Learning to sew is a lot like learning to drive. You dont need a fancy sports car to learn the skills. In fact, learning on an older, reliable car is sometimes better. But on the other hand, you do need a car on which the starter, motor, steering, and brakes work correctly and reliably. Theres nothing more frustrating than trying to learn a new skill when the machinery doesnt work well.
So where does that leave the beginner sewing enthusiast?
You need a machine that will do an excellent straight stitch and zig zag stitch. Those two stitches will do almost everything you will need. It also needs to have a reverse. Just like a car, you sometimes need to drive forward and sometimes backwards.
I bought a car once without test driving it first. Big mistake. Now I insist on test driving the actual car I want to buy, not just another of the same make and model but the actual one I will be taking home. The same thing goes for sewing machines. Test drive before you buy.
The best value for a beginner sewing machine is a used machine. There are many times in life where we want something new, but this isnt one of them. A reliable sewing machine dealer that takes trade-ins will usually have an array of older machines that have all been serviced and are ready to go. These machines have years of use left in them and are a great investment.
You dont know yet whether sewing is something you are going to enjoy or whether its just a passing fad. Investing $100 into a good, used sewing machine is much wiser than buying a new $149 inferior machine.
When you walk into the sewing machine store, browse the used machines and get a staff person to help you if you can. Tell him/her what you are looking for and what your budget is. Dont let him/her sell you something out of your price range.
Machines that are known to be "good" are ones with brand names like Singer, Elna, Janome, Husqvarna Viking, White, Brother, and Pfaff. Ive had personal experience with White, Singer, Brother, and Elna. They will all feel a little different, just like cars.
Dont even consider the Walmart machine, the Kenmore (some are OK but you are taking your chances), or any other new, cheap machine. A good, spanking new sewing machine will cost $500-$1000 these days. If its new and under $500, I wouldnt even look twice unless its one of the brands I listed above.
You dont need a computerized machine or an embroidery machine but you do want an electric one. The antique treadle machines usually work great but you want to concentrate on learning to sew, not on working the treadle. Just make sure it has a regular household plug in.
Dont let claims like "1 Step Buttonholer" fool you. Ive had a 1 step button hole maker on a couple of machines and, I actually prefer to make buttonholes "manually". These automatic buttonholers are not as great as they sound. If they get stuck or mess up, what a terrible job it is trying to rip out those stitches! All you really need to make a great button hole is a straight stitch, a zig zag stitch, forward and reverse, and a stitch length and width adjustment.
When test driving the machine, take some fabric with you. If you know youre going to be making jeans, take a 6" x 6" or so scrap of denim (even cut a piece from an old pair of jeans). The sewing machine store will have small pieces of light cotton fabric for you to test on. Those are fine but if you have a certain type of project in mind, make sure you take some representitive fabric.
Try the machine and see how it feels. Is the foot pedal sensitive enough? Is it too sensitive? Does it depress smoothly or is it jerky or sticky?
Can you smoothly sew a curve or is the machine foot sticky?
Does the machine sound like it is straining to run? Most of these machines are fairly noisy but youll get a pretty good idea if the motor is running smoothly as you sew.
Check the bobbin out. (Thats the tiny "spool" sitting below the needle.) Metal spools will last longer and are readily available. Price out the bobbins for the machine you are considering. Some bobbins are expensive or difficult to find. You will want to have lots of bobbins on hand.
Ask what kind of shank the machine has. You will need to know this if you buy any additional presser feet for the machine. There are 3 types: Low Shank (most popular), High Shank (adapters are available), or slant shank (least common). Low Shank presser feet are the easiest to find and often the least expensive. Write this shank type down if you buy the machine.
Also ask what feet are included with the machine. At the very least you will need a universal or zig zag foot and a zipper foot. If the machine does not come with both of these feet, buy them. An extra few dollars to have both of these machine feet is worth it.
Set the machine for a wide zig zag stitch and sew forward a few stitches then reverse over those stitches. Does the machine zig zag in reverse? Some will only sew straight in reverse. You dont want this.
