Looking for a very basic heavy-duty reliable mechanical sewing machine to complement my computerized Bernina BE700 series. 99% of the time it will be doing straight stitch patchwork piecing. Needs to be smaller than the industrial machines that do this. Here is a candidate. Opinions sought. janomesewingcentre.com.au/shop…
Janome MyExcel 18W Heavy-Duty Sewing Machine - Exclusive Free Gift
The Janome MyExcel 18W is a true work horse for domestic sewing. Also known as the HD3000 in the USA, this machine has a reputation for being reliable.Janome Sewing Centre
LegalQuilts
in reply to Deborah Pickett • • •Jelly
in reply to Deborah Pickett • • •Typical Angry Byke
in reply to Deborah Pickett • • •Andrew
in reply to Deborah Pickett • • •I got a singerco.com.au/product/heavy-… two or three years ago (cheapest of the "heavy duty" domestic Singers) and have been perfectly happy with it.
It does straight, zigzag, button-hole but nothing much more than that.
I think it would struggle with (say) canvas, but it's been fine for a variety of domestic weight tasks.
Heavy Duty 4411 - Singer Electronic Sewing Machines
SINGER™Elena ``of Valhalla''
in reply to Andrew • •@Andrew @Deborah Pickett I routinely use it (my singer heavy duty 4411) with 500 den cordura.
It struggled a bit with multiple layers of TPU-coated cordura plus 3d mesh plus webbing, while sewing around a big panel with stiffening in it that made it tricky to move it around smoothly :D
It was this seam:
And then I've sewn silk with it (I'm not going to say it was effortlessly. silk is never effortless :D )
But I've never done patchwork, so I have no idea if it's missing some feature that is really useful for that.
Deborah Pickett
in reply to Deborah Pickett • • •Elena ``of Valhalla'' likes this.