Do not buy cheap machines
The best sewing machine brand is not the cheap one at Target. Whatever brand you buy, if possible, avoid a cheap option. If you're considering buying a sewing machine, a good quality machine usually starts at around $350. I have a $150 Hello Kitty Janome machine that I've used for over seven years. But if it ever breaks down, it would cost me at least $100 to fix it. In that case, I plan to donate it for parts and get a new one. While traveling, I got the Hello Kitty machine when I only had a little money. I needed something lightweight that I could easily take, and my other machine was too heavy. So, I bought this cute little machine from a reputable local dealer.
I understand many of my students are on a tight budget when they start sewing and don't want to break the bank. Getting a cheaper machine to see if sewing is for you isn't a crime. If you spend less than $350, you just might have to pay more in the future when fixing or replacing the machine.
The best brand is the one you love
Different brands are known for various features and functions that suit different sewers. For instance, Bernina's can be known for its perfect stitch quality, extra big bobbins, and high price point for the quality. At the same time, Brother and Babylock have superior threaders, and the higher-priced models have easy-to-use "pivot" functions that raise the foot automatically when you stop. Janome is known for being durable and long-lasting, and some PFAFF machines have advanced features like dual feed, which acts like a walking foot already attached to your machine.
Machines I've owned and tried
I've enjoyed many different sewing machine brands, from PHFAFF to Janome to Juki. One of my simple sewing machine favorites was the Babylock Jubilant. It was just the perfect size, had an easy-to-use digital wheel, a top-of-the-line threader, and was incredibly stable.
But recently, I decided to switch things up and try out the Singer Elite CE677. It's more affordable for my students, coming in at $350 instead of the $600 price tag for the Babylock. When I first purchased the Babylock, the Singer Elite wasn't available! When the Singer became available, I traded in my Babylock for the Singer at Village Sewing Center since it was a better fit for my students to try and buy.
I also owned the Janome HD3000, an excellent machine for teaching purposes and the best mechanical machine on the market. It was durable, sturdy, easy to use, and had a top-loading bobbin design. But as my students started to buy more computerized machines, I also decided to trade this in for the Juki DX5 at Village Sewing Center. The store has a fantastic return policy. You can try a machine for a year and upgrade if needed. So, they put the 450 dollars I spent on the Janome HD3000 towards the Juki DX5 ($1,200). Why did I pick this Juki? It had the simple standard button design on the front that many computerized machines have. In addition, this Juki has a pivot function, a programmable foot pedal, great decorative stitches, and a great alphabet! The only downside, it doesn't come with an extension table, which would have been $60 more, so I use a different machine for quilting.
Why do you have more than one machine?
The Brother BQ2450 was another machine I owned. It was big and beautiful! Had lots of great unique designer stitches, sewed at high speed, came with a big spool stand and a vast extension table. It also had a stitch creator where you could design your own stitches. But the Brother was too big for my space even though I loved this machine, so I traded it in for a serger at Village Sewing Center after I bought the Juki DX5, which was the perfect size. My mom was happy!
Regarding quilting, my go-to machine is the PFAFF Performance 5.2. I got the PFAFF when I traded in a Bernette combo sewing and embroidery machine bought at a different retailer. I learned I was not into embroidery or how lightweight the machine was for quilting. So I gave John at Village Sewing Center the Bernette in exchange for the PFAFF. The PFAFF had everything the Bernette did without the embroidery part and didn't move when I quilted. But the exchange did not cover the total cost of the trade, so I took a significant loss. However, John was generous enough to throw in the PFAFF exception table without charge. The PFAFF was the display model for a reasonable $1600. Even with the loss, I absolutely love the PFAFF Performance 5.2, its impressive feet, and still came with a stitch creating programed into the machine. The only downsides are: it requires special bobbins from PFAFF, doesn't have a lever in the back to raise the foot, or easy to get to buttons on the front. Those are minor limitations, but I have the Juki to compensate for the PFAFF limitations, as they work together.
When buying a machine, it's important to remember that no sewing machine will have everything in one machine, especially depending on your price point. The price point is essential, but so is finding the right fit and good-quality. Each has strengths and limitations, which is why many sewers have several, including myself, as we become more advanced in our sewing.
You do not know, cannot decide, feel too over whelmed...
The shortest answer I give my students on a budget starting out: buy the Singer Elite CE677, now sold at many reputable retailers, especially if you are headed to Target or Walmart! STOP! Go to your local sewing shop and get this machine. It's worth the money for the quality. You wont be sorry! I use this machine in my bedroom on simple sewing days and am very happy.
4 limitations with the $350 Singer Elite CE677 and how I got around them:
Because this machine is bigger then normal, I purchased a Brother brand embroidery machine bag to accommodate the larger size for travel.
The sewing machine doesn't come with an extension table. This may not be important in the beginning. If it is, you can ask to get the extension table as a Christmas present.
The main foot is made of all metal. However, that's common for lower-priced machines. So, I got a different universal foot with a plastic center that grabs the fabric better and a black button on the side, making it easier to go over bumps. The plastic center foot is available on Amazon for around $12.
If you're looking for the manual, you'll have to find it online. It's around 40 pages, so I printed it on my home printer, got out the three hole punch and put the manual in a binder for easy access.
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