I need a sewing machine.

[ModreB]

I need a sewing machine. It needs to be able to cope with light fabric up to heavy wool. I don't want fancy stitches, just a good basic workhorse. I've looked at Janonne, Singer, Jones, Panasonic and just can't decide.

I grew up with a Jones 888, but can't seem to find one.

Are you able to get to any shops that have them, or craft shows? I think you'd be able to try them out and see what you think, although there might only be one make in a place. Oh, maybe John Lewis, do they still do sewing stuff?

You used to be able to try them all in JL, didn't you?

I've recently bought a Singer Starlet 6699 and love it. I bought a fairly straight forward Brother from Hobbycraft about 12 years ago which was not a bad little machine and cheap at £80. They are doing some in store for a good price (well, they were 2 weeks ago). I think you might be able to try it out too.

www.hobbycraft.co.uk/sewing/sewing-machines-and-accessories/sewing-machines?queryfromsearch=true

Find your local reconditioned sewing machine shop & get yourself an old solid workhorse of a machine that has been renovated & has a guarantee. The older machines are heavier & much better to work with as they don't bounce across the table if you pick up speed & less to go wrong with them. Janine, Jones, Pfaff, Frister are all decent solid it brands, I've had them all over the years & all have been good reliable machines, some old singers can be good too, but you need a bit more care choosing those. I'd avoid new machines like the plague