New to SMS - hello & some advice please

Hi everyone,

What a great site - so much information. I'm totally inspired by some of the amazing things people have made.

So now my problem: I need a sewing machine and I'm stuck. I know I should go into my local dealer and try them out (which I absolutely am going to do) BUT I don't want to sound like a complete muppet when I do. Plus in all my research I'm struggling to understand how far money goes when one brand seems to give you one of everything for £100 and another gets you only the most basic for £500.

At the moment I sew about 10 hours a week, making quilts, home stuff (I have a serious cushion habit) and doing clothes alterations. I'd love to do more quilting, make my own clothes and try out some embroidery but the machine I'm using (a borrowed, entry-level Janome) just isn't up to it. Time for me to go shopping!

I feel like a bit of an inbetweener - I'm not shopping for a first machine but I just don't know how much I actually need. Budget isn't a huge issue, although obviously the new Bernina 830 is well out of range, but also I don't know how prices translate between the UK and the US.

Sorry that's all a bit vague (and long) but if anyone has any advice I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks!

welcome to the forum.

I'm primarily a quilter and for me there are a couple of things I look for - ability to drop the feed dogs for free motion stitching, availability of extension table to increase the area on which the fabric lays, and convenient service. That being said, I find that getting a refurbished or floor model machine from a local machine store is practical since I know I can get service and it's usually a better price than a brand new one. Each brand has it's own personality so you need to see what fits you. I have both an Elna and a Janome and love them both. Many folks really like Berninas, but I find that they're a little more expensive than other brands for the same features.

Good luck looking. Perhaps you have friends with different ones that you could try out at home for a few days to get a better feel.

As far as the make of machine, there are many brands out there, and most sewers/quilters have their favorites...that's where you need to try them out. If you plan to do quilting, a machine with a large throat is better than one with a small throat.

Thanks for the advice. I've started to make a list of my must-haves and my in-my-dreams so will see what I end up with.
Unfortunately I'm feeling completely cross with all Janomes at the moment (after rethreading the machine at least 4 times just to get a decent straight stitch today) so I think I need to go and try a nice new one.