Are you ready to get started quilting but don’t own a sewing machine? Are you overwhelmed by the myriad of machine choices and don’t know what features you need? Let me help you get sewing.
Buying a Sewing Machine – Do your Research Before Buying a Machine
When buying a sewing machine, make sure you do your research. I know there is so much confusing and often contradictory information out there. Let’s talk about the things to consider when purchasing your first machine. In the end all I want is for you to get started quilting.
Research
When I say research, I mean a couple basic Google searches. Type in something like, beginner sewing machine for quilting and see what results you get. Do this a couple of times and see if the results vary. You may also want to search for beginner manual sewing machine or beginner computerized sewing machine too.
I also want you to Google sewing machine dealers near me. This will tell you if you have any local dealers and what brands they sell.
Machine Types
Before I talk about this subject, in this article I am talking about modern sewing machines and not your grandma’s Singer treadle machine.
Basically, there are three basic types of sewing machines:
- Manual
- Computerized
- Industrial
Manual
A manual machine tends to be more basic and usually requires you to rotate a knob or push in a button in order to change machine functions. For instance, in order to sew a zigzag stitch you would rotate the knob.
Manual machines tend to be more sturdy in that they do not have a motherboard inside. Most manual machines are more basic in terms of functionality. This is ok and it’s a perfect place to start with your first machine.
Computerized
A computerized machine has a computer on board with a motherboard. Modern computerized sewing machines are sturdy and excellent machines. There is no need to be afraid of a computerized machine.
Computerized machines tend to have a lot more features and specialty stitches. Neither of these things are requirements for quilting, but are nice to have features.
Industrial
Industrial machines are simpler, but very heavy duty machines. They are straight stitch only machines which is perfect for quilting. If you choose to piece with heavy textiles like denim, an industrial machine will prove very helpful.
Something to keep in mind is your first machine will probably not be your last machine. You will gain skills and decide to upgrade your machine in the future. If you do upgrade, never let go of a machine (unless you don’t have the room). It is always best to have a minimum of two machines so you won’t be out of commission if your machine needs to go to the shop.
Brands
Some of the major sewing machine brands are:
- Brother
- Janome
- Bernina
- Babylock
- Juki
These are the most common brands you will see. You may notice that I did not mention Singer. The Singer machines of old were sturdy, well built sewing machines. The modern Singer machines are nothing like them, and frequently people have nothing but problems using them. As a result, I do not recommend you buy a Singer.
Dealers
I will always tell you to purchase your machine from a dealer, unless you have no other choice. The main reasons are:
- They will teach you how to use your machine
- They will service your machine when it is time
- You can often get a machine that has been traded in at a substantial discount from MSRP, therefore getting more bang for your buck
Yes, I know it is so much easier to purchase from either a Big Box Store or online from Amazon, but they will not be there to help you when you need them.
If you do not have a local sewing machine dealer, I highly recommend purchasing from an online sewing machine dealer instead.
I hope you have found this helpful. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to email me here. Thanks for reading.
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