One day, you’re sewing along just fine on the old hand me down machine you received years ago from a family member. Suddenly, in the middle of your project, the machine dies. Kaput. You sigh, maybe throw out a few choice words, and – after a bowl of caramel pecan ice cream (maybe that’s just me) – decide it’s finally time for you to splurge on a new one.
Read the rest of this entry

While comparing the Janome DC4030 sewing machine stitches to those of the Janome DC2012, I found the graphic showing the number and type for the DC4030 and thought it might be handy to have for future reference. Questions about stitches on a machine come up fairly often.

The DC4030 has a total of 24 built in stitches. Six of them are buttonholes, eight are satin stitches, 1 mending stitch, and 9 utility stitches. Because of the number of buttonhole stitches, this machine would be well suited towards those who really need a good machine for making clothes.

Read the rest of this entry

Wow! The end of the year is racing towards us and I’ve hardly had time to answer the comments and questions from the influx of visitors I’ve had to the site. I’m trying to carve out some time in the next few days to get to everyone but until then, I’ve put together this quick list of the most popular sewing machines for Christmas 2011.

This is certainly not very scientific but is based on the activity seen on the posts and sewing machine reviews on this site. Daily traffic is pretty heavy so the rankings are at least a decent, representative sample. In order based on this month’s activity, these are the top 10 sewing machines for holiday shoppers:
Read the rest of this entry

Here’s a popular question these days: How do the Brother CP7500, CP6500 and the CS6000i sewing machines compare to each other? The features seem so close that it’s hard to tell if one is better than another.

The good news is that you almost can’t go wrong here. All three have great ratings and offer excellent value for the price (ALL three are under $200!) but one gives you just a bit more for your money. (Surprise ending up ahead: the better bargain is probably NOT the one you thought it was!)
Read the rest of this entry

Just in time for Mother’s Day, Brother is offering a rebate on the LB6800PRW embroidery and sewing machine for purchases made at authorized retailers between April 15, 2011, and May 15, 2011.

While you can actually get the 6800 in a couple of different packages, each distinguished by the letters following the 6800 in the model number, the rebate is only good for the PRW (Project Runway) version.

This combination embroidery and sewing machine is identical to the very popular SE400 embroidery machine.
Read the rest of this entry

Buy a sewing machine online and have it delivered within 24 hours?  Done!  Such convenience!  But would you?  Should you?

Under the right conditions I absolutely, without a doubt, would (and have!) but not everyone feels the same. 

Some of you will say “no way”, “nada”, “never”, and “not on your life”.  But, for certain people, buying online is a way of life.  Those with hectic schedules, or who live in locations inconveniently far from major shopping, or who get a thrill from leveraging online deals to save money go to the internet first.
Read the rest of this entry

It’s not thread, it’s not fabric, it doesn’t even come in a box but our new sewing machine finder tool brings its own kind of fun.

Shopping for sewing machines is fun but it’s also a lot of work. The question I get the most often has to do with comparing different models to better understand the variances. This was what drove my mother crazy when she tried to find a great machine for my nieces.

It’s been a couple of months in the works but Sewing Machines for Beginners officially launches a new tool on our site that we hope will make some of that comparison process a bit easier.
Read the rest of this entry

How’s this for easy? Over 500, independent Brother CS6000i reviews boiled down into one, easy-to-read graph. Get all the facts about strengths, complaints, and repeating issues from others who have used the machine without spending hours and hours reading each, individual page yourself.

The source for this information is the 517 reviews on Amazon – all 52 pages of them. It took days to read and categorize the information. It felt like there should be an easier way to present the most important information for anyone who wants to compare this machine to the other possibles on their list.

Read the rest of this entry

The Brother LB6800PRW sewing machine may be the replacement model for the popular SE400 combination sewing and embroidery machine. The only difference between the two is the model number, the Project Runway label and the included rolling tote bag. The other difference? The LB6800PRW is usually in stock whereas the SE400 has slowly been disappearing from retailers inventories.

Brother’s year end rebate through 2010 for the SE400 was perhaps a sign of things to come. Since the start of 2011, finding the SE400 in stock has been rough but it is still regularly available at places like Amazon.

Read the rest of this entry

There’s still plenty of time left to do these five projects with a new sewing machine today even if you’ve never sewed before.

It’s Sunday, the most relaxing of days at our house. It’s the only day we can all sleep in, the day we’re all home in the morning, the day where exploring our hobbies and interests is expected and encouraged.

I spent a few minutes this morning lazily browsing through a magazine I’d purchased about a week ago but hadn’t had time to read.
Read the rest of this entry