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.

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

I think a cheap machine has been manufactured from the absolute cheapest components and with the absolute minimum features needed for the machine to work.

Which often means that they're probably not the safest option for kids or beginners.

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 can 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 machine's features 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 are some nice features to look for in a sewing machine:

• Speed Control: I recommend this feature, especially for kids/teens - however, experienced sewers can also find this feature useful.
• Built-in needle threader: you still need to learn how to use it, but once mastered it makes threading the needle far simpler & quicker.
• Movable straight stitch needle position from far left and far right: This feature is useful when sewing zips, hemming and topstitching, not all machines can move the needle to the far right when sewing a straight stitch.
• Bonus presser feet can be useful: on 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 (aka walking) presser foot

4. I recommend buying a machine that is either a 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 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 (including 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 very helpful features
Machines that are computerised can do helpful settings and functions.

• Speed control is fantastic for kids, beginners or if you want to sew slowly because you're being careful. 
• The needle-up function stops the machine at the end of the stitch - meaning it's easy to pull the fabric out of the machine and the needle is in the perfect position for threading  
• The needle-down function stops the machine in the middle of the stitch - meaning you can pause to remove pins or adjust your fabric without accidentally shifting the fabric under the presser foot/needle.
• Being able to move the needle position from far left to far right in small measurable increments - useful when sewing zips, topstitching or trying to 
• Some computerised machines have helpful alerts - e.g. an alert if you try to start sewing with the presser foot up.

7. Read some sewing machine reviews

The internet is full of information - google the "review" and the brand and model number of the machine you're interested in buying and see what others have to say.

8. Shop around, and find a store that has helpful pleasant service
Go to a few different stores if you can. Again, read some store reviews.

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" :)