Looking to buy a new sewing machine...any helpful tips?

So my friend wants me to make him curtains for his place and my sewing machine is awesome, but unfortunately not working right now. It's a 1923 Singer so not so easy to get parts for
So my friend said he wants to buy me a new machine and that will go towards paying me . I a thinking of Janome, the HD 1000 Heavy Duty to be exact.......
Anyone have any recommendations?

The Janome is a sweet payment for making curtains! I've heard good things about it but don't have first-hand experience with that company. I've always had super-cheapo machines, except for the Singer that I started on - that thing could sew through 4 layers of denim, no problem, but no zig-zag.

Btw, most stores that sell sewing machines also repair them, and buy old machines for the parts, so if you can't get the old one repaired you could probably sell it there.

Originally Posted by SwampWitch

The Janome is a sweet payment for making curtains! I've heard good things about it but don't have first-hand experience with that company. I've always had super-cheapo machines, except for the Singer that I started on - that thing could sew through 4 layers of denim, no problem, but no zig-zag.

Btw, most stores that sell sewing machines also repair them, and buy old machines for the parts, so if you can't get the old one repaired you could probably sell it there.

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The Janome I want to get is $299 which I think is a great price!
I love my old Singer, I couldn't believe it was from 1923! This thing sews through almost anything! I definitely want to keep it, it just needs someone who knows what they are doing to look at it. It was working great for a few years for me, but now the stitch is off, it won't catch.....I love this machine though

I'm still using my Mom's 1962 Singer 411G. It's required professional cleaning once and a new presser foot, in all that time.

http://storage.canalblog.com/82/80/392487/20239876.jpg

If you are going to buy a machine, if you want one of quality, get another Singer.

Stay away from Brother models though. Nothing but problems.

Originally Posted by cheylink

The Janome I want to get is $299 which I think is a great price!
I love my old Singer, I couldn't believe it was from 1923! This thing sews through almost anything! I definitely want to keep it, it just needs someone who knows what they are doing to look at it. It was working great for a few years for me, but now the stitch is off, it won't catch.....I love this machine though

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Don't you have a Singer outlet near you? When my Singer needed repair because it was breaking the thread, I called the Singer outlet near where I lived. I had a broken leg at the time and I don't drive, so the guy came to my home, took it out of the sewing cabinet, took it back to his shop to fix and brought it back to me and put it into the cabinet again. All for $60.00!!

I had told him that I was thinking of buying a newer model. He talked me out of it. He told me that anything I buy today would never last as long as the machine I currently have lasted. And he said that my machine with all of the attachments I have can pretty much do most of what the newer non computerized machines could.

I have a early 1900's Royal machine. It is one of the first electrics. I don't know if it still works or not since the cord is frayed. I need to get the cabinet refinished though. Our TV is sitting on it right now.

I bought it in 1973 from a neighbor, so I could make a shirt. I was going to sell it at a yard sale in 1980, but when I called and described it to an antique dealer, she said that to sell it for no less than $300-$500. I decided then and there NOT to sell it. I wonder how much it is worth now?