Reddit mentions: The best sewing machines

1) I would recommend a heavy, no-nonsense machine that will take abuse. I would avoid a computerized machine and spring for a mechanical machine if possible (it won't have as many features, but they tend to be tougher machines that don't ever become outdated). If you buy a mechanical machine with metal (rather than plastic) components inside, it should last you the rest of your life.

My favorite brand is Janome. The brand I've heard the worst about is the Singer (excluding antique Singers, which are apparently really good). Brand matters, so do your research.

My sewing machine is the Janome MyExcel 18W (the Australian equivalent of the HD3000). It's pricier than some starting machines, but I think this is a really solid general purpose sewing machine for beginners, because it's very basic to use and will stand up the maltreatment of the novice. But it's also great for advanced users because of the huge range of attachments that Janome makes. If you got this machine for making clothes, I don't think you'd ever need to replace it (unless you get into machine embroidery or something similarly niche).

It's also very good for working on thick fabrics or lots of layers (as happens when you sew across seams), because the presser foot lifts higher than most machines and because the motor is a beast. And there are lots of little things that just make it nicer to use. It's very quick and easy to switch between feet; it has convenient storage compartments and a big cheat sheet at the top (so you don't have to constantly refer to the manual); the bobbin is SUPER easy to replace; you can observe the bobbin while sewing (bobbin misbehavior is the source of 80% of sewing mishaps, in my experience); and it requires less oiling and maintenance than most machines.

Other beginner machines I've used and loved have been an old Elnita (by Elna, a reputable brand) and an old mechanical Brother (also a reputable brand)—but my Janome is better for my purposes, since I'm often working with difficult materials like canvas, denim, and stretchy fabrics.

If you're looking to save money, buying used is a really great idea. Sewing machine technology is pretty mature, so you can buy 20+ year old machines that do almost everything a modern machine does. Check out garage sales; really great machines often get sold for almost no money, because the people selling them often aren't the same people who bought/used them and they don't know their value. (Note that garage sales are also a great source for dirt cheap sewing supplies: zippers, buttons, thread, elastic, tape measures, cutting mats, etc. You can save hundreds of dollars rather easily.)

2) I self-taught when I was 16, before YouTube existed. I wanted to make myself a costume (I tend to be a little too ambitious with first projects...), so I saved up for a machine and jumped right in. I mostly relied on the manual and experimentation to figure it out—my stitches came out ugly and tangled, but the costume came together and held up perfectly.

It's a bit frustrating to get the hang of machine sewing (dealing with thread tension problems, etc.), but YouTube is a fantastic resource, especially for achieving different effects (like blind hems and whatnot). It doesn't take genius to teach yourself to sew, but it does take stubbornness.

I would recommend learning hand sewing as well. It is a useful complement to machine sewing when you just can't get the machine to get in where you need it (like hard-to-reach corners, around lots of buttons, etc.).

4) Plan your projects carefully! That's the hardest part. You'll want to think about how all the pieces will fit together, the order you'll put them together, etc.

If you're wanting to design your own clothes or costumes from the ground up, you'll want to practice with patterns first to get the hang of them. You might also want to take apart some clothes (ones you don't mind destroying!) and practice remaking them with another fabric.

6) What types of clothes, and what kinds of alterations do you need to make? I do a lot of clothing alterations on thrift store finds. I have found that it's very easy to do things like shorten pants legs, make pants legs slimmer, take T-shirts in at the sides, or add triangles of fabric to a shirt to make the hips bigger. But I find it very annoying to do things like take jeans in at the waist (due the thickness of the denim and all the belt loops, pockets, and zipper that must be worked around).

Machine Manufacturer and Model Number: Brother Nouvelle 1500s

Year purchased: 2013

Condition: Factory refurbished

Price paid (optional if you want to share): $550?

Link: Amazon currently has a newer version available, it looks like, but I have the one that is currently more expensive shown here.

How long have you used the machine: since 2013

Things you love:

• Oh the harp space! For a table top machine this one has SO MUCH ROOM for activities! I bought it specifically because I needed to quilt a king-sized quilt and my original machine (the Brother cs6000i) just wasn't going to cut it. So I love all that room for sure.
  
• I love how quiet it is despite being fast - boyfriend can definitely nap through me sewing on it. I also really appreciate the sizable extension table.
  
