Liddy... I am so excited that you have your bag all cut out.
Thank you! I'm excited to start working on it!!
You're probably not going to like what I have to say about the machines, but I will say it anyways, and let you make the decision... OK?
Who cares what I think ... I asked for thoughts, reviews, opinions, and I insist you guys give it to me!
First of all... IF you are going to buy a machine from WM/Target... make sure you read the reviews of the exact machine you are planning to get. As a whole, WM and Target sell the cheapest made machines out there - even if the brands they sell are "reputible and good" brands... they are still made with components that are cheaper. Make sense?
Nope, I totally get it. It's actually something I learned in my Marketing class. I'm aware that name brand doesn't always mean name parts.
I have only seen Singer and Brother brands locally, and from what I do understand, they are still made well. Regardless... oh, we'll get to my regardless in a minute.
Now that I have said that... Buying a machine from either of those places is a good place to start... When you first start sewing, all you really need is a basic machine - you just really want to learn how to do the basic stuff well - so it's my opinion that you don't want to spend a lot of $$ on a machine. Just know that when you buy these machines, some of the basic things you want it to do - it just won't do (for instance, sewinging through 4 or more layers of fabric... and think about how often you go through that many layers)... So, you are probably going to want to upgrade with in a few months. Which is fine - you'll probably be able to recoup most of your $$ on Craigslist.
I've never been on Craigslist before ... I'm not even entirely sure what it is ...
And I did not want to invest a lot of money in my first machine. I wanted to keep it cheap and simple, that way, if something happens and I change my mind, I won't be out a lot of money. (Plus, I don't have it, I'm trying to pay off our March trip!
)
These hipster purses that I am making, I am having to sew through .... four+ layers. Mom's machine doesn't like it, but will do it. I have to adjust the presser foot everytime I come up to the handle and just go slowly. I always double stitch that area too, just for added measure. I don't know what model it is, but I do know it's probably 15+ years old. (I think she got it several years before DD was born at
Walmart.)
I know that when we were looking at the machines yesterday, mom said she couldn't really give any advice without being able to play with them. And with them being older, and hearing your stories, I would be afraid of the wiring, and that's something I can't replace. I may be able to learn how to clean them, but I can't touch wiring. I'm an accountant ... I can only run the numbers.
I think my biggest concern is buy something now or get that $50 BF Walmart one? (Well, try to snag it that is.) If I buy something now, I won't have the funds for that Walmart one. Apparently it's new, because I can't find anything about it. Here's the ad:
Brother Limited Edition Project Runway
LS2300PRW
Full-sized sewing machine
20 stitch functions
Includes decorative removable skin
Instructional DVD
I think it's a newer model to the LS2250PRW ... because they look identical in the pictures (but the 2250 is blue-ish, and the 2300 is purple-ish). The 2250 got 4.4 out of 5 stars here:
http://answers.walmart.com/answers/1336/product/15126418/questions.htm
And I can't recoup money from sewing ... I'm not going to charge DD for her items.
OK... I haven't sounded snotty yet, have I?
Good...
Absolutely. 110%.
Totally kidding! I totally follow along and agree. So if you're snotty, I'm snotty. Wait ... I am snotty.
I will say, that you can buy a
used machine on Craigslist, but it doesn't have to be
vintage. A used machine - that works - is going to need a cleaning... so you just open the top with a screw driver, take your sewing machine lint brush to it, oil it where it says to oil it (you alwayas assume it's never been oiled before)... put the top back on it. Do the same thing for the bobbin area, and away you go. The older the machine is, that you buy, the more work you are going to have to do to it - usually. So, if you find a $20 machine on Craigslist that was manufactured in 1985, and it works when you go look at it (bring your mom)... then you will probably get your $20 out of it in a matter of months, and when you outgrow it - you can sell it on Craigslist for $20.
