Singer Confidence, Janome Threadbanger, Bernina Activa and Brother Project Runway. Sewing Machines in the $500.00 Range

Electronic sewing machines are good basic sewing machines and each of Sewing Insider's "Big Four", Singer, Brother, Bernina and Janome have a well-priced economical, but feature-packed sewing machine. And the prices are not budget busters. All of these machinea can be found online in the $500.00 range.

Each of the featured machines has a little more expensive or little less expensive sister or-no-pun-intended-brother. It's all about features like:

How can you go wrong with a machine called Confidence(Singer)?

And Threadbanger(Janome) is so out of character, it is just a perfect name for today's young, hip, sewist. But it fulfills all of the need of anyone wanting some computerized functions and a low price tag.

And then there is the Project Runway Limited Edition (Brother), talk about a hip, with-it name! And then Bernina's more staidly name Activa 210. All four are comparable machines. You can sew a quilt, embellish a garment, sew a buttonhole and sew on a button and make crafts with these machines. They are far from the whiz-bang category, but they are certainly in the good to have category. And their manufacturers are solid industry names that stand behind their products.

So here are some specifics about these sewing machines:

Singer Confidence:

It's a pretty machine and it reminds me of my first Touch and Sew.

Here are the built-in features:

Some of the stiches are a flower, a star, the Greek key, a doggie, sevarl different zig-zag variations and the famous Singer keyhole buttonhole. The button sewing foot is extra.

Sewing Insider Tip: No specialal button sewing foot? Use your standard zig-zag foot and a wide zig zag stitch.. Tape the button in place, do a few slow test stitches then hit it!

Brother Project Runway Limited Edition:

Fast bobbin winding system?li>

Most of the specialty presser feet that come standard with the more expensive sewing machines must be purchased separately.

Sewing Insider Tip:

All sewists should invest in the walking foot, this allows you to sew on thick fabrics painlessly.

Bernina Activa 220

Sewing Insider Tip: Bernina may not have the most hip names, and participate in TV shows, but they support the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and The American Heart Association

Janome Threadbanger:

On the Janome Sewing machine website, the Threadbanger TB30 is called Janome's "Love Child!" Everyone is jumping on the " Let's be cool" stage.

Sewing Insider Tip: Despite it's name, the Threadbanger does not come with free tattoos and body-piercing. And despite it's name it is a good machine.

Return to Sewing Insider Home Page