• I also love that you don't have to take the extension table off of the machine to reload the bobbin! It has a clever little trapdoor. :)
  
• I also really like how the metal plate around the needle has 1/4", 1/2" and 5/8" lines right on it that extend farther than the quarter-inch foot does, to help with accuracy.
  
  Things you hate: I don't really like the automatic thread cutter feature. I don't use it much, but when I do I inevitably end up having to rethread the needle, and who likes doing that? Not me, that's who.
  
  There are features that I admittedly do NOT use - I don't use the needle threader and I don't use the knee lever thing.
  
  Any continuous problems? I feel like I have to rethread it a lot, but that could just be me being unaware of some sort of feature or something.
  
  Would you buy this machine again if it broke down today? Absolutely.
  
  Additional thoughts or special info: This machine is hefty. It is 24 pounds. I would not want to travel with it, nor would I recommend this as a primary machine as it is ONLY straight stitch and if you ever do anything else, well, you're SOL. That said I definitely like the machine and feel it was a very good investment. I am able to do much bigger projects with it than I could before and it has been a great second machine for me.
  
  Here is another review of this machine.

Long rambling post warning...

I work in an industrial shop that makes medium-weight to heavy-weight products (dust filters to giant truck tarps, basically). I don't know the home machines much, but I can share a little knowledge on industrial machines if you're at that point (the price point is substantially higher, expect to spend $1000-$1600, although you'd probably get 60%-90% back in resale value). It's not for everyone. People do amazing things with Singer Heavy Duty home machines, and they're much more affordable and practical.

The biggest difference with industrials is that they're designed to run all day, at high speeds, and last for a very long long time. But the best difference is that you can buy a specialized machine for exactly what you want to sew.

For gear stuff, the reason you'd want to upgrade to an industrial is to get a medium-weight single-needle walking foot that can walk over and sew through anything you'll have to deal with: Tacky fabric coatings, slick fabrics, thick fabrics, thick seams or binding, multiple layers of webbing, zippers, foam up to 1/2" thick. It will feed and stitch exactly the same whether it's just two layers of 200 denier nylon, or 3 layers of webbing plus two overlapped hemmed seams. And it's smooth over the transitions.

Don't bother with an industrial drop-feed garment machine like a Juki DDL-8100, it'll just do what a home machine does, but faster.

The type of industrial you'd want is something like a Consew 206RB or a Juki DNU-1541. The downside is that they are only straight-stitch... The zig-zag capable versions cost literally twice as much. I made this bag with a 206RB, and it handled foam, 1000D nylon, and heavy bound seams without blinking. Just walks right over it, with perfect stitches.

Both of those machines have a bunch of affordable accessories too: Zipper feet, cording feet, edge guides, edge binding attachments, etc. You can also use heavy thread (92, easily).

New vs. Used: It's totally fine to buy a used industrial, as long as it's in good working order. Worn paint is fine, rust is not. Bad maintenance/tinkering is a red flag, things like random screws jammed where they don't belong, filed-down hook tips, ground-down feed dog holes, sagging tabletops, sunken-in machine heads, anything that looks overly "rigged" without a good explanation. Do NOT buy a "project machine", only buy one that runs great as it sits. Anything with a clutch motor, subtract $250 from your offer and throw that thing in the nearest dumpster and buy a servo motor (a positioning motor is 100% worth the extra $$).

You absolutely don't need an industrial machine. It's expensive. It's heavy. It takes up a lot of space, and is definitely not portable. It will not magically make you better at sewing. It has less overall functionality than a home machine with 15 stitch patterns, that can zig-zag, fake an overlock stitch, or make decorative stitches. But they're really pleasant to work with when you get used to them, because you don't have to worry about the machine limits, you can just sew whatever you want to sew.

A few things I would be touched by if my husband bought them for me:

A beautiful yarn bowl... hand made wood or ceramic in a favorite color. Look up "yarn bowl" on Etsy.

If she likes fancy wood hooks, they are expensive and make nice gifts. I'm not a fan but lots of crocheters love them.

