Singer is no longer the good dependable machine it used to be. Viking is very good, as are several other brands.

We could be more helpful if we knew what your Mother spends most of her sewing time doing.........Carolyn

Here's a good place to start when trying to decide on a new machine. Unfortunately the article was written back in 1997 so some of the links may not be valid now, but the questions to ask yourself and the dealers are still good.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sewing Machine Buying Tips

I've had two Vikings and love them both. Neither has ever had a problem. My Singers are vintage and I love them too. Barker is right about the Singers being made today not being the quality of the Singers from years ago.

My niece now has my Viking 450 and is just learning to sew. Your mom would be very happy with either Viking. Does one of the two models have embroidery capability? Would your mom like to do embroidery?

You can't go wrong with a Viking, but maybe you and your dad should let her pick the model. Ask about classes on the machine also. My Viking dealer had 8 2-hour classes for free on my Quilt Designer and I drove out of town for each one of them - time very well spent.

I'd agree - Viking machines are excellent (I just bought one myself) and that it would much nicer for your Mum to choose for herself. Half the fun is in going to see all the machines and try them out in the shop.

It would be a shame if you got something your Mum didn't like after all your effort. So I'd go with a home made 'gift certificate' and the idea about a toy machine would be really fun.

Best of luck,
AJ

Here is another vote for the Viking! I have my mother's Singer that she gave to me before she passed away. It is in the case that she had it in. I need to have it checked over to see if it runs. I use a Brother right now since my Viking is in the cabinet that came with it in a room where there is no sunlight until after 5 pm (faces west)My Brother is a basic machine and does not have all the features of the Viking.

I love my Viking. Keep your Mom's Singer for backup, it's a familar old friend. She's used to it and may like knowing it's in the closet. I kept my Kenmore for several years and finally gave it to my GD.

Confused,

You sure know how to say "I love you!" That's a very nice gift. I vote for the Viking. My experiences with Singer machines have been frustrating.

thank you all so much! My dad and I thought about letting my mom decide too, but we were hoping to make it a really big surprise. Of course, that was before we realized how many different kinds of sewing machines there are! Both the Singer and the two Vikings have embroidery abilities, and i remember that she was pretty excited about embroidery machines when she saw one in a magazine somewhere. I am so glad you all replied!!! thanks so much! I'll show my dad this forum and see what he thinks : )

My viking is 25 years old, one cleaning and adjustment in all those years. Can't go wrong with a viking. They are a great mahcine!
Judy

I have a Singer CE200 and for sewing it's good, although the first time I ever saw a buttonhole attachment go bezerk on me in 40 plus years of sewing. I really don't think this would be a good machine for your mother for the following reasons:

There is no visual control to view stitch length or width your mother is use to using with her present machine. You have to listen for the beeps that will drive you crazy after a period of time and do constant test sewing to get the right stitch length and width for the project to be done.

It has a tight sewing area so cleaning the machine out or changing a needle without getting poked with the needle is a real chore. I bought a bargain pair of spring-loaded long nose stork pliers to do most of it--find I use that pair of pliers for many things sewing related where I would have used a pair of tweezers.

She can't use the feet from the old machine on this machine because this machine uses low bar feet and her Singer has slant or high bar. The CE series come with a limited amount of accessory feet.

Singer does have the high priced combination models where you get so (sew) much more provided with those models--it's a get what you pay for thing.

The price Joanns is quoting you (they run high on the sewing machine price scale) does not include some of the other necessary embroidery modules which run about $150 each to the embroidery software installed on the computer.

For embroidery the machine, which does an excellent job, is computer dependent. You have to have an extra laptop to run the embroidery unit or have the computer next to the machine. If someone wants to use the computer while the embroidery unit is running, they will have to wait until the design section is done to use the computer or use the computer and be up close and personal with mom and the machine. The machine does not do wireless, it will do USB hub.

You might also want to look at the Brother combination machines in the same price range. People are fairly happy with those machines. I have a PE-150 embroidery only I am quite happy with.

Vikings are well-built machines. The caution there is the accessory feet are exclusive to that brand and expensive. There are no after-market, less expensive feet that fit that brand. That is one thing that kept me away from Viking.

As everyone says, let your mother choose her own machine and try every one out first before purchasing to find the machine she feels comfortable using.

An internet search at different manufacturer sites with printouts of the ones she likes before shopping will save time shopping and give more time trying different machines out--don't forget lunch or dinner in there too. You also find where the dealers and other sellers are, get an estimated price (can be negotiated), and whether invaluable free lessons are included.