Best Value Sewing Machine?

I’m a big fan of Hammock Forums member Ramblinrev’s guidelines for buying a sewing machine (full disclaimer: I’m a member over there under the same screen name and have used his guidelines to purchase a machine that’s worked like a charm for me for the last three years). They can be found at this address: https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/19006-Important-thread-injector-guidelines-especially-for-Newbies

I spent $150 on mine, but it also sews just about everything that I can fit under the presser foot and hasn’t required any more maintenance than the occasional cleaning since I bought it.

Hope it helps!

I’ve used this $60 one for several years now. Has done everything I wanted it to for making tents and packs.

I put my wife’s Bernina away. I think a routine maintenance on the Bernina would cost more than this machine new.

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+1 for used. Check thrift stores/craigslist/garage sales. If you can find an old Pfaff/Singer (esp 401a/503/etc) go that route. Much higher quality than most of the new ones. If you need it right away then some people report having no problems with some of the cheaper new ones but I'm a big believer that spending $30 or whatever on an all metal machine from the 60s/70s will be a much better investment, even if you have to get it cleaned/tuned. I had a newer pfaff that was not cheap and it was a total pain in the ass compared to my old ones that I paid a fraction of the cost for.

Thanks for the replies! I was going to get a $40 blackfriday special, which I guess would had been great to learn on, but I don't mind spend a little more for one I know will be reliable.

I'm not a professional seamstress in real life, nor do I play one on TV, but bobbin thread tension adjustment is the biggest problem I've encountered with entry-level machines. The bobbin thread is the other half of the stitch – too tight and the top thread will pull through, too loose and the bobbin thread will pull through. And most entry-level machines have a singe screw on the bobbin hatch to set the tension.

I sewed for a living. BabyLock used to make a model named "Denim Pro" that is excellent for sewing both silk type layers and heavy canvas and denim or five layers of whatever you like.

My biggest tip is check for metal moving parts. Plastic bits will wear with heavy use. White is a brand name sold at Wal-Mart, and it has all metal moving bits. I know I didn't pay more than $100 for it.

To some extent the answer to your question depends on what you want to sew, and how much. If you're just doing MYOG and not production, and sewing only a few layers of lightweight fabric, the inexpensive "plastic" machines can be a good value.

I had a Necchi and a Singer that I hung onto for many years, waiting for a day when I needed to sew something. But when that day finally came I discovered that both needed minor repairs. I called several shops, but no one would even look at them for less than $90. So I bought a $50 Brother on Black Friday a year ago, and it has worked well for everything I have tried it on. No bobbin tension issues. The heaviest work I have tried so far is a four-layer combination of zipper/duct tape/polycryo/duct tape, which it handled with no problem.

The only think I didn't like was that the area around the control panel was decorated with flowers and butterflies. So I covered it with digital cammo duct tape.

Bringing this thread back from the dead.

What type of stitches should I look for? Is a straight stitch all I need to do a couple homemade quilts, stuff sacks. Maybe I'll even attempt to make gloves, tarps, other basic down items. Down the road I might consider making an ultralight summer backpack.

I'm guessing a cheap sewing machine should work well if I did one of everything listed above which is pretty much what I might do and not much more.

The only absolutely necessary thing is consistent, straight, well-balanced stitching.

However, the other two features that I, personally, would look for are a zig-zag stitch and a reverse button. These are features that you'll likely use on most projects somewhere. They're not absolutely necessary–but, like hot dinners on backpacking trips, they're awfully nice to have from time to time.

Hope it helps!

I have a cheap Singer from Target. Bought it on sale, well under $100. It's been perfectly fine for me for basic DIY projects.

Requisites for me would be straight, zig-zag, reverse, and a zipper-foot and the ability to position the needle left/right.

> Requisites for me would be straight, zig-zag, reverse, and a zipper-foot and the
> ability to position the needle left/right.
Agree.

Cheers

Thanks for the insight!
I have seen some with the foot attachments to make button holes for you which I could see being really useful. If I don't receive one for Christmas, I'll for sure be on the look out for one afterwards.