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With a limit of $200, a few packages of good hand-sewing needles, good pins, a variety of thread colors, good shears, good measuring tapes, a pin cushion, a cutting board, a basic iron and ironing board would be possible.

There are no reliably-good *new* sewing machines I can recommend under $200.

Twenty years ago you could find a good basic sewing machine for $100. If you take into account what inflation has done in the meantime, you can figure that you would have to spend about $400 to get a similar machine today. The technology of manual sewing machines has not changed, so there's no corresponding reduction in price.

If you want a *good* machine, you are best off getting a good used model. Check a local sewing machine store. I bought a lovely 70s vintage New Home machine in great condition through a local sewing machine shop for $129.

P.S. Food for thought -- 4-5 years ago before I was older and wiser, I traded in an older machine that was in decent shape but needed a tuneup for a $300 White model. It didn't hold the tension settings for more than 3 weeks before they would go out of whack, and I got tired of taking it back to the store repeatedly. I finally trashed the thing and got him a 50s vintage machine that is a Singer 500 clone and he has been very happy with it.

A used older machine in good condition; something like a Necchi Supernova, Elna Supermatic, or Singer 401, for example.

Why?

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