Would you recommend someone who has no experience in sewing to buy a used sewing machine to practice on?

Starting out learning how to sew by hand is essential to understanding how to sew with a machine. Machine stitches are based on hand stitching. A good site that has a kit that teaches you how to hand sew is: ezstitchsampler.com. It costs as little as a pizza!

After you master sewing by hand, consider getting a used machine from a sewing machine store. They often have older trade-ins, plus they are there to help you if you have a problem with the machine. You will not get that type of support if you buy from a discount store that sells everything. Support is what you need, & a place you trust for help and service when starting out.

Do yourself a favor and buy new from a sewing machine dealer. They will show you the right machine for the sewing you want to do and teach you how to use it properly.

Stay away from the box stores, they have absolutley no one there who can answer any questions. The only thing they will do is maybe take it back when you can't figure out how to make it work!

And don't buy used, you could potentially be getting someone else's problems. They traded it in for a reason! Also the warranty on used machines is usually only 90 days from date of purchase.

If you buy a used machine, get it serviced before you use it. Whether you buy new or used, just get a simple machine. Even the really, really enthusiastic dressmakers I know have an old straight stitcher they wouldn't part with. Even if they have new swanky machines. The sewing machine shop in your town is probably the best place to purchase :) Get one of the larger, well known brands. That way you can be sure that parts will be easy to obtain. Before you go shopping, do a call out amongst your family. It's entirely possible your grandma or someone has an old machine they no longer use. They'll know if was running well or not, last time they used it. Get it serviced anyway though.

If your just practicing i would buy an old sewing machine because if you don't like sewing you don't have to take anything back. If you want to try again later you'll still have one if you don't take back the new one. A good place to buy some sewing machines would be at a garage sale.

For a machine: I would go for one that has zigzag stitch and buttonhole help (or stitch) but not a lot of fancy stitching. Those machines cost more and are more likely to break down. If you want a cheap machine to try if you like making clothes, phone one of the nearest dealers of the bigger brands and ask what he want for a second hand machine. The older brand machines are often better than the cheaper new machines, and he will hope to sell you a new machine later, so he will check it is in a good condition. For classes, as I learned sewing at home before I took it in school, I can only advice you on what I have seen around me. If you want to make simple clothes, doing it yourself is good. If you want to make business suits like they sell them in the shops, you need classes. In between it depends on your own talents. If you have some experience and find that you have reached the limits of your talents, you can still get some lessons or help, many older ladies have done a lot of sewing in their time and might be pleased to help you when you get stuck, think aunts or great aunts or the lady next door.

You can get very resonable new machines. I bought a used one several years ago and it doesn't work right.

I bought another used on from a dealer and it works fine, Unless, you go to a reputable dealer who services the machines they get in on trade in's.

I have 2 from walmart that work just fine. Find a machine that has more on it than you think you will use, so you won't out grow it as fast.

My newest edition has an embroydery module. I love it for making tags for my quilts. It is a used babylock elure and works fine.

I out grew my brother 3000i with in a year, so buy the best brand that you can afford to start. If you get one at a dealer, then you can always trade up.

I taught myself how to sew just a few months ago on a very inexpensive Janome machine that I purchased from Target ($99). The problem with second-hand is that you don't necessarily know if the machine was kept up or if it has any problems. There are plenty of machines out there that don't cost too much to start. Dive in a get yourself a new machine. =)

30 years ago I bought a used Singer from a friend of a friend and I sill have it and it still works. I sewed my son's torn jeans just yesterday. I pd $20.- for it back then. I could probably sell it for more than that now. So yeah, get a used one till you see how much you use it.

Im a dressmaker with 20 years experience, singer are fab for used machines, definately buy second hand. Singer shops all over UK, Orpington kent they are brilliant.

a new machine is as cheap as a secondhand one .lidle and auldi have great machines around £55. singer start a basic @£99. enjoy your sewing