Ooh, now that this thread has been revived - what are the most important things you look for in a sewing machine? Favorite features, reliable brands, etc.?
I have an older one (can't remember the make/model right now) that was given to me secondhand probably 10 years ago. Even though I've gotten it serviced, the tension is always a little weird, it doesn't do well sewing through any sort of thick fabric no matter what needles I use, it jams up often, etc. I don't LOVE sewing, even though I enjoy making things for people or mending clothes for myself, so when issues come up that are machine-related, I get frustrated quickly and tend to leave things half-done. I'm sure a lot of it is lack of knowledge on my part, but I'm having trouble remedying that.
My husband INSISTS that I buy something for myself (not allowed to be $ applied to my Roth IRA) with money from his bonus this year, so I figured a new or new-to-me sewing machine might be good. Possibly I should take a class or two at a local vac and sew store as well, to give myself a better basis for my self-taught sewing skills.