sewing machine advice

A lot does depend on how much you think you'll use it. Some cheaper machines (or less reliable brands) get a bit clunky and don't run as smoothly. This will lead to lower quality seams and more tangles and broken threads methinks - not frustrations a new sewer needs.

My mum has a Bernina that must be a good 40 years old now - it still runs well.

I've had my machine for about 15 years, and done a lot of sewing. It's a Brother (you dial through the stitch types - not select them electronically) and the stitches I mainly use are straight, zig zag, and the button hole stitch. There are some stitches (classed as decorative here I think) that are good for elastic or finishing edges, which I don't use, one because a zig zag often does just as well, and latter because I have an overlocker that I think looks better. But before I got it I used the finishing edge stitch the machine had (which is kinda like overlocking - it's a combination of straight and zig zag).

Getting something that sews smoothly is important - I've tried machines that just go too fast, and that's hard when you're experienced let alone learning. You need to feel you have good control over the speed.

Something that does an easy button hole is also important - they're horrid to unpick. Mine is a 1-step button hole, where it kinda measures the button size and does it for you (but isn't accurate for thick buttons), but a 4-step, where you measure the size yourself and go through the stages (often on a dial) is actually just as easy once you've done a couple and if you're paying attention to when to stop.

Make sure you get a manual (or one is available) and read it. This is something to look for if buying second hand. It tells you the settings for the different stitch types and it's worth practising them and getting familiar with how stitch length and width changes things - because you'll need to tweak it for some projects.

Finally - use good quality thread! Cheap stuff is fine for practicing, but your machine won't love you for it and you're more likely to have the thread break. Which, again is a frustration you don't need.

Edited by michhell