I get asked this and the questions below all the time
so I thought it time I created a blog post
How much should I spend?
As
with a camera or bike it’s always good to buy the best you can afford. That being said there is really no need to be
spending any more than €200 on a basic machine, unless you are intending to be
a seamstress or professional textile designer.
If you are buying for a complete
beginner you should expect to pay at least €100 for a machine that will give
you all the basic functions listed below.
I myself have several machines but continue to use a Toyota sewing
machine that I bought nearly 20 years ago for €70 and it’s never caused me any
problems.
What brand should I buy?
Some
of the most popular brands would be Singer, Brother, Bernina and Janome. For me if it does what you want who cares about
the name. However I am used to working
with and fixing machines. That being
said I wouldn’t recommend own brands in some of the cheaper retail shops as
many dealers will not fix/service them should something go wrong.
What type of machine should I buy?
This, to me, is the most important
question really. Is the machine for general
sewing i.e. craft sewing, basic clothes mending etc. or is it going to be for
an advanced seamstress/dress maker/textile designer. Please don’t be lured by 50+ decorative stitches
and embroidery options for a beginner as you will rarely ever use them. The
basic stitches – straight stitch, zig zag, over
locker and button hole are all you need 99% of the time. If you are an advanced sewer I would
recommend going to a dealer where you can try before you buy and/or a trade
show where you can speak directly to the sales reps for each brand and see
demos.
What are the basics I need?
- ·
At
least 10 automatic stitches.
- ·
2
needle positions
- ·
Automatic
bobbin winding
- ·
4-step
buttonhole
- ·
Zipper
insertion
- ·
Push
lever reverse
- ·
Clip-on
feet
- ·
Stitch
pattern indicator
- ·
Stitch
length control
- ·
Stitch
width control
- ·
Tension
control
Most models come with a clear bag of accessories
which include: Zigzag foot, zipper foot, buttonhole foot, button sewing foot,
large screwdriver, seam ripper/brush, oil bottle, pack of spare needles, bobbins,
seam guide, darning plate and spool holder.
Apart from that I would suggest going
for a top loading bobbin. It’s much
easier for beginners. I would also make
sure that the machine has a free arm – this will be useful for all sorts of
sewing projects. Most new models do but
it’s worth checking.
Final words of wisdom
Machines need to be used (like a car)
to keep them in good working order.
There’s no point buying a machine and leaving it sitting in a box under
the stairs because you’re afraid to use it.
I run Sewing Machine Basics workshops to help get you started. Find out more on my website.
What are your tips on buying a sewing machine? What would you say is or are must have feature (s) ?
Let us know in the comment section below.
