Which sewing machine?

[bluecoconut]

I have just done a beginners sewing course and I thoroughly enjoyed it and want to take it up as a hobby.

My long term ambition is to make clothes for myself and DC (jeans, dresses etc). I also quite like the idea of making soft furnishings and quilting too.

Prior to doing the course I was thinking of getting the JL 110 for £100 from John Lewis. I am concerned though that with what I am hoping to do, I will be having to upgrade sooner rather than later.

On the course I attended I used the Brother - Innovis 10A. I loved the computerised machine and I have decided that is what I would like to get. I think the 10A probably has too few stitches and it is worth spending a little more now.

I have a budget of £300ish.

The machines I am looking at and planning to go and look at are:

Brother Innov-is 20LE £329

Janome CXL301 £299

Janome XL601 £329 (includes free quilting kit and extension table)

Janome DC3050 £319 (looks like only available from John Lewis)

What are your thoughts Mumsnetter's?

I heartily recommend this machine

www.sewingmachines.co.uk/brothernv10a_info.htm

I've had it for 3 years and I use it mainly for quilting. Yes, you can actually quilt a king size quilt on it - I made my DD2 hers on it with no issues at all.
I'd stay away from the cheapo John Lewis one, especially as you've already used the Brother. You'll just get frustrated that it can't do what you want it to.
Elna used to be the machine I 'drooled' over, but after seeing them at work as it were, I'm still very happy with my Brother. I tend to think the more it CAN do, the more that will go wrong. The Elnas are more expensive too. I bought my DD1 the basic Janome model and it was terrible. But Elna and Janome are made by the same company now. So I think it's the name you end up paying for.

That's the one I used on my course Hairylegs and I really liked it.

I am just a little worried that it only has 16 stitches!

Did you buy from sewing machines direct? Did you have any problems?

No, I didn't buy it from them. I actually went into a shop to buy a different machine with more stitches! But I thought, how many will I actually use? I only use zig zag, normal stitch and the appliqué, the rest would be just faff. I used to have a singer with loads of different stitches, it was no good for big projects, I was forever cleaning the spool on the bottom. And then it refused to do them!! Maybes I was just too rough on it. Saying that, I'm harder on the Brother machine and it's still as good as the first time I used it.

Have a good look around, read lots of reviews, if you can see the machines in the flesh than do so before you make your decision.

I cant really recommend a machine in that price range but I can tell you as someone who sews as often as possible, what I want in a machine. (I have a pfaff expression 2046 which is a quiliting machine - but I don't quilt - I bought it second hand off a friend and I love it)

I sew bags, and I sew clothes.

My sewing machine is quiet - for me this is a must as I have to do it whilst dh is watching telly and kids are going to sleep. It also runs smoothly and I don't seem to have tension issues like I had with the cheap Brother I used to use.
I use straight stitch, reverse, and zig zag. I must have 100 fancy stitches on it but I don't use them!
The needle on my machine moves sideways in 1mm increments - 6 to the left and 6 to the right. This is the best feature I've EVER had (But more for bag making than dressmaking)
It has to cope with thick fabric but again this is more for bags than clothing.
I need to be able to remove the sewing platform to use it as a narrow 'sleeve' arm - to be fair I think you can do this on most machines.

and that is all!

I made this on my Janome 6125QC

I am on my 2nd Janome, I upgraded from a basic one to a 6125QC and I am very pleased with it.

It's not computerised but it's a really good solid machine, I mainly quilt and it does a good job. If you want to do more heavy duty sewing like quilts and soft furnishings I do think you need to look at build as well number of stitches.

If you do want to quilt then getting the extras really do help and you'll end up buying them.

Thanks for your replies.

I am going to the local sewing machine shop to try out the models I have mentioned. From the research I have done, they sound like what I am looking for and are within my budget.

There are so many out there that it can get a little overwhelming and confusing.

I have the brother Innovis 10a and absolutely love it. So if I was looking for something a bit fancier I'd definitely go up in the same range.

