i just got fat bike and want to get into making my gear. i have read threads here, and from what i understand, old metal sewing machines are way to go. now i have searched craigslist in my area, asked friends and such but cant find affordable machine, except the ones saying industrial for couple hundreds. so my question is, are new plastic machines totally out of question? they dont seem that expensive even new. i remember as a kid, when i lived  in europe, my grandma had metal machine, built into table, she was sewing leather working gloves. i wish i could have that machine here.