I still have and on the rare occasion, use my sewing machine. Before cycling passion bit me, I sewed alot. Nearly 80% of my wardrobe.

Perhaps a shop has/could recommend a used sewing machine to buy? Features I would look for:

*straight stitch, zigzag of different variations, serge stitch (of different variations)
*ask for hands-on demo how the sewing machine is threaded to lift the bobbin thread out,
*how to the machine reels on thread on the bobbin--is it easy and guarantee to be tangle-free.
*how does it make buttonholes automatically.
*zipper-fit installation?
*table-top is perferred, with capability to remove part of sewing bed, to do difficult corners, etc.
*can change different needle sizes and which companies will it accommodate?


My machine is nearly 30 yrs. old so I have no digital/computerized features. So I cannot advise on such features.