A nice travel bag!
Like:
Kenley Knitting Yarn Bag - Wool Skeins Yarn Ball Holder Organizer & Storage Basket - Travel Tote Bag with Slits & Pockets for Crochet Hooks Needles & Accessories - Protects Wool - Prevents Tangling https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N8PEYS1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_JTAYzbWRGQ2QH

And finally, I got this as a gift and love it:
https://furlscrochet.com/products/pure-pewter-crochet-pendant

You did a great job naming her quilting supplies. You've been paying attention without even knowing it!

Here are a couple of items that make my quilting days much easier:

• A rotating cutting mat like this one https://smile.amazon.com/Fiskars-14x14-Healing-Rotating-Cutting/dp/B001IKIE4K/ref=sxts_k2p_hero1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=2668835622&pf_rd_r=11SS71TEAT9HPNFMVVXM&pd_rd_wg=oEcN5&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-top-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_w=nVADC&pf_rd_i=rotating+cutting+mat&pd_rd_r=Y28XP4A40S23GENR0WR1&ie=UTF8&qid=1478199059&sr=1. It helps me square up my blocks because the mat rotates so I don't have to pick up the block and move it around.
  
  
• Quilting gloves. They are kind of like gardening gloves because they have little rubber fingertips and make it much easier when you're doing the actual quilting part. https://smile.amazon.com/Machingers-Sewing-Gloves-Medium-MACHINGERS-S/dp/B00LWHROL8/ref=sr_1_6?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1478199162&sr=1-6&keywords=quilting+gloves These are the ones I have.
  
  
• Wonder clips https://smile.amazon.com/Clover-Wonder-Clips-Red-50-Pack/dp/B004ZKPX8A/ref=sr_1_1?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1478199202&sr=1-1&keywords=clover+wonder+clips that are a HUGE help with binding.
  
  And then of course, I can never have too many extra rotary blades (just check to see how big her cutter is - the standard size is 45mm) or spools of basic thread colors (I use "natural" when piecing) or marking pens / pencils --- the kind that disappear with either heat or water.
  
  The other gift that I ALWAYS love to get is a gift card to my favorite local quilt shop.
  
  Happy birthday to your wife!

What kind of quilting do you do? If you don't do a lot of applique, I'd consider getting this or this. Both are straight stitch only, but have generous harp space and will do a lot of piecing and quilting. Modern Singers have a pretty dubious reputation and both of these brands are generally better thought of.

The other thing I'd suggest is looking around for a used machine. I currently have 2 vintage machines, a Singer 15-91 (another straight stitch only), Singer Rocketeer (does a variety of stitches). If you're mechanically minded there are quite a number of them around and a lot of information about restoring them. If you aren't, there are a number of people who restore and then sell them. Might be worth considering since these machines are practically indestructible and you can do all their maintenance yourself.

I also have a used Janome Horizon MC 7000, which I found on Craigslist for $800. It was scary to buy something that expensive, but the lady selling it taught me how to use it (which helped show me it wasn't a lemon) and there are a couple quilt shops that service Janomes around me. Because I bought used I was able to get a >$2500 machine for a fraction of the cost.

Just some things to think about! Best of luck!

Hiya! You're right, everyone's been super nice so far. It's awesome.

As far as learning to sew, I have this machine right now and love it. It's pretty reasonably priced, too. If you want something even more basic, this is pretty close to the first one I had.

As far as learning, I recommend buying a pattern for something simple (there are a lot of beginner's patterns for skirts and things) and just try it out. You can find tons of tutorials on websites and YouTube if the directions confuse you. (They still confuse me a lot.)

I also have a book by Singer, this one, that has been incredibly helpful at explaining things. I'm still new-ish to the craft (3 years sewing and costuming, but in no way full time) but found that diving right in was the easiest way to learn. You might occasionally sew a skirt panel to a zipper by accident, or put on a sleeve inside-out, but you learn from mistakes, as they're so, so tedious to rip out and fix, lol.

So yeah, simple pattern, inexpensive fabric (not stretch to start with, preferably) and just go for it! :D Good luck!

