Simple unfancy sewing machines

[kadie]

My Janome (The Clunker) was $35.00 second hand and my other Janome My Excel that DD1 bought me was $299. They suit me fine. I wouldn't know what to do with anything fancier.

[quilterbee]

A Kenmore high shank 1/4" foot is available through any dealer, Sears, and Nancy's Notions. Mine was $14.99, I think. Which is what I paid for the machine,LOLOLOL!! Amie )

[QIAD-Linda]

Hi Quilterbee,
I couldn't agree with you more! I made many, many quilts on a Kenmore sewing machine that my husband bought for me for Christmas in 1978. He paid $100.00 for it and it was very simple, no bells, no whistles. I still have that machine and still love it! Really, to make a quilt, all you need is a straight stitch.

[TooMuchFabric]

I agree completely.

The most beautiful quilts I have seen were pieced on straight stitch machines.

Thanks for a great post!

[sewbug]

The new fancy machines make sewing easier not better. I agree if the machine sews a good seam with no problem it's all you need no matter the cost or brand.

[ipquilter]

QuiltinKay--My Pfaff 360 was an accidental aquisition also! I bought a beautiful antique sewing cabinet for $100. Inside was the Pfaff, the instruction manual, a bunch of accessories, and the original lay-away reciept from Germany in 1964. I must've been really good that year!
Sherry

[suzette58]

I have 3 Janome machines which I love. BUT, I still missed my Singer 301. I had one that my mom learned to sew on and i learned as well. When I was a single mom the motor went on it and the guy I took it to said it would cost more to fix it then buy a new one. Well, I just got one from EBAY. I absolutly love it. The bells and whistles are great but a simple machine is better sometimes.

Suzette58

[calicopuzzle]

I have a Kenmore I use for traveling to classes or charity sewing...works great and have made several quilts on it. Love my Juki that I have had for about 7 years now....just a straight stitch, but has the big opening for the quilts to fit through....thread cutter, knee lift. etc...I am in love with it. Bought a baby Juki that has lots of stitches just so I can have embroidery stitches for appliqueing...but it is hardly broken in and was less than $300. There are lots of just plain nice machines out there. I bought a Janome at Hancock's for a friend of mine who is a new quilter and wanted me to find a good machine for her that wasn't too expensive...it is as nice as my baby Juki....and on and on, and on.

[Hummingbird]

I have an old Dressmaker with all metal gears that sews like a dream! I have sewn clothing, drapes, jeans, tents, and silk on that old thing. DH bought it for me in 1979. I only have the Bernina because my MIL gave it to me when she bought her new one. It was a blessing! I agree that all the bells and whistles aren't what make a quilt.

[lhirsche]

I have been using my trusty Bernina for 32 years now. I went through withdrawal when I had it serviced a couple of years ago. Last Christmas, my DH got me a treadle machine and after cleaning it up, (it was stored in an old chicken coop!), my son in law got a new belt for it and it works very, very well. It is simiiar to what I learnd to sew on as a child. All I need is a light so I can see better when I use it!
Laura