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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: HomeschoolMum
Date: 10-25-2005, 03:48 AM (1 of 15)
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Hello Ladies We are hoping to buy a sewing machine for our 10 year old for Christmas.She is currently learning to sew and loves it .We are in New Zealand not America so machines are more expensive here. Can you please tell me about Janome and Bernina, which would be best and why? These seem to be the main types here.I have a basic janome given to me by my Dad when I got married and I like it a lot( I am only a very basic sewer ).It is very special as he has passed on now. We can not boy a very expensive one ,maybe 500 to 600 , is this enough or would we be better to look for a good secondhand one? I am hoping to get one with an automatic buttonhole ,and that will last her for quite a few years.At the moment her dream is to one day have a home sewing business( this may change of course, but she has said this for a long time now) . Thank you and God Bless A |
User: HomeschoolMum
Member since: 10-25-2005 Total posts: 4 |
From: SandyGirl
Date: 10-25-2005, 06:15 AM (2 of 15)
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I love my Janome and there are models in your price range. My reason for posting is to encourage your ten year old to follow her dream and not let anyone discourage her. If she gets "advice" that is negative and makes her doubt her ambition, tell her to walk away, ignore it, whatever. I regret at times for not following my "dreams" to take my sewing to a professional level, etc. After a 20 year absence I am back in full swing. Anything is possible but the best time to follow your heart is when you are young and full of dreams and energies! Get her the best machine you can afford that she can grow with. Keep us posted on her career! Everything is possible! Sandy |
User: SandyGirl
Member since: 09-16-2005 Total posts: 97 |
From: SummersEchos
Date: 10-25-2005, 08:57 AM (3 of 15)
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Hi HomeschoolMum, Welcome to Sew Whats New. I cannot give any advice on which of the two machine to buy. I have never owned one of those. I know they are both good brands. Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: toadusew
Date: 10-25-2005, 09:35 AM (4 of 15)
I can also highly recommend the Janome brand! I've had two Janomes and love them both. They do have machines in your price range. If you go to their website, you can check out their machines and see which one might be best for your daughter. Then I recommend buying from a local, reliable dealer in order to have dealer support when/if it is needed. Also, if possible, I would take your daughter to a local dealer and let her test drive the sewing machines because she will know which machine she bonds with better than anybody. Of course, you will want to provide supervision and guidance, which I'm sure you will do.  Bernina is also a good brand, but years ago when I was in the market for my first sewing machine, I looked at them and didn't like them as well as the Janomes. Everybody has their own personal preference when it comes to sewing machines--even 10 year olds. 
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User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 10-25-2005, 12:10 PM (5 of 15)
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Janome--- no question about it.. Bernina is a great product, for heavy duty sewing... But they are so loud, or all the ones I see on TV are.. I love Janome and I am on my second one.. If I ever have to have another , it will be a Janome.. I have been sewing on this one almost 14 years.. The last one now lives at DIL's house (its a Kenmore labeled one from Sears) but I bought it new in early 1970's... Still sews like a dream..It even has stretch stitches for knits.. I would go with Janome.. Mine has adjustable speed on it, and that has come in handy for teaching my GD to stitch recently..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: paroper
Date: 10-25-2005, 12:19 PM (6 of 15)
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Berninas are WONDERFUL machines. Although the outside is plastic, the frames of the machines are metal. There are only a few inside parts that are nylon. Most of the parts are metal. The Bernina machine has been known for years for its strong, beautiful straight stitch which has made it famous and is still available in most of it's machines up to the ARtista which have a different hook system for embroidery. All that being said, you need to understand that true Bernina machines are expensive. Their lower end machines at this time happen to be made by Janome. The first true Bernina machines start with something like the numbers 230 and are 3/4 machines, smaller than most. A lot of Bernina lovers purchase these and use them for quilt classes and they are very popular and well liked with few problems. In the US they start around $599. The starter models are made to their specs by Janome. The older starter models are made by Brother. Although these are wonderful machines too, it is my feeling if you are going to purchase a Janome, why not purchase a Janome (same for Brother). Unless there is something special in the warranty or I can get a good price break, why not purchase just purchase something with the right name on it? If Bernia is willing to put their name on the machine, I feel that is a good endorsement for the other company. However, if you feel that your daughter is going to be sewing a lot and you can afford it, you can't beat even the true Bernina machines for beauty of straight stitches and they are very reliable!!! I have thousands of hard sewing hours on my old 1530 (which is a computerized machine...13 years old) and I've never had anything more than a cleaning...12 years after I bought it...eventhough I used it 7 days a weeks for several years while I sewed professionally. If you make the investment, you should be able to make your money back with these machines!!!
