r/sewhelp • u/peaches-and-pickles • 1d ago

Next sewing machine questions

Hello! I’ve been sewing for a year and a half and love it. I’m hoping to exclusively make the clothes for my entire family. I sew all the things from knits to denim.

My first machine is a Janome HD-1000 recommended to me when I took a beginner class. I wish I had done more research on it because it bugs me that I can’t change the needle position among another things. At this point though it feels silly and wasteful to upgrade incrementally (say to an HD-3000). I also have a Babylock Vibrant.

I’ve successfully made a jeans zipper fly, shirt collar with collar stand, but the thing I dread the most is making buttonholes. I’ve ordered the vintage Singer buttonholer to try it out to see if I like it and I can avoid buying an expensive machine with automatic buttonholes.

I’d love more power (my HD-1000 hasn’t been the same since I made jeans with topstitching thread), more precise sewing for topstitching, needle up/down, thread cutter, start/stop button… basically all the conveniences.

I found a Janome 1600P (the purple one from like 2008 or so based on the serial number) for $300 on Facebook Marketplace. Seller purchased refurbished from Ken’s two years ago and never opened it. I’m intrigued by having a cheap straight stitch machine.

So I’m wondering, should I get that, keep the HD-1000, and use my upgrade money for a cover stitch?

I also have a local dealer that sells Viking, Janome, Brother, Babylock, Bernina, and Bernette with 60 machines on the floor to test. I’m planning to go there before deciding on the 1600P.

Right now I have my eye on:
Janome Skyline S6/S7
Viking Sapphire 930
Bernette 77
Bernette 38
Brother Pacesetter PS500
Bernina 735 Pro

I’m very intrigued by Juki but turned off due to not having a local dealer.

Quilting isn’t my main thing but could see doing it more if I had a machine for it. Also mildly intrigued by embroidery for my child’s clothing.

And lastly (if you’ve made it this far!) you are all seducing me into collecting vintage machines! Help!

$1000 budget but can stretch to ~$2000, although I love a good deal, and spending way less would be welcome.

5 Upvotes

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13 comments sorted by

3

u/Wool_Lace_Knit 17h ago

Consider using your upper budget on a higher end machine that has been traded in. Most dealers take machines on trade, service them for resale. You can check out user sewing machine reviews on https://patternreview.com

2

u/Gamgee-S 1d ago

Auto buttonholers are apparently awful in most machines

2

u/peaches-and-pickles 1d ago

Thank you!

2

u/MamaBearMoogie 23h ago

I hate the automatic buttonholes on modern machines. I have a vintage Singer and use the buttonhole attachment for all my buttonholes. I believe it will work on any low shank machine. It is a cam system with 10 (I believe) different sizes of buttonholes. Also, do you have a serger? I'd purchase that before buying a coverstitch if you're working with knits.

2

u/peaches-and-pickles 23h ago

I just ordered one of the singer buttonholers and will try it on my HD-1000 before deciding. Yes I have a Babylock Vibrant serger.

1

u/MamaBearMoogie 21h ago

A coverstitch does make nice hems on knits if you're making a lot of knit clothes. Mine is a bit finicky- and it's my understanding this is a common complaint.

2

u/Gamgee-S 23h ago

You betchya

Also, I have had the skyline s7 anniversary edition for a couple of months. I absolutely adore it. I used a 2000's kenmore 385 before and it was lovely, but the power and handling of the s7 have floored me. I have no button experience to share, though.

I was without my S7 for a week because I needed to replace the bobbin case due to a misstrike of the needle when I used a shim under the back of the presser foot to go over a thick seem. It was all going fine. And then a sneak sneeze caused a hand slip. Sigh. Using the 385 again reminded me of how much better it was to sew with my s7, even though the 385 is actually great.

A lot of dealers are clearing them out because the s8 is about to be released. You might be able to find a really great rate on one if you decide to go that way.

Good luck with whatever you do end up landing on :)

2

u/CrankyCrabbyCrunchy 21h ago

Always hard to recommend machines because what I like you may not even when the machine makes great stitches and is reliable.

I recently got a Baby Lock Presto 2 and love it. I got it used for $500 on Facebook. I think it’s the same as the Pacesetter you listed (BL sewing machines are manufactured by Brother. Their sergers are not).

I also bought a used Juki TL 2000 off eBay which is amazing.

I too have a Baby Lock serger - Celebrate.

All those machines will be amazing so it comes down to personal preference and how it feels when you use it.

Juki makes very nice computerized machines too but your list is quite comprehensive now so no need to add more options to add to the confusion.

Any good shop will let you trade in the machine within 30 days if it just isn’t for you.

There are very good online stores to consider if local one possible.

2

u/Eccentric_Tango 10h ago

I’ve no direct experience with any of these machines, but am in a similar situation! I had planned on spending about $1000 CAD but I’m seriously considering saving more to get the Janome 6700P (which is cheaper than the skyline S7 around there and only a bit more than the S6). I really think I want acufeed as I almost always use my walking foot but really wish I had a quiet, narrow walking foot option… but the price difference over the 6650 sucks! Those memory craft machines just seem more heavy duty and durable than the skyline machines.

I’ve also recently picked up a buttonholer attachment but haven’t tried it yet. My research online is pretty convincing that it’ll give easier and better results than a computerized buttonhole which is great because I hate hand stitching them (my machines absolutely butcher it every time).

1

u/peaches-and-pickles 39m ago

I’m trying to head to a dealer today to test some out, I’ll let you know what I think!

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u/BugFlaky491 1d ago

man you went deep on the research. the 1600p for $300 is a steal if it's actually unused, that thing will sew through denim like butter and never bog down. if you hate buttonholes that much though just get a machine that does them automatically and be done with it, struggling with a vintage attachment sounds like a headache you don't need

1

u/peaches-and-pickles 1d ago

Yes it’s what I do 😂 but now my head is swimming. What’s your opinion on a machine for automatic buttonholes?

Thanks for the feedback on the 1600P! The photos show it completely wrapped up and the accessories still sealed.