Sewing Machine - Chicago,IL

ETA - oh no!!!

Get the simplest Singer machine you can find. Even if it's an old model. My mom has a really old model that doesn't have all the bells and whistles, and every time she takes it in for a cleaning (yes, she still sews), they beg her to sell it to them because so many people like the older models so much more. Maybe you'll be lucky enough to find one at a Singer shop...

No need to spend a lot of $$. I bought one a few years ago, it was less than $100 (a Brother I think). As someone else said, you don't need fancy stuff. Straight stitch and zigzag, and maybe a buttonhole option.

I debated all kinds of more expensive ones, and in the end went with simple. Mine might be this one, if not one really similar:
Brother LS2125i, $76 on Amazon

I have been sewing since I was 10. The first machine my parents got for me was a sears Kenmore. It was VERY heavy, and came with 'cams' that could be inserted to do decorative stitches.

I am 54 years young now, and have several 'newer' machines. The Kenmore is still my favorite!

I would be inclined to buy a heavy OLD machine with metal parts. Have it serviced, oiled and cleaned.

Maybe look on craigs list?? Estate sales?

All I can say is I want to be buried with MY machine...lol...none of my girls sew!

best

Well, I have the same Singer portable that I've had for decades - a college graduation gift....

When my daughter wanted a sewing machine, I went to a local sewing store nearby and bought her a used, reconditioned, portable machine. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles on it, but it has all the basics, and turned out to be a good, very reliable machine for basic sewing. You might check out that possibility.

I really recommend you go to a sewing shop. They will help you decide on a great machine. They will have the best service, warranties, time, and even classes.

I sew for a living. I work from home as a seamstress for a local company. They design and I pick up all the fabrics and patterns, and sew their samples. I use my machine daily and extensively. Obviously, I require a professional machine. I do have simple machines for every day sewing and mending. I have tried every brand one can think of. Personally, I don't prefer Singer. YES, their old ones a very well made and wonderful. However, they don't have many stitching options and they have trouble with the fabrics in today's world. If she will use nothing but a simple stitch, cotton, and all purpose thread, an old machine would certainly work well for her. (If she wants to quilt, an old singer would be superb. Just make sure she doesn't want to do more then that.) I would not recommend buying a new Singer. They are close to the lowest on the list of modern machines I have been happy with.

I prefer Brother sewing machines. ( I also use a Bernina, but that is waaayy expensive!!) I have one that I use professional, and I also have a simple one I use personally. I also have a simple Janome that is pretty good, which was a surprise to me. I never expected to like that machine. Again, get yourself into a shop. You will be very happy with your experience, and feel more confident about picking a machine. I recommend you take a basic class at a shop, too.

Many machines have good records. Singer, New Home, Bernina, Brother, and more. What you need to look for for a machine for a beginner is basic things. Straight stitch. Zig Zag. Maybe a stretch stitch. Just basic stitches. From there she can go forward.

When she gets to a point where she is interesting in the next steps she may be old enough to do some chores and babysit to help buy a higher level machine.

For a beginner she doesn't need more than the basics. If you sew then a new machine could have a lot more. That way you can benefit from the machine too. If you don't sew perhaps you can learn alongside her and then both of you will have a new skill...

One of the best things I ever learned from is this.

Take the machine and get it all set up.

Put the needle in but don't thread it.

Take a piece of notebook paper and put it under the presser foot. Sew along the lines. Each and every line on the paper. Then get another one. Continue until both of you have a good feel for the machine, how much pressure you have to put on the foot pedal, how fast you like to sew, how to manage the back stitch, the different stitches, etc.....

The most important part of this activity is that you'll feel comfortable with the machine AND you'll be able to sew a straight stitch.

My mother in law and several other people have commented on how straight my seams are. I attribute that skill to this activity. I didn't sew on my machine for days. We all did this in beginning sewing in Jr. High. I think it made us much more comfortable with sewing and with managing the machine.

Good luck! If you need help picking patterns or come across a problem post another question!

My husband bought me a Baby Lock a few years ago. Sewing turned out to be not my thing but my 10 year old daughter loves it! I paid a local sewing store to give her a 2 hour private lesson on our machine then she went to sewing camp for a week (3hr per day). She is now making clothes for her American Girl Doll, sleeping bags and purses. It is such a great hobby!

You have gotten good advice. The name of Singer has been sold off and reinvented several times since the 1980s and it not the machine of yesteryear. I have switched my main line of machines to Brother. They are user friendly (Babylock is the upper end of Brother).

Go to a store that sells machines and "test drive" a few. Take some fabrics types that you would sew on (light, medium heavy weight and try the machine out. Notice if it struggles with the thicker weights and if so, get a different machine. Janome (Kenmoe), Brother (Babylock), Bernina (high end) still make quality machines. They have several levels of machines besides entry level. Ask if they have classes on sewing as many do.

Do get a machine that straight/zig zag stitches, reverses, buttonhole, and a few decorative to start. Once she or you show more interest, then trade in or add another machine and continue your hobby to the next level. If you plan on doing a lot of heavy weight fabric sewing on a regular basis (weekly/daily) you might consider an industrial with a servo motor (that the speed can be adjusted on it) to sew.

Whatever you do, follow Gramma G's advice about the notebook paper. Also draw some lines on blank paper that are circles so that you can learn to turn the paper and keep the stitches straight by following the curve. Basically get to know how the machine operates. Never pull the fabric through the machine let the machine do the work. If you continue to do this, you will get the machine out of time and have to take it in for repair. Change your sewing needles often when sewing. Don't think that one will do the whole project if you have more than one thing planned.