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: HomeschoolMum
Date: 10-25-2005, 01:57 PM (7 of 15)
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Thank you ladies for the replies....... Someone mentioned the Bernina is more loud....this would have an affect for us as our dd has some hearing loss if she will want to use it a lot.We will go and look at the shops in the nearby city next week if we can . One lady said we should take her with us......it was going to be a big surprise...she is going through a lot at the moment , testing on her hearing which is getting worse so we were hoping to really surprise her big time as she would not be expecting this .I think we would rather the surprise factor ... I will let you all know how it goes.We want to encourage her all we can in her dream to sew ..... Thanks again and God Bless Ann |
User: HomeschoolMum
Member since: 10-25-2005 Total posts: 4 |
From: paroper
Date: 10-25-2005, 02:01 PM (8 of 15)
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The embrodiery machines (at least the new hook ones) are surprisingly loud. My older Bernina with the better hook system for sewing is not loud at all. It purrs unless it needs oil then the sound changes. Just try them out and see what you think.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Skye
Date: 10-25-2005, 05:20 PM (9 of 15)
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Hi another NZ'er here - from Wellington. I would go for the Janome - preferably an electronic one. Janome are reliable and you will get more bang for your $. My daughter is off to universty next year and she is lamenting that she wont have access to my sewing machine which is an Elna 6005 - Janome machines have much the same features. here is a website for a local wellington shop (NAVY) it might give you an idea of what is available and prices of a few different brands. http://www.sewingdirect.co.nz My personal opinion is that you want a reasonable machine so that it is easy to use so she want get frustrated and get a good result. I like the idea of a surpirse for Xmas - you sew so you should have a good idea of what will suit her needs. Skye |
User: Skye
Member since: 09-28-2000 Total posts: 233 |
From: toadusew
Date: 10-25-2005, 08:52 PM (10 of 15)
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Homeschoolmum, I think it's wonderful that you're going to surprise your daughter with a sewing machine! I suggested taking her with you so she could test drive a machine, but you probably have a pretty good idea of what she will like. Good luck in your search and please do let us know what you decide and how your daughter likes the machine. I hope that this sewing machine will spur her on to realize her dream of having her own home sewing business! Also, I'm sorry that she is going through so much right now. Is there anything that can be done for her hearing loss? |
User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: HomeschoolMum
Date: 10-25-2005, 11:13 PM (11 of 15)
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Thanks "toadusew" for asking about my daughter...we are not sure what is causing this,we are waiting for a cat scan and to see the specialist again....sigh...Please pray that it is nothing bad...It may be "genetic" and that she will loose more and nothing can be done, but we have no history as she came home to us from a Russian orphange.She has endured a lot, she was very premature , had CDH which has been fixed with surgery and was extreemly malnourished and delayed when she came home aged 16 months.She also has dyslexia , due to prematurity probably,so she has overcome a lot in her life.We are SO proud of her !!We are just praying it will be O K...The Dr says they often have no idea why this happens even now ,it may be genetic or due to her having severe chickenpox in the orphange as a baby .She is an awesome girl with a heart of gold . Her other dream is to adopt as many kids as she can when she is older ( just like her Mum..I told mine the same as a child....) . Thanks also Skye for the New Zealand info....I will go and take a look.That is very helpful.God Bless Ann |
User: HomeschoolMum
Member since: 10-25-2005 Total posts: 4 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 10-26-2005, 04:43 AM (12 of 15)
| Janomes and Bernina's are great machines but for a young girl I think one of the Janome Jems is a wonderful machine. It is small enough to tote around, sew anywhere or take to class. There are new Jems on the Janome site but the Jem Gold and Jem Silver are still available at on line dealers for $199 and free shipping. I have several Janome products and gave my Jem Silver to one of my daughters when she had her baby. It also came in a little blue carry bag. It has a horizontal spool and see through bobbin, several stitches including blind hem and stretch stitches and makes a beautiful buttonhole. My other daughter has a small Janome and is a nurse and makes her scrubs for work on her little machine. The little Jems do perform like big machines and made just as sturdy. The original msrp was something like $349. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: SandyGirl
Date: 10-26-2005, 06:20 AM (13 of 15)
| Where is she learning to sew? If in school, what brand of machine is she using? Maybe sticking with the brand she is learning on makes the most sense if she is comfortable with the machine, etc. Familiarity is everything.....why learn a new brand? Just a thought. |
User: SandyGirl
Member since: 09-16-2005 Total posts: 97 |
From: HomeschoolMum
Date: 10-26-2005, 02:07 PM (14 of 15)
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She is learning to sew from a friends Grandma ,with her sister and three other girls ( we homeschool so this is a small class of other homeschool girls) . She and her 7 year old sister are using my old janome to sew on so we have pretty much decided to go with a Janome as the better Bernina ( actually made by them as I learned here )are too expensive...This little class will end soon as the lady is moving, so I will have to muddle through with them.I am a VERY basic sewer.I had a few lessons before I got married and that is all. I have only made a few simple things but am determined to learn as now my oldest girl is 10 it is so hard to find things in the shop suitable , and that she likes. The little sewing shop in our small town only deals in Brother machines .They have one for $550 that does an automatic buttonhole . I have never heard of them .Has anone here? My dh says they make good printers etc ,but I told him they are not the same as sewing machines...LOL. |
User: HomeschoolMum
Member since: 10-25-2005 Total posts: 4 |
From: paroper
Date: 10-26-2005, 03:31 PM (15 of 15)
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Brother is an very old sewing machine company that, as far as I know made sewing machines for many decades before it branched out into other areas. As a rule, it is sound and reliable. It is partenered with Babylock. For years it has also made the low-end machines for Bernina last year they ended their partnership (don't know why) and Bernina picked up Janome to make the lower end machines. They, like Janome (which either bought or at one time was known in the US at least as New Home) have some very nice high dollar machines too. Bernina machines around $500 or so are made by Bernina as are those above by the way, they look different than the machines that are not (the other machines may be called Bernette). No matter what you choose, if you choose from the Brother/Babylock, Janome, or Bernina line you should do well. There are several other machine companies out there that I'm sure are also good, but all of these are known companies. I don't know that I would Singer right now...those who are happy with them are VERY happy. Those who are not, are just as unhappy...it may depend on the machine, but if I were choosing one, that might not be the brand I would choose without a lot of research. Just be sure that you purchase from an authorized dealer who will do service there. Most dealers will give elementary "get aquainted with your machine" classes for free . Also, make sure that the dealer takes the time to remove it from the box, sew with it, check the settings and make adjustments before you leave the store. It is no problem to repack it, but most machines need slight adjustments before you sew. There is nothing sadder than getting home with an important gift and then not have it work well when taken out of the box. With sewing machines, you may not realize the difference until it is cleaned later.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
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