Take the fabric scrap out of the machine after you have sewn on it quite a lot. Run your fingers over the stitches on top and bottom. Does it feel like they are raised above the fabric on one side? They should feel like they are laying very flat on the fabric without puckers. If anything feels amiss, the tension could need some tweaking. Have staff at the store do this for you. When you walk out with your machine, it should be sewing the very best it can.
Ask if the machine will handle a second spool of thread. Some machines have an extra spindle and some require an extra spindle to be added on. Some wont have any way to handle a second spool (you need to have an external spool holder for these). Having that extra spindle built in is a great time saver you will want. (Its used for twin needle stitching.)
Have the staff show you how to thread the machine and the bobbin and where the machine needs oil (if it does). Ask if they have the original manual for this machine. They seldom will but you can get most manuals online.
Ask how the upper and lower tensions are adjusted, how you wind bobbins, and how to adjust the pressure for the presser foot. Ask how to raise and lower the feed dogs and the presser foot. Ask how to change the stitch width and length and where the stitch selector and reverse are. Ask if the machine has a thread cutter (even if you dont use this, you want to know where it is so you dont cut yourself).
Before you are done, ask what accessories originally came with this machine and what the store has included with it. If lots of pieces are missing, the store may throw some replacements in for you. Ask if it has a carrying box or a dust cover.
Many sewing machine stores also offer free and paid lessons. You may want to sign up for these to get to know your sewing machine a little better.
Follow all these suggestions and you will walk out of your sewing supply dealer with a great sewing machine for a beginner to learn on.
Where to buy a sewing machine online
Shopping smart for a sewing machine is not only a clever decision, but also a financial one. The machine you choose will be an investment, no matter what you plan on using it for. Though often the usage will dictate the type of machine you buy.
The first thing you must decide is WHY are you buying a machine? What do you intend on using such an investment for? Do you sew often? Or are you a beginner? Would you want to use it for making your childrens clothing, or for creating product for selling?
If you are a beginner, then purchasing a model with all the bells and whistles might not be in your best interest. Often when we start out learning a new skill there is a learning curve, and in that curve we either excel, or move on to the next thing. If your future spins more to the later of the two, purchasing an inexpensive beginner model is always advised. For a beginner--make sure sewing is really what you want to do.
For the seasoned sewer, there comes a decision of the purpose for the machine. I like to break these categories into two: Domestic and Commercial. Please note that theyre not wholly exclusive of one another, but using these terms does help when Im looking at which model to invest in.
With Domestic usage I think more of basic garment darning or creation. Your impetus for buying a new machine might be the age of your previous one, and if youve found in the past youve not used the extras, such as embroidery or fancy stitching, and solely used it for hemming and attaching buttons, then looking at the basic model would be where to start.
As a Side-bar to the Domestic purchaser, you might want to consider spending a bit more if you have teenagers who often admire the specialty stitching seen on store bought clothing. Many of these machines have built-in embroidery design editing, and if you can master a bit of the fancy stuff for shirts and jeans, your teenager just might appreciate your efforts.
Commercial purchasers are where I sew everything else, even quilting. Why quilting? Because making these takes time and energy and are often made to sell. Those of us, who want to sew clothing, quilts, sweaters, shirts, socks, sheets, pillow cases, etc., do this mostly to add the design and specialty stitching. Here again is where the preprogrammed monograms and embroidery extras come in--but this is also where the money comes in too.
After you figure out why you want a machine, for the first time or to replace an aging one, budget is where the real decision-making comes in. Prices on todays sewing machines range from $100/500 for bargain model, and the combination sewing/embroidery models range from $2,000/8,000. Determine what you can spend and for what purpose you need it. You might luck out and only need a basic version with no fancy attachments.
Another side-bar: of you do want to use the machine for more fancy stuff, but find your budget is better for basic models new, I would suggest bargain hunting on discontinued models.
Finally, find a reputable dealer. A good dealer will provide support, advice, classes and service for the life of your machine. Ask sewing friends for recommendations or visit the websites and bring along a checklist of the features you want. Try out a variety of stitches and compare how each performs on different models. you could bring your own fabric samples from home to try how the stitches will perform on the material you use most often. Check the ease of changing threads, bobbin winding and changing accessories and attachments. Make sure you find out about the warranty and service plan.
