How to Choose a Sewing Machine for a Beginning Sewer

 
If you're just starting out you do NOT need a fancy sewing machine. Please - do not buy a $1000 machine unless you know you're going to use it all the time. At the other end of the spectrum - do not buy a toy sewing machine. I've seen a lot of them, and every one has been an utter piece of junk. They work for a little while and it's all very exciting - but they die quickly - and sometimes spectacularly. What you want is a good, basic machine. A used machine is a great way to save some money - just make sure to bring it into a shop for a thorough cleaning. They can also give you a threading lesson and show you the basic maintenance required for your machine.

Whether you buy a machine used or from a sewing machine store, here's a list of things to look for. . .

• Smooth sewing. Try it out. If it makes your teeth rattle and the table shake so hard that you can't feed the fabric through smoothly - don't buy it. If it makes a grinding sound or a ticking sound - don't buy it.
• Even sewing. Sew a row of regular stitching, then take it out of the machine and look at it. Are the stitches all the same length? That's good. Does it skip stitches - some are twice as long as others? Don't buy it.
• Easy threading. Relatively speaking. If you've never threaded a sewing machine before it will seem insanely complicated at first. Some newer machines have numbers or a diagram right on the machine to help with threading - and that makes it especially easy for younger kids.
• A manual. Especially important for used machines.
• A drop-in bobbin. It's easier for kids to load than a front-loading bobbin.
• Straight stitch. Every machine has this.
• Zigzag stitch - all but the oldest machines have this. Don't be sucked in by hundreds of available stitches. It's like cable - you'll only use a couple of them. 
• Stretch stitch. It's not really necessary - you can always use a zigzag stitch instead - but it's really nice to have and I end up using it fairly often.
• You do NOT need a buttonhole stitch. You can use a zigzag stitch to make any buttonhole - and I actually get better results with a zigzag stitch.
• The ability to backstitch. This allows you to easily "knot" at the beginning and end of your stitching. Again - almost all machines have this feature.
• A foot pedal. Some machines have a knee pedal instead, but those are often difficult for kids to control. It's also hard to get the height just right for them.

Of course, you'll also need some hand tools. You can find a complete list of everything a beginner needs (with links for shopping!) right here.

That's it! Happy hunting.

Video link here.