Choice Edition

Posted on Wednesday, August 10th, 2011 at 9:35 am

Choice Edition
Is the New Home Centurion 2000 Special Edition Sewing Machine a good choice?

I’m looking to get my 14 year old daughter a good, used, manual, sewing machine. I bought her a basic, new Singer a couple of years ago and it’s given her a lot of trouble. The advice I got was to get something older because they have less problems in the long run. Anyway, I was looking on ebay and saw the New Home Centurion 2000 Special Edition Sewing Machine. Does anyone know anything about it? Would this be a good choice?

Any thoughts or advice anyone is willing to give would be much appreciated. I have no idea what I’m looking at, but I’m learning.

Thanks!

May well be fine. Janome is the manufacturer, and they do what I think is probably the best value line of machines. I notice that the bidding is up to the point where the machine, with shipping, is $70. Janome also builds Sears Kenmore machines, and if you’re canny, you may be able to get a new machine locally for that $70 or so, with warranty. Or you may be able to find a used machine locally with warranty, or at least be able to try it out before purchase. (Yes, I’m leery of ebay.)

What I look for in a beginner sewing machine is good utility stitches — straight, zigzag, maybe a couple of blindhem stitches, maybe a couple of decorative stitches, a way of making buttonholes that’s sane, and adjustable presser foot pressure, which helps with a lot of fabric handling problems. I don’t think I’m a machine snob — mine are a 12 year old Viking electronic and a 1954 Singer 15 straight stitcher — but I’ve sewn on balky machines, and completely wore out a cheap new White in less than two years of not so heavy use. Balky machines just take the fun right out of sewing. And if you look at the “sewing questions” here, you’ll see many are machine operation questions — having a local dealer for a little hand holding can be a Very Good thing.

Take a look at the sewing machine essay at http://www.katedicey.co.uk The faq she refers to isn’t currently available except at http://tinyurl.com/cxw7j as an archive.