Keep in mind that expensive doesnt always mean better machine. Todays machines, with the advance in technology, features automatic buttonholes, built-in decorative stitches and automatic tension adjustments in the most basic machines. Shop around before you buy.
How to choose a sewing machine
The first thing you must decide is WHY are you buying a machine? What do you intend on using such an investment for? Do you sew often? Or are you a beginner? Would you want to use it for making your childrens clothing, or for creating product for selling?
If you are a beginner, then purchasing a model with all the bells and whistles might not be in your best interest. Often when we start out learning a new skill there is a learning curve, and in that curve we either excel, or move on to the next thing. If your future spins more to the later of the two, purchasing an inexpensive beginner model is always advised. For a beginner--make sure sewing is really what you want to do.
For the seasoned sewer, there comes a decision of the purpose for the machine. I like to break these categories into two: Domestic and Commercial. Please note that theyre not wholly exclusive of one another, but using these terms does help when Im looking at which model to invest in.
With Domestic usage I think more of basic garment darning or creation. Your impetus for buying a new machine might be the age of your previous one, and if youve found in the past youve not used the extras, such as embroidery or fancy stitching, and solely used it for hemming and attaching buttons, then looking at the basic model would be where to start.
As a Side-bar to the Domestic purchaser, you might want to consider spending a bit more if you have teenagers who often admire the specialty stitching seen on store bought clothing. Many of these machines have built-in embroidery design editing, and if you can master a bit of the fancy stuff for shirts and jeans, your teenager just might appreciate your efforts.
Commercial purchasers are where I sew everything else, even quilting. Why quilting? Because making these takes time and energy and are often made to sell. Those of us, who want to sew clothing, quilts, sweaters, shirts, socks, sheets, pillow cases, etc., do this mostly to add the design and specialty stitching. Here again is where the preprogrammed monograms and embroidery extras come in--but this is also where the money comes in too.
After you figure out why you want a machine, for the first time or to replace an aging one, budget is where the real decision-making comes in. Prices on todays sewing machines range from $100/500 for bargain model, and the combination sewing/embroidery models range from $2,000/8,000. Determine what you can spend and for what purpose you need it. You might luck out and only need a basic version with no fancy attachments.
Another side-bar: of you do want to use the machine for more fancy stuff, but find your budget is better for basic models new, I would suggest bargain hunting on discontinued models.
Finally, find a reputable dealer. A good dealer will provide support, advice, classes and service for the life of your machine. Ask sewing friends for recommendations or visit the websites and bring along a checklist of the features you want. Try out a variety of stitches and compare how each performs on different models. you could bring your own fabric samples from home to try how the stitches will perform on the material you use most often. Check the ease of changing threads, bobbin winding and changing accessories and attachments. Make sure you find out about the warranty and service plan.
Keep in mind that expensive doesnt always mean better machine. Todays machines, with the advance in technology, features automatic buttonholes, built-in decorative stitches and automatic tension adjustments in the most basic machines. Shop around before you buy.
How to choose a sewing machine
From budget basic to modern marvels, the hunt for the most indispensable of sewing tools.
Sewing is so different from what it used to be, and so are the machines on the market today. With so many different sewing machines, shopping for one can be daunting.
The following list of machines are worth a test drive, dividing them by the sewing skill level, the kind of sewing they are suited to for, and the pros and cons of each category. Use it as a starting point in you search, then head to your local dealer to try them out in person. The only way youll know which machine is the one for you.
STARTER SEWING MACHINES; They are no-frills, sewing-only machines. Most will include automatic buttonhole features and a basic selection of utility stitches. Some are electronic rather than computerized, with dials or buttons for machine settings rather than touch screens. These machines are basically for the beginning sewers, kids and anyone who plans to do only basic garment construction, mending, or home decorating and craft projects.
PROS; easy to use, affordable and capable of turning out quality clothing and decorating projects.
CONS; decorative stitches are limited or non-existent. Tension may not be set automatically. Buttonholes may require manual manipulations.
