How to Choose a Sewing Machine

By Anette Rogers
"Mom, I want to learn to sew," your young daughter says to you one day.

You groan inwardly. Personally, you have never had a desire to chop a piece of fabric into odd shapes and then painstakingly sew them back together again, especially not with the proliferation of clearance racks at all the department stores. And you have memories of your mom hunched over her sewing machine, gritting her teeth and muttering inaudible things as she yanked tangles of thread out of the bobbin and wrestled with puckered seams. As you recall, she generally finished her projects by stuffing them into a bag and then into the darkest corner of the closet to “finish later.”

With those memories in mind, you turn to your daughter and say brightly, “But honey, we don’t have a sewing machine. Wouldn’t you like to learn – oh, maybe knitting instead – or oil painting – or tap dancing?”

A firm shake of the head. “I really want to sew. Auntie Lucinda says you can get a good sewing machine for pretty cheap. I want to make curtains for my bedroom.”

You resist a bit more, but in the end, not wanting to squelch her desire to learn, create, and be resourceful, you begin to investigate sewing machines.

The first thing you learn is that there is an overwhelming array of brand names, price ranges, and features to choose from, and there are almost as many opinions on the topic as there are choices.

It will help to understand first that sewing machines fall into three basic categories: mechanical, electronic, and computerized.

Mechanical machines are the most familiar to all of us, and the most basic of the three categories. The adjustments for tension, stitch length and width, and other components are manual, as opposed to automatic. Don’t let this intimidate you, however; these adjustments are not difficult to master, and a good mechanical machine will serve you well for many years. These machines run in the $100 - $300 range; $150 is a good price to consider.

Electronic machines are currently the most popular on the market, offering a multitude of automatic decorative stitches and functions, variable speed controls and other features. They are, of course, more expensive, but worth looking into if you think you may do a lot of more advanced sewing. It is not unreasonable to plan on spending around $400 - $500 for an electronic machine.

Computerized machines are very similar to electronic machines, using the same basic chips and stepper motors, but with the additional ability to allow you to program your own specific stitches or instructions into the memory. Again, the price will go up when you move into this category, easily near and past the $1000 range.

At this point you will probably have determined what your price range will be. In any case, do shop around, both on the internet and with local retailers, to get your best deal. If you go into a local sewing machine store you will get knowledgeable advice and good information, but be aware that most sewing machine stores are dealers for one brand. They will do their best to sell you their particular machine.

Once you have decided which category of machine will best suit your needs, next consider what kind of sewing you plan to do. If you want to sew primarily clothing, craft projects, and simple home décor (curtains, slipcovers, throw pillows), a basic mechanical model with a straight stitch, a zigzag stitch, a buttonhole mechanism, and a few decorative stitches will probably be all you will ever need. A machine heavy-duty enough to handle heavier fabrics such as denim and some home décor fabrics will come in handy in avoiding frustration and broken needles.

If you think you may move into quilting, heirloom sewing, machine embroidery, or other advanced sewing techniques, you may very well use and enjoy the additional features of an electronic or computerized machine.

With all of the above in mind, now consider which of the following sewing machine features you might want. Each category offers machines with a variety of these features and functions:

-A free arm is very helpful when sewing in small rounded areas, such as setting in sleeves.
-Some machines have single-step buttonhole mechanisms; some require a four-step adjustment.
-Check the bobbin-winding procedure. Some machines require more manual intervention than others.
-Snap-on presser feet simplify the foot-changing process.
-Automatic tension adjustment means the tension between the spool and bobbin threads will remain balanced no matter what the fabric weight is. This is helpful, since manual tension adjustments are probably the most finicky process required on a machine – but it can be done.
-If you plan to do quilting, you will definitely need droppable feed dogs to give you the required freedom of movement.

Visit a couple of sewing machine shops and actually test a variety of machines. Collect a sampling of different types of fabrics to take with you: stretchy knits, lightweight sheers, slippery satins, heavy denims – to see how the machine handles each one. A competent machine will be able to sew satisfactorily on all types of garment fabric. When you sew, check for uniform, even, and well-balanced stitches. There should be no puckering along the seam. The machine should be able to sew with relative ease over four thicknesses of any fabric. Remember, however, that a mechanical machine with manual tension may need to be adjusted to handle different fabrics. Test the bobbin winding procedure and the buttonhole feature. The salesperson will be able to help you with any problems or questions.

Finally, pay attention to the service and warranty plans that go with each machine. There are wide differences between companies. Find out the length of the warranty, what exactly is covered, and where you will have to take your machine to have it serviced. Some dealers also offer free sewing classes to their customers.

Keep these things in mind, ask the right questions, and you will bring home a machine to inspire and satisfy the creative spirits in your home for many years. No unfinished projects will haunt the dark corners of your closets, and who knows – when you see those four yards of blue flowered fabric transformed into curtains hanging prettily at your daughter’s window – you might even be inspired to try your hand at it after all!


Copyright © 2006 Anette Rogers