Machine Information & Recommendations:

While you do not need a particular brand of sewing or serging machines, I do recommend the following brands and machine types. I have either used them myself, or have heard good things about them directly from other Work At Home Mothers.

Is the top of the line or particular name-brand machine necessary for sewing diapers? Absolutely not. However, I do recommend you invest in the best sewing machine your budget will allow. I suffered for ages with a bare-bones machine, and while it may have performed decently, it made contruction considerably more time consuming.

Basic Recommended Features To Look For:

• A three-step elastic (zig-zag) stitch.
• A 3/4 thread serger with differential feed.
• Oil-impregnated metal parts (BabyLock and Husqvarna Viking have this, there may well be others). No oil on fabric, ever!
• A cutting blade that you can automatically (or manually) disable (sergers only).
• A machine manufacturer with great online tips, help, information and support.

Recommended Brands & Manufacturers:

• 
  BabyLock's É-line is an elite line of sewing machines, sergers and advanced technology embroidery/ sewing products that takes sewing to a new level. The epitome of the art of sewing, these are the machines I use and recommend most. For the best machines money can buy, BabyLock is the answer for me. As a proud Esante (sewing and embroidery machine) and Eclipse (serger) owner, I can fully attest to their durability, quality engineering, and smart design! Every seamstress has her favorite, BabyLock is mine.

  
  

• 
  WHITE is a well-known maker of sewing machines and sergers, and a subsidiary of Husqvarna-Viking. Joann.com has some wonderful and affordable machines as well -- and these won't kill your budget! Right now they have the White® 1418 Sewing Machine on sale for only $119! They also sell an excellent White® 2037 on sale now for only $289, as well as an incredibly attractive deal in their sale-priced White® 2999 machine, which is computerized with it's own LCD screen, for only $389. If you are in need of a serger, or have been waiting for a great price, Joann's White® 1600 Serger is on sale, a real steal at only $269 (yes, it does have differential feed!).

  
  

• 
  I have used Brother products myself, and have been quite pleased with them. They are available at an affordable price from Wal-Mart. They make sewing machines as well as sergers. One of the neatest things about Brother is their licensed Disney products & embroidery cards, which are compatible with BabyLock (which they now also manufacture).

  
  

• 
  Husqvarna Viking has been making sewing machines since 1872. One of my best friends absolutely loves her Freesia. Some of her favorite functions of the freesia are the needle up/down function, top loading bobbin that allows you to wind a bobbin without unthreading, it's quiet motor, and the permanent lubrication feature -- no oil on fabric! They make sewing machines as well as sergers (overlocks).

  
  

• 
  Bernina makes excellent sewing machines and sergers. Depending on the level of machine you are looking for - they have everything. They are highly rated among quilters and can come with embroidery attachments if you are interested in that type of application. They also make general sewing machines for the basic user.

  
  

• 
  I have heard good things about Elna.

  
  

• 
  I have heard good things about Pfaff.

Buyer Beware:

Though the following manufacturers may indeed make some good sewing machines and sergers, they are ones that I seem to repeatedly hear complaints about, from friends and on various sewing lists. This is not meant to be a sweeping judgement, but rather a friendly reminder of caveat emptor.

• Simplicity
• Singer (Although older Singers are of higher quality.)
• You can read real user product reviews of these and many more machine brands at Sewing.About.com.