Sewing Machine dilemma
October 27, 2008 by kellys
Filed under financial matters, money saving idea
I have a sewing machine dilemma. I am relatively new at sewing and want to buy a sewing machine. I have 2 options that I want to run by you since I am stumped and can see both sides of the coin.
- I can go to Sears and spend about $250 on a Singer machine that is an excellent machine. OR
- I can spend $350 and get a Janome from my local sewing shop.
Careful … The choice isn’t so clear cut. I would have no clue what to do if my machine acted funny or broke. I used my girlfriend’s sewing machine and got a pin stuck. She had to take it apart to get it out. I have NO IDEA how I did that. So if I buy the Singer and something goes wrong, I would have to send it off as I wouldn’t know what to do. And I would have to learn everything about the machine myself.
Or I can get the Janome and with it comes classes and a year of free maintenance and service if something happens. See my dilemma? I have a lot to learn about sewing machines as it has been years since I have sewn. So do I spend the extra money and take the classes and not worry about if it needs help or do I save the $100 and take my chances if I break it?
Go for the janome! If you break it down, you pay the extra $100 for classes AND warranty…that comes out to an extra $8.33 per month over that first year. You really can’t beat that w/ a stick. Totally worth the extra cash! Go for it and let us know what you decide!
~Lana B~
What about option C: finding a used machine to practice on until you are a little better with the machine and know for sure what you want/ need from one. This will also help you figure out what it is you need to learn and if a sewing machine is something you’ll use enough to spend that much money on. I bought a cheap used one several years ago with big plans for all the sewing I was going to do. I now sew about once a month and have yet to upgrade b/c it just isn’t worth the money yet. When I finally do decide to upgrade I’ll pay the big bucks for all the bells and whistles b/c my sewing will be on par with the machine and I’ll know what to do with all the options.
I’d say go for the janome too. I am a novice sewer and convinced my husband to get me a sewing machine. I’ve been learning to use it and have slowly figured out how to take it apart to fix things, but it is slow going and frustrating. A few classes probably would have given me a better understanding of what I’m doing and why certain things go wrong and jam up the machine. Although I’m doing well now, the first few months weren’t that much fun.
When I upgraded my machine last year, my mother who is an expert and long time sewer, advised against getting a Singer. She says the quality is not the same anymore and most of them are not very sturdy. After some research, I wasn’t sure of many of the more “affordable” machines. While I ended up scraping up some saved money and getting a higher end machine on eBay, I would suggest spending the additional money for peace of mind. Additionally, being able to take classes with your machine will allow you to get more out of it and enjoy your purchase and creations to a greater extent. If you are going to invest in a new machine, esp. if you’re a novice, I would spend the extra money.
Always buy local! The classes and support you get are SOOOO worth it! Not to mention supporting local businesses! Good luck!
I’d go with Option C as well. Buy a decent used machine and spend the money to have it checked out by the repair shop. (About $100 for both) Then, spend some time practicing with the machine.
I learned to sew long distance from my mother-in-love. I’d call her up and ask silly questions like “How Does one stitch-in-the-ditch?” (Answer: You stitch on the right side of the garment in the valley formed by the seam.)
Good luck!
I vote whichever is the better machine! Any time I have a problem, I always consult the internets. It has taught me many things about knitting, embroidery, working my sewing machine, making my own curtains… Yeah, I’m a firm believer in learning things via the internet. Of course, it might take extra time to search and read through different tutes, but it works for me!
I agree with not getting the Singer. The quality of them has gone way down. You can look online and try to find a better machine. Or you can buy the one from your local store. It might be nice to have the classes. I would probably choose option B.
Go for the Janome!! I have a Janome embroidery/sewing machine.. I did a lot of research on this.. It is a quiet machine.. Some can be so loud.. And the plus for you is the tech support/help line is right there in your town… I also have a singer that is about 8 years old that I just use if I am backed up and embroidering on the Janome and need to get some sewing done… It’s good to have as a 2nd machine, but I would agree the quality has gone down!
I’d go for the Janome as well. They no longer make Singers the way they did in the past. Last year, I got my first sewing machine from a local store. I had a class specific for the machine, plus I know I can go to them for any issues. I’ve heard good things about Janome. Think about this way, you’re investing this money on something that you’ll use for years.
I have a singer, and think I paid about that amount for it (probably 8 years ago) and I agree about the quality. I was able to buy it at a Singer store, but they weren’t very helpful. My sewing teacher loved Janomes and would always get just as frustrated as I did at my singer.
If you plan to enjoy sewing do not buy the Singer. That is mainly for “once in a great while” sewing.
You will enjoy the machine so much more if you buy a good one that works. (therefore actually using it)
I put a down payment on my Janome today! Yeah! Thank you all for the insight.