Whoa! Mind = blown. I have a pretty similar setup. The Singer Heavy Duty 4423 was my first. I have a walking foot, too... basically the cheapo version of the Sailrite Fabricator. The machine I use 90% of the time though is a high speed straight stitch machine. Mine's a Babylock that I got a deal on a floor model of, but this Brother one is identical and significantly cheaper if you have to buy new.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0149GG9V4/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_VqqUDbPN7V4YK

All 3 of my machines are mechanical. I've tried some fancy ones and they feel like alien technology. Do you use a lot of the special stitches on the Singer? If you're straight stitching 90% of the time and love the beautiful straight seams on a higher end machine it's probably not worth it to drop the money on something with features you'll barely use, but to put it into something that does the thing you do the most exceptionally well. I keep the Singer around for the occasional zigzag or overcast and it can handle that role. I definitely felt like I was beating the hell out of it when it was the main machine. If I get more into making clothes, I do have my eye on that same Juki though!

You could still buy a sewing machine to use. The Hello Kitty Janome is popular for people who need a smaller, more portable sewing machine. I mentor several college students who have sewing machines at school. Sewing clothes is easier with a machine but you can certainly hand stitch clothing. Natalie Chanin has built an entire design firm around the concept and has classes on Bluprint and Creativebug that you can buy and watch, or get one of her books from the library.

Or get some needles, scissors, pins, fabric and thread, pick a pattern and start sewing! I think the Sorbetto by Colette would be a good one to start with, it's a simple sleeveless top. Smaller projects to learn skills could be simple bags, headbands, embellish clothes you own or alter them so they suit you better. My wardrobe is a mix of RTW and made by me clothes but I don't have a lot of RTW that I haven't altered in some way.

I have a Brother LX2375. It's incredibly easy to work with, and very very user friendly! It's the first machine I've ever owned, and it's great for just getting into sewing and more.

So far I've made big and small projects with it, and it works like a dream. <3

Thanks everyone for your help. I ended up passing on this machine despite being tempted. I bought second hand this Janome 2216 for 60 from a machine service person. I hope that was a better bargain in the end.

Sewing friends! Which one would you pick!?

this one
OOOORR
[This one] (http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Computerized-130-Stitch-Quilting-Machine/dp/B00FMYYGA4%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAIQPEDDM7HYZ53GMQ%26tag%3Dhappy09-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB00FMYYGA4)


Dont worry about the price difference! I GOTS A GIFT CARD FROM AN AWESOME AUNTIE!!

https://www.amazon.com/Janome-Machine-Stitches-Adjustable-5-Piece/dp/B01BKTD7PY/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=janome+sewing+machine&qid=1562356125&s=gateway&sr=8-4

This is an excellent example of a beginner model in both price & feature. (Yes, I picked a brand I like)

Brother, Pfaff, Janome, Huskvarna, Singer are the brands you should be looking for to buy new (there are fancier more expensive brands I'm leaving off the list, because either price or feature bewilderment tends to be too much for newbies). I wholeheartedly endorse buying second hand too, there are a lot of great old machines out there waiting for a new user.

​

These things (as a category, not just this specific model below) are GARBAGE do not waste your money!!

https://www.amazon.com/Sewing-Machine-Galadim-Stitches-GD-015/dp/B07RV7KZFV/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=sewing+machine+under+%2450&qid=1562356263&s=gateway&sr=8-8

You ever heard of that brand? no? because it's junk.

I have my great grandma's old singer that looks just like this, and just because I had no self control when they came out, I bought the Singer 160th Anniversary Edition, which is now discontinued and is just a regular machine that vaguely resembles the oldies. You can still find them new for sale.

It is mostly plastic on the outside, it's beautiful to look at, it does a great job and it has lots of different stitches, although not as many as other machines that cost the same at the time.

Look for one of these in an actual Sears store-- I got mine on sale for $60 in 2005 and it's still running strong, and I recently got another on sale for $65 for a cousin. It's small and simple to use, and perfect for beginner quilting where you always use a straight stitch.

As for getting help, community colleges and adult ed often offer quilting courses. I took a day course when I started and it answered all my quilting questions and gave me a lot of practice to boot. This might even be a money-saver as you can take your old machine in and get help learning to use it properly and adjusting the tension (which I'd guess is the problem if your machine doesn't seem to 'like' you). Well worth it! Youtube is also full of helpful videos if you're stuck at a particular point.

