sewing machine advice

have decided the teach myself how to sew (can't be that hard right?), but I need a sewing machine. so a few questions.

have found some for under $300 - new and reputable brand, but am i better getting something cheap now, or am i better to buy a better one second hand? mum has had hers for 30 years! (tried to tell her she should give it to me and buy a new one - but she had the GALL to suggest I could buy the new one and then get the old one - honesly - some people huh!)

also, am a wee bit hestitant to shell out cause I have a tendency to give up on things if I'm not good at them right away - that said, i have started making resin jewellry and although I am still crap and the resin gives me headaches - i have persued (am yet to sell anything yet though - or have anything worth selling)

Are you able to borrow one to see if you will stick with it? I have an Elna, bought new for my 21st. I still wish I had my mum's 20 year old Bernina though! I think it might depend what you want to use it for - embroidery/fancy stitches/stretch sewing etc? Have you got anyone who can advise you about good 'old' brands?

I have just bought a new Brother overlocker - decided to go new and splash out a bit b/c it is a nice simple, get what you pay for machine.

what would i need fancy stitching for? this is not rhetorical.

Decorative is the only thing I'd use it for. But then I think those stitches are ugly haha

I have an old clanger Bernina from the 70's. It would not have cost more than $150 and it is wonderful. All I ever use is the straight and zig zag settings. I have had it for about 5 years and I do a lot of sewing with it.
My mother has my Nanna's old machine which is even older and it is also really reliable (though really heavy).
If I were ever to replace my machine and I had an endless budget to work with I would still get another old reconditioned one. I like the simplicity and reliability.

blind hemming?....overstistching?....oh....i have a lot to learn it seems..

OOH, that is the one I'm looking at peachy.

mum is coming over tomorrow night - nana gave me her old machine and mum will see if she can get it working properly. if it is all good, might look at one later down the track.

We have a Toyota (from Spotlight) and use it for Zigzag and straight. On the odd occasion I'll use others that looks like overlocking to save me time lol but thats about it too.

Flissty wrote: Yeah, decorative. I'm not into them personally! If I was getting another one, I'd get one that was good at sewing stretch material.

sorry to thread hijack, but a tip.
If your machine is mechanical (ie and old bernina (my fave)), not digital, then you can put the stitch type on straight, and put the zigzag dial on the widest setting, then it will sew stretch.