Where to buy a sewing machine?

[Pablo]

My wife has a good (but old) sewing machine, and she has a nice serger but she wants a medium grade (my words) new style sewing machine (she says they are under $500).

It's getting down to the wire. Need help! Where? What? Who???

Online preferred.

Thanks in advance.

P

 

[Turk]

Amazon.

Get a Juki: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0094KGYN4?psc=1

 

[dave munson]

Take a look at Amazon and Costco on line.
Amazon machines are under Arts, Crafts & Sewing › Sewing › Sewing Machines
First, find out who around you is available to align / repair the machines and what types they work on? Their opinion of what you are thinking about buying.
And at $500 you need to have her decide what features she wants? Quilting? Embroidery? Just lots of different stiches? What brand does she like (Jamone?, Brother?). Don't forget to give a gift card for thread & material.

 

[R80RS]

This is a little out of your way, but they know the product and have good customer service. They also service as well as sell. I'm sure they'd ship.

http://www.milwaukeesewing.com/

 

[JHZR2]

A local sew and vac store that has been in business for a long time and can provide service after the sale. I got my wife one a few years ago and she has loved it.

 

[redhat]

I know nothing about sewing machines except that my Mom really likes her Pfaff machines. She is a seamstress who fixes TONS of mistakes on bridal dresses by incompetent seamstresses, pulls miracles off like a rabbit out of a hat.

 

[SuperDave456]

Lots of cheap machines that are total junk out there right now.

Go talk to a real store that does repairs.
They will tell you horror stories.

The machines that were built 30-40 years ago are vastly superior to the plastic trash that is imported today.

Be very careful how you spend your money.
Many Many machines are built, and have no spare parts as they are always engineering new ways to make them cheaper or changing the materials.
From the professional sewing machine repariman I was told to "use a cheap machine until it breaks, then get something nice, I will not take your money to repair the one you have as I won't be able to fix it and it will always be breaking in short order."

I speak, as I inherited a machine, and my wife took it to a sewing class. All the little old ladies took mercy on her eagerness to learn and we both got an education.

 

[Papa Bear]

What does your wife create?
My wife used to make plush teddy bears ... we have a good 1965 Singer 251-12 machine for sale.

It has a crankcase, you can put your Amsoil in it.

 

[285south]

Sewing machines and vacuums.
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
A local sew and vac store that has been in business for a long time and can provide service after the sale. I got my wife one a few years ago and she has loved it.


+2

After reading all the brand names and reviews online and looking at the big box stores, this is where I bought my vacuum.

 

[The_Jeff]

Wife knows a "pro". Her opinion:


Husqvarna! All the way!! I have a "daisy" http://new.husqvarnaviking.com/en-AU/Machines/DAISY-325 that I love with all my heart. I think it was about $500 when I got it 10 years ago, but I bought extra accessories and stuff so I spent about $650. In all that time I have had to change the lightbulb once. That's it for repairs. If I were shopping now I'd probably get an Emerald, they look to be around $400-600

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/product-...reviews#slide-6

and 118 models I think).

He's going to have to find a local dealer tho, they don't seem to sell them online anywhere except used. There are a couple

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Husqvara-Viking-Emerald-118-Sewing-Machine-only-used-twice-/141135198506

of Emerald 118s

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Husqvarna-Viking-Emerald-118-Sewing-Machine-With-Extra-Bobbins-/331082117763

on ebay at the moment. But man, worth it. The internal workings are very high quality and changing the bobbin, and presser feet, is almost instantaneous. You can wind a bobbin while your working thread remains in the needle. This kind of stuff seems like no big deal, but if you are sewing a lot those 3 things will save you a lot of time and frustration. The machine threads really easily too. And they don't break (unlike Brothers, ugh those things are plastic [censored]-boxes).

Other than that I'd suggest a good Singer or Kenmore. I know nothing about Janome, the other of the top 5 producer in the US.

Personally I'd avoid the electronic model style as well. When something goes wrong you have no choice but to drag it to a dealer for repair. I'd also avoid the embroidery units as well, unless that's a particular goal/interest of hers.

My main advice: as with any tools, get the best quality you can afford. I have a Husqvarna sewing machine, husband has a Husqvarna chainsaw. =)

 

[UncleS2]

We have a late 1960's Singer with some bells & whistles in an Early American-style furniture cabinet. It was never used very much, & I bet a little clean & lube would have it going like new. If you can make it to NE Texas, I'll make you a *very* good price on it.(Yeah, not very likely, too bad for both of us) It's probably much better made than almost anything offered new today.

 

[Andy636]

Originally Posted By: UncleS2
We have a late 1960's Singer with some bells & whistles in an Early American-style furniture cabinet. It was never used very much, & I bet a little clean & lube would have it going like new. If you can make it to NE Texas, I'll make you a *very* good price on it.(Yeah, not very likely, too bad for both of us) It's probably much better made than almost anything offered new today.


My thought exactly, my grandma has a Singer that outlived 3-4 other electrical sewing machines in the last 50 years

 

[Pablo]

As I stated in my OP, my wife HAS a good older machine* (Singer) and she has a nice serger as well (look it up). She just wants one of the new fangled machines to do other hobby stuff. Digital readouts and selections. It's what she wants. BUT we will not be liquidating the other machines.

I'll look at the husky - good suggestions.

*I've gone through it, cleaned and lubed. Runs like a top, er...sewing machine!

 

[JHZR2]

Digital readouts and all? Yuck. The nicer ones that do that kind of stuff will run you $1000+ and still be a breakage risk after 10 years.

 

[The_Eric]

Pablo, maybe check into Bernina sewing machines? My wife is in line to get one second hand and claims they're a decent machine. I believe they're a Swiss company, but the newer ones are going over seas with the company overseeing production. If that's an issue (it would be with me), then look for a slightly older model?