I would not recommend it for anything more complex than what you are describing, but something like this might get the job done:

https://www.amazon.com/Singer-Stitch-Sew-Quick-White/dp/B01MQRP6Q8/ref=asc_df_B01MQRP6Q8/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=216504060462&hvpos=1o5&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6358258620828740732&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9008148&hvtargid=pla-350168603224&psc=1

edit: This model has a pedal, which will make it MUCH easier to use because it leaves both hands free to guide, for only a few dollars more:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006VJBKNK/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B006VJBKNK&pd_rd_w=bBcmq&pf_rd_p=46cdcfa7-b302-4268-b799-8f7d8cb5008b&pd_rd_wg=E4IYn&pf_rd_r=E6KNZ8EE2MG0GED38MK5&pd_rd_r=b1c94637-6dca-11e9-9c58-2d5da5e59492

If you are looking for something new, then you could take a look at Amazon. Not only do they have a huge range across all brands, but there is extensive feedback from users and even a questions and answer section on each machine. You can learn a lot about the features you might want just by reading through the reviews. I use a Brother CP7500, and it was my first real machine, but still does everything I need and more even as my sewing skills and experience increase.
Try to get a good sturdy and reliable machine rather than get too overexcited about crazy features you will never use - like 200 different stitches! And buy the best you can afford so you don't feel you want to upgrade again in 6 months time.

Speaking from experience I'd look into a used industrial walking foot machine. It will handle everything you want to sew and then some and you can usually get them for $500-800. It will last your entire life if you keep it oiled and clean.

You can try a lesser machine but you'll be disappointed in any home machine if you want to sew lots of thick stuff. I do highly recommend a vintage European machine, or vintage singer as a suplimentary machine and for general use on other fabrics tho. You can usually find them for less than $100.


Source: I sew a lot of really heavy raw denim...with thick leather patches. I've made 32oz jeans on my walking foot machine, I've done 2 leather motorcycle seats with it...it will sew thru anything. It's my main machine for my denim

Edit: you can even find new walking foot machines for less than $1000.

If you want to stay even cheaper take a look at the rex zigzag walking foot machine

...it's like $350. I've taken a look in person and this machine is a mini industrial, all metal workhorse. These are designed for sailmakers and boat upholsterers so it is a portable industrial they can take to the boat and use. It only has a smaller motor, but you could upgrade that later for $100 if you want. You may have to tune it out if the box tho, the price you pay for low price. Once tuned(if needed) it should do very nicely. If I didn't already have a walking foot machine I'd probably take a chance on this one...especially with Amazon primes return policy.

I bought this one when we first moved to Japan two years ago and it's been a great workhorse! It's a popular model on Amazon and so much more affordable than picking up something in store. I've made two sets of yochien bags, a tonne of clothes, clothes repairs etc. and have no complaints at all. I haven't had to replace the original needle yet and it's yet to give me any mechanical problems.

While I agree that the kiddy battery-operated little machines are a waste of money, I've never had issues with cheaper regular-sizes ones. Considering the price, they're amazing value!

Try one of these . I use them for finishing veg tan leather belts and they burnish the edge really well. They are also fairly cheap unless you buy the nicer wood quality ones. I think the best wood for them are Koa or something?

These Brother 1500's are pretty popular if you don't need any deco stitches. I'm no sure if you'd be able to run a 220v machine up to normal speed here in the US unless it had a voltage switch like some industrial machines.

I would look into Janome, Bernette (which is a less expensive version of Bernina...so nice!), and possible Eversewn. They all have good quality machines that can be used for clothing, quilting etc. Definitely get something that includes a walking/evenfeed foot and a 1/4 in foot. The machine I linked to has both included. I have a Janome similar to this one from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Janome-Fully-Featured-Computerized-Buttonholes-Accessories/dp/B01M1IV5PE

Pretty "slick" work there. Next time you might want to think about more taper at the end. I use that small taper a lot. Example only here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SSQ2Y6Q?psc=1 Nice job.

So a couple months back I bought a sewing machine off woot.com. I bought a Brother RXR1355 for something super cheap. Anyways, they shipped the sewing machine out, but accidentally doubled up my order. So now I have two of these machines. I waited awhile in case they asked me to return it. A few weeks went by and they never requested for it. So I email them and told them they doubled up my order and they said I can ship it back to them or I can keep it and they won't charge me. So... I'm gonna keep it. Maybe flip it on Craigslist. Someone would probably be looking for one for Christmas.

Just wanted to share. Lol.

Now you start with the BrotherXL2600

One day you shall progress to this Singer Machine!

