New sewing machine?

[lily]

I'm thinking of buying a new sewing machine, my old one still works well but is very heavy to move around. I'm going to some more classes where I need to take my machine, so I can justify the outlay! I've seen a special offer of a Toyota machine in this month's CL magazine. Has anyone any experience of this make? (have to say I get on well with my Toyota car)

[Oola]

No sorry, we've always been a family of Bernina machines (and my ancient Singer). Berninas always seem to be very robust.

[Healing Hands]

I got my Singer from CL magazine at Christams but it took ages to arrive, but I am pleased with it.

[Oola]

You can always find consumer reviews on websites such as www.dooyoo.co.uk , www.kelkoo.co.uk , www.ciao.co.uk and www.reviewcentre.co.uk

Just type in Toyota Sewing Machine and the model number and hopefully someone will have reviewed it. Hope this helps x

[lily]

I've already googled it, seems to be not available any more so I suppose its an outdated model hence the special offer. I gather Tesco stocks sewing machines, so will check them out.

[Crocus]

I've had a Bernina for almost 35 years now! It was the smallest model at that stage and I could barely afford it. Still have, it works quite well and I've done many many curtains, duvet covers, cushion covers, etc. on this little sewing machine. I won't mind having a bigger one, but this one still works a treat.

[Redstart]

I'm getting a new sewing machine for my birthday and am going for a Bernina (an Aurora QE). I've had a series of cheap machines and this time am going for quality and getting one that does everything I want it to.

[jazzactivist]

I have an old singer one, but think that I will opt for a Bernina next as they do seem robust and unfussy. I would watch out about the CL offer, lily, as it was pointed out a while back on the CL forum that the same machine has been on offer much cheaper in different publications eg The Guardian. I would do what Oola suggests and look on some comparison websites, plus Argos is always quite a good place to look. I wouldn't give Tesco my money, but that's just my values.

[Pippa]

I have a friend who teaches the 'get to know your machine' course at our local workshops and she tells me that Bernina are now made in the Far East as are Janome but apparantly Bernina machines are much lighter now and not as they were when made in Europe, but Janome, although still made in the East are the better machine. I have no evidence to back this up and really if you are going to spend money on buying a new machine I think you should go to a shop where you can try them out and talk to someone knowlegable, I would never buy an machine from an offer in a mag. or paper and a familiarisation workshop is always a good idea.