The Singer foot-pedal sewing machine has a place of honor in the corner of our living room. It hasn’t been used since the late 1970s, which is a well-deserved rest for the overtime worked before then.

The best sewing machines are workhorses that can do it all: mend holes on clothes, make fun costumes, piece together quilts and craft scrunchies, for starters. What’s more, they’re built to last. Case ...