, what will you say?
Karen Watson says
Hi Roxanne, I’m sorry I haven’t tried that one, so I can’t advise you on it. Good luck with your new machine!
kolunaco says
Janome is another name for high grade sewing machines at impressive prices.
graphicsfairy says
Good to know, thanks!
Jen - Sewing Machine Enthusiast says
Thanks for the great share! I am off to check out these sewing machine bloggers know 🙂
graphicsfairy says
Awesome Jen, have fun!
Tony Woods says
Hi Karen Watson,
The idea of Comparing different blogger is awesome. Now we can understand each perspective very well. so that we can make a best choice form ourselves. Different people have different mind settings. Really very good and helpful blog.
thank you
Kevin Rogers says
All of the bloggers are really great. the post of them are also very helpful for the DIY. Really great comparison with them all.
Mary says
Thank you for this review, very interesting.
graphicsfairy says
Thanks Mary, hope it was helpful!