I think I want to buy my girlfriend a sewing new sewing machine for christmas. The one she has now is nice but she has mentioned a few times she wishes she had a metal one so that she can sew things like jeans and other tough/thick material.

When I searched for metal sewing machines, all I found were ones that looked old and vintage and wasn't sure if I was mistaken about what she said.

If anyone can shed some more light or info on this, that would be really helpful.

Thanks

EDIT: also, how good are computerized ones?

Stay away from the computerized ones as they are a headache waiting to happen and seldom work for very long.

I started sewing on a sewing machine at age 12 and had the same Brother sewing machine until I was 50. Yep. It was a portable table model that had a hard protective case to it. I could sew anything even leather and jeans with no problem. Sadly, that machine is no longer made but I did learn something from that experience - the simpler the model, the longer it will last the user.

I've had girlfriends who owned the new fancy models and they worked for a month and then quit and cost a fortune to be reparied.

The simpler the machine, the better. I recently purchased another portable sewing machine as I moved cross country and could not take my trusty Brother model with me. I bought a plain jane model that does have some fancy stitches to it but it is not computerized. Works just fine even sewing jeans.

The trick to sewing jeans is to use a thicker needle and go slow. Same with leather. Don't let her trick you into getting a newer, bigger, more expensive machine just to sew jeans with as you will be throwing your money away with both hands. Get the heavy duty needles instead.

Buy her something else.