Choosing a sewing machine is a very trying experience. Who can you ask that will give you their honest opinion and not just hope for a sell? I asked around, different people had different ideas. The best advice was to visit Amazon and read the reviews. Then, make up my mind from there. I was pretty sure I wanted the best bang for my buck! What that entailed, I did not know.
When I first decided to sew again I was so baffled on how to choose a sewing machine. The first one I picked, I think I loved because of the wonderful memories of my mom and I sewing on the machine.
Seriously, look at it! It’s so pretty! It’s newfangled and has a computer, that’s pretty cool. But, it looks like the one I remember. My husband even said I could buy it, I was working then. So I could buy it. Then I got cold feet. The machine was $232, what if I hated sewing? Could I waste that much money? Looking back, I really wish I would have bought that one. Maybe one day.
There are so many choices out there. I studied Amazon for days. I would settle on one and find one similar but cheaper. No way was I ever going to buy one of those old clunky 1970 machines. I wanted the brightest and best. I knew a little about stitches. After all, my machine needed a zig zag, a buttonhole, and a zipper foot. Beyond that, everything was gravy.
The first machine I purchased after beginning sewing again (30 years later) was a Singer Brilliance. It is a wonderful computerized machine. Not bad for $145 compared to the Heritage I really wanted. lol All the bells and whistles. I loved it. I sewed my little heart out while the memories of how to actually sew returned to my creaky brain. It struggled and I abused it with 1-2inch layers of fabric when I was making 10 blankets for Christmas. I sewed knit on it, sweatshirt material, pretty much everything I could get my hands on I tried sewing.
The second machine I purchased was the Singer Heavy Duty machine. I picked this one for two reasons. I have and old (1970s) PFAFF machine that needs repairs. It was my grandma’s and I really wanted to fix it. It’s so solid, and makes me drool with the craftsmanship. But, more than that machine, I love to sew. Hence, the new machine. Plus, the price was amazing! A heavy duty Singer that stitches 1100 stitches per minute and has 32 stitch choices? The biggest deciding factor was the price, at that time this machine, made of metal was $134 and Amazon showed me saving $125! What a deal. I was in heaven. I wanted more than anything to sew denim. Now way was my Brilliance going to do that, plus my Brilliance was slow.
These are my experiences, but if you would like an in-depth video on the topic, check this one out. There is more to buying a machine than looks and price. Educate yourself through the internet and Facebook groups. Most of all ENJOY!