Hi,
  I've been browsing the archives of this newsgroup and found a few
threads (forgive the pun) that relate to my issue (e.g. [1]).  My wife
has a heavy old (about 25 years) Jones machine that breaks her back
when she lifts it,  and breaks needles regularly.  I suggested I
replace it for her birthday,  and we plan to take a look at some.

She doesn't want something that will do all sorts of clever things,
but does want to be able to do curtain tapes on reasonably thick
curtain material,  or turn up the hems on jeans.  Can anyone recommend
a machine that is reliable and fits this purpose.  I was thinking of a
budget of say £150, plus or minus £50.

[1]
http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk.rec.crafts.sewing/browse_thread/thread/873f4eabb4686215/03e7c869ff15be39?hl=en&lnk=raot#03e7c869ff15be39

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:36:12 -0800 (PST), kg 
wrote:

>Hi,
>  I've been browsing the archives of this newsgroup and found a few
>threads (forgive the pun) that relate to my issue (e.g. [1]).  My wife
>has a heavy old (about 25 years) Jones machine that breaks her back
>when she lifts it,  and breaks needles regularly.  I suggested I
>replace it for her birthday,  and we plan to take a look at some.
>
>She doesn't want something that will do all sorts of clever things,
>but does want to be able to do curtain tapes on reasonably thick
>curtain material,  or turn up the hems on jeans.  Can anyone recommend
>a machine that is reliable and fits this purpose.  I was thinking of a
>budget of say £150, plus or minus £50.
>

http://www.husqvarnastudio.co.uk/huskystar.html#e20 is a decent machine.
My daughter has the basic E10, and while it's not quite up to the
smoothness of our (sadly now obsolete) Interlude, it has done everything
I've used it for without complaining (we do mainly fancy dress which can
involve some heavy fabrics at times). Unlike some of the cheapo machines
around (and many of them aren't much cheaper!) it has the quality backup
of Husqvarna dealers.

And at a quarter of the price of our Interlude, I can't fault it! In the
previous couple of years we "killled" a Toyota and two Brothers. The
Huskys keep coming back for more.
-- 
Chris Bolus
(unSTITCH my address to email me!)

kg wrote:

> She doesn't want something that will do all sorts of clever things,
> but does want to be able to do curtain tapes on reasonably thick
> curtain material,  or turn up the hems on jeans.  Can anyone recommend
> a machine that is reliable and fits this purpose.  I was thinking of a
> budget of say £150, plus or minus £50.


http://www.cet.com/~pennys/faq/smfaq.htm

says it all.

You may also wish to read the group alt.sewing

HTH

Sarah

kg wrote:
> Hi,
>   I've been browsing the archives of this newsgroup and found a few
> threads (forgive the pun) that relate to my issue (e.g. [1]).  My wife
> has a heavy old (about 25 years) Jones machine that breaks her back
> when she lifts it,  and breaks needles regularly.  I suggested I
> replace it for her birthday,  and we plan to take a look at some.
> 
> She doesn't want something that will do all sorts of clever things,
> but does want to be able to do curtain tapes on reasonably thick
> curtain material,  or turn up the hems on jeans.  Can anyone recommend
> a machine that is reliable and fits this purpose.  I was thinking of a
> budget of say £150, plus or minus £50.

Not for that price new!  One that will fit all your other criteria for a 
very reasonable price is the Bernina 1008, but it goes for about £445... 
  Lighter than the cast iron jobs but still solid enough not to be 
dragged off the table by a curtain.

-- 
Kate  XXXXXX  R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!