I'd look on Craig's List for an older used one that is simple, not computerized, and without all the fancy stitches and things. To make clothing, you need a straight stitch, a zigzag stitch, a stretch stitch for knits, and a button hole stitch. I bought a relatively simple Kenmore years and years ago and it had maybe a dozen stitches, and I haven't used even that many. So I say keep it simple.

As a matter of fact, my mom, age 83, still has a sewing machine she bought in the 1950s that still works fine. A good machine with few things that can break on it. That brand was Necchi, which I don't know even exists anymore.

Look for simplicity, and avoid complexity--more things to become broken. You will probably want one that can do sleeves and pants cuffs--you know, with an "arm" so that you can sew those.

My mom had an old Singer Touch 'n' Sew that she sometimes called her "Stitch 'n' Bitch" because it was lousy at backing up.

I've got a computerized machine that one of my girlfriends called "God in a box". It's a great machine, but I've made nice things on far simpler and less expensive models. Sewing isn't just about the machine. Attention to detail in selecting/prepping the fabric, altering/laying out the pattern properly, and pressing seams as you go make a huge difference in the finished project.

on one of the sewing shows. It's a bit inconvenient, but keeps the machine from eating the few stitches on backup. The host of the show stopped the line of sewing with the needle-down, turned the work and sewed three stitches back from where she came from. It's the same idea to lock the stitches, but for softer materials, avoids the problems with back-up. I haven't tried this yet, but I'll be making a jacket in June for a costume event I go to every Labor day. I'll try it then.

It's not an issue with the machine I have now unless the fabric has an extremely fine hand.

You could go, take a few lessons, and get a sense of what sort of machine you would want to use.

We have an old SINGER sewing machine in our house. It's very old--predating electricity. To make it work, the operator has to use a large footpedal to make the needle go up and down.

The catch was I would have had to learn to fix it myself(or pay someone who knows how much to have it done).

I have no idea if anyone around offers sewing lessons. Im sure someone does, and I've probably passed places with well informed sales people each day this week, but my brain never acknowledged them.

I ended up going with a Brother CS6000i. With an overwhelming number of positive Amazon reviews, and a price tag that appeared reasonable, I decided just to go for it.

Are you enjoying the thing and able to make it work? I will admit that's not a talent I think I possess, not that I've tried--it just looks "the opposite of easy" to me!

Those foot-pedal Singers I don't think give you a lot of choices when it comes to the type stitch you get out of them--still, they are better than the old needle and thread, I would imagine.

Best of luck with your new purchase--I hope you have fun with it and get a lot of use out of it.

I only just ordered it.

I'm curious to know if it will be easy to "drive," if ya know what I mean.