FAQ: What Sewing Machine Should I buy?
About this FAQ: This document was written to answer the commonly asked question, “what sewing machine should I buy?” There is no one answer. You should have a good idea of what your sewing needs and goals are. Reading this document may help you get clarity. Please note: no one brand is endorsed, it is a very personal decision.
Contributors: JJ, Penny S, Charlotte H, Sally Holmes, Sharon Hays (June 2003)
Information in this document:
Which features are essential/nice for certain sewing tasks?
Quilting: walking foot, large bed, seam allowance guide.
Clothing construction: seam allowance guide, stretch stitch/zig-zag for knits,
needle-down, automatic button holes, adjustable bed (both large and narrow),
various special purpose feet...
Other features that are nice to have, some might consider essential: multi position
needle, knee lift.
Should I buy a machine from Costco/Walmart/discount store? Should
I buy on-line (ebay, internet dealer)?
The received wisdom is NO. It is a cost/benefit tradeoff and generally the amount
you (might) save is far less than the ensuing headaches are worth. In general
the quality of machine available at a discount store is poor. In either case,
there is no opportunity to test drive the machine. The warranty is usually with
the manufacturer, far away, not your local shop. There is little or no instruction
or customer support. For all these reasons, a well-built used machine from your
local shop is a better value.
How do I test drive a machine?
“Play” with it. Bring the materials you intend to use in your work
(silk, lycra, denim, rip-stop, faux fur, tulle…) and try it! Change
settings on the machine (stitch length/style and speed, forward/reverse,
etc.). Are the mechanisms where you’d expect? Does the machine respond
as you’d expect? How is the stitch quality? Much like a car there are sewing
machines that “fit” a
driver better than others. Only you will know your best fit.
Which is the best machine for $100/150/200?
There is no best machine to buy. If on a limited budget, it is better to look
for a used machine at a thrift shop or local dealer who may give a limited warranty
and will service the machine if necessary. You should buy one that you can try
out on your own material, using your own thread and needles. If it performs
to your liking, then it's your machine. If you are unable to try it out using
your own supplies, leave it where it sits.
Which machine should I buy for my wife? I want to get one as a gift
for someone (wife etc)
None!! Let her go out and try out different machines so that she can decide
which one she likes. Give her a gift certificate. A sewing machine is a very
subjective thing. You have to like the way it handles when you sew. It's like
buying a car: If it suits the person using it it's the right machine.
If you've read this far, you should understand by now that there is no "one size fits all" in the sewing machine world. Unless you've been told (by the person receiving the machine) a specfic machine, at a specific store, for a specific price, don't buy a sewing machine for someone else. Instead, give that person a card with a note saying you'd like very much to give him/her a sewing machine. Then set a date and go shopping with that person.
Which machine is best for children to learn on?
A supervised child can learn to sew on any machine available to them. If it
works properly, the experience is a pleasure. So called "toy" sewing
machines are ineffective at the least, and frustrating at the worst.
What's the difference between an electric and an electronic machine?
An electric machine is powered by a single electric motor that turns gears,
belts and cams and cranks. electric
machine
An electronic
machine has a built in computer that runs a series of motors. electronic machine
New vs. Used
The appeal of a new machine is obvious. It is NEW after all. If you want absolute,
top-of-the-line, newest features in your machine, this is the way to go. However,
if your budget is limited, or you are just starting out with your very first
machine, used might be a better route to go. Often dealers will take old machines
as "trade-ins" on new machine purchases. (Just like trading in your
old car for a discount on a newer one.) Then the dealers will usually go over
the trade-in models and make any necessary repairs before they sell them. Some
dealers will also offer warranties on the reconditioned machines. It is sometimes
possible to buy a very advanced used machine (e.g. it has a high number of different
stitch functions, or it is computer controlled) for less money than a basic
new machine. As always, try them out and see what fits you best.
Note: there are many old, reliable classics out there. Lots of sewists cruise thirft stores and garage sales for machines. Many times you can't try these out, or they need work and/or parts... but if you are feeling adventurous this may be another way to go. The risk is that your $15 machine many need $100 worth of service, but it may also just need cleaning and oiling... caveat emptor...
