Free Embroidery Designs

Most of the major brands have machines at the low end. Singer is always good, or Kenmore. Read the instruction booklet carefully to make sure you thread the top thread and bobbin properly. Incorrect threading leads to a lot of trouble for beginners. Look in a used book shop or online for The Readers Digest Complete Guide to sewing. It’s a good reference for sewers and won’t cost more than $5.00.
References :

Start visiting sewing machine dealers.

Tell them you are a beginner of sorts and tell them you have a limited budget.

They will help you choose a machine – they will demo and then let you give it a whirl.

Some dealers have lessons and classes, but all of them will be there if you have a question.

This site – http://www.simplicity.com/index.cfm is a good refresher and also for beginners.

Sign up at My Account and then Sewing 101. Free information, instructions, patterns and projects.
References :

I managed to find a fabulous machine on ebay for very little money. It had hardly been used and if I sold it I know I would get my money back. Its an Elna and it would have cost a fortune new. I know you dont want to spend much but if you buy a cheap machine its likely to put you off sewing. If you lived in the UK I could have sold you one!! Singer are a good machine and if you do manage to find one secondhand Bernina are brilliant. Good luck.
References :
Professional Curtain Maker

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