Sewing machine recommendations please

SparkleFly · 2026-07-25T21:08:37+00:00

Hello, my basic Brother sewing machine of about 25 years has bitten the dust so I need to replace it. It's served me well having made clothes, cushions and curtains. I don't feel I need any fancy stitches, I just need to be able to carry on sewing materials of different weights. I did find that this machine struggled with heavier-weight fabrics and wonder if a more expensive one would handle this better? I don't have a huge amount of money to spend so was hoping to stay below the £200 mark. Any recommendations?

30DegreesHighAndRising · Yesterday 22:17

Since you know about sewing machines and which features you want I'd suggest looking for a second hand machine. I've found that modern machines are very plasticky (do not ask me how many sewing machines I own). I've a 25 year old Janome which is basic but still going strong. I clean and service my own machines and the new ones have more plastic and less metal than the old Janome, which will affect their durability. Also there are many people with barely-used machines languishing at home.

There are community interest groups near me who service and sell on donated machines, and there's always Gumtree and Facebook. If you posted on a Facebook group for your local area asking if anyone has an old sewing machine they're thinking of selling you could be inundated with offers. I've taken on lots of free machines through Facebook, serviced them and passed them on to new homes.

Good luck.

Original poster

SparkleFly · Today 08:22

30DegreesHighAndRising · Yesterday 22:17

Since you know about sewing machines and which features you want I'd suggest looking for a second hand machine. I've found that modern machines are very plasticky (do not ask me how many sewing machines I own). I've a 25 year old Janome which is basic but still going strong. I clean and service my own machines and the new ones have more plastic and less metal than the old Janome, which will affect their durability. Also there are many people with barely-used machines languishing at home.

There are community interest groups near me who service and sell on donated machines, and there's always Gumtree and Facebook. If you posted on a Facebook group for your local area asking if anyone has an old sewing machine they're thinking of selling you could be inundated with offers. I've taken on lots of free machines through Facebook, serviced them and passed them on to new homes.

Good luck.

Edited

Thanks, I'm always nervous about buying electrical items second hand in case they end up needing a bit of tlc which will be costly. I've had a look on marketplace though but they're not cheap enough to warrant buying 2nd hand. I'll keep looking though in case a bargain pops up. I could also do with learning how to service it myself as I never did anything to my old one 🙈

OP posts:

Somersetbaker · Today 09:22

The sewing machine shop in a local town to me, sells reconditioned second hand machines as well as new ones. I think they would be a more reliable source than Ebay and FaceBook, the snag would be that they might not have exactly what you want.