Looking for a new sewing machine?

I went looking to buy a new sewing machine a few weeks back, and I had no idea how much it would be like car shopping. Like, down to the dealer not telling you what the price is until you've gone for a test drive. It is not a simple job for the underinformed.

Unlike cars, there's precious little unbiased info online. There's lots of people who will tell you, "It depends on what you want to do." which is not helpful, or, "It depends on what manufacturer I get a commission from," which is a completely different kind of unhelpful. Consumer Reports hasn't even tested sewing machines in years (although there's a new report coming in February 2009, they say).

The best info I found was at craftster.org, in a post comparing sewing machine manufacturers.

Here's the quick version:

Buying a sewing machine is like buying a car, your level of skill, mechanical needs and budget dictate what you get in your machine. Sewing machines vary in price and quality much like cars. Bernina = Mercedez-Benz, Janome = Toyota, Kenmore = Buick, Pfaff = Volvo, Viking/ Husqvarna = Volkswagon. (Ok, most of the countries didn't line up perfectly, meh)

There's a lot more there too if you're interested. Thanks, Penlowe!


P.S. I wound up getting a Pfaff Hobby 1142. (I'm a Volvo kind of guy, basically.) If you're in the Philly area, check out Fabrics on the Hill for help getting a Pfaff.