Sewing machine recommendations

[rougechaotic]

I’m wanting to get a sewing machine next year - I’ll be using it to alter and to make clothes with a variety of fabrics. I’m leaning towards computerised over manual (but happy to be convinced otherwise!) and am looking for recommendations. My mum has offered to buy it as a birthday present so I’d like to get a good machine but not one that is unnecessarily expensive! Thank you!

I bought a Janome machine this year. I looked for features - needle threader, thread cutter and one step buttonholes. It has a shed load of stitches that I'll never use, and it has a hard cover that I did want, but wasn't so fussed about.

I am very happy with it. Use the needle threader all the time. Same with thread cutter. Neither are essential, but they make sewing easier. My eyesight isn't great, so the needle threader is probably the most useful. Love that I can do half a dozen buttonholes in a couple of minutes.

I would think about the features you definitely want, and then see what's available. Most people will advise going to a dealer, but I did all my research online. I checked Amazon reviews and watched Youtube clips. It didn't take long to narrow down the options.

Another vote for Janome, but I have a non computerised model. What is your reason for wanting computerised? I looked at upgrading recently, but having done a workshop with one found that a lot of the features weren’t really useful, and personally found toggling on the computer screen took longer than manual adjustments to my home machine. Clearly it is a personal preference.

I would also look at Bernina and Pfaff brands as people seem to be very devoted to those - Bernina is known as a classic workhorse of a machine, Pfaff is maybe a more recently popular brand but has lots of computerised options.

for me, I judge a machine on general stitching reliability, ability to handle thicker combinations, and buttonhole function

Well I was bought a Pfaff 30 years ago and the damn thing is so reliable it's still going.... which is annoying as I'd love it to break down and give me an excuse to buy a new one....lol.

@Labraradabrador I was leaning towards computerised after reading some reviews online – a few of them said they got more professional / neater results. I think I need to do more research and work out what I actually need! Computerised does also make me a bit nervous as I imagine they are much harder to fix if there is an issue. I think I'll start looking at Pfaff, Janome, and Bernina (I think my nan had a Janome decades ago and I recall her loving it!)

Mine is a John Lewis own brand but they are made by Janome so maybe worth a look.

Another vote for John Lewis for a first machine. They're made by Janome, reliable, and stitch very nicely, robust and very reasonably priced, and should be capable of doing most if not all things you want.
I really wouldn't spend too much on a first machine - you see so many come up for sale later on as people don't get the use they think they might out of them.
The good thing is when you want to upgrade to all singing all dancing (if ever you do) there's lots barely used at bargain prices second hand.
FWIW I have an old 1970s Bernina 810 I think - very good sought after model of the era does several different stitches, and even older Singer 201K electric (great for thicker fabrics, curtains etc - htere's not much it won't sew through, and the buttonhole attachment I prefer to the Bernina as it sews them fabulously), and more recently acquired a Brother overlocker second hand hardly used, which is great for quickly sewing up garments, especially stretchy fabrics.

Find a local independent dealer and go and try them out.

I have a Toyota which is a perfectly decent machine but an absolute bugger to get branded accessories and spares for.

Singer and Janome stuff seems much easier to find so from that POV I’d opt for one of those brands.

I love my Janome.

what I find essential are a)range of stitches, b) automatic needlethreader c)thread cutter and for me, I prefer a start/stop button than a foot pedal.

Avoid Singer - they are trading on a historic reputation they no longer deserve.

I love Brother machines, I've had two (upgraded from a basic L14 to a computerised one).

The people running sewing workshops etc I've noticed usually have Pfaff or Janome machines.

I've no experience at all of Bernina.
If you have a sewing machine shop locally it's worth going and having a try on a few.

There is a long running Stitch and Bitch thread on here, and a MASSIVE sewing community on insta.

I started out with a basic computerised Brother under £200. I only expected to do a little basic sewing, but then surprised myself by starting to make wearable clothes. I loved/love it. After a while, a sewing tutor at a class I was attending, said my machine was going to hold me back and advised that I consider buying a Bernina - even second hand (they are not cheap). After doing research on different models and selecting one that had all I might need in the coming years, but not going OTT, my lovely DH bought me a Bernina QE475 for Valentines Day (it was a special edition of that machine, so covered in Kaffe Fassett (fabric designer) flowers). It’s a total game changer to a cheap machine.

What she said. I love online shopping but buying my machine from a specialist shop has been crucial! Machines are complicated and i seem to have some juju which makes electronics spontaneously break in my presence.

A janome computerised model would be my recommendation.

My favourite thing is the thread cutter, not because it cuts, but because it mean the thread is in the right place for the next lot of stitching and you don't loose your thread when the needle first goes up. I regularly use a different mechanical machine and it drives me mad every time.

I was going to start a new thread asking for sewing machine recommendations but spotted this one so I hope you don’t mind me asking too. I want to get one for my daughter (age 15). She was looking at this Janome one but it seems expensive and I’m unsure whether she’ll actually need all the bells and whistles. She’d use it for making simple clothes, bags, cushions and she’d like to try quilting and machine freehand embroidery (not sure if that’s the right term) which is why she likes that it has lots of different stitches. Does that require a particular type of machine or just a different ‘foot’?

I've just had a John Lewis sewing machine for Christmas.
It's made by Janome.
It's brilliant.

@AllAroundMyCat what was the model you got from John Lewis?

JLIII but they do swankier models. I needed a basic model but it does more than I expected.

I have a computerised Janome (CMX30, which I think is now discontinued, it’s the best part of 10 years old). It’s great. Automatic buttonholes are much easier and neater than the 4-step on the basic Brother machine I learnt to sew with, the adjustable speed is fab for handling tricky situations, and I feel like it just works better and easier. I also like the needle threader, the thread cutter, the horizontal bobbin (so much easier than a vertical bobbin), having stretch stitches, and the ability to move the needle left or right definitely helps with accuracy when sewing zips.

@WeeMadArthur1 if she wants to do free motion embroidery she needs a machine that can drop the feed dogs - I think most modern ones you can but it’s worth double checking before spending all that money.

I sew quite a bit - dressmaking, quilting, soft furnishings etc, I have a computerised Janome and I love it,

Sewing machines last really well so it is a good idea to get one that you will grow into. Mine came with a good selection of feet. I seldom do a rolled hem but it's handy to have the foot, similarly piping foot etc, Mine also does lettering which I almost never use but sometimes fun for gifts for children - adding in their name in embroidery.

For years I used a very old machine which basically just did forwards and backwards, I achieved a lot with it but I do really enjoy the bells and whistles of the Janome.

It's also really easy to get extra accessories for it (snd these are usually cheaper than Bernina / Pfaff accessories)

I have a computerised Janone, I've had it 14 years it's fabulous. I chose the brand as my mum has a new home (old brand name for Janone) it has been going strong for 30 years.

Definitely buy something more advanced than you think you will need, you will grow into it.

I got a second hand but immaculate husquervana and it is life changing!