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I’ve been sewing for well over 20 years now. I started as a teenager and took classes throughout high school. Sewing has truly become a passion of mine, hence this website. Please subscribe!
I thought it would be fun to write about all the sewing machines I have ever owned. I hope this post inspires you to share your sewing machine journey, too.
My First Sewing Machine: A Vintage Bernina
I don’t remember the model number of my first sewing machine, but I know it was a Bernina. My grandma gave it to me when I was just learning how to sew. I used that machine throughout high school.
My Bernina was a weird green color. Why don’t they make colorful sewing machines like that anymore? Ha-ha. If someone sold a purple sewing machine, I would totally buy it!
One thing I remember is that my Bernina sewing machine was HEAVY! I hated pulling it out of the closet because I knew it would be a workout. New sewing machines don’t weigh as much because they are made out of plastic instead of cast iron. Old, vintage sewing machines were built to last. That’s one of the main reasons why people still seek them out today. Personally, I prefer more modern features, but you can’t argue with the durability factor of a vintage sewing machine.
My Basic Singer Sewing Machine
After graduating from high school, I didn’t have much time to sew anymore because of college, starting a job, life, etc. However, at some point I decided I wanted to sew again and I went out and bought the cheapest machine I could find. It was a basic Singer that cost around $100. I don’t know what happened to my vintage Bernina — I’m guessing it’s hiding somewhere at my parent’s house.
My Singer sewing machine gave me more trouble that I’d like to admit… I don’t know if it was because my Singer was not high quality or if it was because I didn’t have my mother around all the time to fix my problems. This is the time in my life when I got really good at troubleshooting sewing machines. I even wrote a book about it.
If you’re at a point in your sewing journey where problems seem to happen all the time, my sewing machine troubleshooting book might be able to help you. You can get a copy of Sewing Machine Problems and How to Solve Them on Amazon.
My Brother SE400
When I felt like I could afford a better sewing machine, I upgraded to the Brother SE400. It was a sewing/embroidery machine combo. I thought it would be fun to dabble in machine embroidery. I was right!
I was very happy with my Brother SE400. It had plenty of stitch options for me and an automatic needle threader that made sewing easier. The 4”x4” embroidery hoop was also a lot of fun. I embroidered names on everything and added fun embellishments to a lot of my sewing projects.
Note: The SE400 has been discontinued and replaced by the Brother SE600 and SE625. It is basically the same thing.
If you’re looking to upgrade your sewing machine and have about $500 to spend, I highly recommend the Brother SE600. I wrote a review if you want more information. I would still be using my Brother SE400 today if it weren’t for an unfortunate incident with my toddler.
Warning, sad story ahead…
I pulled my Brother SE400 out one day to work on a project. I had it set up on the desk in our office with my son playing nearby. I left the room for a quick potty break, and while I was gone, I heard a loud crash. I rushed into the office and found that my son had accidentally pulled my sewing machine off the desk. The power cord had gotten stuck in the wheel of my swivel chair while my son pushed the chair. Thankfully, my son was not hurt, just scared from the crash, but several parts were broken on my sewing machine. It was a sad day! I decided getting it fixed wasn’t worth the cost.
My Bernette b79
I used my broken sewing machine as a good excuse to upgrade. I really enjoyed machine embroidery and decided I wanted to get something with a bigger embroidery hoop. I loved my Brother SE400 and looked seriously at buying the Brother SE1900 because it would give me a 5”x7” hoop and I was already comfortable with using a Brother. The Brother SE1900 was around $1,000. However, I ultimately decided to spend $2,000 and buy the Bernette b79 because of the 6”x10” hoop. I am so happy I did!
I have been so impressed with the Bernette b79! Not only does it have a large embroidery hoop, it has a built-in walking foot, presser foot knee lift, automatic needle threader, and a button I can press to tie a knot in my thread. These are sewing machine features I didn’t even know I was missing. If you’re interested, read my full review of the Bernette b79. I have only owned this sewing machine for a couple of months, but I have already sewed so many things with it. If you have the money, choose the Bernette b79! I truly think Bernina is the best sewing machine brand.
I also own the Brother 1034D serger. I’d love to hear about your sewing machine journey. What is the best sewing machine you have ever owned? Leave a comment below.
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