SUGGESTED MACHINES ARE; Singer Feather weight 11; Brother NX-200; Elnas Debut 2110 or 2130; Euro-Pros Intelli-Sew; Bernetta from Bernina; Husqvarna Vikings Scandenavia 100
MID TO HIGH-END SEWING MACHINES; These machines are performance oriented machines geared to garment and home decorating sewing. They handle a wide variety of projects and fabrics with ease. Some are electronic, but some are computerized. They feature a wide variety of utility stitches, automatic tension settings, self-threading and multiple automatic buttonhole settings. Some have built-in decorative stitches for embellishment. These machines are for serious sewers focused on dressmaking, tailoring and home decorating projects.
PROS; touch screens or electric settings take care of tension setting and indicate the correct stitch length and presser foot. Multiple automatic buttonhole settings and styles, precision sewing speed control, better handling of fabrics and hundreds of built-in utility and decorative stitches. Instruction manuals are stored in the machines memory and can be accessed from the LCD screen.
CONS; pricier than basic models. The wide variety of features and options may intimidate those not comfortable with computerized functions. These can be rectified with practice and lessons from the dealer.
RECOMMENDED MODELS; Singers Quantum 9940; Brothers NX-600 Janomes Memory craft 6500; Elna Quilters Dream Ultra 6003 QT
COMBINATION SEWING/EMBROIDERY MACHINES; these high-tech machines offer the best of both worlds. You can stitch up garments, home decor, and accessorize to your hearts content. They have a switch presser feet and snap on the embroidery attachment to decorate y our designs with professional embroidery. The designs are built into the machines memory, supplied on flash cards or similar devices. Some models you can download designs directly from the internet to the machine by way of a USB port.
PROS;Offer almost unlimited creative embellishment potential.
CONS; These machines are expensive, but as the technologies advance manufacturers are introducing lower-priced models that offer many of the same functions as higher-end machines.
RECOMMENDED MODELS; Singer Quantum Futura; Brothers Innov-is 4000D; Janomes Memory Craft 10001; Berninas Artista 200E; Artista 185 Quilters Embroidery Edition
EMBROIDERY-ONLY MACHINES; These machines are dedicated to machine embroidery. These machines are for mostly for someone starting a custom embroidery business, crafters interested in embellishing read-made items.
PROS; Since embroidery is their sole function, these machines turn out designs more efficiently. Higher speeds than combination sewing embroidery machines.
CONS; You cant sew on these machines.
RECOMMENDED MODELS; Brothers PR-600; Babylocks Embroidery Professional; Berninas Deco330.
How to choose a sewing machine
Sewing is so different from what it used to be, and so are the machines on the market today. With so many different sewing machines, shopping for one can be daunting.
The following list of machines are worth a test drive, dividing them by the sewing skill level, the kind of sewing they are suited to for, and the pros and cons of each category. Use it as a starting point in you search, then head to your local dealer to try them out in person. The only way youll know which machine is the one for you.
STARTER SEWING MACHINES; They are no-frills, sewing-only machines. Most will include automatic buttonhole features and a basic selection of utility stitches. Some are electronic rather than computerized, with dials or buttons for machine settings rather than touch screens. These machines are basically for the beginning sewers, kids and anyone who plans to do only basic garment construction, mending, or home decorating and craft projects.
PROS; easy to use, affordable and capable of turning out quality clothing and decorating projects.
CONS; decorative stitches are limited or non-existent. Tension may not be set automatically. Buttonholes may require manual manipulations.
SUGGESTED MACHINES ARE; Singer Feather weight 11; Brother NX-200; Elnas Debut 2110 or 2130; Euro-Pros Intelli-Sew; Bernetta from Bernina; Husqvarna Vikings Scandenavia 100
MID TO HIGH-END SEWING MACHINES; These machines are performance oriented machines geared to garment and home decorating sewing. They handle a wide variety of projects and fabrics with ease. Some are electronic, but some are computerized. They feature a wide variety of utility stitches, automatic tension settings, self-threading and multiple automatic buttonhole settings. Some have built-in decorative stitches for embellishment. These machines are for serious sewers focused on dressmaking, tailoring and home decorating projects.
PROS; touch screens or electric settings take care of tension setting and indicate the correct stitch length and presser foot. Multiple automatic buttonhole settings and styles, precision sewing speed control, better handling of fabrics and hundreds of built-in utility and decorative stitches. Instruction manuals are stored in the machines memory and can be accessed from the LCD screen.
