Please, don’t buy this sewing machine!

As a teaching artist who teaches a minimum of 3 sewing classes a week, and sometimes as many as 6 – I get asked a lot “What sewing machine should I buy?”

I’m happy to answer that question, but folks don’t always like what they hear, because part of my answer is that,

The more you spend, the happier you will be, for longer.

Let’s start with talking about what not to buy, where not to buy it.

Please don’t ever by a sewing machine from a big box retailer, or a well known online retailer. Don’t ever buy a sewing machine that costs $97.00, or $159.00, or $139.00. Never buy a “cute” or “toy” sewing machine for a young person.

Why?

The answer to all of these is that those machines are junk and will frustrate you to high heaven. You’ll think you’re bad at sewing, and you might give up. But it’s not you, it’s the machine.

Below, I’ll give you more detail on how and why they are junk, and where to get even more detail on why the junk is junk and why the good machines are good machines.

I was told, by a sewing machine dealer, that the same model sewing machine sold by a big box retailer, as the alleged same model at a sewing machine dealer – is not the same machine. Even if they look the same and have the same or similar model numbers. I was going to say I don’t know how to fact check this, but I do – I’ll write the Cale, of The Sewing Machine Newsletter on Substack, and ask him.

When you buy a sewing machine at a big box store (which you would never do, right?) you look at the picture on the box, and hope. Maybe you’ve read some online reviews. (Do not believe online reviews!)

What’s the experience like at a sewing machine dealership? You get to actually test drive multiple sewing machines! If you’re at a store that sells multiple brands (which is what I recommend), you can try multiple brands in your price range.

What about FB Marketplace?

I do not recommend buying used machines, almost anywhere, but especially on Marketplace or even at a garage sale or thrift store. Let’s say the lowest price you can usually get a used sewing machine for is 25 bucks. Cool, what a deal, right?

But really, you should take it straight to the repair shop for a once over and tune up, that’s going to be at least $100.00, depending on where you live. Now you’re almost halfway to $300.00. For $350.00, you could get a brand new machine from a dealer. Maybe if you give them that $25.00 used machine as a trade-in, they’ll give you a discount on your purchase. Many stores do – they use the worst machines for parts.

I could probably buy a sewing machine used. Since I’m an experienced sewist, I know what to look for in a machine, and I could test it and be able to tell “Oof, that’s bad,” or “hmm, actually, this little guy is humming along nicely.” But if you’re a totally newbie, you don’t know that you shouldn’t buy that one brand, because they can’t get parts for it anymore, or that brand, because it’s cursed. Or that model, because it was $97.00 new.

What about this brand?

That’s another question I am often asked, is Singer a good brand? (Not anymore.) Is Brother a good brand? (Yes, but don’t buy the bottom of the line.)

If I saw a used Singer, from 1990 or earlier, I might consider that machine.  Many people love the really old black, cast iron Singers.

I’m a Janome person. Someone I volunteered with years ago sold me their old Janome, for less than she wanted for it, and I am eternally grateful. I LOVE my sewing machine so much. It has an all metal frame on the inside, it has a separate motor just for filling the bobbin. I press just one button for any of these actions: fill a bobbin for me, please; give me a knot, please; how about a button hole. A single button push! Amazing. My Janome (it’s Japanese, it means eye of the snake) is also powder coated. Cale says it’s not so much the quality of powder coating vs. painting, it’s that the company puts the care and quality into their machines. The kind of company that would powder coat their machines, is the kind of company that makes quality machines.

I would not have bought this machine new. It “cost too much.” I was not yet convinced of the value of this machine. Now I know. I’ve learned over the years of owning the machine and learning the wonders of what it can do. Now, I would 1000% pay that much for a Janome machine.  (Or more.)

Cale, of The Sewing Machine Newsletter, also says that Janome designs their machines in a way to reduce user error. His family owns a sewing machine store and repair shop and his dad has been repairing machines for 30+ years. His dad says Janome is the brand that comes in for repairs the least often.

What makes a junk machine junk?

These tend to be small, and to not have a metal frame, Cale has photos of this kind of machine, with its plastic shell removed, and when you see that, you go, “Oh, right.”

Cheap machines just get out of wack more easily and they’re not worth paying to have them repaired.  If you spend $139.00 on a machine, that’s frustrating to use, and then the timing goes off, is it worth paying $100.00 to have that fixed?  There are some machines I teach with at a library – multiples of the same brand and model – and some things just don’t work on some of the machines.  Things that should work, do not.  This is really frustrating.  I know that that particular machine is just an extra-dud one, but if you bought it, would you know?

Junk machines frustrate you.  You spend more time trouble shooting than sewing.  One student, who brings his own machine to class, said, “The students using the Brothers don’t seem to spend as much time fixing problems as I do.”  He upgraded, and now spends more time sewing.

So, how about a specific machine recommendation?

I teach at art centers, a park district and at city and suburban libraries with maker spaces. I’ve taught on a variety of sewing machines – a lot of Brothers, and some Janome TravelMates.

If you’ve got $350.00 or so, sure, get a Brother machine, buy it from a dealer, try it out first.  You will be pretty happy.

If you’ve got $400-500.00, buy a Janome TravelMate, that’s the red one. There are three models of TravelMate, I’ve only used the most affordable one, full retail on that is $500.00, you might find it for less.  You will be even happier than you would have been with the Brother.

The TravelMate is more powerful than the Brothers I often teach with, and it’s designed in a way that prevents some problems. For example, the Brothers we have at work, the spool holders break off easily. Twice students have accidentally broken these off. The repair, for a $6.00 part, costs $90.00 and takes a week or two. (Because you have to remove the entire shell of the machine to replace the part, which is why we don’t DIY it.)

The Janome machines, the spool holder pops on and off, by design. If someone broke it, I could buy a new one and just pop it on.

What’s good about a powerful machine, like the Janome TravelMate?  You can more easily sew through thicker layers.  The TravelMate has the lovely Janome “give me a knot” button – it makes a knot in place, you don’t have to use the reverse button.

But, Cale sees more machines than I do, their Substack and website have extensive reviews of specific machines, at a wide range of price points. Check out Cale’s writing.

The one time I’d say it’s okay to buy used is – buy a reconditioned machine from your local sewing machine dealer. They only sell the good ones, they clean and tune them up, and generally give you a guarantee of some period of time. They’re standing by the machine and their work. This is a great way to get more machine for your money – you can get a used machine for half or less than it was new, and it will be a nicer model than what you might be able to afford new.

And if someone gives you a machine for free – take it – but know that if it’s really old, or was really cheap new, this might not be your forever machine. Or, you might get lucky!  Find the manual online and look for “Get to know your sewing machine” classes at your local maker space.

Lastly, sewing machines are power tools. They’re power tools, that these days, are also computers.

You know that if you buy a power tool at a certain discount store with the word freight in it, that you’re taking a gamble. You know that lawnmowers and power saws and drills all come in a range of qualities, and that the best brands really are better. It’s the same with sewing machines.

Invest in good tools, and they’ll serve you well for decades.

And remember folks, “New project, new needle!” Change out those needles more often.