Looking at sewing machines

[isabelladangelo]

I've decided to get a sewing machine that will probably only last until December. By then, I should be able to afford an industrial strength machine.

I'm looking at a Brother CS-6000i, a Brother XL-2610, Juni HZL 27z, and a Singer 4423. All look pretty decent and I'm not entirely sure what to go with. Given that, I'm reading a LOT of reviews. There is one that I found particularly funny -

http://sewing.patternreview.com/SewingMachine/Review/1/3657

I'm kind of leaning towards the Brother XL-2610 only because the amazon reviews all read like something I would say/write. "I got it it because it was pink but I then threw three yards of denim at it and it works!" type reviews. I'm also trying to avoid, in general, reviews that start with "I'm a beginner" and look more for "I'm a fashion student" or "I've been sewing for a 100 years and thought I should get a better machine". Almost all the XL-2610 reviews seem to be by intermediate to advanced seamstress' and quilters which is a good thing. But, I also like the all metal construction of the Singer...so...I need to sew...grrr...

Comments

[estela-dufrayse.livejournal.com]

I have been sewing for 30 years now and bought a Janome Harmony 8080. I sold my industrial. I found that I couldn't do as fine stitching with it, even though I used it all the time, I have better control with the domestic. Industrials are good for heavier fabrics and plain sewing, but you'll find you still need a domestic for the finer stuff.

Keep both well maintained, change the needles with each project and keep them oiled up and you may not have to buy another machine the rest of your life. My Singer was 40 years old and I had to replace the gears for a third time and thought just getting a new machine would be nicer, which is why I went with the Janome. Fifty stitches and three types of single step buttonholes. I love it!

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

My Euro Pro Denim and silk worked beautiful until last month. I broke the one plastic part in the entire machine -the bobbin holder. I've tried to find the part online with zero luck -which is part of the reason I've decided to just give up and get a new machine. The one that failed the other day was my back up machine. I also have an old singer but it's slow and only does straight stitch.

I've narrowed it down to two machines a computerized brother and a heavy duty singer. I keep going back and forth on those two. Right now, I'm leaning towards the singer because I saw two good reviews for it over on pattern review and it is all metal...

[estela-dufrayse.livejournal.com]

both are excellent brands, but I'd lean towards the wholly metal one as well. I hate plastic and nylon parts, they're just asking to break!

[wereleopard.livejournal.com]

New Singers are crap. I've been really disappointed with mine (CE-200) and I've only had it about 4 years. It has threading issues and timing issues and just plain can't cope with heavy fabrics. I've been much happier with my White.

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

I read the reviews over at http://sewing.patternreview.com/ for the CE-200 and it does sound like something to stay away from. However, the reviews for the Heavy Duty 4423 make the machine sound great. We'll see!