Best Sewing Machines For Beginners
Posted: Monday, November 22, 2010
by Rosie Andrews
http://bestsewingmachines4u.blogspot.com/
If you're pondering trying out sewing then I congratulate you; you've chosen an amazing activity that won't merely present you with a lot of pleasure and a good outlet for your creativity, it will even save you a lot of money over the long term, and could even make you money. When you have acquired the essential skillsets, you will pick them up quicker than you think.. You will have the ability to completely transform your home by adding personal touches to all your home fabrics from curtains to cushions.
I know you've probably realised this which is why you want to take up sewing. The question on your mind is which is the best sewing machine to start with? Ok let's have a look.
The first thing which swamps the novice is the sheer volume of sewing machines that are available. There's so many brands to choose from it's mind boggling.
It's obviously a matter of opinion which is the best, and we all have our own views about what is the best sewing machine. I'll try to give you a few pointers if I can to help you choose the right machine. For starters I'd select a computerized sewing machine. These are the standard at this time and I strongly believe in being up to speed with technology. I really don't see the reason for studying on older machines when you are able learn on modern day computerized machines.
A number of people would probably reason that it's better to start learning on older machines and move up gradually. it's a sensible point but not one I agree with. If you're just starting out you might as well start on a new computerized sewing machine with all the mod cons on it.
If you learn on an old machine, you'll soon want to proceed to a much more sophisticated machine and take advantage of all the benefits, and computerized capabilities which simplify many tasks. So you might as well start on a computerized model.
The good news is that the price ranges for a good machine are really reasonable and also the functions these machines have are perfect. You can do things on a small machine in your home that needed a lot bigger machines not so long ago.
Almost all today's sewing machines tend to be computerized which makes so many things easier. And I wouldn't consider a machine which didn't have an automatic needle threader, fortunately most of them do these days. I've spent enough time struggling to find eye holes. You can even obtain embroidery machines that will tell you step-by-step on the way to make things. The teaching occurs on the LED monitor. You can download patterns from the internet straight into your machine and follow the instructions to make them.
You want to be looking for a sewing machine that doesn't cost a great deal to begin with. If you are just taking sewing you may want to consider a second-hand machine. The argument for choosing a second hand sewing machine is the fact that it's preferable to shell out $120.00 on a second hand expensive sewing machine rather than commit $120.00 on a new but far inferior machine.
This is a good idea although not one I agree with. A few years ago this might have been a good tactic however the cost of sewing machines has come down so much I do believe looking for a brand new sewing machine is the best option. However, having said that, if you can find a bargain, go for it. As you become a more experienced sewer you'll come to love particular sewing machines. The best way to decide on a sewing machine is to ask yourself a number of questions.
A novice will require a sewing machine with a number of fundamental stitches; every machine available on the market will give you this. In general the more stitches the sewing machine contains the more expensive it will be.
Think about what you want to do with the machine. Are you looking to produce clothes, home furnishings, repairs, quilt-making or perhaps additional projects? For garments for example you will want machine with a "free arm" this makes sewing sleeves and things like very much easier. If you're looking to do quilt-making you'll need a machine with a more expansive choice of stitches. If you are looking to do upholstery then you'll need a solid high quality machine. A cheap machine won't deal with upholstery because of the thickness of the fabric.
How frequently do you think you will use the machine? If you intend to get into sewing in a big way you'll need to buy a more costly machine which will stand up to heavy use. It's extremely hard to name a sewing machine and say this is actually the best one. I know people who recommend Janome sewing machines, saying they are the best sewing machines available on the market, other people will swear by singer sewing machines, everybody has their own favourites and I'm not going to say what mine is.
You can get an excellent sewing machine for between $150 to $200. The more you're prepared to invest the more you will definately get. The very first thing you need to do is get familiar with what a sewing machine does and discover more about all the parts on the machine and what they do. Do your homework. I'd advise you to download some manuals and study them. These will familiarize you with all the parts of a sewing machine. Singer has excellent manuals that you can download and browse through, it's well worth doing and a great way to increase your knowledge.
Rosie Andrews has been sewing for over thirty years and has taught sewing to students at colleges and night classes. She writes for a number of online resources and is the author of her own sewing website: http://bestsewingmachines4u.blogspot.com/
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