Any sewers out there? I am not much of one, but every now and then I drag out my 25 year old low-end Brother machine for a small project (and by every now and then, I mean like every 5 years or so). But I would like to do a little more. I just started working on two small projects (a pillow cover and a superhero cape for my toddler nephew) and my machine is so frustrating - I spend half of my time just trying to make it work properly. I think I need to buy a new machine - so, looking for suggestions for a budget-friendly sewing machine that does a good job. Help! And thank you!
Are you using 25 yo thread? Thread has a shelf life. Old thread could prevent your machine from functioning properly.
Could the machine benefit from cleaning and oiling?
I love my Brother XL-2600i
@MaterS - Uhmmm…thread is probably old, so I’ll switch that. And 'cleaning and oiling" - is that a thing? LOL…all good suggestions. I told you I’m not really a sewer! 
Spend a bit of time on you tube, learn how to thread your machine properly, to fill a bobbin correctly, to set your tensions, to clean your machine, Use guttermann thread. Get some new needles. It is highly unlikely that you need a new machine. Spend time not on a project but learning the basics of your machine, Youtube WILL have a vast amount of resources for you. Oiling is usually overdone, make sure you use light machine oil and very sparingly and only after you have cleaned it. Dig out the manual. It will be eye opening if you think using the machine is intuitive (it isn’t. It is a skill to learn). My fave machine is the one I got as a teenager (I am over 50) so I am a fan of older is better. A 25 yr old brother is probably a nice basic machine. If it is heavy and has some solid metal parts, all the better.
I have a different suggestion - instead of buying a new machine, ask around to find out who sews (maybe see if there is a quilt guild in your area) and hire someone to show you how to use your machine. It’s highly likely that you are making some errors in using the machine. The suggestion to buy new thread (and don’t bother with the really cheap stuff - it is junk) is a good one. And @sybylla had some excellent suggestions as well.
See if you can find video instruction for you machine online or call Brother and ask if something like that exists. Or if no video exists, read your instruction booklet (or find it online if you don’t have the original). It really is likely that you are making some error that you aren’t aware of. One small error can magnify mightily.
Oh, and likely you need new sewing machine needles. They need to be replaced every 3-4 projects - even if they still ‘look good’ they are not. The tip gets blunted and no longer works optimally. Also, make sure you are using the correct size and type of needle for the fabric you are using. Having only one kind of needle isn’t going to cut it unless you only use one kind of fabric.
And if you have never cleaned your sewing machine - then this is definitely part of the problem. It needs to be cleaned in the bobbin case after every project. Lint will harm your machine. (Sounds crazy,I know, but it is true.)
Wow, guys…thank you so much! I really don’t know much about this but I will actually read the manual (which I do still have) and learn about cleaning it, etc. Also - I can already say that the thread I was using was old; I went to Joanne Fabrics and got some good new thread and already that is better. I appreciate the advice - you just saved me a couple of hundred dollars
Take your machine in for a tune up. They are pricey, about $125. However, if your machine is 25 years old, it may have plastic parts. I have a machine that is about that old, but it is in storage so my friend gave me her mother’s. Same model, but 30 years old! I took it to be tuned up but the guy wouldn’t do it because of the plastic parts (the casing) without my signing a release). I’m still thinking about it.
Jo-Ann’s has beginning classes which will cover a lot of things mentioned above - thread, tension, needles, the correct pressure foot. And they are fun.
One thing that can be really important is the tension adjustment – the appropriate setting can depend on both the thread and the fabric being sewn. The main adjustment is usually to the top thread, but the bobbin case may have an adjustment as well. Hopefully your manual should explain this, how to check it and make any adjustments necessary. Agree with the the suggestions on cleaning (and lubricating) the machine (you could have this professionally done), making sure you have threaded it properly, using fresh thread (for both the top and bottom!), and using a fresh needle of the right size for the fabric (and the thread).
I wouldn’t pay for a tune up. The machine just isn’t that sophisticated. Clean it, oil it, play with it.
If it is 25 years old you might be better off with an inexpensive new machine. They rely on electronics now to automatically adjust tension, have easy threading options, mechanism to thread the needle, weigh less than older models, have brighter lights and are more reliable. And these machines cost less than what you probably paid 25 years ago. They look cheap because they are lightweight but they run like a dream. I don’t recall what the jargon is for all the specific new features but I bought my (Project Runway? or some other sewing show which was a hit at the time) machine on sale 10 years ago for around $100.
Ditto on the clean and oil. Make sure you clean out the bobbin area underneath the needle. The lint buildup there is often the cause of problems.
I have 15 (I think) machines ranging from 1904 to 1960. They are easy to service.
