Sewing is Back!!!

Do you like sewing but you are worried to buy a sewing machine because you think you will not be using it very often? Why not buy a used one then? It’s cheaper and a great starting point that will show you how often you use it. Although some “dedicated partisans” would have you believe otherwise, there is no “best” brand of machine. Your goal is to find one that you’re comfortable with and that does what you want it to do. With that in mind, here are a few tips to keep in mind when buying a used machine.

First, find a repair shop you like. The shop may have very well used machines that you could buy. Those machines will be in good working order and may come with a warranty.

Second, know your brands. Different sewers have likes and dislikes among the major brands. You’ll find out pretty quickly that there are some brands which are universally respected and some that have a bad reputation. Knowing the big brands will help: Janome, Brother, Singer, Bernina, Toyota and Pfaff are very well known machines, but there are also many other good brands. You should consider that a branded new sewing machine costs around 150-200€. You can have a look and compare some prices at which.co.uk.

Third, check for shops that sell replacement parts or additional pieces. Finding a great used machine for 100€ and then spending 100€ on parts is not the best buy you can do! When you find a machine, if possible, do a quick check with your repair shop to get a feel of how easily you’ll be able to get replacement parts for that model. This is the problem of older machines, but this does not mean that you should pass by a good older machine if you can’t get this information.

Fourth, know what you want to sew in the next few years. If you have visions of gossamer curtains or PVC pants, you want a machine that can handle that. You might also want to talk to a few veteran sewers to tell you what kind of accessories you will need for that kind of sewing. If you’re just starting out, though, don’t feel like you have to get a machine that does everything. You can always trade up later once you’ve mastered the basics.

Fifth, test-drive the machine if possible. However, don’t be put off if the stitches look strange. You may find an older machine by a good manufacturer, but that doesn’t mean it’s in top form. Slightly “strange” behaviour may be due to the thread or the needle, i.e. things that can be easily fixed.

Photos:
eurensample.com
berninausa.com
wikipedia.com
housetohome.co.uk
two11.blogspot.com