CONS; pricier than basic models. The wide variety of features and options may intimidate those not comfortable with computerized functions. These can be rectified with practice and lessons from the dealer.
RECOMMENDED MODELS; Singers Quantum 9940; Brothers NX-600 Janomes Memory craft 6500; Elna Quilters Dream Ultra 6003 QT
COMBINATION SEWING/EMBROIDERY MACHINES; these high-tech machines offer the best of both worlds. You can stitch up garments, home decor, and accessorize to your hearts content. They have a switch presser feet and snap on the embroidery attachment to decorate y our designs with professional embroidery. The designs are built into the machines memory, supplied on flash cards or similar devices. Some models you can download designs directly from the internet to the machine by way of a USB port.
PROS;Offer almost unlimited creative embellishment potential.
CONS; These machines are expensive, but as the technologies advance manufacturers are introducing lower-priced models that offer many of the same functions as higher-end machines.
RECOMMENDED MODELS; Singer Quantum Futura; Brothers Innov-is 4000D; Janomes Memory Craft 10001; Berninas Artista 200E; Artista 185 Quilters Embroidery Edition
EMBROIDERY-ONLY MACHINES; These machines are dedicated to machine embroidery. These machines are for mostly for someone starting a custom embroidery business, crafters interested in embellishing read-made items.
PROS; Since embroidery is their sole function, these machines turn out designs more efficiently. Higher speeds than combination sewing embroidery machines.
CONS; You cant sew on these machines.
RECOMMENDED MODELS; Brothers PR-600; Babylocks Embroidery Professional; Berninas Deco330.
How to choose a sewing machine
If youre thinking of taking up sewing then I congratulate you, you have chosen a great hobby that will not only give you years of fun and an outlet for your creativity, but will also save you a lot of money over the coming years. When you have acquired the necessary skills, and, believe me, you will soon pick them up. You will be able to totally transform your home.
Take a standard pair of curtains and sew your own personality into them, make clothes for yourself or your children, virtually transform any piece of material into how you like. Think how satisfying it is to make your own clothes and home fabrics.
Ok you may have already figured that out which is why you want to take up sewing. The question on your mind is which is the best sewing machine to start with? Right. Ok lets have a look.
First thing that swamps the beginner is the sheer amount of machines available. Singer, Janome and brother to name just three great sewing machines.
It is obviously a matter of opinion and we all have our own opinions about what is the best machine. I will help you by giving you some guidelines. First I would go for a computerized machine. These are the standard today and I firmly believe in staying up with technology. I really dont see the point in learning on older machines when you can learn on modern computerized machines.
Some people would argue that its best to learn on older machines and move up slowly. This is a fair point but not one I agree with. If youre starting from scratch you may as well learn on a new computerized machine with all the mod cons on it.
If you learned on an older machine you would soon want to move to a more advanced machine and take advantage of all the computerized functions which simplify many tasks. So you may as well start on a computerized model. You wouldnt want to learn to drive in a 1920s ford would you? So why learn on an old machine?
The good news is that the prices for a good machine are really reasonable and the functions these machines have are amazing. You can do things on a small machine in your home that required much bigger machines not so long ago.
All todays sewing machines are computerized which means everything you can do on a machine is made easier due to computerization. You can even get embroidery machines that will instruct you step-by-step on how to make things. The instruction takes place on the LED screen.
You want to be looking for a machine that doesnt cost too much to begin with. If you are just taking sewing up you could look at a second hand machine. The argument for buying a second hand machine is that its better to spend $120.00 on a second hand expensive machine than to spend $120.00 on a new inferior machine.
This is a good idea but not one I agree with. A few years ago this may have been a good strategy but the cost of machines has come down so much I think looking for a new machine is the way to go. As you become a more experienced sewer you will come to love particular machines. The best way to choose a sewing machine is to ask yourself some questions.
A beginner will need a machine with a number of basic stitches; every machine on the market will give you this. As a general rule the more stitches the sewing machine has the more expensive it will be.
