I had an old treadel machine I restored once just redid the cabiner fized the wood drawers but that machine is still growwing strong from the person who baught the old antique, I did that turned around sold it at the time for 130.00 dollars and I turned around and bought a very basic machine a white machine its basic all right but finally found a sight that help me out in the basic stuff if its hand sewing Im pretty good with that but machine I know basic stuff but how to mantaine it I don't and I want to try to make pillow case's out of a nice sheet I have it flannel or jammies one of the two so I found out were to go on the sight its on about.com sewing 101 thats how dum I am on sewing..lol

jennylyn:

I've been thinking of asking DH to get me a basic machine for my Christmas.  A low investment one . . . any recommendations?

What I would recommend, first of all is do not waste your money on a Wal-Mart or similar machine.  These machines are not meant for regular frequent sewing, and will burn out quickly from regular daily or weekly use. There is a lot of cheap plastic on them, that breaks easily, so really aren't good for anything beyond repairing a seam. Sewing with one will only bring you frustration. 

For a new machine: Janome is a good brand, purchased from a reputable dealer that has been in business for a long time. You really do not need a computer type machine, unless you are interested in getting into embroidery work. Computer machines can have alot go wrong with them; think about how a computer crashes. The same can happen with a computer-based electronic sewing machine. Something goes out, the technology is obsolete, and your expensive machine is useless.  Stick with a mechanical machine. A basic zigzag with a few different stitiches will suffice. 

Used machines: I'm partial to the old black Singers that are all metal with no plastic parts. A machine with an external motor can have a new motor installed, oil the machine up, and it will be sewing again, as it has for the past 50 years or more.  These machines are straight stitchers, meaning they don't do zigzag, but there are many good ways to work with fabric that zigzag isn't necessary.

Looking on Craigslist is a good start, but most important with any used machine is that you have the electrical checked out before using it, or that it be rewired if necessary.If you are buying the machine from someone you know well, that has maintained the machine well, then the electrical should not be a problem. Still inspect everything for any bare or broken wiring. 

The older machines sew stronger, through thicker material, and will sew longer. A new Wal-mart Singer or Brother or other brand  will burn out doing marathon sewing.They are just very cheaply made. 

Cleaning up an old machine isn't difficult, once cleaned and oiled and the motor and wiring is good, you will be off and sewing without problems. 

Then there are treadles.  Treadles are fun to sew with, can be put anywhere you want it to go without concern for electricity (unless it is at night). Think about how nice it would be to sew out on a patio or deck or under an arbor in the garden. 

If you are interested in pictures of old sewing machines, look at www.webshots.com and type in sewing machine. Thousands of pictures there of machine collectors.  

If you have any questions, please ask.  I love talking about old sewing machines. 

Edey

still in love with the old treadle .  I  learned on the one .. I have another one to pick up ( found someone who could do repairs and service )  it a going to be a Christmas present  . 

Edey is absolutely right.  Today's machines, like almost everything else made nowadays, are made of plastic, easily broken, and just too expensive.  For much less money you could buy an older machine that will last forever.  I'm using my Nana's old machine, a 1957 Singer (I know how old it is cause she kept the manual!) and the only thing it ever needed is oiling, de-linting and a new rubber part (the old rubber was cracking and disintegrating) from my local sewing repair place.  With sewing not being the important homemaking activity it once was, lots of people have no use for Nana's old machine and sell them cheap or donate them to the thrift store.  Look there first before buying something new. 

cfisher2008:

I want to start sewing- I feel it is a useful skill to learn. I know sewing used to be very cost-effective. But I am wondering if it is still frugal. The cost of fabric seems really high, and I feel that I might be able to find used clothing cheaper than sewing. Any thoughts?

 Another advantage of sewing is that whatever you make, it is a one of a kind garment. You make it for your own tastes, and it won't be one of thousands found on a rack in a store.  Edey

Janome is an excellent brand, but very very expensive (even for an entry-level machine).  If you can negotiate the price of an entry level all-mechanical machine down to $50 or more than a brand X machine, then it would be a good investment.  If you're buying a used machine, the old all-metal Singers and Kenmores are pretty good and easy to find replacement parts for, but be wary that the quality has slipped considerably on models made since the mid-90's.  I've had very good luck (reliability-wise) with Kenmore brand machines (Sears) and they're now made by the same company that makes Janome and cost around half the price.  However ... don't ever let Sears service touch your machine (unless it's warranty work) because their service is horrible and they'll make every excuse in the world to not fix your machine properly after coughing up $85 to get it tuned!!!  Go to a small, independent repair shop for your tuneups.

The poster who said you should avoid fancy computerized/electronic models is 100% on the mark ...  they're prone to going haywire and it will cost you more for a software upgrade (-if- you can get it ... they stop servicing them after a few years) than to cough up another $1000 for yet another new machine.  If you're going to spend more money for a machine, spend that money on  a bigger motor (compare wattage/amps/horsepower) so you can sew thicker fabrics (such as denim) and skip the electronic bells and whistles.  Avoid "touchpad" models as well as after a few years the numbers/writing on the LCD/touchpad screen go dim and you'll be trying to figure out whether you just dialed a zig-zag stitch or something else.  Get a machine with nice, sturdy, old-fashioned manual dials.

If you're on a really tight budget and only sew several outfits a year, don't turn your nose up to a Brother or Kenmore.  While it's true they have a lot more plastic parts (especially the WalMart models) than the better models, often it's better to have a machine in good working order than an old broken machine that's so unreliable you give up sewing.  The more popular models/brands are also a lot easier to get replacement parts for than the fancy models, so if they do break down, it won't cost you more than you paid for the machine to get it fixed.  Consumer Reports rated them last year (or was it the year before ... I forget) and the Kenmore and Brother models had a respectable showing against the name brands.  You just have to be careful of what exact model you buy as they -do- manufacture el cheapo models for stores such as WalMart alongside their more reliable models sold in higher end stores.  You can also go online to customer we rating sites such as consumersearch or nextag and read the ratings for specific machines.

Thanks so much for all these great replies!  Lots to think about here!

My mom has an old treadle machine that was my great grandmother's.  It works but she mostly uses it as a piece of furniture, it's beautiful!! 

My mom is an excellent seamstress but kind of got burnt out on sewing and hasn't done much for a good while.  She occasionally gets the urge and sews a bit but not much.

My paternal grandmother just downsized and moved to a retirement community and my mom said she gave her an old sewing machine that she didn't want to keep as she hasn't used it in years and doesn't plan to.  It does work though.  I may ask my mom if I can borrow it for a bit, my mom doesn't plan to do much sewing any time soon I know.  I don't really want to put too much investment into sewing until I can decide how valuable it will be for me.

Funny, my mom just told me yesterday about that machine and then today I read all this info!  Like it was meant to be or something!

jennylyn:

she gave her an old sewing machine

If you can find out what kind of machine it is, let us know what it is. 

Edey

reading these posts inspired me to check out craigslist for old treadle machines! there was a few in nice cabinets from $100 to $200 dollars...got me thinking!