sew lost
September 25, 2013 10:44 AM Subscribe
Best beginner-level small or handheld sewing machines under $75?
I just want to be able to mend or rehem things, do basic halloween costume construction and maybe make cat toys with the scraps. No fancy or complicated stitchwork! I was thinking about a handheld machine, but the reviews are not great. Is it worth it to get a (small) tabletop machine?
I am a complete beginner. I made a lunchbag in home-ec, that's it.
I just want to be able to mend or rehem things, do basic halloween costume construction and maybe make cat toys with the scraps. No fancy or complicated stitchwork! I was thinking about a handheld machine, but the reviews are not great. Is it worth it to get a (small) tabletop machine?
I am a complete beginner. I made a lunchbag in home-ec, that's it.
I have this one: Brother LX2500
You can buy it online at Walmart for $75.
I would say I'm an intermediate sewer. This one doesn't have tons and tons of crazy functions like some others I have used in the past, but it does a really good job and has fancy stitching and comes with a button hole foot, plus button hole stitching which is great for mending things! Because it has less functions, it's a lot easier to use for a beginner.
I think this one, or one like it, will be perfect for you. I have mostly only used Brother brand through sewing class in high school and the old machine I got back in college from my stepmom. I got this one last Christmas and it has done great!!
posted by Crystalinne at 10:50 AM on September 25, 2013
You can buy it online at Walmart for $75.
I would say I'm an intermediate sewer. This one doesn't have tons and tons of crazy functions like some others I have used in the past, but it does a really good job and has fancy stitching and comes with a button hole foot, plus button hole stitching which is great for mending things! Because it has less functions, it's a lot easier to use for a beginner.
I think this one, or one like it, will be perfect for you. I have mostly only used Brother brand through sewing class in high school and the old machine I got back in college from my stepmom. I got this one last Christmas and it has done great!!
posted by Crystalinne at 10:50 AM on September 25, 2013
For that money, I'd look for a used machine. I managed to get a perfectly good 1950's Pfaff machine for £1 on eBay a couple of years ago. It will easily do the sorts of things you're talking about.
posted by pipeski at 10:51 AM on September 25, 2013
posted by pipeski at 10:51 AM on September 25, 2013
Get a tabletop machine, any size, that you can comfortably lift and carry (some of the older pre1980s are HEAVY but awesome in construction). Don't get a handheld, those are a waste of money!
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 11:01 AM on September 25, 2013
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 11:01 AM on September 25, 2013
We love our old Singer Model 99. Here's our previous askme, it contains much that might be helpful if you go that route.
posted by RolandOfEld at 11:02 AM on September 25, 2013
posted by RolandOfEld at 11:02 AM on September 25, 2013
I'm a beginner sewer and really like my Ikea sewing machine. The problem with going used as a total noob is that I know nothing about how to select one that's in good repair, and didn't want to spend additional money on a tune-up before I'd even started to use the machine. Plus Ikea's got a pretty good return policy.
posted by asperity at 11:04 AM on September 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by asperity at 11:04 AM on September 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
If by handheld you mean something like this, I would not recommend it. We had one when I was a kid and it was frustrating and hard to use, far more than my mom's 1950s-era Singer. Get a tabletop machine.
posted by needs more cowbell at 11:33 AM on September 25, 2013
posted by needs more cowbell at 11:33 AM on September 25, 2013
Check Craigslist or some other listings for a reconditioned used sewing machine. It's easy enough to find a used one under $75, but often times you will have to get it tuned up for $40-$70 depending on what repairs it needs. There are some folks who will buy used machines and get them serviced for around your budget.
posted by mlo at 11:34 AM on September 25, 2013
posted by mlo at 11:34 AM on September 25, 2013
Upon preview - DC's CL did not come up with too much within your budget - I'll second Asperity's rec for an Ikea machine. Plus, one of my favorite blogs has a good review on it.
posted by mlo at 11:37 AM on September 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by mlo at 11:37 AM on September 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
I got a Brother machine at Target for well under $100 -- I forget exactly how much. It has lasted 5+ years and I have used it to make children's clothing, curtains, purses, iPad cases, etc. Sewing purists hate to hear me say something like this but it's been just great for my purposes.