Ask yourself what you want to do with the machine. Are you looking to make clothes, home furnishings, repairs, quilting or other crafts? For clothes for example you want a machine with a "free arm" this makes sewing sleeves and things like that much easier. If you are looking to do quilting then you need a machine with a wider range of stitches. If you are looking to do upholstery then you will need a strong heavy duty machine. A cheap machine will not cope with upholstery.
How often do you think you will use the machine? If you intend to get into sewing in a big way then you need to buy a more expensive machine that will stand up to heavy use. Its not possible to name a machine and say this is the best one. I know people who swear by Janome sewing machines, saying they are the best machines on the market, others will swear by singer sewing machines, we all have our own favourites.
You can get an excellent machine for between $150 to $200. The more youre willing to spend the more you will get. The first thing you should do is get familiar with what a machine does and learn about all the parts on the machine and what they do. Do some research, even download some manuals. Singer has excellent manuals that you can download and read. These will familiarize yourself with the parts of machines.
Check out our website and read the reviews about some of the best sewing machines available on the market:
white sewing machine
Take a standard pair of curtains and sew your own personality into them, make clothes for yourself or your children, virtually transform any piece of material into how you like. Think how satisfying it is to make your own clothes and home fabrics.
Ok you may have already figured that out which is why you want to take up sewing. The question on your mind is which is the best sewing machine to start with? Right. Ok lets have a look.
First thing that swamps the beginner is the sheer amount of machines available. Singer, Janome and brother to name just three great sewing machines.
It is obviously a matter of opinion and we all have our own opinions about what is the best machine. I will help you by giving you some guidelines. First I would go for a computerized machine. These are the standard today and I firmly believe in staying up with technology. I really dont see the point in learning on older machines when you can learn on modern computerized machines.
Some people would argue that its best to learn on older machines and move up slowly. This is a fair point but not one I agree with. If youre starting from scratch you may as well learn on a new computerized machine with all the mod cons on it.
If you learned on an older machine you would soon want to move to a more advanced machine and take advantage of all the computerized functions which simplify many tasks. So you may as well start on a computerized model. You wouldnt want to learn to drive in a 1920s ford would you? So why learn on an old machine?
The good news is that the prices for a good machine are really reasonable and the functions these machines have are amazing. You can do things on a small machine in your home that required much bigger machines not so long ago.
All todays sewing machines are computerized which means everything you can do on a machine is made easier due to computerization. You can even get embroidery machines that will instruct you step-by-step on how to make things. The instruction takes place on the LED screen.
You want to be looking for a machine that doesnt cost too much to begin with. If you are just taking sewing up you could look at a second hand machine. The argument for buying a second hand machine is that its better to spend $120.00 on a second hand expensive machine than to spend $120.00 on a new inferior machine.
This is a good idea but not one I agree with. A few years ago this may have been a good strategy but the cost of machines has come down so much I think looking for a new machine is the way to go. As you become a more experienced sewer you will come to love particular machines. The best way to choose a sewing machine is to ask yourself some questions.
A beginner will need a machine with a number of basic stitches; every machine on the market will give you this. As a general rule the more stitches the sewing machine has the more expensive it will be.
Ask yourself what you want to do with the machine. Are you looking to make clothes, home furnishings, repairs, quilting or other crafts? For clothes for example you want a machine with a "free arm" this makes sewing sleeves and things like that much easier. If you are looking to do quilting then you need a machine with a wider range of stitches. If you are looking to do upholstery then you will need a strong heavy duty machine. A cheap machine will not cope with upholstery.
How often do you think you will use the machine? If you intend to get into sewing in a big way then you need to buy a more expensive machine that will stand up to heavy use. Its not possible to name a machine and say this is the best one. I know people who swear by Janome sewing machines, saying they are the best machines on the market, others will swear by singer sewing machines, we all have our own favourites.
You can get an excellent machine for between $150 to $200. The more youre willing to spend the more you will get. The first thing you should do is get familiar with what a machine does and learn about all the parts on the machine and what they do. Do some research, even download some manuals. Singer has excellent manuals that you can download and read. These will familiarize yourself with the parts of machines.
Check out our website and read the reviews about some of the best sewing machines available on the market:
white sewing machine