Sewing Machine recommendations

[obsessed]

So I have an old Riccar that I bought used at a Quilt shop a few years ago. The sales lady told me it was a fabulous heavy duty machine. Well I used it a few times and it is always breaking. I just got it fixed again and it seems to be slipping the tension.
So I want to be done with it. The guy who fixed it for me this time said that I need to be very careful because it is a very finicky machine (I trust him that he has the qualifications to fix the machine and fixed it as much as fixable). I kind of don't want to be careful. I just want a machine that is easy and works.
So any recommendations.
I want to spend as little as possible but I am willing to spend up to 400$ I would like a machine that does basic sewing but will also handle some heavy duty fabrics just in case I decide to do curtains or such.
Or should I just deal with the Riccar. My mama says I have to learn the machine because any good seamstress will learn the quirks of her machine. I think she just really likes her older machines (my grannies hand me down).

 

[Hattie the Hen]

I like my 20 year old Bernina . I has sown it's way through leather as well as the finestof fabrics. I would not swap it for anything else.

Why don't you ask your repair man what he recommends, which ones go wrong the least often.

:rose Hattie :rose

 

[Lavender2]

I don't know Riccar machines but I know your frustration. My ancient Singer (a good machine for many years) died a slow annoying death..

Bernina is a good machine... and I agree with Hattie's advice to ask a good machine repair person.

When I finally burned up my old Singer, beyond repair... ... I went to a sewing center to look at new machines. The gal insisted I wouldn't be happy with anything but a Brother ... a computerized monster that did everything and cost over 2 grand. She boasted a lot about the warranty ...HA! I don't need a warranty... or bells and whistles I will not use ... I need a machine that works!
I went back to my repair guy to ask for advice, explained my needs.

He let me test a used Necchi 534, a low end industrial type machine commonly used in high schools. They have all metal parts, not plastic like so many newer machines, and are basic and easy to use. I have several hundred hours on that machine and I love it! Perfect machine for me and he sold it to me for $69.00!... I did not have to use the one year warranty either... I have used it on most fabrics, including several layers of denim, even plows through canvas!

 

[ducks4you]

Go online at Joanne.com and buy a Singer HD-105. DD's sew lots more than me, lately, but I bought the HD-110 (apparantly no longer in stock for one of my DD's last Christmas. She loves how durable and EASY TO USE it is. Here's what I found that should do the trick:
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/productdetail.jsp?CATID=cat2097&PRODID=xprd686964
$199.99 (normally $249.99)


DESCRIPTION:
--Includes 6 stitch programs including a 4 Step buttonhole
--3 Needle positions, 3 feet, and a top drop in bobbin
--Adjustable stitch length and width
--Includes a complete accessory pack
The Singer HD-105 is a heavy duty sewing machine. Its motor is 60% more powerful to sew through multiple layers of fabric and it sews up to 1,100 stitches per minute. The HD-105 has a stainless steel bed plate that allows fabric to flow smoothly, and prevents scratches with pins and zippers. It is perfect for sewing those large, quilts, curtains, canvas and denim projects, and more!

We are CW reenacters and the sutlers tell me that they destroy regular sewing machines constructing wool uniforms and day dresses and ballgowns AND CANVAS TENTS! (A ballgown can take 15 yards of fabric and require multiple layers of fabric sewn together.) For those who don't sew, the cheapest machines sell for ~$90 anyway, so this is a really good deal!

 

[Rosalind]

In defense of the Brother series, I have a Brother Pacesetter 6000, which I got used from a relative in exchange for some tailoring--she had bought the sewing machine with the idea that she would sew some clothes, and she was told that it was easy to use and learn with. However, she didn't know how to sew as much as a button on a shirt, and found that it wasn't quite that simple to use.

It is fairly simple to use if you actually know how to sew a little bit, though. It does some cute embroidery borders nicely; I did a new set of hankies out of some leftover linen scraps I had, just hemming and embroidering borders on them, and they did come out pretty cute. Cleaning the mechanism when it gets dusty is easy enough, and I've done...lemme think...five sets of heavy insulated curtains, a heavy fleece-backed Thinsulate-filled quilt with corduroy and denim top squares, a big wool/silk dress, a few pairs of lined pants with no problem.

Only thing I don't like about it, it really does not do narrow sleeves or leggings. If you're sewing something like a child's outfit, or edging on a blouse with tight sleeves, the openings will not fit over the machine properly and you have to do a lot of scrunching or sew by hand. My old Singer, one of the 1960s models, could do the openings, but it croaked when I tried to repair a heavy canvas coat.

 

[ducks4you]

I'm NOT a sewing machine purist--we own 2 White's and 2 Singer's and I'm aware that good machines can run at a pretty high price tag. One of my DD's works at JoAnne Fabrics, but all DD's shop anywhere for fabric and the like. You SAID that you were interested in something affordable--I think you'd be very happy with this. I've been told that once a sewing machine (in the less than $1K range) breaks down, they're not worth fixing. I'm interested in what you end up doing.

 

[obsessed]

Thanks ducks! and every one else. I am between the one from JoAnnes and the Kenmore Computerized Sewing Machine with 110 Stitch Functions from sears. Mostly because I have a sears and not a Joannes in my town.

 

[journey11]

I have a very old Brother machine (not sure of the model#) bought at a yardsale that has been a faithful work-horse for me. I just don't think they make things as durable as they used to (this is in just about everything). Be it on a car or a sewing machine, I am not a big fan of so many computerized functions. So expensive to fix if they blow up.

Sometimes I think I was born about 100 years too late! Ha.

 

[lupinfarm]

Husqvarnas!

I own a Husqvarna Lena which is a basic model, I don't believe they make them anymore. We also have a Husqvarna Rose.

 

[patandchickens]

I own a low-end but heavy-duty-ish White that I've been quite happy with, nothing fancy but it is reliable.

Seems to me that if you trust your sewing machine repair guy, maybe HE is the person to ask for recommendations on what's reliable! As long as he's not trying to sell ya something

Good luck, have fun,

Pat