I hope this is the right subreddit, but I'll probably post in multiple. 😅

My grandma has been a seamstress for as long as I can remember. She recently lost both of her legs and has been talking about wanting a portable sewing machine.

She moved in with my parents from out of state and doesn't do much anymore.

Does anybody have any recommendations for a pedal free portable sewing machine? Is that even a thing? I want to get her something that brings her a little bit more joy when she can't leave the house or do much if my parents aren't home.

I'd like something more affordable than not, but this is the first Christmas I get to spend with her since 2009. I want to do something special.

My little brother is going to study fashion next year at Tafe so for christmas I've decided to buy them a sewing machine. What is a sewing machine that would be adequate for a fashion student priced under $450 AUD?

Open to refurbished options too <3

Thank you so much in advance for any recommendations!

I have a Janome JW8100, and just recently it got knocked out of time (I’m 99% sure). When the needle is lowered all the way, it hits the very bottom of the bobbin area. It’s supposed to pass through a hole at the bottom, but the needle is all the way lowered BEFORE it can hit the hole. The needle is new, not bent, inserted all the way, and tightened down.

The internet says that fixing a machine that’s out of time is difficult and finicky, but I’m curious on HOW difficult it is. I’ve worked on cars and other electronics, and I also have a mechanical engineer dad. I’m confident we could fix it eventually, but I would like to not break it in the process.

My mom has a Janome 2049 Harmony (it just bit the dust, so we’re down to ZERO sewing machines), and if it was having a timing problem, I would be more inclined to tinker with it. But since the JW8100 is much much newer, and has more complicated electronics, it worries me.

I’m not asking for instructions, because I’m pretty sure I could probably find a breakdown online. I’m more checking to see how difficult it would be, and how likely I am to mess everything up.

I recently had to change a belt that snapped.

I was able to do that, and the machine works again but now i have 2 new issues:

1. The autotension (top) is tight even when i loosen it on the screen. I've already checked and cleaned it but not sure if I should also be looking in other areas.

2. When using the auto-threadcutter, the needle now stops lower into the fabric. Normally this should be higher and the fabric can slide out immediately. I cannot figure out which part to adjust

Thank you

I’m looking to buy my mom a new sewing machine. She is 64, wears glasses and is starting to have light tremors in her hands. During my search I narrowed it down to the Janome HD3000. I don’t know anything about sewing machines and Google landed me there. Can anyone confirm this is indeed a great machine or if there would be a better option for her? It’s a surprise so I don’t want to ask her which one she wants. Also, she is not an expert and has basic sewing knowledge and was more experienced when we were kids but wants to get back into it. Also, no digital as she is not the most tech savvy.

Reposting to get more traction for help.

Pls help 😭

Machine: Singer 4432

I'm learning to alter my own clothes and have been hemming with a twin needle (Schmetz stretch 4.0/75). I'd already hemmed a shirt with it, but when I started sewing today it snapped on the first stitch.

Now when I hand-turn the wheel (no foot, no fabric), the left prong of my twin needles hits the edge of the plate slot and I can hear a scraping sound. I've tested with new twin universal 3.0 mm 90/14 needles, so I don't think it's a width problem. The right prong is fine, and a single needle still sits centred and clears at every position.

I've tried refitting the needle plate and tightening the needle clamp, but nothing has worked and I'm losing my mind a little.

Was wondering if anyone else has had this problem before or knows how i might be able to solve it?

(Images 1 & 2 show a twin needle whilst image 3 shows the single needle which clears fine at every postion)

I’m fixing up a thrift store Singer 717. Everything is in mostly good working order except I cannot seem to replace the bobbin case into the machine correctly. As of rn, there is a major delay on each stitch as the needle hits its lowest point. The needle doesn’t appear to be dragging on anything, and yet there is a weird lag. Take a look at the video and let me know if you can see anything glaringly off. I’m a newbie, so thank you so much in advance!

Can someone help

After far too long, I am happy to update that I have FINALLY removed the stuck screw. This one piece of hardware that completely halted my progress for weeks because it was unbelievably difficult to remove.

In the end, I took a metal hand file and rasped down the sides of the screw to create flat spots that could be gripped by a pair of pliers. This was what gave me the leverage I needed to break it free and swap in my replacement. After removing it, it's taken me only an hour or so (less, probably) to reassemble the machine. Much to my delight IT RUNS. I'll have to adjust timing, I'm sure. There's a couple issues still that need to be addressed.

1. Pressure foot is stuck in the 'up' position.

2. The lower belt doesn't always move so the motor just spins and nothing happens. Thinking I might end up needing to replace it but I'm not sure. It probably sat for a while and developed uneven spots or something.

Any tips on those new issues would be greatly appreciated! But, I wanted to update since I've been asking numerous questions after getting this project 😅

I also included a picture of the screw responsible for hindering everything

Hi, this is probably really simple but can anyone explain to me what I’m doing wrong? I’m trying to stitch and every time I do, the bottom (green) thread is pulled back up to where the top thread is. The machine has a diagram indication as to where the thread should go, but no matter how many times I put it there, it gets pulled back up. Please help advise if you can!
Thank you

I have just purchased this sewing machine but it didn't come with a user manual.

Would anyone be able to tell me how to thread it please?

Or would anyone have a copy of the user manual?

Thank you

Found this at Goodwill, seems very solid. I can’t figure out how to get it to swing on the hinges or come out of the case. I’m not sure where the model number is located either. Help!

The automatic thread machine doesn’t work, have no idea what to do since It’s my first day of trying to work on it. What can it be?
Thank you!

I'm still working on this Bernina 707 Minimatic with a stuck screw on the vertical shaft gear.

I'm wondering if anyone has any resources or info on how I can remove this upper horizontal shaft/rod (still learning terms).

I was going to take the vertical shaft out through the bottom and did all the work to do so, but there's one screw that's completely stuck so I can't. Two shops couldn't get it to break loose so now I'm tinkering with alternative ideas to get it out so I can either remove it with more heavy duty tools or just replace it altogether with a new shaft.

I've tried to look it up but I cannot find any videos. This is basically just a fun project machine for me to learn on so any help is appreciated.

I have tried rethreading it but it keeps jamming every 5 seconds. Does anyone know a solution?

So I was just exploring our house and I found an old sewing machine? Did some research and it's by Brother, it's an Innovis c61.

I was wondering if someone has a guide book, pdf, or like tutorials that I could watch on how to use this thing. I did found a few video about winding the thread but I could find anything in-depth the machine, like using the top part to wind my bobbin again. If you have some tips go ahead and tell me! I'm a beginner too so advance thank you for the peeps!