Sewing Machine For Sale

Should we buy an Kenmore sewing machine or a Husqvarna?

We're trying to figure out what kind of sewing machine to get. My wife can basically cash in all her Sears points and get a $400 Kenmore/MD for free. The local sewing shop is having a sale, and they're selling a Huskystar C10 for $250 (regularly $579). Can anyone give us insight into either of these models? Is one manufactuer better than another? My wife isn't a hardcore sewer or anything, but she's also used to a fancier machine. Thanks much!

Public Comments

1. I love my Husqvarna, I think they are very easy to use and thread.
2. Huskystars are machines not made by Viking, but sold by them as entry level machines. In general, they seem to be solidly built, but not quite up to the engineering of the Vikings. Kenmore machines, to the best of my knowledge, are made by Janome, who have the reputation of building some of the better inexpensive machines. I would expect you to get some backup from the dealer on the Huskystar... a basic guide class, someone to answer questions if she has machine problems, general support. I'd expect that the machine could be serviced locally, with a couple of week turnaround time unless you try to get service in a crazy time of year (Thanksgiving through Christmas is usually nutso at a repair shop!) Sears offers no real support. and the machine has to be returned for warranty service. The C10 is a discontinued machine -- they're offering it to you for half of list price; in the past, Viking has been very good about parts availability for ancient machines -- I don't know if that's true for the Huskystar line or not -- something you should inquire about. I'd talk to the local repair shop about Sears/Janome parts availability. My personal opinion is your wife should try out the C10 and see how it sews for her, and look at the Kenmore. Not having tried either of these machines, but having had a Viking that has served me well for the past 12+ years, I'd tend to lean toward the Huskystar... unless I found out something scurrilous about it (have you checked the machine reviews at http://www.patternreview.com ?). Janomes and I just don't get along as well as I'd like, so it wouldn't be my machine of choice unless I was on an extremely tight budget. But I know plenty of people who are delighted with their Janomes -- they're just not "my" machine.