I need to upgrade my machine--but to what?

 So, I've been lurking here for some time, and have been very impressed by the community that has grown around this shop/blog/forum.  I'm seeking advice/suggestions on what I guess I'll call an intermediate machine.  I've done a bit of research, but I'm feeling rather overwhelmed by how broad the mid-range is in most brands' offerings.

Right now, I have a White SM2000 that I was given as a high school graduation gift nearly ten years ago. During most of that time, there have been intervals of intense use and then no use at all.  But for the past six months, I have been sewing nearly every day--baby clothes and gear, appliques and embellishments, some home dec, some clothing, some quilting.  So far, the sewing has been mostly for personal use or gifts.  But soon I will be selling in a local natural baby store, and I'm also looking towards doing so on Etsy. 

I sort of feel kind of crazy, thinking I need an upgrade, when my mother (a professional sewist of draperies, bedspreads, home dec goods) still churns out AMAZING things on her 50-year-old hand-me-down Singer.  But I think--from what I've read in other places--that machines that old are basically indestructible tanks and were made much better than many more modern machines.  Is that a correct assessment?  (Basically, I need help justifying this purchase to myself!) 

So, what to consider?  Where to start?  I don't need fancy embroidery abilities, but would like a few pretty stitches.  I'd like more professional results and less hassles than I have with my current machine--which I realize will probably come with a higher-end machine.  I would say I'm willing to pay up to $500-600.  Any wisdom you're willing to impart would be MUCH appreciated! 

thanks very much,
jewelweed

I know how you feel.  It's a genuine dilemma.  I don't envy the decision but if I were in the market for a new machine, I'd look at either Bernina or Janome.  I recently "test drove" the Janome 6500P and fell madly in love until I saw that it was $1400.  I can't justify spending that much while my 25 year old Elna and my 14 year old Viking are still sewing beautifully.  But do check out the 6500P.  It's not an embroidery machine, but it has plenty of decorative stitches, including alphabet.  It sews like a dream.

Don't you hate that sewing machines have become so expensive? I do. 

Find shops near you and try out machines - that is what just about everyone says. There are quite a few shops around me - either fabric stores that also sell machines or sewing / vacuum stores (the two seem to go together). See what you can find around you. Visit them. See what they have to offer, if the staff is nice even if you are 'just looking'. I really thought, after all the comments on this site, that I was going to buy a Janome. But, the store where I bought my machine was having a 'yard sale' and I walked out with a Baby Lock Quest that I just adore. The Janome I wanted was out of my price range. And - I receive about free sewing machine lessons with my machine at this shop since I purchased my machine from them.

There are a bunch of threads on purchasing machines - if you search you should be able to find them.

Good luck.  Beth

Thanks for your thoughts, ambimom and Beth. I'll keep an eye out for the machines you mentioned.   I do plan to visit my local stores and buy from them, for sure.  I just hate walking in without some idea of what they have to offer--I like to be prepared, especially when this kind of money is involved! 

I've read quite a few threads here and there on beginner machines, but haven't come across too many that review the intermediate/mid-range options.  @ Beth:  do you know of any threads that address that? 

Thanks again for your suggestions, ladies!

jewelweed

Hi jewelweed. 

Off hand - I don't know of any threads for mid-range machines. Actually - between you, me, the lamp post - and the 1,000 plus members of this forum - I am very confused by sewing machine pricing. It seems to be very secretive. I seriously didn't know I couldn't get the Janome I wanted with the amount of money I was willing to spend. And, the machine I purchased is, according to people on a yahoo forum I subscribe to for baby lock machine owners, for people that are price conscious. Hmmm - I thought it was pretty expensive.   

I guess everything is relative - even price. If a pre-owned machine is an option you could probably find a machine with more bells and whistles in your price range than a new machine. Sorry I can't be of more help! Good luck on your search, Beth

bethvanduzer you are so right!  It is actually one of my pet peeves.  The home sewing machine industry complains that no one sews anymore -- duh.  No wonder.  They have priced themselves right out of most people's homes.  I admit to using a decorative stitch or two, but why must all machines have elaborate computerized embroidery if not to pump up the price?  I hate that. 

The affordable machines these days are crap.  They require a lot of hand-holding: the tensions are often whacked; the controls unresponsive, the gears and pulleys fragile.  The novice sewer gives up  long before they should.

Yes, there is an active second-hand market but I think more people would be sewing if there were a reliable, well-made machine that was under $300. 

I wanted to recommend Kenmore machines.  I'm using a 19606 and it was about 600 bucks when I bought it a few years ago.  It has a ton of different stitches and I've never had any trouble from it.  It really is a great machine for the money.  I'm sure other Kenmores work just as well.  You should stop by Sears and take a look.

I'm with the others that think sewing machines have become too expensive.  I just can't see spending what a Bernina or Viking costs right now...but would love to have one.  And, the machines that they sell at Wal-Mart and the like are pains in the rear...they never seem to work right.  I had a very cheap Brother as my first machine and never could get it to work right.

beth, ambimom, and wondermommy, thank you for articulating what I had been thinking about machine pricing!  It seems completely without rhyme or reason in some regards, and I wasn't sure if that was just me or if it was truly strange out there in sewing machine-land.

My husband's an electrical engineer, so he's accustomed to understanding why machines cost what they do.  He's also the one who suggested a new machine and so he's not averse to the idea nor to dropping the necessary change to get a good one.  But when he sat down with me at the computer a few nights ago to do some sewing machine research, he was rather disarmed and frustrated.  The opaque and almost shadowy lack of pricing available online, the seemingly random leaps in pricing from one machine to the next one up...  It almost makes one want to forget it altogether.  He's a kayaker and is always on the lookout for good deals on pricey gear, and that he can't do the same for a sewing machine is disturbing to him!

That said, you have been most helpful, and we're going to make the rounds of our local shops soon.  I'm sure they will be helpful in machine selection and suggestion and hopefully upfront about pricing.   I'm hoping perhaps that they'll have some great reconditioned machines to check out, too, like you mentioned, beth.  I just feel at a disadvantage when I'm clearly wanting a new machine and willing to spend money on it, but coming in almost empty-handed when it comes to pricing and such.  Oh, well--I'll have to pin my hopes on them being good people!  Thanks again, ladies!

I'm thinking of looking for a new machine as well.  I, however, am a novice taking my first quilting class.  It's amazing that there is really no information on price online from retailers.  It would be nice before I went into a store if I was looking at something way outside my price range.  I'm hoping that when I do decide to buy (maybe a year?) that I will have a better idea of what I need, what I want, and cost.  Would love to hear what the original poster decides to purchase!

When I upgraded a number of years ago, I bought my first Viking which lasted a looong time and recently upgraded to another Viking (for more features, not cause the old one broke).  I chose Viking because when I called the local dealers for several brands, they were the only ones who offered to send me a video of the machines and to come in for a test.  All the others did not provide customer service when I told them I was just researching machines at the time. 
That being said, dealers for the same company can vary across geographies.  I think all the majors (Viking, Pfaff, Bernina, etc) have good machines for all price ranges.  I chose on customer service after I narrowed it down to 2 machines.  The dealer I went to also told me about the payment plans they had and they took my old machine (both times I purchased Vikings) as trade-ins.  Ask if they offer free classes on how to use your new machine.   Avoid dealers who try to pressure you into a more expensive model.  Find one with the features you want and stick with that.

Good luck!  It is confusing to try and sort through all the different models.  And I found websites for the manufacturers to be the least amount of help.   They actually provide very little info.  Sewing forums such as this are good to find out what experience people have had with different manufacturers.  Google the brand name and "forum" and see what comes up. 

Saff