I am a beginning sewer. I need a sewing machine. What features do I need to look for?

Question

I am going to start sewing sheets and pillow cases and such for my kids.

Answer 1

Just for doing the straight seams and hems in sheets and pillow cases you need the really plain jane of any machine. Straight stitch with reverse.

But I do advise you to go to one or two of the sewing machine centers and try every machine on the floor. This way you will get an idea of what you want in a machine.

For next year you will want button hole, zigzag, a couple of decorative stitches, etc, So look for a fairly simple machine in the medium price range.

I made a cape of fairly heavy wool fabric with zipper in it. My grandmother looked at my efforts, totally by hand, and told me that I had earned a machine! She gave me a knock-off of a Singer. I used that for about 5 years until the case broke and I dropped the thing on a cement floor and broke the body! I then went into huge debt and bought a top of the line machine, which has lasted me for the past 40 some years! I expect it to last another 30 or so years as well. They are totally worth the investment and sell very well if you change your mind about how much you want to sew.

Much good luck.

Answer 2

All you need is a sewing machine that has a straight stitch, zig-zag, and a button holer.  

Answer 3

There are several things you need to do when choosing a machine, but the first is read this: http://www.cet.com/~pennys/faq/smfaq.htm

You need to think not just of the TYPE of sewing you want to do, and the fabrics, but also the volume of sewing.

Everyone's list of essentials that a sewing machine must have is different, but for teaching beginners to sew this sort of thing, I like:

The ability to sew S L O W L Y ! (Invaluable to start with, as you make smaller mistakes when you can control the machine at low speeds)

Impeccable straight stitching

Ease of access for threading

Good zigzag and buttonhole stitches

Blind hemming

Take your list of essentials to a sewing machine shop and talk to an engineer - the person who mends the machines when they go wrong - not a sales droid.  Ask about pre-loved machines.  For sewing large things like sheets and duvet covers, and heavy things like curtains, a sturdy machine with some weight behind it and a good strong motor is essential.  You also need a decent harp area (the hole through the middle), for the bulk of larger items.

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!  You really do need to try several machines to see what you are happy with.  I cannot recommend any one make or model, as fitting you to a  sewing machine is as personal as buying shoes!  The makes I prefer are Husqvarna, Bernina, Elna and Frister & Rossman.  Phaff are also excellent, but don't fit me.  Older all metal Singers (pre about 1964) are also mainly good, as are Riccar, and Silver all metal machines.  Older New Home/Janome all metal machines are also good, but I don't rate their modern plastic bodied things.

The one thing you REALLY need above all others is patience and lots of practice sewing straight!  Speed comes later with practice...

Answer 4

It would be best if you would go to a store that offers lessons on the machines.  They give you warranties and support.

Look for a good machine that has straight and zig zag capabilities - as well as a reverse stitch.  One with a built in button hole stitch would be great.

I use to work for So Fro Fabrics when they were open, and had the opportunity to learn about some great machines. A really good basic machine is the Jeans Machine by White.  This is a good sturdy machine that has a few built in decorative stitches and has the ability to sew on denim which can bog down some machines.

Remember though - you get what you pay for- so if you buy a cheap machine, you will get something you are not happy with.

Answer 5

First, take sewing lessons. JoAnn's Fabrics stores often host beginner's classes, and you can learn on the ideal machine for your particular purposes...the person(s) teaching the class can advise you on what models would meet your needs.  I bought my wife a Viking - yes, it was expensive, but then, she's an accomplished seamstress...makes, among other things, Nineteenth-century ball gowns similar to the one depicted in the old movie "Gone With The Wind".  You don't have to start out at the top like that - but you don't want to buy the cheapest machine out there, either.  So like I said - take lessons - it's really, really worth the investment in time and money.

Answer 6

You need a simple machine without all the bells and whistles that can complicate learning and make the machine harder to learn on and more expensive to repair.  My advice would be to buy a used older machine-they last for decades.  (I only replaced my 1975 Kenmore because I needed some quilting and embroidery features for the work I do, but for some things, the old one is better.  My mother's 1950's Singer still runs, too.)  The newer machines, especially the less expensive ones, have too many plastic parts and are easily damaged.  You need the ability to go backward, forward, zigzag, and make buttonholes.

One of my favorite projects for gifts to kids is to buy enough of a print fabric that matches their interests (dinosaurs, trucks, ballet) and sew strips of it on the edge of a set of sheets and pillow cases.  Christmas prints are fun to do, too.  Happy sewing!