Good Sewing Machine for Beginner?

Anything in the Singer 300 to 500 range.

I was told by a repairman to go to Sears and buy one of their Janome models. Not much money invested (they have various models) and you can take it back for a refund if you aren't pleased with it.

When I visited an actual sewing machine dealer when it was time to get a new feature-rich machine, I was told "All sales are final. I could trade up, if I found I needed it to do more...." That kind of rubbed me the wrong way when I was looking. Finally, I found one that offered full refunds, but they offer so much in the way of extras (free classes, minor adjustments, and info) I'd be hesitant to do so. Bought 2 machines from them without any issues.

Mack

Definitely consider a good used machine, as you'll get more bang for your buck. Vintage Singers are fantastic.=20

Check sew>I'm about to begin taking a few private sewing lessons to learn to do

Well, most vintage singers, but not all. The touch and sews have a very bad reputation.

Some of the more popular electric models are: 15-91 , 201, 221, 301, and

401/401a. Some of the 500's have a good reputation too. I'm personally not familiar with ones after that.

There are also treadles and hand cranks to consider, but they do NOT appeal to everyone. I own 3 treadles, and I love them but I usually don't sew on them. I have to be in the "mood" for that much exercise. I usually sew on the 15-91. I also have a 66-16 which I loved, until I got the 15-91 and found it far superior .

The 221 and 301 are popular with quilters due to their being much lighter in weight than the other models and easy to transport to quilting classes or quilting bees.

Rebecca

Antique is defined by appraisers as anything over a hundred. I am not sure if there is "correct" age for something to be determined vintage, as opposed to just old & used. I think that since the touch and sews debuted almost

40 years ago ( 1965), they qualify as vintage.

I think most "collectors" classify only solid metal machines of an earlier vintage to be worthy of collecting. They seem to only want machines from the 1950's or earlier. Most collectors of vintage Singers seem to stop at the 400-500 series and don't get into anything later.

Rebecca

The 130 is on my wish list already since I need a zig zag machine. Tell me more about the 260 and while you are at it the 230 as well ( if you know anything about it). I here they are similar?? I cant find much about any of the old Pfaffs on google.

Thanks,

Rebecca

Whatever the definition of 'vintage,' there are Singers that are from the early 60's that are not Touch and Sew models, which one shouldn't count out as a very good beginner machine or perhaps even a good collectable. Singer made other models besides the Touch and Sew early on. =20

"Touch and Sew" was defined by the wind in place bobbin, which you pushed a little button to fill. (Hence the name, I guess. ) My 615U is a good example. It's got the drop-in class 66 bobbin, and is much more like my 401. It's all metal except for the top cover. The 615U is very rare, having been made for the Japanese market. It has a extendable bed, uses top hat cams, and the feed dogs drop. I've only seen onefor sale on eBay (and I've been a member since 96).

Another example of a good 60's machine, although not a collectible, is the "Stylist" or "Style-Mate" machines such as the 347. These also use class 66 bobbins and are also short-shank machines as opposed to slant shank. My neice is learning on one of these and it's perfect for her. =20

All the Touch and Sew models have the "Touch and Sew' name written >

Hi there -

I was in your shoes about 6 months ago trying to find the best beginner machine. After months of research and lots of "test driving" on various machines, I settled on the Janome 4623LE machine. It's fantastic! It was in the $300 range... The 4618 is the next step down from what I bought - it has fewer bells and whistles, but it is also a good machine for a tad bit cheaper.

HTH, Michelle

Singing the virtues of older pfaffs!!

I have a 260 and it does fancy stitches quite well. it does not have a feed pressure adjustment that you can easily adjust and it uses an internal cam type mechanism.

The zig Zag stich is actually better than the 130 and it does look more like a home machine.

I have the 4618 and I like it. It baulked at multiple layers of fleece and I'm wary of sewing denim on it but it does most of what I want.

Jane

but, are all slant needle Singers "touch&sew". i actually like the slant needle design for it intended advantage, ie, visibility of the thread/needle. newer designs now make this less of a dramatic feature but it is still the most visible of all. --Loren

No. I believe the 301 was the first slant needle machine Singer made; it is definitely not a T&S!

No. The 301 and the 400 and 500 series machines are slant-needle machines. The T&S machines are starting at 600 series.

Others also replied to this, regarding the first "slant," the 301, which, according to old ads I've seen, debuted in 1953, the year I was born :-) Singer made the slants and some low-shank machines right alongside each other for a few years.=20

The T&S series began with the 600 models, but there are some 600's that are not Touch and Sews. This was a feature that came later on, and for a while the Touch and Sew series was offered right along side the non-Touch and Sew models. The marketing ploy was like probably just like it would be today, the fill-in-place bobbin feature was a 'plus' that the customer paid more for.

On Fri, 22 Aug 2003 11:17:24 GMT, Loren Coe wrote: t.

I beg your pardon! I have two in this range, and they are excellent machines. The older one, made in 1963 I have had for about 30 years and it was over 10 years old when I bought it.

My more recent one I bought simply because I wanted a free arm. It's fine.

Both machines, especially the oldest, have moved across country several times with no problems.

>

Yes; I wrote that in response to asking what in the "vintage Singer" range would be a good machine.

Melinda, who owns a 301 and a 500A along with a 257K and almost got a

400 once but didn't have room for the cabinet it came in