Quality Sewing Machine

[October]

Hi guys

Help please on best electric Sewing Machine available in UK

My sister wants a new decent quality sewing machine - electric, one that will last for donkeys years, do all the fancy stitches (zigzag, overlock etc etc). I'm happy to pay for it, so there's money available, but neither of us know what is a good make to go for. Bernini have been suggested to us but at 4 figures it might be slightly out of my range....Any help / recommendations / info would be gratefully received.

[WendyS]

Yes I was going to suggest Bernini. My parents bought me one for my 21st birthday and 4 decades later I still have it.. Singer is the other well known model but home sewing seems to have gone out of fashion these days so the plethora of sewing machine shops which used to be around so that you could browse and enquire about different models no longer exists. The only advice I can recomend, is that if your sister is seriously interested in sewing and is likely to need all the "fancy stiwtches" that you don't go for the cheapest model which offers the facilities as reliability is "key". Sewing machines repairers seem to be few and far between these days.

[ursula62]

If you are in the UK, try John Lewis - they normally have a selection of machines available and people to demonstrate them to you. If you're near London, try McCulloch & Wallis in Dering Street (not too far from John Lewis in Oxford St).

Bernina is a good brand, but they are very expensive. Otherwise look at Brother. They are not as expensive as Bernina but still a very good brand. Don't touch the cheap offers on Toyotas that you see in the paper as they are false economy.

[October]

Cheers Wendy and Ursula and many thanks for the useful comments. A 40 year lifespan and still going strong suggests that a Bernina isn't quite as expensive as it might first seem.... how many other household appliances last over 40 years ?? Thanks also for the hints on the other brands - exactly what we needed.

[thelewisgang]

go to www.sewingmachinediscount.co.uk & take a look at their website. They are based in London & have some very good offers. I have recently dealt with them and they were efficient, courteous & the free delivery was lst class. Hope this helps. By the way, I bought a Brother machine and I'm over the moon with it!!!

[October]

Thanks thelewisgang - I had a quick peek just now at their website and will definitely look in more detail once I know what make/model we're best off getting good prices on. I loved the comment in the testamonials - Card Received, Wife Happy, Life Good.

So far it's Bernina and Brother that have been recommended. Keep it coming please guys and thanks again.