As a beginner, the number of different sewing machine models and choices available in the market today may prove overwhelming for you, mainly if you are unfamiliar with the various terminologies and specifications of of these different models.
But if you want to sew and want to take baby steps at first, you are better off knowing what you want to do with the machine and the type of use you will put it to when deciding which sewing machine to buy.Â
Also read – Different kinds of Sewing machines
List of 6 Sewing machine models you can consider as a beginner
Singer Start 1304 : This is a sewing machine with the most basic functions that a beginner in sewing will need. With over 6000 reviews on amazon (4+ reviews), this one seems a good option. And the best thing is that this is one model that you can easily afford. You can do simple alterations, sewing etc very well in this machine.Â
Brother XM2701 Sewing Machine : This brother sewing machine has more than 15000 positive reviews on amazon.This model has 27 much needed Stitches and 6 complimentary presser feet. Everything you need to start sewing your projects.Â
Janome 2212 Sewing Machine : This machine has 12 inbuilt stitches and usually that is enough to take you through most of every day sewing projects.Â
Singer M2100 Sewing Machine : This singer sewing machine has more stitches (63 Stitches) and around 6000 reviews on amazon, most positive. More expensive than the first model given above.
Bernina Bernette 33 Sewing Machine : Bernina is considered a very dependable brand and sews smoothly. But it is more expensive than the models given above.Â
Singer 4423 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine : This singer sewing machine claims to sew through thick layers of fabrics more efficiently and with 67 stitches you can sew as you wish.Â
Criteria for selecting your first sewing machine
What should you look at when buying a new sewing machine? What are the most important features and considerations when buying a new sewing machine?.
Knowing the different features of a sewing machine and why they are important is essential to help you decide between models. How can you compare the features if you don’t know what the features do or why they are important?
To choose the best sewing machine suited to your needs you need to know the most important factors to look out for.
Brand name
The best beginner sewing machine brands available are Janome, Brother, and Singer. They are all very well built, (as much as a plastic body machine can be at their price) and easy to use even by a beginner, and the service is also available easily. Janome is highly recommended among the top sewing machine brands by a lot of people.Â
There are other outstanding brands, but they may carry a higher price tag.
Check out the post on the best sewing machine brands available
Ensure that there is a service center for your brand near you. I bought a sewing machine once and then regretted it the next month – it developed a glitch, and I had to travel for hours to reach the service center. They refused house calls. Â
Features
Most beginners make the mistake of buying a very basic sewing machine at first but after some experience, they long for some more extra features in their sewing machine.
But then they are in a dilemma. Should they spend more on another sewing machine?
It is better to select a model with enough features which will keep you busy for some time.Â
Checkout this post on the different parts of a sewing machine to familiarise with what is in store for you and what feet you should buy.
But at the same time, It is foolish to buy a very advanced sewing machine under the influence of a very shrewd seller when you only need a lesser feature-rich machine.
You should first have to plan what you are going to use it for. Are you just going to mend the clothes, or do you want to start a sewing business eventually, or maybe you always wanted to embroider on your sewing machine – all of these require different features in the sewing machine you ultimately buy.
To sew successfully, you only really need a straight stitch and a zigzag stitch. These two stitches will allow you to do just about everything you want to do on a sewing machine. All the others are bells and whistles for a casual weekend sewist.Â
My sewing machine has a lot of stitches, and when I bought it first I was very enthusiastic about using all of them, but since then, I have found that even when I sew every day, I rarely use any of those stitches anymore other than the straight stitch, and the zigzag stitch.
The conclusion I have reached is that you really need only those two stitches – the straight stitch, and the zig zag. The rest of the stitches are all very much optional. So don’t go over budget for things you do not need.
Some features you would like to have in your sewing machine if you plan to sew your own clothes are
- Variable stitch lengths and a selection of necessary stitches. Zig- zag stitch is a necessity in all of your sewing machine stitches. Checkout this post on sewing machine stitches.
- Overlocking stitches with a simple hemmer footÂ
- Ability to switch to a twin needle – Very useful.
