sewing machines

[LIVENUDEGIRLS]

After one too many bad experiences with tailors I've decided I am going to teach myself to sew. At the moment I know dick about sewing machines. Anyone have any reccomendations as to things I should look for? How do I know if a sewing machine is tough enough to handle denim, or will any machine handle denim? Are there any specific features I should look for and/or avoid? Anyone else taught themselves and care to share experience? I was considering looking for something used on Ebay or maybe at a local pawn or something, any advice on doing something like this?

Guidance is greatly appreciated.

[Kodak]

http://sewing.patternreview.com/SewingMachine/Reviews

http://www.quilt.com/FAQS/SewingMachineFAQ.html

There are a lot more resources out there just search google.

Edit: sewing.patternreview.com is great, a lot of your questions can be answered, you just have to register.

[mike lowrey]

I think you'll be well off with a quick and simple guide and a very basic machine. if you can find a specialty store selling used ones thats a bonus, they'll be able to help you choose a good one. then its just practise.

[keri]

if you can find an antique singer in good condition, get it, they are amazing machines, and work forever if kept up right.

If not, go ahead and get a new singer and a brother surger. They are excellent machines and work beautifully. Dont mess with getting one with fancy stitches, stick to the basic machine, and you will save soem money.

[LIVENUDEGIRLS]

thanks for the replies. are most machines strong enough to handle denim? Some explicitly mention that they are and some don't, but I didn't know if I should assume they can't if they don't say they can. sorry if this is an obvious question by the way.

[mike lowrey]

stick to the basic machine, and you will save soem money.

and avoid stupid features you'll never use

in regards of the denim, as far as I know most should be able, BUT I dont know about seams on jeans and such. I've used a fairly standard machine to taper jeans with no problem, but if youre actually making jeans or something and need make multi-layered seams then I'm not sure.

[Thorns]

if you can find an antique singer in good condition, get it, they are amazing machines, and work forever if kept up right.

Agreed. Kenmore as well. Antiques kenmores are beasts. And as far as denim goes, so long as you get a big enough gauge needle, you should be fine.

[cmykhustla]

I made a a pair of jeans on a $100 Singer machine from Target and never had any problems at all with the denim. Just take it slow and you should be ok with any machine.

[babe it out]

yea, just take ot slow....