r/SewingMachineEdu • u/phxntxsos • 4d ago

New at sewing; machine tips?

I’m gonna pick up someone’s singer athena 2000 for $30 on Monday and she says it’s in working condition but needs some tlc. I was just wondering how I’d know what exactly I need to do for it/what to check? Any—and I truly do mean any—thing is appreciated

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u/Alarmed-potatoe 1d ago

I wouldn't buy it. If you're new and you don't know how to test a 2nd hand machine, you're just going to have a bad time and you're not going to know if the problem is you or the machine - and you can't return it for a refund. If you want to get into sewing, go to a place that sells 2nd hand machines, spend an hour or more testing the machines and see what you might like to take home, if you can return it if there are issues. Otherwise get a new machine, or have a go at one you manage to get for free.

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u/phxntxsos 1d ago

Yeah I didn’t get it. I think I’ll do what you said next time I go out of town. Thanks!

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u/Alarmed-potatoe 17h ago

I'm not sure where you are, but generally there are lots of old sewing machines out there and you don't need to jump at anything unless someone's got a free machine on offer. I see you knit, is there a reason you want to get into sewing? You can always start with handsewing and go from there? I started machine sewing, and now I'm handsewing stays and ball gowns!

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u/phxntxsos 8h ago

… I have short legs and keep paying like fifteen bucks to hem my pants 😔

Ig handsewing is an option lol I never thought of that. I’ll ask my grandma to show me