How to Pick a Good Sewing Machine
Choosing a good sewing machine requires a little research and time, to match the machine to your needs, budget and comfort level. Sewing machines come in different price and skill-level ranges. Sewing machine users should be careful to pick a good vendor from which to purchase their machine, and should choose a machine that will allow them to increase their skill set.
Instructions
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Determine what type of sewing you want to do, such as basic sewing, quilting or constructing clothing.
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Calculate your budget for a sewing machine. Write down a low and high price range to use as a guide. Be aware that your price range may be too low for the type of sewing machine that you need, but at least you can start with a price in mind.
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Search for sewing machine reviews on-line. Websites, such as Pattern Review.com and ConsumerSearch.com have extensive information on different sewing machines, by type and sewing need. Each site features user ratings and details on the pros and cons of each machine.
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Search sewing machine manufacturer websites for key features in a machine. For a good basic sewing machine, look for a decent number of basic stitches, such as singe, double, zig zig or baste stitches. There should be several variations of each stitch to choose from. Also, look for automatic features, such as tension and threading.
For an amateur's quilting machine, look for decorative stitches, the ability to handle bundles of fabric, a quilting foot, the ability to drop feed dogs for free motion or fancy quilting, in addition to automatic and manual features.
For a professional sewing machine, such as those used to sew clothing, look for one with basic and decorative stitches; that can handle different fabrics, such as cottons, upholstery, suede and denim; and that has button, zipper and serger options for finishing edges of clothing.
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Test out the machine, or a similar machine, in a sewing store, if possible. Take a piece of fabric and a spool of thread similar to what you will use in your machine, and test them out on the sample machine. Test, practice and ask for demos on turning the machine on/off, setting up stitches (length and width), threading the machine for the top thread and for the bottom or bobbin thread, setting tension (if necessary) and sewing the fabric.
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Purchase a machine from an authorized machine distributor, if possible. These stores have extra services for sewing machine owners that include sewing classes, workshops, sewing machine training and news on machine updates.
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Ask about machine and store warranties. Most machines come with 25-year to lifetime warranties. Basic machines that cost less usually come with 5-to 10-year warranties from the manufacturer. Store warranties are usually 30 to 90 days from purchase, and are automatically and extended with additional purchases. This allows for additional help and support from the store.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit sewing machine image by Peter Baxter from Fotolia.com