- Adjustable presser foot pressure
- Automatic buttonholeÂ
- Attachments like zipper foot, blind hem foot (Checkout the post on the whole lot of sewing pressure foot attachments you may want to buy with our first sewing machine)
- Reverse mode
- Other optional but nice-to-have features are a thread cutter, needle threader, and free arm mechanism, which helps to sew closed seams easily.
- If you want to do a lot of quilting, free motion embroidery, etc., you will want to have the ability to lower the feed dogs or at least cover it temporarily.
Some of these features are very handy and necessary for a smooth stitching experience. It is important to adjust the stitch length in different situations, like if you are darning or curling the edges of a scarf using a hemmer foot
A machine with a horizontal bobbin case (the drop-in type) is better than a vertical one. I had one with a vertical bobbin case, and the thread always tangled on it, leading to many frustrated untangling.
The advantage of a vertical bobbin case is that this will have a metallic bobbin case, and you can adjust the tension of the bobbin thread by loosening a screw on it.Â
If the drop-in bobbin case has a see-through plastic cover (it is almost always so, I think), you can see how much bobbin thread is left before it is over (and you can plan sewing accordingly)
If it is your first sewing machine (or 10th), try to sew on it in the shop. Whatever the catalog tells you about the machine, you may feel different about it when you sew on it – take swatches of thin fabric (chiffon) and a thick material (denim)and sew on them yourself.
Price
Budget is also very important in your buying decision, but that does not mean that you choose the cheapest in the market and end up feeling that you did not get the machine you wanted.
Do not go looking for higher-end machines if you have a small budget. You will just get envious or overspent. If you have a budget, stick to it.
Another way to get around the budget is to look for a secondhand machine, but you should be sure about the reliability of the seller and the warranty of the product. Check out the post on what to look for when you want to buy a used sewing machine
Buying a very cheap plastic machine that promises many things may look very easy with all the commercial advertisements, but do not waste your money there.
It may look very cute and easy to sew but if it does not do the work you want it to do and it breaks down after the first few uses, there is no point – you will be put off sewing in all probability.
Buy the best sewing machine you can afford.
Usage
First, you have to decide how much you will use the machine – are you all enthusiastic about learning new techniques and ways of garment making? Then you want a machine with more than a straight stitch.
If you have plans to make garments for yourself and select a basic machine without features like buttonholes and zipper feet, you will be very disappointed.
Are you dreading the thought of learning the ways of the new machine, worrying if it is too complicated, then a very expensive machine with lots of features will not be useful to you? You had better stick to the machine with some basic features that requires only threading and plugging in.
Otherwise, once you buy the machine, the thought of learning the new ways will seem very complicated to you, and you will slowly keep it aside, not to use it again—what a waste of a good sewing machine.
If you plan to sew for long hours or through thick fabrics, you will not be able to manage with a low-power sewing machine. It will die soon if you get the machine to work more than it can.
If you are planning to start a sewing business soon, look for an umbrella/industrial machine that can work long hours. You can operate a home sewing machine only for a few hours daily.
Your dealer can give you some pointers on this. Check out this post before deciding whether you need an industrial sewing machine.
Shop
Does where you buy the machine make a difference? In a way, no. But in another way, yes.
Wherever you buy your machine from, you will be getting your service from the brand. So the place you buy does not make a difference in that way.
But then, if you buy from a small dealer shop near you (instead of amazon, other websites, or large department stores), you will have a person to talk to. You can go there, try out your machine first, call him up whenever you are stuck somewhere, etc. (from my experience). And you are helping local entrepreneurship. Â
My dealer bought back my first machine when I wanted a new one later. The personal connection helped in getting a good deal.Â
Now you can go about choosing the best sewing machine with confidence.
Ease of use – for you.
To check ease of use, you have to test stitch with your machine, and see that you can sew with it without frustrations and hitches.
Sit down on the machine and sew with it on fabric pieces that you normally want to sew. This is possible with small sewing machine shops. They may even have classes for beginners. Test your sewing on the machine you mean to buy.Â
This way, you can buy the right sewing machine at the right price that is just right – for YOU.
Related post: Reasons why sewing machine is not stitching; Repair your sewing machine at home.