What to look for in a dealer
You want all the same things in a sewing machine dealer that you want in a car
dealer. Most only sell one or two brands of sewing machines. If you have a specific
brand in mind, start by looking for a dealer that carries that brand. You want
them to be able to service the machine once you buy it. Ask about that before
you buy. Some will offer free classes with machine purchase. Ask about that.
Also you want to look around the shop for accessories for your machine. You
want to know that they stock (or can get quickly) any accessories you may want
for your machine in the future. Ask about that too. You want to be comfortable
with your dealer, like you would with a car dealer. You will be seeing them
again when you bring your machine in for routine service, or when you come to
buy other things for the machine. Do they let you take as long as you need to
test a potential purchase? Are they friendly and helpful?
What about the tiny tailor, school machines, etc.?
Tiny Tailor, HandyMender, Stitch N Go, etc.:
Most of these machines are not what their ads claim. Almost all the ads
claim that you can sew anything and everything with these machines. Several
of them claim to work just like "bigger, bulkier, more expensive"
machines
while using 4 AA batteries and costing under $40 US. Here's just a few
things they don't tell you: These things only do one type of stitch.
Usually it's something close to a machine straight stitch, although they
often only use one thread. If the stitch is formed with one thread, it
won't "lock" together and will pull out with only a slight tug on
either
end. A real home sewing machine uses a variety of stitches all formed with
two threads. These machines often don't have feed dogs. Feed dogs are what
pulls the fabric to be sewn under the needle. With these machines, you have
to pull the fabric with your hand. That means you could easily pull too
much, too hard and snap off the needle. In short, these machines just don't
do the same things as real sewing machines, and are just not suitable for every
day, general sewing.
School Machines: This is a sales technique that is used widely and often. Most of the time, it's a ploy to get customers in the door. The pitch is usually an ad in the local paper saying that a local school system is selling off new or slightly used machines at huge discounts because they bought too many of them. Sometimes the ad says that a dealer ordered a huge lot of "school machines" and for some reason they were then not purchased by the school system. Almost always the sale is held at a hotel or convention center of some sort, sometimes just in the back of a truck in a parking lot. This should already sound suspect to you. If it's a school system selling off surplus items, they usually have an auction on school grounds. If it's a local dealer that ordered too many machines, why would he compound his expenses by renting space somewhere when he has a store that could house the sale? Normally, when a customer shows up to buy one of the "greatly reduced school models," they are shown and encouraged to buy much more expensive machines that the seller just happens to have on hand. Also, the seller normally turns out not to be a local dealer. Instead, the seller is often from out of state, and they say up front that they will only be in town for ONE day, so you need to buy RIGHT NOW. Being pressured to buy any machine, without any time to think about it, is always a bad sign. These "sales" are best avoided all together. If you do decide to attend one, remember that you may get a basic machine really inexpensively, but you will have no dealer support after the fact, and likely no warranty or guarantee of the goods. Caveat emptor.
What about heavy sewing and industrial machines?
An industrial sewing machine is a heavy-duty machine. There are many different
types; most are designed for either a certain range of fabrics or a specific
type of stitch or sewing. An industrial is very powerful, fast, and typically
more single-task suited than a regular sewing machine. A typical industrial
will do 2000+ stitches per minute as compared to 600-800 on a home sewing machine.
Industrials also have separate motors, usually between 1/3 to 1/2 horsepower,
and are built into a large table that takes up quite a bit of space. If you
are going to be sewing heavy materials, multiple thickness of heavy fabrics,
or quantities of items, an industrial machine might be a good investment.
The problems with using a home machine for heavy fabric are generally not enough 'piercing power' for many heavy fabrics, an inability to feed difficult and thick fabrics properly, and an inability to use the extremely heavy (upholstery nylon) thread that may be needed for strength. Again, here is where you need to know your sewing machine's "personality". Some home sewing machines will handle anything that comes their way, others will give you fits. If you decide you need an industrial, watching the want ads is a great way to find one.
What about embroidery machines?
(coming soon)
Can you recommend some good books?
Reader's Digest Guide to Sewing
The Singer Sewing Series
Helpful Links:
Sewing machine comparison charts:
Chart
1
Chart 2
(.pdf file; requires Adobe Acrobat reader)