What is the best low cost sewing machine?

There is no good new sewing machine at that price point. Seriously. You need to get a used one that's been refurbished or reconditioned. Check with quilt shops and sewing shops in your area that do sewing machine repair. A lot of them will take older machines in trade when someone wants to buy a new machine, and they are happy to sell you a good used machine.

I usually hem stuff by hand, by the way. If I hem with a machine, I will first sew a seam binding lace on the hem by machine, and then hem by hand. The machine stitching on the seam binding will keep the raw edge from fraying, and hemming by hand will allow me to make stitches that are nearly invisible. I'm five feet tall, and even the "petite" sizes are too long for me.

At that price point, you'll be best off with a good used machine. Here are some tips on choosing a machine: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtVc8... and http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=201110...

If you're going to do a lot of hemming, you can save yourself a pile of time if you learn to use the blindhem foot. The very best instructions I have ever found are in Carol Ahles' book, Fine Machine Sewing, which you should at least borrow from the library.

You can check the List of Top 10 sewing machines available in USA under $200 Read http://www.best-home-ideas.com/2013/11/top-sewing-...

You need to go to a sewing machine dealer and see what used machines they carry. Pfaff, Viking, Bernina, and Janome are all great brands.

There isn't any new sewing machine under $100 that is going to be "good"

I agree that Singer and Brother are excellent liable units...They're excellent legit firms and you can be in a position to get lessons and directions at their dealerships..I am happy to look so many younger people becoming inquisitive about stitching...

Check the rating on the Brother models carried at Wallymart.