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:56 AM on September 25, 2013
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:56 AM on September 25, 2013
Yeah, don't bother with any of those mini machines. They are all crap. I'd buy a used one from a sewing machine repair shop. The less plastic on it, the better. Have fun with it!
posted by dawkins_7 at 11:59 AM on September 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by dawkins_7 at 11:59 AM on September 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
Find a sewing machine repair shop (often with vacuum cleaner repairs), as dawkins_7 said. They will help you select a machine for your needs; it will have been cleaned and repaired; and should you have problems with it, you'll know where to take it. I bought my used intermediate Janome machine at a repair shop and it's been great. Sadly, independent repair shops are getting harder and harder to find.
posted by sarajane at 2:22 PM on September 25, 2013
posted by sarajane at 2:22 PM on September 25, 2013
Handheld machines aren't really for beginners, more something so limited in it's use that you'd need some experience to know when and where to use it. The stitching falls apart very easily and they are very awkward to hold.
You should be able to find a used sewing machine very cheaply, they are the sort of thing people are always getting rid of when moving. If you can wait until after Christmas, they seem to be frequent gifts to people who don't want to learn to sew, and there's an excess of them for sale.
posted by yohko at 2:28 PM on September 25, 2013
You should be able to find a used sewing machine very cheaply, they are the sort of thing people are always getting rid of when moving. If you can wait until after Christmas, they seem to be frequent gifts to people who don't want to learn to sew, and there's an excess of them for sale.
posted by yohko at 2:28 PM on September 25, 2013
I have a 1964 337 Singer. It works like a dream. Of course, it doesn't have all of the bells and whistles that you'd find in a newer machine, but it does the job and is super reliable.
The best part about it is that there's no computer in it. When it jams or breaks, I can troubleshoot it myself and not have to take it to a specialist for repair. I have taken it in for tuning maybe once every three years? I use it fairly frequently. I have never had any trouble replacing parts (bobbins, needles, etc) even though it is old.
For a while my mother asked for it back to make a quilt for my nephew. I figured that maybe it was time for me to get my own machine, so I bought a 1962 327K Singer from a sewing machine store. Same deal as my mom's 1964: a solid, basic machine with no bells and whistles. It has been great as well. My mom gave me hers back, so now I have two old Singers. I would sell you my 1962 if you lived in the area...it's heavy, so it would probably be a beast to ship. I'm sure you can find one at a sewing machine shop though!
tl;dr: Buy an older, solid Singer from a sewing machine shop. Get it tuned every few years. Enjoy!
posted by Elly Vortex at 2:52 PM on September 25, 2013
The best part about it is that there's no computer in it. When it jams or breaks, I can troubleshoot it myself and not have to take it to a specialist for repair. I have taken it in for tuning maybe once every three years? I use it fairly frequently. I have never had any trouble replacing parts (bobbins, needles, etc) even though it is old.
For a while my mother asked for it back to make a quilt for my nephew. I figured that maybe it was time for me to get my own machine, so I bought a 1962 327K Singer from a sewing machine store. Same deal as my mom's 1964: a solid, basic machine with no bells and whistles. It has been great as well. My mom gave me hers back, so now I have two old Singers. I would sell you my 1962 if you lived in the area...it's heavy, so it would probably be a beast to ship. I'm sure you can find one at a sewing machine shop though!
tl;dr: Buy an older, solid Singer from a sewing machine shop. Get it tuned every few years. Enjoy!
posted by Elly Vortex at 2:52 PM on September 25, 2013
I'll gladly sell you my lightly used Brother Ls-2125 here in DC for $40. I only used it to make a tarptent and a vest before I met Ms. exogenous, who has a nicer machine I can use. I will even deliver!
posted by exogenous at 6:11 PM on September 25, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by exogenous at 6:11 PM on September 25, 2013 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: exogenous, that would be wonderful! Memailed you.
posted by troika at 6:38 PM on September 25, 2013
posted by troika at 6:38 PM on September 25, 2013
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If you want a new one, wait on buying one until Black Friday, they go on sale at the big box stores for dirt cheap.
A Singer or a Brother is a fine machine! You may want to make curtains or something one day and you won't regret having a full sized machine that can really do the job.
A good beginner machine will go for under $100.
Happy sewing!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:50 AM on September 25, 2013