Last Updated on September 20, 2021

Are you interested in buying a sewing machine? Are you overwhelmed by the choices available to you in the market nowadays? Let’s start with why you should even own a sewing machine.

Sewing allows you to make your own clothes, fashion accessories, home decoration items, and much more. The design possibilities are endless, depending on your creativity! When it comes down to it, though, owning a sewing machine is about working smarter, not harder.

Sewing machines are also an investment. The price range of quality sewing machines can range from inexpensive to pricey depending on your preferred type, brand, and model. We all want our money’s worth in the products we buy!

So what factors should you look for? How do you find one? Not just any sewing machine but THE ONE. Here are some helpful tips when purchasing a sewing machine.

 

 

Stitches

 

Stitches are what put the fabric you are working on within your control. The stitches will be your guide from material to the finished product! 

There are different kinds of stitches available, depending on your preferences. 

For example, you might want to purchase a practical machine with only straight and zigzag stitches or an all-in-one machine that can do it all. 

Some machines even have fancy decorative stitches for more uniqueness! If you plan on making clothes, though, make sure you get a machine with at least stretch stitch capability because knit fabrics require something more substantial than standard straight stitching.

 

electronic sewing machine

 

Accessories

 

Not everyone wants to buy their own accessories, but some features are essential for specific projects.

An example of a super helpful accessory is an automatic buttonhole feature. The machine will sew the desired shape for you, so you don’t have to cut, measure, and mark it yourself!

Think of the accessories you may want or need to use in your project when you buy a new sewing machine.

 

Mechanical vs. Computerized

 

This is probably the most crucial part of buying a sewing machine. 

A mechanical machine uses cogs and gears to work, which means that you have to manually move your fabric through the process, pulling it forward with the press of a pedal or pushing it underneath the needle by hand after each stitch. This is good for doing simple tasks, but computerized machines are definitely a better choice if you’re going to be doing lots of things.

Computerized machines allow you to sew without using your hands at all! Just select what kind of stitch you want and how many stitches per inch, then push “start” or “on.” The machine will do everything on its own until you hit stop/off. There are still some limitations, though.

Computerized machines are usually designed with cotton fabrics in mind, so they can’t sew stretchy material very well. They also don’t have an embroidery function. If you want your stitching to be perfectly straight or if you need the flexibility to sew anything imaginable, then you should go with a mechanical machine.

 

Brand

 

What is the brand of the machine? The brand you choose will be up to you and your needs. 

The brand does not solely determine a sewing machine’s quality, but it must be considered. A low-quality machine can make sewing more frustrating than fun.

The most common brand names to consider are Singer, Janome, and Brother. 

Avoid department store brands no matter how tempting they may seem. Their parts are designed for durability and performance but are harder to find if you need them fixed. 

If your chosen brand has a repair shop in your area, it will save you some time and money over the long run if something breaks down on your machine.

 

Price

 

How much can you spend on a sound sewing machine? 

The price varies depending on the manufacturer and the additional features, so look online or in-person before using one particular model. 

In addition, quality and durability should also factor in your decision since you want a product that will last. But never equate price with quality! 

Remember, you get what you pay for.

 

Online Customer Reviews

 

What are other people saying about the products you’re interested in? 

If they have purchased one before, then read their customer reviews for more information that you will find invaluable. 

Online reviews provide you with more details, but it also helps to narrow down your choices. You can use this information to your advantage, so look around before making a purchase, especially when you love shopping for items online.

 

Additional Features / Specifications

 

Most sewing machines come with different features and specifications, so take some time to look at them before purchasing anything. 

It’s essential to determine if these features meet your requirements; otherwise, they may be useless for you, which is why doing thorough research is necessary here! 

Some people love their machine just because of the cute design, but they would realize that it’s not what they expected and become disappointed if they ever used it.

 

Key Pointers

 

Not all sewing machines are made equal, even if they are in the same category. Some sewing machines are suitable for beginners, while others are meant for professionals. As a result, purchasing a sewing machine needs thorough research and understanding before making any decision. After all, you’re buying something close to your heart!

Now that we’ve talked about some important things to take into consideration while choosing the best sewing machine for yourself, we will proceed with introducing you to their different types. So let’s get started!

 

Most Popular Types of Sewing Machine

 

Basically, sewing machines fall into three categories: mechanical, electronic, and computerized sewing machines. All these sewing machines have their own benefits and weaknesses, so make sure you know your needs before going out to buy a sewing machine.

 

Mechanical Sewing Machines

 

Mechanical sewing machines are the most prevalent and common types of machines. They use a foot pedal mechanism called a “feed dog” to push the fabrics from point A to point B. The machines are not computerized, which means you have to control the stitching manually. These machines come with about four or five different stitches, which include your basic straight stitch and zigzag stitch. Mechanical sewing machines are small in size and affordable.

On the downside, these sewing machines can be really loud when they work because of the pedal mechanism. They cannot handle thick fabrics (like denim), and their stitches are not even. Overall, these machines are made for smaller projects and will work fine if you are a novice and want to learn how to sew.

 

Electronic Sewing Machine

 

As the name suggests, this type of machine has an integrated circuit that provides speed control for both forward and backward stitching. Furthermore, these sewing machines offer more precise stitches as well as various built-in stitches.

On the other hand, electronic sewing machines are usually more expensive than mechanical sewing machines. They also tend to be quite heavy, and they may have trouble when working with thicker fabrics.

 

electronic sewing machine

 

Computerized Sewing Machine

 

In addition to all of the above features of electronic sewing machines, computerized types have on-screen menus and touch screens for ease of use. These top-of-the-line machines offer the most extended list of features; for example, they usually have more built-in stitches than mechanical sewing machines.

A general downside of computerized sewing machines is that the more features they have, the more expensive they tend to be. Computerized sewing machines are perfect for those who know exactly what kind of stitches they want. However, if you like customizing your projects with various stitch patterns, it is easier to learn how to use an electronic machine with on-screen menus rather than a touch screen.

 

Additional Tips

 

If you are just starting or don’t plan to use it very often, then definitely go for an older model sewing machine! These are usually the most affordable of the bunch. If you get hooked, though, and find yourself sewing all of your clothes at some point, then you’ll probably want to consider upgrading to a new machine.

 

Some Final Words

 

When buying a sewing machine, many people think that there’s only one kind of machine out there. There are many different types, and each has its own set of purposes and applications. The best way to determine which is the right one for you is to define your project and then analyze whether certain features on machines would enhance the success of your project.

Sewing is really fun when you have the right tool for the job! Hopefully, this article helped you identify which type of sewing machine would best suit your needs so that you can spend less money on buying something new in the future!

Happy Sewing!

 

 

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