The cheaper machines that I've been able to find are:

[Janome Sew d'Lite 525](https://www.amazon.co.jp/JANOME-%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%91%E3%82%AF%E3%83%88%E9%9B%BB%E5%8B%95%E3%83%9F%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3-%E3%80%90sew-D%60Lite%E3%80%91-JA525/dp/B0013D1R82/ref=sr_1_5?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1481108420&sr=1-5&keywords=%E3%83%9F%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3
) for about $70

[Janome JA777](https://www.amazon.co.jp/JANOME-%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%83%8E%E3%83%A1-JA777-%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%91%E3%82%AF%E3%83%88%E9%9B%BB%E5%8B%95%E3%83%9F%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3-%E3%83%95%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%82%B9%E3%82%A4%E3%83%83%E3%83%81%E4%BB%98%E3%81%8D/dp/B011NDEFWG/ref=sr_1_19?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1481108420&sr=1-19&keywords=%E3%83%9F%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3
) for about $100

[Singer Amity SN20A](https://www.amazon.co.jp/SINGER-%E9%9B%BB%E5%8B%95%E3%83%9F%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3-Amity-%E3%83%95%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%88%E3%83%AD%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A9%E3%83%BC%E4%BB%98%E3%81%8D-SN20A/dp/B00LGM3QMK/ref=sr_1_39?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1481108494&sr=1-39&keywords=%E3%83%9F%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3
) for around $110

[Janome JN508DX](https://www.amazon.co.jp/JANOME-%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%83%8E%E3%83%A1-JN508DX-%E9%9B%BB%E5%8B%95%E3%83%9F%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3-%E3%80%8C%E4%B8%A1%E6%89%8B%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%BF%E3%81%88%E3%82%8B%E3%83%95%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%88%E3%83%AD%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A9%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BF%E3%82%A4%E3%83%97%E3%80%8D/dp/B00CHGX9IA/ref=sr_1_42?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1481108494&sr=1-42&keywords=%E3%83%9F%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3
) for about $120

[Singer Tradition SN-520](https://www.amazon.co.jp/SINGER-%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3%E3%82%AC%E3%83%BC-SN-520-%E9%9B%BB%E5%8B%95%E3%83%9F%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3-Tradition/dp/B0022VFLUO/ref=sr_1_46?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1481108494&sr=1-46&keywords=%E3%83%9F%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3
) for about $130 - although there's only one left

Singer Tradition II SN-521 for about $135

Any thoughts? Is it worth it to get a more expensive machine?

This is my first commissioned quilt. I know some people were wanting to see how these rings would turn out so I'm going to link them here so they can see it. /u/SandyQuilter and /u/thatbitchattheIRS

Can you believe I'm making this on a brother LX2375??

EDIT: forgot to mention this is only the top. So it's a WIP

You might as well throw in the REX 607Z on your list, it's basically the same machine both the Sailrite LSZ and Reliable Barracuda are based upon. You can find them new on Ebay for $350, and that includes shipping. No, I do not have any experience with it or any of the other machines on your list, it's just something I ran across in my research.

The issue with any one of these portable walking foot machines is going to be the motor and drivetrain, there's just no way any machine mounted drive motor rated at 1/10 HP is going to offer the same amount of sheer grunt that a proper table mounted industrial walking foot machine with a 1.5 HP motor can provide. This is a trade off in order to make the machine portable, and you'll have to consider this fully.

Just to confuse you a bit, here's my real life example. I bought off Craigslist a Singer 111W152 for $100, this is a straight stitch only walking foot industrial machine mounted on a table. I replaced the ancient clutch motor with a REX servo motor, added a new drive belt and thread tensioner, and bought some feet and needles, so that was about another $200. Even with driving 3 hours to get it, I still ended up a walking foot machine that will sew through a stack of a dozen layers of VX21. Yes, it doesn't do zig-zag stitches, and it's a bit weird in operation but it works fine for what I want it for. Don't overlook the used market.

I have two inexpensive machines. My first was a a Janome 2212. It pieces just fine and I can squish a queen sized quilt through the harp without too much effort.

Then I found a Singer 301 on Craigslist, table and all, for $175. I use it for piecing and now use the Janome just for quilting.

I've had both for several years and they do all that I need and I have no complaints.