Gents, ladies, rogues, rapscallions, the rabble at large:

As P1M has done with single malts, could one (or several) of you do as regards sewing machines? At present we've got a cheap big-box Brother, which is limited and somewhat flimsy in general. If I was looking to upgrade to a new, decent, solid, quality sewing machine, which brands, and which models, would you advise that I consider? It's in my mind that there are probably good, solid sewing machines out there on the used market, but this is a subject of which I know awful dang little.

Many thanks in advance,

Kid Cossack

Perhaps I should have mentioned what I'm interested in using the sewing machine for, yes? Recreational sewing, I want to try and turn a GI blanket into a four yard box pleat kilt. I value stout over fancy!

Try Singer, Husqvarna or Viking. All excellent machines.

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Originally Posted by Beuth Sim

Try Singer, Husqvarna or Viking. All excellent machines.

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:wstupid: :sorry: It was the closest smiley to "I agree"......Anyway I agree with Beuth Sim

I've been having very nice results (not on a kilt but with plenty of other projects) with a vintage Kenmore (from the mid 70's. Very heavy as well as heavy duty machines. (The numbers begin with 117 or 158, among others)

Ebay sometimes has good deals on these. Mine is all metal, no plastic, and heavy duty.

My other machine is a portable Kenmore (less than 10 years old) - it's plastic and not as heavy duty.

I'd agree on Singer and Husqvarna. Buying second hand was fine for me - I've got 2 2nd user Singer machines - and actually, the older one is the better of the two. It has solid metal rather than nylon gears on the main drive, and whilst noisier in operation, has far more torque, which is what you need when sewing thick things like denim at slow speed.

Look for a machine with zig-zag capability (useful in all sorts of places) and maybe overlock, rather than just basic straight stitch capability.

Best regards

I use a cheap $60 1520 model Brother for repairing my paragliders, for fixing jeans and also to make my first kilt, a corduroy semi-tratitional here http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...Picture034.jpg and have no problems. I have had it for a couple of years and the only problem is that it works well enough so that I cannot justify spending ona more expensive one.
Gordon of Clan MacHardy origin

I like the Husqvarna/Viking machines also, and I have an old Singer that still works great.
I have also spent a lot of time around commercial double-needle machines- they sew two parallell rows of stitching at the same time, I have used Juki and Brother double-needle machines. You don't want to get your finger caught in those- they have a motor the size of a coffee can. For home use, make sure it can do a blind hem and variable zig-zag.

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Originally Posted by Phicong

I use a cheap $60 1520 model Brother for repairing my paragliders, for fixing jeans and also to make my first kilt, a corduroy semi-tratitional here http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...Picture034.jpg and have no problems. I have had it for a couple of years and the only problem is that it works well enough so that I cannot justify spending ona more expensive one.
Gordon of Clan MacHardy origin

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I agree. I have a Brother and I'm on my 6th kilt with no problems. I think it was more like $100. It's been good enough to me so far that I can't justify replacing it either.

I use an inexpensive yet sturdy Singer 1120. It was under $100 at wally world and has served us well. I've sewn upholstery for a sofa and two kilts with it. My wife has made several keepsake bags with it. I'd say for a price to quality ratio you can't really beat one of the inexpensive Singers.