Learn to sew with Barbara Edmondson

Many people go to a discount store and just pick up a sewing machine without any idea of what they should consider before deciding on one.  That's why I don't require students to own a sewing machine before coming to me for lessons. I let them try mine, and some I have on loan from stores that sell mainly sewing machines. Many students come to their first lesson with me with a machine they just bought or received it as a gift, and they have no clue as to how to use it (which I gladly help with) or of what quality is it. They are sometimes disappointed and/or frustrated with the poor quality. Your choice of a sewing machine can determine if your sewing experience is pleasant or frustrating.

If you're buying your child a machine, it is especially important to get one they will not get frustrated with and cause them to lose their interest in sewing. Plan to buy them this one machine that will last until they are an adult, out on their own, then if they want more features, they can buy another one themselves. A good machine will be worth something if you need to sell it or want trade it in someday on a better one.

A sewing machine is a tool that you will use for many, many years. You want it to work as you would expect it would, smoothly, without any frustrations or problems. If your husband wants or hints that he's going to get one for you, ask him.... would he like you to just go out and buy him a car or a tool? 

I want to help you think before you buy, so you can be an informed shopper and much happier sewist or sewer (one who sews)! So I’ve written things to consider when looking to buy a sewing machine.  Start a list to take with you shopping, or print this out and hightlight and write notes on it.

First think about what type of sewing you want to do, what kinds of things you want to make. What features will you need to do that? What convenience features would you like to have if you can afford them? What is your budget allowing you to spend? Thinking of price range, to get a good machine that will last, you need to go to $200 or more (unless it's used).

Singer machines are not the great machines they once were.  Look at Janome, Bernina, Viking, Pfaff, Babylock. Some Brother machines are good,  if you get their higher priced ones.  All brands have good warranties, but you'll want to ask about it, and where do you have to take it to get work done on it. You'll want to buy at a store that will also service it. You won't want to ship it off.

Visit stores/dealers who sell mainly sewing machines.  These stores have knowledgeable sales people. Tell them what you want to sew (might be everything) and that you would like to see and try a broad price range, so you know the differences.  These stores provide service at the time of, and after you purchase. They should even help you thread it, make a bobbin. If they don't offer, then ask.  Some stores offer free classes if you purchase a very expensive machine, so you can learn how to use all of it's features.  I suggest you take some of your own fabric, the type you plan to use, and ask to try out their sewing machines with it. If you plan to hem jeans or sew together thick quilts, make sure you buy a machine that can actually do that without a problem. These dealer stores sometimes have used machines for sale that people have traded in.

Don't value a sewing machine by how many fancy stitches it can do. That's not as important as the following features to consider. When you're trying out the machines in the stores, think and ask about these things:

Motor & Foot Pedal: Does it go slowly when I press the foot pedal softly and speed up gradually as I press harder? Or, does it growl and not go at all, then when you press harder it goes so fast you can't control it? Can you set a switch to make it only go slowly, even if I press hard? Does is sound smoothly, not too loud, not clanging, or growling. What if you want to be sewing when listening to music or tv, or when someone is sleeping.

Bobbin: What type of bobbin does it have? There are two types.  Drop in clear bobbins are nice for beginners. You can see how low it is getting and it's easier to put it in and take it out.

Reverse: Where is the reverse button/lever placed. Do you like where it is?

Needle Position: Can the needle be moved from always in the middle to always on the left or right. This comes in handy.

Needle Up/Down: Is there a setting to make the needle always stop in the up position or in the down position? This comes in handy. After you finish every seam, you'll need the needle to be up, so you can take out your fabric. Some machines (some models of Brother, I know) always stop with the needle down in the fabric. Sometimes you may want this to happen, (like making a corner), but not always. So, then you'll have to always be turning the handwheel, or you may be unthreading the machine with the next stitch you go to sew! Having a machine that you can set to always stop with needle up is an nice convenience.

Needle Threader: Many machines have a little tool attached around the needle to help you to thread the needle. If you have poor eyesight, you may like this feature. I, and many others, think it's faster and just as easy to thread it yourself.

Presser Foot Lever: Where is it placed? Back or side? Which to you prefer?

Button Hole:  If you plan to make lots of things with button holes, you'll want a one-step button hole feature. Ask if all button holes can be made to be the exact same size.

Presser Feet: How many and which feet come with the machine. What are they useful for? What price range are the extra feet in should you want to buy any in the future?

Knee Lift: This is a hands free system. You can move the knee lever to raise the presser foot so you don't have to take your hands off the project.

Thread cutter: Most machines nowadays have a little blade to rip the threads over to cut them, in case you don't have your thread snips nearby. Some machines also have a button that cuts the threads before you even raise the presser foot. 

Feed Dogs: If you want to do some "free motion" sewing, like quilting or couching, you  will want a switch to drop the feed dogs and not just a snap on cover for them.

Embroidery: Some machines can do embroidery besides just regular sewing. They cost alot more, because they do alot more. If this interests you,  ask for demonstrations and brochures and compare.

Bernina brand machines can be seen and tried at It's A Stitch, 3 locations in the Houston area. The one in the Champions area is at 5050 FM 1960 W. 

After trying machines in stores, then, if you want to shop online, visit AllBrands.com I've bought things from them and they've been good.

©Barbara J. Edmondson, Get Sewing!