You know that I am pro-vintage machine, because, personally, I think there is nothing better out there. But we all had to start somewhere... Here's the first machine I purchased off of Craigslist - it was supposed to be a "parts machine" - it was identical to my other Brother (except the other one is blue where this one is red)... but when I got it home and cleaned it up - it ran better than the other Brother, so I just used it. Then it died (it's having electrical issues) about 9 months after I purchased it for $25 on Craigslist... I got my $$ out of it... I ran it hard!
So, personally, I would make Craigslist your new best friend... Stalk it. Find a used machine - but not necessarily vintage... USE the crap out of it. Set a limit of $35, and really
learn to sew. If you find, 6 months down the road - you don't love it like you wanted to... You are only out the $35. However, if you love it... Then you can branch out... Find that new machine (or vintage machine) that you want, that does what you want it to.
There you go again ... determined to get me hacked into a million pieces or ripped off because humanity stinks.
I'll see what I can find ... but I don't drive Knoxville and not so sure it's really caught on in my neck of the woods.
But having never been on it, I can't say for sure. DH has checked it out before. And he usually comes home and tells me about the ads he's reported to failblog (I love that site!!).
And I have a $50 limit for a machine right now. I figured I'd upgrade to a super nice one once I get confident in my sewing.
I also want to add a couple of things... they may not seem important now... but someday, they might.
For a serger, if you are ever thinking of learning to use one... They intimidated me more than any machine could... Um... 4 tensions...
Save yourself the trouble... buy a new one. I purchased mine off of
Amazon... I believe it's a Brother 434d - thousands of awesome reviews. I thought I needed lessons at a shop - and sergers are so expensive there - I learned everything I needed on
Youtube.
I don't use my serger as often as I thought I would... but I am super happy to have it, because there are times I've needed it.
I don't know what a serger is ... At first I thought you were meanging a surge protector, like an outlet plug-in thing.
Now I just have no clue.
But glad that you have some mysterious machine that sounds complicated and you're happy with it.
Don't get sucked into the combo machine... If you ever buy an embroidery0machine (the Brother PE770 comes highly recommended) - I don't own one, but this guy is at the top of my list. But don't buy a combo embroidery/sewing machine, so many people do, because they figure that they can have one machine to do both jobs. When really, that is super hard. It takes a while to hoop everything up, and if you had a second machine, you could be sewing away while you are waiting for the machine to embroider away. If it's all one machine... You are wiating for it to stich out. Does that make sense. You are just better off buying two seperate machines - besides that fact that it's way cheaper to do that anyways. Usually dual duty mcahines are very expensive... and that's how the stores "get ya"... you buy the dual duty - expecting it to save you $$ in machines, then you end up going back to buy another machine, because of the time you are wasting. Oh, and Heather Sue's designs are the BEST on the internet.
Again, Marketing has served me well (but still can't figure out why I need it to be an Accountant -- unless I own my own business) ... I have seen them, and even without knowledge of sewing (because it was pre-learning), I couldn't figure out why someone would want an all-in-one machine for a purpose like this. Sure, some AiO machines are great! (Like my printer.) But most are not (again, Marketing). And while I don't have much space now, I'd rather be happy with what I invest my money in. One day, I'll have my own office space (for my computer and whatever else I need -- such as sewing and scrapbooking).
I don't know who Heather Sue is ... Is she on the DIS? Is that her DIS name?
Please speak as though I am a newbie. Wait, I am!
OK... So, I am here for ya... If you ever want to text me for questions while you are out machine shopping - or call me... I'd be happy to PM you my #.
D~
You know, when we were at Goodwill, I told mom, "If I had D's number, I'd text her pics and see what she thought."
While mom has owned vintage machines (and learned on one since she learned as a little girl), she hasn't had any experience with them in many years -- and she hasn't actually sewn anything in many years. Her Brother has been collecting dust. Since DD has been born, I think she has sewn curtains for all the grandkids .... but that's all that I recall.
Anyway, she just doesn't have enough confidence to give advice on a machine. She did tell me which one she wants at Walmart the other day (maybe she was hinting, her birthday is Thanksgiving Day!).
Thank you D!
You're a great DIS-friend!!
I get them frequenly myself. Do you have things you can take for them? I hope you are feeling better now. 
