any advice on a good cheap sewing machine?

[sez2068]

well i am an absolute beginner!!

like to sew by hand but really want a machine but not much money to spend - well, none to spare lol but i really want one..

so can anyone recommend a good basic machine that doesnt cost the earth? i just want to do simple crafty things cushion covers etc nothing very clever!!

thanks x

How much have you got to spend? Are we talking £30 or £150?

Go to John Lewis and ask to test out their machines. Janome are good, JL brand are also very good. What sort of things are you thinking about making?

If I were you I would get an old singer - not the treadle type, (!) but the ones which are brown and come in a hard case that fits over to carry them. They were certainly on the scene 40 years ago and I have two - one was my mothers which I use and another in case the first ever breaks down (it hasnt, in 40 years!)
The reason I like them is that they are quite heavy compared to new plasticy ones, - it is a huge huge advantage.

I find new machines do not have the wieght to deal with heavyweight fabrics . When you are makie curtains for example, you may have three or four layers you have to push/pull/coax under the foot and very light weight machines just silde around the table.

PS Should have said you can pick them up cheap at auction rooms seen a few now. Or maybe E-bay?

or... you could see if there is a sewing machine repair shop in your town (there is in mine) and they may well have second-hand units to sell you.

thanks for all that i am looking to spend about £50 max and i dont know how reaolistic that is!!

but will try those suggestions.

i only want to start of making very simple things like cushion covers and little one seam toys! i may not even manage that lol which is why i dont want to spend too much!

thank you all!!

Yes I think someone told me that Janmoe make JL but I may have made that up
I have a JL machine and it's lovely and I'm a beginner too.
HTH and good luck

Agree with old hand wheeled singer got mine for £8 at an auction last year. Charity shops often have them. Bonus is they're pretty so don't have to be hidden! You can search on ebay nr you (they weigh a ton so postage would be awful) and there's instructions for threading etc online too.

Oh no,...the Singers I am talking of are electric! I generally need both hands with which to sew!!

Janome do make the JL brand.

thanks think i may go for the JL one as also used by another beginner thanks olivia!

was just thinking how many more helpful responses i got to this than i did to the angsty post i made about my son hating my bf!! lol (oops sorry text spk)

thanks all! x

Dressmaking is a piece of cake compared to the mind of a fiesty kid! Enjoy your new hobby - maybe get a machine loud enough to drown out shouting..??!

Sewing machine porn.

Sez, try out a few - mine are all Janome but then I'm a one brand kind of woman when it comes to sewing machines. Doesn't mean I can't look mind. Looking isn't cheating.

DroolingQuietlyTiggaxx

I bought a second hand, ancient singer from a woman advertising in our local paper. It works a treat. I payed fifteen pound for it.

Check out your local paper.

I've just bought a sewing machine and am a total beginner I LOVE it, it's brill. I got a Janome but spent quite a lot (thanks to wedding gifts of John Lewis vouchers) but John lewis do a basic machine for £50.

Agree though that you can get a really good one second hand for that. The ones at college (I'm doing dressmaking at night school) are Bernina machines, very basic and quite old but they are all in good working order.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek isn't sewing exciting?

lol sewing machine porn!!

makes a change from my rightmove and cath kidston porn lovely fabrics they got!!

looked on john lewis website and all really expensive except a 'mini sewing machine' for £45 i wonder how useless that is?

well i am having a happy little trip to bluewater tomorrow so will have a look.

and littlepushka - may take more than a sewing machine to drown out my particular feisty kid but worth a try and i may even get a cushion cover out of it to boot!