I really liked it to Voyager. I am just worried that maybe 16 stitches is not enough once I get to grips with it. Decisions

too

If you have a budget of £300, then I can see the argument for getting something a bit more advanced. However, I make the kinds of things you described and have never used all of the stitches!

So I'd get the Innovis 10a and spend the rest on starting the massive stash of fabric and threads you are about to accumulate :)

Great minds Voyager. I was thinking of that too
Am trying to find a list of basic equipment that I will need to get started. Eg, scissors, threads etc etc

Mothership that quilt you made is gorgeous.

How long was your beginners sewing course? Was it just a day one or a longer course? I have a singer sewing machine that I bought about 16 years again but I've never really used it. I'm a bit scared of it, and my mil, who does a lot of patchwork, couldn't work out how to load the bobbin! I've since found the instructions. I bought my dd the john lewis one for her birthday in December and she is pretty competent on it now.

I love my 10a. I make lots of my own clothes, stuff for the house, curtains etc. and don't think I've ever used all 16 stitches. Straight, buttonholes and stretch and that's probably it. I have another Innovis machine with about 90 stitches on and I've probably used even less on that one! You can get a walking foot for the 10a if you want to quilt. I've done it on mine. The buttonholes are good and easy plus it will take a ruffler foot plus lots more specialised feet. You can also drop the feed dogs for both quilting and free motion embroidery. If handles denim perfectly if you want to do jeans. To be honest it does all I want and I rarely gets it bigger cousin out now!

I have just got a singer 6180 from lidl for £99. It was selling for £295 in argos.it is a great machine and I am so glad I got it for Dutch a bargain price.

It was this one but it might have sold out as it isn't on lidl website now (even though I only got it last week).

www.offerscheck.co.uk/singer-brilliance-6180-sewing-machine/lidl/2014/kw-41/199862

I really like my pfaff - it has more on it than I'll ever need. Graduated to it from a Toyota, which was amazingly easy to use. Liked it a lot and would of upgraded to a better Toyota if they did them.

Do not go for Singer. They are still trading on their famous name, but make rubbish.

I had a toyota previously which I inherited, it was a pile of junk (which is the reason I inherited it). Constantly chewed the fabric and dropped stitches. I suppose brand name (or price) doesn't guarantee a decent machine.

Thanks Blue I'm rubbish at making clothes but I love to quilt and make the odd bag and soft toy. When you pick a machine and want to talk quilts just shout!

Jingle it was just a day course. I remembered enjoying it at school but wondered if it was a rose tinted memory. I thought it made sense to spend a bit of money on the course to be sure that I enjoyed it and it was something I definitely want to pursue. Maybe worth you considering doing a beginners course. At mine you had the option to bring your own machine. Might be a good way to overcome your fear.

Raven I am giving serious thought to the 10A.

Thanks for the tip Miss but like Katharine says there are a lot of negative reviews on Singers. Though the old models are said to be great.

Think a pfaff is out of my price range Katharine but I have heard good things about them.

Btw, I found GUR Sewing Machines really knew their stuff. And they tend to offer better deals on the phone. They also give an extended 10 year warranty - I don't know how this works in practice though as I've not had to use it.

My pleasure Mothership. That's why I want a machine that allows me to try many things as I don't know what I will be good or bad at. I did make a fantastic cushion cover on my course though

Thanks Katharine will take a look as not come across that name.

Post a pic!

I got mine from SMD, the site I linked to, I went into their Neasden office to have a look at it and managed to get a bit knocked off the price.

Thanks for the tip Miss but like Katharine says there are a lot of negative reviews on Singers. Though the old models are said to be great.

I agree about the reviews being poor for some singer machines and I did seriously consider getting a different machine but as it was only £99 and has a 3 year guarantee I thought it was worth a risk. So far I have made 2 garments with it, blazer and a dress, (only had it a week) and they are the best looking things I have made to date. I would not have bought this machine if it had been full price.
If I had more money I would have bought a janome as they have a great reputation.