Good luck to you and your daughter on your new world of sewing.

the other S.

PS I forgot to mention the Husquvarna (Viking) which is now in a holding group along with Singer, Pfaff and White. The real Husquvarna from Sweden is great. It's like the Bernina, you have to take the time to sit down and work with them to really sew on them. I have one of each along with a herd of others that all different things. I have been sewing since I was 9.

My mother purchased a basic Bernina, when I was 14. It came with lessons, and my father drove me to the store every week for the classes. I am now 59, and I still use only this sewing machine. Over the years, I made bride's maid's gowns, men's clothes, formal gowns for myself, and countless projects. It was a wonderful gift that my mother provided for me. It can't make lots of fancy designs, but it gave me an wonderful opportunity to learn to sew.

I am relatively new to sewing and a novice. But when I was doing my research, some of the names that seemed to come up over and again were Janome, Bernina and Babylock.
What I ended up buying was a Husquvarna. I don't know how to do a whole heck of a lot, but I LOVE my machine and it is capable of doing a LOT.

A lot of the newer machines are very poor quality. I had a Kenmore that had tension and bobbin problems. That machine would probably be 20 years old. My friend has a Brother that has tension issues she has not been able to overcome. I'm not sure the age of that machine.

I purchased a gently used Bernina and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it.

If I were in your position, and knowing what I know now, I would find a gently used high end machine. I would not buy a basic, cheap model found at any big box or craft store.

If you have a sewing machine dealer try there. They typically offer classes for your machine. They may even offer used machines that others have traded in on the latest and greatest models, Plus, I would imagine they would be choosy in what they would accept as a trade-in. I'd also think they would clean and tune them up before selling them.

Good luck!

So I bought a new inexpensive Singer @ Costco a couple of years ago as my old one was a pretty basic 17yr old Singer and acting up, I found the new Singer super confusing even from loading the bobbin, my friend a sewing whiz agreed and I returned it. Like the others said new Singers are not the same. I am not a sewer but just wanted for very basic stuff. My sewer friend said get a Brother. I found an inexpensive Brother @ Costco - a version of this one I believe - http://www.costco.com/Singer%C2%AE-6160-Computerized-Stit.... It has the self threading needle and easy drop in bobbin that truly are. I know for my son's school they use the Bernina's and I hear they are very good. My suggestion would be to start with an inexpensive Brother or look for a used one on Craigs List or Savers/Goodwill even and then if she is truly into it, buy a high end machine for a birthday/holiday gift later and at JoAnn's they even come with classes.

I got a portable machine the year we got married (1987) its a brother machine. it works great still. but is not uber complicated. so no million different embroidery stitches etc. but for basie learn how to sew stuff its great.

You can find Singer machines for kids. I don't know anything about them, but I would guess if it is a Singer it will be good.

http://www.sears.com/search=children's%20sewing%20mac...

There is an old singer sewing machine at the Hadassah Resale Shop in Highland Park (1710 First st) for $25. I saw it on Thursday of last week. It's actually the same machine that my mom got when she was a teenager in the 1950's. I bought the same one (vintage model) on ebay for $100. I was talking classes at a sewing shop and they said that the older machines are great and they last forever - many of them are cast iron, not plastic, which helps them last. However, if you get an older model don't do like my brother did to my mom's old singer and leave it in a garage. The moisture will damage it. My main sewing machine is a (plastic) singer my mom bought me in 1980. I'm sure it wasn't more than $100 then. I sew part time. For a used machine that you might find on ebay or a thrift store I think you want to make sure that the mechanics move. The machine that my brother ruin had seized and no amount of oil would unlock the gears. My suggestion would be to go to a sewing shop - preferably one that has classes - and get some guidance. I got a "kids" sewing machine for my daughters' when they were younger and I found it easier to use an adult machine.

I HATE Brother. I have had a bad experience with every one I've ever used. The new singers are not that good but the older ones are great. My MIL had a Janome that she used all while her kids were growing up and still uses it. Her youngest child is in her 30's. Its a great machine. I started sewing only about seven years ago. We tried out lots of machines and shopped for quite a while. I only needed something simple with basic stitches but my husband bought something that has lots of decorative stitches and bells and whistles. While they are nice, I hardly ever use all those decorative stitches and bells and whistles. Check your local classifieds. Try Craigslist or even Freecycle. Take your time, find one you like. Also, if you buy a used one from someone other than a sewing store, take it in and get it cleaned and have them look over it and make sure it's in good working condition. Good luck to your daughter.

My eight year old daughter is taking sewing classes. Her Teacher just sent this email to us this morning, perfect timing:

Hello, Sewing Families!

"I just saw an ad in the newspaper for a sale on sewing machines. It is to be held this Saturday, Sept. 7th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Kmart. The machines are brand new 2013 heavy-duty Singer school models that have LOTS of bells and whistles, including the ability to serge seams and a 25-year warranty! Price: $129. It sounds like a great deal to me! So, if you're looking for a new machine, you may want to check out this sale!"

I hope you have a Kmart around you.

I'm partial to my Singer.

If you buy a sewing machine from Vogue Fabrics, they offer unlimited free sewing lessons.

Good luck and enjoy!

Check out craigslist too. But I would recommend a singer too. I am sure there are better ones but it does the job and I have a cheepo one and have made tons of things for my little humans.