I’m on several quilting groups and many of the quilters are fond of older, simple machines with metal parts. I have two embroidery machines, one of which is no longer supported for embroidery, so I use it for piecing quilts. I gave my niece has my 1979 Singer (HS graduation present, $99 and I ran that thing hard for 30 years). I would like it back, but sister has put it somewhere or sold it, so I’ve been looking online to find another. I also have DH’s grandmother’s Singer 201 which was built in 1929. Need to take it in to see if it can run. Am not willing to test the power cord myself!
Clean the machine. You’d be amazed at how lint affects a machine’s smooth operation!
Cap, I long for a Featherweight. I also long for a Juki with an 11-12" harp. Most importantly, I long for a bigger sewing room!!!
I know the prevailing wisdom above is to work with what you have, but I was given a brand new but low-end Brother machine about 25 years ago, and it was a piece of junk. I was an experienced sewer, and I could barely thread it. I gave it away and got a relatively simple, low-end Singer, that I still use the several times a year that I need a machine. If your machine has never worked properly, it could very well just be the machine. I don’t have specific recommendations for a machine, unfortunately, but sewing is frustrating enough without having to deal with a POS machine.
I’ve used a number of machines in my life. Started on mom’s heavy, all metal, in a wooden cabinet, Singer. That thing is at least 50 years old and still runs like a dream. However, it takes up too much room - hence it’s still in storage. But enough nostalgia.
I’ve had lower end Singer and Brother machines and they worked fine for light sewing. By that I mean things like clothing repair, simple quilts, craft project and the occasional pillow case or duvet cover.
Then I decided to make all of my own the window coverings, fitted chair covers and fancy pillow cases. My regular Singer/Brother simply couldn’t handle the weight of the fabric.
I splurged on a Janomie. Mine is now 15 years old and it gets pulled out a couple of times a year. This thing is a work horse. Not very fancy but all metal parts and feed dogs that can handle multiple layers without slipping the fabric. It goes thru leather and Sunbrella and canvas as easily as it does thru linen and cotton.
After a project I’ll take the air compressor to the machine to blow out all the lint, oil it, run it for a few seconds before storing.
I don’t think I’d spend much time or money trying to fix or service the OP’s machine if it’s causing issues. They really have dropped in price. Check Costco - they usually have at least on model available.
Do you have a Brother dealer nearby? I’d take the machine in and see what they have to say (after cleaning, changing needle and new thread). Agree that some machines, no matter the age, just might never be what you want. I have my mother’s Dressmaker from the 50s, my 1979 Kenmore and last winter bought a Brother NX570Q for $800. What I got for 800 was a self threading electronic machine that can operate with a button instead of foot pedal, fancier/easier buttonholes, basic embroidery designs and writing. If I had the money I’d have gotten the moon. There are machines with amazing features and price tags. I’m an infrequent sewer but wanted to learn new technology and I can see this machine is easier to use as I get older. I’ve made bags requiring multiple layers and the stitching is nice. The Dressmaker is very heavy duty, Kenmore was a little more finicky.
Tell us what you decide!
Personally, I would buy a new machine. But then again, I have 3! I have a Featherweight (which needs to be cleaned and oiled and very much worth it, an electronic Brother and a Janome I pulled from mom’s apartment when we move them. If the Janome or Brother fails, I don’t think they are worth fixing.
I don’t think old cars and old computers are better than new cars and new computers on balance. And I don’t think old sewing machines are better than new ones. Sure, if you’re going to be routinely sewing through vinyl or leather you might seek out a used machine with greater piercing power to do that but if you’re going to be doing contemporary sewing why not use a contemporary sewing machine?
I think if your old machine isn’t helping you sew, get one that will. I have the Featherweight I learned to sew on, a twenty year old Bernina that I used every for eighteen years and a two year old Pfaff. There is no comparison. The new one is much better than the old ones for my sewing needs. (I should note that I am not talking about embroidery. I am not interested in embroidery and my Pfaff doesn’t do embroidery.)
I’m thinking my next machine (for quilting) with be a Juki or Janome.
DH got me a Singer with lots of decorative stitched a few years ago and it’s a piece of junk. The tension is never right and it can’t handle more than two layers of fabric. It sits in my closet.
If you decide to get a new machine and plan to use it a lot, take it for a test drive before purchasing it. If you go to a local quilt store or Viking/Bernina/etc. shop, you may pay more, but you’ll also get lessons ans details about how your particular machine works. If you’re looking for something that will be sued for light duty/mending, Costco had a base level Janome at our store the other day for under $200.
One of my sisters who quilts a lot recently bought the Janome Hello Kitty sewing machine because it fits inside an airplane carry-on. She was headed across country to babysit a sewing-machine-free relative who was recovering from surgery. She was very happy with how that small machine performed.