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Where should I buy a sewing machine to get convenient repairs?

February 13th, 2013 Leave a comment Go to comments

I do not want to have to pack up a machine and send it away. What about waranties?

Look for a local shop that sells machines and provides service. Buy a decent machine — the cheapest new machines are usually impossible to repair or too expensive to repair, and are often fairly user-hostile. If your budget is limited, I strongly suggest buying a good used machine.

Generally, with machines that are available only through dealerships, the actual warranty work is done by the dealer.

Also, generally, purely mechanical machines (not electronic or computerized, but the ones that use cams and gears and a conventional electric motor) can be serviced by virtually any sewing machine shop. Things start getting tricky when you get into the fancier machines, and you’ll just have to ask shops if they can fix a whatever…

http://www.cet.com/~pennys/faq/smfaq.htm

What I want for beginners in sewing:

– a machine that doesn’t scare you
– a machine that isn’t balky (cheap new machines are often very
balky or need adjustments often and are rarely repairable —
just too frustrating to learn on!)
– very good straight stitch
– good zigzag (4-5 mm is fine, more than that is gravy)
– a method of making buttonholes that makes sense to you
– adjustable presser foot pressure (which helps some fabric
handling issues)
– accessory presser feet that don’t cost an arm and a leg
(machines that use a "short shank foot" typically handle
generic presser feet pretty well. Some brands of machines use
proprietary or very expensive presser feet)

If the budget stretches far enough:

– blindhem and stretch blindhem stitches
– triple zigzag (nice for elastic applications)
– a couple of decorative stitches (you won’t use them nearly as
much as you think)
– electronic machine because of the needle position control and
because the stepper motors give you full "punching force" at
slow sewing speeds — mechanical machines often will stall at
slow speeds.

Please go to the best sewing machine dealers around and ask them
to show you some machines in your price range, *especially* used
machines you can afford. You’ll get a far better machine buying
used than new, and a good dealer is worth their weight in sewing
machine needles when you get a machine problem — often they can
talk you through the problem over the phone. While you’re trying
things out, try a couple of machines (sewing only, not combo
sewing-embroidery) over your price limit, just so you can see
what the difference in stitch quality and ease of use might be.
You may find you want to go for the used Cadillac. Or you might
want the new basic Chevy. Might as well try both out.

Suggested reading: John Giordano’s The Sewing Machine Book
(especially for used machines), Carol Ahles’ Fine Machine Sewing
(especially the first and last few chapters) and Gale Grigg
Hazen’s Owner’s Guide to Sewing Machines, Sergers and Knitting
Machines. All of these are likely to be available at your public
library.

Used brands I’d particularly look for: Elna, Bernina,
Viking/Husqvarna, Pfaff, Singer (pre 1970), Juki, Toyota

New "bargain brand" I’d probably pick, if new was my choice:
Janome (who also does Kenmore).

  1. misterlucky
    February 13th, 2013 at 12:53 | #1

    check your yellow pages for sewing machine repair in your area…then get a quality machine..Singer, Brother…go to your dry cleaner and ask what brand machine they have…most cleaner and small tailor shops have sewing machines on the premises for small repair and alteration work, and they buy one that’ll work; a broken sewing machine for them is money lost in alteration work.
    References :

  2. kay
    February 13th, 2013 at 13:21 | #2

    Look for a local shop that sells machines and provides service. Buy a decent machine — the cheapest new machines are usually impossible to repair or too expensive to repair, and are often fairly user-hostile. If your budget is limited, I strongly suggest buying a good used machine.

    Generally, with machines that are available only through dealerships, the actual warranty work is done by the dealer.

    Also, generally, purely mechanical machines (not electronic or computerized, but the ones that use cams and gears and a conventional electric motor) can be serviced by virtually any sewing machine shop. Things start getting tricky when you get into the fancier machines, and you’ll just have to ask shops if they can fix a whatever…

    http://www.cet.com/~pennys/faq/smfaq.htm

    What I want for beginners in sewing:

    – a machine that doesn’t scare you
    – a machine that isn’t balky (cheap new machines are often very
    balky or need adjustments often and are rarely repairable —
    just too frustrating to learn on!)
    – very good straight stitch
    – good zigzag (4-5 mm is fine, more than that is gravy)
    – a method of making buttonholes that makes sense to you
    – adjustable presser foot pressure (which helps some fabric
    handling issues)
    – accessory presser feet that don’t cost an arm and a leg
    (machines that use a "short shank foot" typically handle
    generic presser feet pretty well. Some brands of machines use
    proprietary or very expensive presser feet)

    If the budget stretches far enough:

    – blindhem and stretch blindhem stitches
    – triple zigzag (nice for elastic applications)
    – a couple of decorative stitches (you won’t use them nearly as
    much as you think)
    – electronic machine because of the needle position control and
    because the stepper motors give you full "punching force" at
    slow sewing speeds — mechanical machines often will stall at
    slow speeds.

    Please go to the best sewing machine dealers around and ask them
    to show you some machines in your price range, *especially* used
    machines you can afford. You’ll get a far better machine buying
    used than new, and a good dealer is worth their weight in sewing
    machine needles when you get a machine problem — often they can
    talk you through the problem over the phone. While you’re trying
    things out, try a couple of machines (sewing only, not combo
    sewing-embroidery) over your price limit, just so you can see
    what the difference in stitch quality and ease of use might be.
    You may find you want to go for the used Cadillac. Or you might
    want the new basic Chevy. Might as well try both out.

    Suggested reading: John Giordano’s The Sewing Machine Book
    (especially for used machines), Carol Ahles’ Fine Machine Sewing
    (especially the first and last few chapters) and Gale Grigg
    Hazen’s Owner’s Guide to Sewing Machines, Sergers and Knitting
    Machines. All of these are likely to be available at your public
    library.

    Used brands I’d particularly look for: Elna, Bernina,
    Viking/Husqvarna, Pfaff, Singer (pre 1970), Juki, Toyota

    New "bargain brand" I’d probably pick, if new was my choice:
    Janome (who also does Kenmore).
    References :
    50 years of sewing

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