What's the best machine for under $150?

My MIL asked what I wanted for Christmas. I know I want a new sewing machine. I've got a really old metal Singer that is great, but of course only stitches in a straight line

I've never shopped for a machine before (both of mine were handed down to me) so I'm not sure what I should be looking for. I know Singer and Janome are supposed to be really good. I don't need anything really fancy. I would just like several stitch options, and a buttonhole setting (maybe a 1 step?). We're looking at under $150 budget here. I know Hancock runs theirs on sale a lot.

Any help or advice or anything you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Even if it's just to say "I like this about this one.. I don't like this about this one.."

Thanks!

I suggest a Janome.  I have one and love it.  My sister got a Singer for christmas and I don't like it at all.  She actually comes over to my house and uses my machine.  Go for the best Janome you can buy. 

Janome all the way, I have never ever had an issue with my janome! I love it! I have the 4400 right now.

Three years ago I bought my first Janome (a little Gem) and was amazed at the quality and performance... I now own five Janome machines!  (6600, 300e, serger and CoverPro 900)  Go to a good dealer and see what a great line Janome is, plus you will get lessons and support, unlike buying a machine at Walmart or online.

My parents gave me a basic, inexpensive Kenmore sewing machine (yep, from Sears) 10 years ago, and when I just took it in to the local sewing shop for its first-ever repair and tune-up, the store owner said, "This is a basic machine, but very well-made, and it should do a good job for a long time."  I asked, "So Kenmore makes them that well?" and he replied, "Actually, Janome makes them under the Kenmore label."  I have no proof that this is correct, but if it's true, you might get a good machine for a low price at Sears.  Mine has certainly done a good job and been very reliable for 10 years.

My hubbie got me a nice, simple brother for Christmas last year....compared to the 40 year old Singer I had I feel like it is a 1500.00 machine!  He said he picked brother because he recognized the logo from me watching "project runway" he did pretty good!

I also heard, from my sewing teacher, that Janome makes the Kenmore machines.  My sewing teacher is a Bernina fan but I am not sure they have low-end models for $150 or less.

I am in the market for a new machine as well.  I have a Brother that I bought 5 years ago and ai HATE it!!!  My dream is a nice sewing/embroidery combo machine.  High end like $1500 or so.  Dream on Angela, dream on. =)  Also, I would KILL for a serger.  Makes life so much easier.

Good luck in your search and let us know what you got.

Angela

My mom and grandma helped me pick out my first machine at the sewing machine store that my grandma had been going to for probably 40 years. It was a used Riccar that had a very small number of features, but was a great workhorse and was only $125. Boy was that thing heavy, too. I only gave it away because someone I knew could not afford one, although she has promised if she ever stops using it she will give it back to me.

I would recommend checking out freecycle, craigslist, and neighborhood yard sales. A good older model that will last is probably a good and affordable investment to get you started. Happy stitching!

Tracy

I had an inexpensive Kenmore that was awesome.  I know this hard to tell your MIL, but I have bought two refurbushed machines.  Dealers will often take trade-ins, service them, then resell them with a warranty.  You can get some great deals.

My first sewing machine was a Singer fashionmate (I think it was called) before that, I learned to sew on my grandma's old treadle-to-motorized machine.  MY DH bought me a Brother XL 6452 when I started getting back into sewing again..I now have 6 machines (I go to estate auctions that have them), as well as a serger & an embroidery machine..but the Brother XL 6452 is my favorite, it's a workhorse!  I just bought my daughter a Janome 3125 at Hancock's (I got it before they went on sale, though   ) & it's priced perfectly for the features (and Janome reputation).  Keep an eye out for good deals around the holidays, too.  Even Husquvarna at Joann's get down to about $149-160 around that time & they're really good machines.  Good luck on your search!   

Thanks so much for all of the input! It's really helping

Good luck with your machine search. I have a brother machine that my parents bought for me a few years ago as a housewarming gift. It isn't anything fancy, but it does the job I need it to do. I'd like to learn how to machine quilt at some point--the cool, free-motion kind of machine quilting, and I think I'll probably need to upgrade for that. Mine is the uber-simple version, but I believe that there is one within your budget that does have a variety of stitch options. When I first started sewing , I was really frustrated by the frequency of bobbin snarls, but I think a lot of those issues were a result of user error. I'm not any kind of advanced seamstress, but as I've learned a little more I find I'm more careful and have fewer problems. I also know people who have a Kenmore and have been very satisfied with their machine--if I had bought my own machine rather than receiving it as a gift, I probably would have gone with the Kenmore.

I'm in the market for a new machine for Christmas too and I'm so glad to read all the comments to your question!  I've heard great things about Janome too - I haven't looked at the price ranges yet.  My mom got a Kenmore a few months ago and really loves it, plus my girls' sewing camp teacher loves Kenmore too.  I want a bunch of quilting options with mine - I hardly know what to look for though!

I would not normally recommend getting rid of a good metal singer that you like, but you might get a good deal on a trade-in. If they give you $50 or $100 for it, it could bump your budget up to a better machine...

On the whole, I really discourage folks from buying machines under $200 as most of them are really cheaply made and give you grief when you try to sew through thick layers (think about hemming jeans), sheer or slippery fabrics, knits, and other interesting and fun fabrics (like costumes).

I have seen some good introductory/student machines made by Brother and also some Kenmores. The deal with Kenmore is that just about anyone can make a machine and sell it at Sears under the Kenmore name. So you might be getting a Janome or Brother and you might be getting a really low-end Singer. There is no telling. The other disadvantage to buying at a big box store (Target, Costco, etc) is that there is no one there to help you with the machine.

I really recommend finding a sewing machine dealer and shopping to see what the introductory machines are - what features are available (and which of those you will actually use).

I would recommend looking at both Brother and Janome, but I don't know what their least expensive machines are. They may start at over $300. But Janome makes a lot of really excellent machines and if you can afford it, I would go for that.

(All that being said, I sew on a Bernina. But they start at $500+ I'm pretty sure.)

Good luck and have fun shopping!
Sally the Sewing Teacher (www.sewsally.com)

Thanks everyone! I really do not want to sell my old Singer. It was my grandmother's, and it is really special to me.

I definitely agree about not buying at a big chain (like WalMart or Target) because as you all said, they'll never really be able to help me. The ladies that work at my Hancock Fabrics here (it's really small) are super nice, and have answered other sewing questions for me before. I also noticed that when they run their machines (Singer and Janome) on sale, they're usually at least $50 off. So I could actually get a $200 machine for about my price range.

And when I say "my price range" I really mean my MIL's, because she is getting it for me for Christmas. But if I found a good machine for $180, she would more than likely get it anyway. I said $150 initially because that's what my gift cost last year.

Thanks so much gals, and please keep any advice and comments coming!