Sewing machine recommendations please?

[WoeIsMee]

Help needed please! I’m looking to buy a sewing machine as I can’t keep up with the constant requests from my children for clothes for babies, picnic mats for the playmobil and tablecloths for the Sylvanians!

I usually hand sew but I’ve accepted defeat.

I’ve been looking at the Singer 1408? I’m no good with tech so don’t want anything fancy, just something that sews and that you don’t need a degree to use.

Are they any good? Thank you

I have a Singer 3223, nothing too fancy but I love it. It does what I need it to do. There are also tutorials on YouTube for it to show you how to work it

• pulls up chair -

Singer sewing machines aren't what they used to be. Whatever you do, don't buy a cheap one. I've had a lot of sewing machines, and by far the best and most reliable have been "vintage" type ones - not an old singer necessarily, but something like an old "new home" which is made of all metal parts and no computerised bits to go wrong. Modern plastic machines have many plastic parts inside which tend to go wrong, older machines were made of all metal and were far more reliable.

If you could get hold of an old Bernina record 730 you'd be in sewing heaven, they are truly beautiful machines. I currently have an old Pfaff 260 that I bought for £20 in a charity shop which has tons of stitches and sees like a dream. There are lots of bargains about, don't be seduced by bells and whistles that you won't need.

If you really want something modern, I'd recommend a janome.

I've got a Janome from the late 1980s and it's still going strong!

Watching with interest. I've got a (very) old New Home machine but was looking into a new one because it's giving me unreliable stitches recently, no matter how much I play with the stitch length and tension.

Interesting comments from @slavetothenhs. If you'll forgive the hijack, do you have any tips for improving the performance of my old faithful?

Brother ls14/ls14s. Simple, robust, easy to use, won't break the bank

The classic Bernina 1008 if you can get your hands on one, pricey but absolutely AMAZING.

I came on to recommend a Janome as well, for entry/ mid level sewing machine. Reliable and good quality.

I came to recommend the JL110 or JL111 from John Lewis. They are made by Janome and come in lovely colours. They're a basic but sturdy machine and a very reasonable price. However, I just had a quick look at the John Lewis site and they are all out of stock. I think a LOT of people have been buying sewing machines while they have time on their hands.

I've got an older Janome and a new-ish Brother and the newer wins out by a long chalk. The Brother Is14 looks good for #80 on Amazon. Its got top loading bobbin which makes a difference imo. You won't need that many stitches but a buttonhole stitch is a really useful one to have.

It's a good starting machine. I'm on a few sewing groups, the Brother LS14 also often recommended as a first machine. Any other machine around £100-150 (if you can find stock) as long as not a miniature/toy machine should do the job. Elna 220 would be another option for a small amount extra, with stretch stitches, drop feed and a needle threader.
A lot of the affordable machines are out of stock online but Elna (made by Janome) are a bit less well known.

Also the Husqvarna H class E10 is their entry level machine, about £150 and with a similar spec to the Elna 220. I've used these at sewing classes and they are very intuitive.

Regarding old machines, they can usually be serviced if you phone around some local dealers. Being mechanical they often quite repairable. You can also find the instructions online or in Facebook vintage sewing groups.

@dearprudence - I'd probably just get it serviced by a good repair shop/technician! It would be worth it I imagine rather than buying another one

I'm gutted as I have a beautiful 1950s electric Singer which positively purrs. But I can't find the box of bits (like, oh you know, the pedal), that goes with it. Worse, I'm not 100% sure it made it here in the last move

I bought on a recommendation from her a janome 7025 and i am thrilled with it.

*from here

OMG found it! Very excited.

As you were

My Singer Talent has coped with hundreds of cushion covers, roman blinds and curtains. Never had a problem with it.
It is not fancy by any means. I wanted one without computer controls.

OMG found it! Very excited

Yay! I've got my mum's from the early 50s. As you say, it purrs - it's a dream of a machine. It needed some attention a few years ago, and I took it for a service and a new part ... a bit expensive, but worth every penny.

I've also got a basic Janome that I've had for about five or six years - I got it because I wanted to be able to do some stitches that old machines can't do, such as overlocking. The Janome has been fine so far - it's not a joy to use, as old machines can be, but it's done the job and hasn't given any trouble.

I agree that modern singers are not what they were, but the possible exception is the heavy duty singer.

If I were looking for a cheap reliable machine I would probably by this Elna www.sewingmachines.co.uk/browse-machines/sewing-machines/220ex/ (I've bought from that site before BTW and had excellent service).

If your budget will stretch then consider something like this www.sewingmachines.co.uk/browse-machines/sewing-machines/dks30/

@StCharlotte great! Old singers are such lovely machines.

It needed some attention a few years ago, and I took it for a service and a new part ... a bit expensive, but worth every penny.

My MIL gave it to me the first Christmas I knew her (she was already MIL by then, we didn't hang about!). She obviously already had it but the "gift" was her paying to have it completely overhauled and reconditioned at the local Singer shop. I knew she was a keeper

I have a mid range Janome, it's very nice to use and spares are really easy to come by.

I would love a Bernina.

It also came with this book which has been a Godsend.