Tips for Buying a Sewing Machine

The sewing machine is the "power tool" of sewing.
Investing in a good machine will usually make sewing an enjoyable experience and you can hang onto it for many, many years.
When it comes to buying a sewing machine here are my key tips.

1. Buy a machine that makes sewing enjoyable - Avoid Budget/Plastic/Toy Machines

Good tools make the task a pleasure, bad tools make the task frustrating.

Cheaper sewing machines are often difficult to work with, don't work properly and are often more trouble than they are worth.

Which makes what would normally be a pleasant sewing experience frustrating, deterring the keenest sewists.

My thoughts are, a cheap machine has been manufactured from the absolute cheapest components and with the absolute minimum features needed for the machine to work.

Which also means that they are often not the safest option.

If budget is a concern, refer to the section below:

5. If the cost of a quality sewing machine is restrictive - try a second-hand machine

2. Buy a machine from a sewing machine dealer - preferably one that is not too far away from where you live.
If you buy a machine from a "big" store - like Spotlight, Lincraft, Aldi - sometimes the person selling you the machine knows little to nothing about sewing and sewing machines.

If you have any troubles it can be a big hassle to get it sorted with the place where you bought the machine.

Whereas, if you buy a machine from a sewing machine dealer they are usually very helpful when you're buying a machine and if you have any questions or issues with the machine you are able to take it back to them for advice/help/servicing.

When shopping for a machine, ask if you can sit at the machine and have the salesperson go through the features of the machine with you.

You may even want to take samples of fabric you want to sew on the machine and use them to test how the machine stitches through the fabrics - always ask first though

Sometimes, when you buy a machine from a dealer it will come with a free class to introduce you to the features of your sewing machine.
Ask if that's something offered when buying a machine.

3.  Buy a machine that will support your growing sewing skills.
Keen sewers often outgrow cheap very basic sewing machines and often wish they had spent a bit more for a better machine to begin with.

Below is some nice to have features to look for in a sewing machine:

• Speed Control: I recommend this feature, especially for kids/teens - however, experienced sewers would also find this feature useful.
• Built-in needle threader: you still need how to learn how to use it, but once mastered it makes threading the needle far simple & quick.
• Movable straight stitch needle position from far left and far right: I use this feature all the time when sewing zips and topstitching, not all machines have this
• Bonus presser feet can be useful: overcast foot for finishing the raw edges of the fabric, or quarter inch foot for quilting
• If you think you'll be sewing stretch fabrics (like jersey for t-shirts or fabrics with spandex for activewear): adjustable presser foot pressure is helpful - so is an even feed/walking presser foot

4. I recommend buying a machine that is either Japanese or European brand.
Usually, they are a better machine all-around. Generally, I suggest Brother, Janome, Juki 

and Bernina.

Berninas are the top-of-the-line machines and are on the higher end of the price scale.

Janome is a personal favourite, however, in recent years they have become more expensive and you get less for your dollar.

Brother, has a wide price range, however, I suggest the newer mid-range Brother machines.

Some people are fans of Pfaff or Elna, however, I don't have much experience with these brands.

I'd avoid other brands (incl Bernette for Bernina), they are often cheaply made machines that have lots of little - or sometimes big - issues.

5. If the cost of a quality sewing machine is restrictive - try a second-hand machine
See if a local sewing machine dealer near you re-sells sewing machines that have been traded in. Usually, these machines have been checked over and reconditioned before being re-sold.

Ask if all the stitches on the machines work properly and ask the dealer to show you that they do. 

Ask if the dealer guarantees or honours the warranty on the machines.

If buying from a website like Gumtree or similar, ask that the person selling the machine demonstrate that it works before you buy it - even machines that are "still in the box". The first thing I would do is get the machine serviced to make sure it is in good working order before sewing.

6. Computerised machines are more expensive than mechanical (non-computerised) machines, but they can have great convenience features
Machines that are computerised can do helpful things - like speed control & stopping with the needle in the optimal up or down position.

• The needle up position stops the machine at the end of the stitch - meaning it's easy to pull fabric out of the machine and the needle is in the perfect position for threading.
• The needle down position is good if you need to adjust while sewing in the middle of a long seam
• Move the needle position left to right in small measurable increments
• Some computerised machines have helpful alerts - e.g. an alert if you try to start sewing with the presser foot up.

7. Shop around, find a store that has good staff
Go to a few different stores if you can. Get a feel for what the staff are like.
If they don't seem helpful - get outta there!
They're going to be even less helpful if you have to get an issue with your machine fixed.

I hope all of that information is helpful.
Good luck finding your "sewing power tool" :)